"The sixth day of Christmas my true love sent to me
six geese a laying..."
When my 2x great grandfather, Alexander Mavor, first came to Canada he was a farm servant on Ile aux Reaux, a small island in the St Lawrence River of Quebec. The island and farm were owned by Dr George Mellis Douglas, a doctor at neighbouring Grosse Isle. The island was a breeding ground for pheasant, ducks and geese. At Christmas a goose was a traditional dinner in Ellon, so I wonder if Alexander shot a goose for his family for the holidays?!
After Dr Douglas died, Ile-aux-Reaux was sold at auction. It was purchased by Mr Arthur Michaud, a lawyer in Kamouraska for $3900. My 2x grandfather Alexander, after twenty plus years living on Ile aux Reaux, moved on to establish his own farm in Compton.
In the November 11, 1899 issue of Field and Stream there was an article written about the island by J. Bruce Payne, after he stopped there the previous October to do some hunting with a couple of friends. He mentions that the island is for sale (again) and can be bought for $5500.
During the Queen's visit to Quebec in the fall of 1964, Prince Philip went goose hunting on Ile aux Reaux
I wonder what will now become of this island that my immigrant 2x great grandparents and their family called home for many years.
I had no idea that Field and Stream had been around that long!
ReplyDeleteIt was founded in 1895.
DeleteThanks!That makes it a classic.
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