A Brief Sketch of the McDormand Family as told to me by my Grandfather – Joel McDormand

The McDormand family lived in the highlands of Scotland, and as I have read belonged to the MacDonald Clan. Political trouble in the reign of Charles I led to a division of the Clan. Sometime later the family to which William McDormand belonged moved south and settled in the town of Dumfries (Scotland). After living there for several years, he crossed the Irish Sea (North Channel) to Ulster, where he remained for some years. Later, fired with the spirit of adventure, he crossed the Atlantic and settled in what is now the United States, in the valley of the Brandywine River. Becoming dissatisfied with this country he sailed east and made a landing at Digby, Nova Scotia, in the company of William Fitzgerald. This was in 1763 and theirs was the first settlement made in what is now Digby. Free grants of land were made them, that received by William McDormand being where the Digby Baptist Church now stands.

After a few years someone conceived the idea of laying land out for lots, and William McDormand sold his grant of land receiving payment from the money realized by the sale of the lots. He then took up land where the Joggin Bridge now stands. Here he made a farm by hard pioneer work, and raised a family of sons and daughters. His children later made homes for themselves, some in Westport, Port Burwell, Ontario, and at Gulliver's Cove. One son, however, Cormac McDormand, inherited the old homestead. He married Prudence Morrill and had a family of four sons – William, James, Robert and Thomas. Upon the death of their father, who died in testate, the three older boys gave Thomas quit claim deed of the farm. (This deed is in the possession of the author of this sketch). Thomas married Vickie Webber, whose family came from Holland and claim to have descended from King William III. Of this union were born four children – Joel, Joseph, John and Elizabeth (who died at the early age of twenty-two). While his children were young, Thomas, who had always combined farming with a sea-faring life (confined mostly to coasting) sold his farm at this time and moved his family to Digby to a cottage situated where the Baptist church now stands. Shipping a cargo of lumber, fish and potatoes, Thomas McDormand set sail for the West Indies. En route his brig was seized by a French privateer, it being a time when England and France were at war. The confiscated vessel was taken to France. Capt. McDormand was obliged to march 60 miles inland where he was imprisoned for seven years. When peace was at last declared, he was set at liberty, and a British Man-of-War carried him to Yarmouth, where he landed penniless and walked thence to Digby, where he found his family who had long mourned him as dead. Having suffered from repeated colds in the damp prisons where he had been confined in France, he contracted consumption and passed away two years after his return. His wife still kept the home in Digby and was amongst the pioneer Baptists in that town. There were no resident pastors in the nearby towns, but ministers would go on tour, starting at Wolfville and going as far as Yarmouth. David Crandall and Enoch Towner were frequent visitors to Digby and when there made their home and held their meetings at the cottage of Mrs. Thomas McDormand. At one of the meetings the house was raided and the minister, Enoch Towner, driven out of town. (See "Fifty Years Among the Baptists, page 229).

A few years after the death of her husband, Vickie (Weber) McDormand passed away, and the family were scattered. John was brought up at Round Hill where he married Dorinda Whitman. They had five children, Captain John, James, Edward, Elizabeth and Annie. A Joseph McDormand married a young English lady, and made his home at Stratford-on-Avon. Two sons were born of this union. Our Uncle Tom on one of his voyages to England went to their homes. He found them very fine young men. Joe was drowned at sea on a trip to Nova Scotia to visit his brothers. The only daughter passed away at the age of 22 (Elizabeth). Joel, the eldest son, became a seafaring man of the coastal trade. He was the first man to open trade between Bear River and Boston, operating his own ships -- the Wave, James and Paradigm. In 1819 he married Jane Elizabeth Harris, daughter of Christopher and Elizabeth (Spurr) Harris. Through the Harris family she was descended from Mary Chilton, the first woman to place her foot on Plymouth Rock, according to Calnek's "History of the County of Annapolis, and through descended from Governor Winslow. Through those we are eligible for membership in the Mayflower Club and Daughters of the Empire. Through the Spurr descent may be claimed from Thomas Hyde, whose sister Anne Hyde married King James II of England. This marriage was blessed with 9 children – James, Diadamy, Charlotte, Elizabeth, Freeman, Thomas, Edwin and Jane (who married Dow I. Morse).

When first married Joel McDormand bought a small farm at Roop's Point where he lived for 9 years. He then bought a property in Bear River from William Whitman and in 1828 moved to the new home where the family has since resided. Freeman was married to Cecilia Dunn, daughter of Deacon Richard Dunn, and Mary Ann (Jones) Dunn, whose forbears, the Jones, came from Wales, and on her Mother's side the Welsh's, who came to Nova Scotia from Newark, NJ, in 1783. Three children came from this marriage – Annie, Jean and Charles, all of whom live in or near the old McDormand "Homestead on the Hillside".  Before closing this narrative, I should like to add a well deserved tribute to my Grandfather, Joel McDormand, and also to my Father, Freeman McDormand. They were very much alike in character and temperament, both being men of few words but great readers and recognized as very intellectual by the few who were admitted to the inner shrine of their confidence. Rare gems of thought were concealed beneath their quiet exterior. "Wisdom is rather to be chosen than great riches". Father was just a clean, strong, gentle and noble type who did his work gladly and happily every day, loved his family and was a good citizen. And the one thing for which we are most grateful was his provision of a good Mother, one who taught us to obey, work and control ourselves. 

A few of Grandfather's maxims:

• Better be alone than in bad company.
• Never let anyone know the bottom of your pocket.
• Be a man among men, but seldom be found amongst them.
• Occupation prevents temptation.
• Nothing ventured, nothing had.
• Birds of a feather flock together.
• The Lord helps him who helps himself.
• Never take money without counting it, and never sign a paper without reading it.
• Keep your own counsel, owe no man anything.
• The quitter never wins at all.
• Not always to the swift the race.
• Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
• Willful waste makes woeful want.
• Earn some, spend less, that's the secret of success.

By Annie McDormand, daughter of Freeman McDormand.

Written circa 1935-1937  Copied August 21, 1947 from copy belonging to Aunt Jeanne McDormand, age 82, at Bear River, NS.

A hand written note has been added to my copy:
Note: Annie was 75 years old at the time of writing. What she has written was obviously recalled from her memory of conversations with her grandfather & therefore may not be 100% accurate.