Catherine Arabella McLeod was the daughter of John Alexander McLeod and Annie Jane Burns. John was the son of Angus McLeod and Annabelle Frazer. Catherine is my wife’s grandmother, she used to live with her in Vancouver; we used to visit her quite often when I was attending university. Catherine Arabella told us that her father had told her his grandfather McLeod had come “with his uncle the Rev. Norman McLeod to Nova Scotia”. John A McLeod’s grandfather would be Murdoch McLeod the younger.

When Catherine Arabella McLeod was growing up her grandparents lived with the family. Her grandfather, Angus McLeod, was born in St Ann’s, Cape Breton and as a young man would likely have heard the fire brand Rev. Norman McLeod preach. Angus was the son of Murdoch McLeod and Janet Harrison. Murdoch was the son of Murdoch and Effie McNicol.

Murdoch the elder and junior were born in Assynt, the same place that Rev. Norman McLeod was born.

The Rev Norman McLeod and his flock arrived in Pictou, Nova Scotia in 1817 on board the Francis Ann (About 400). They moved to St Ann’s, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia in May of 1820. On 28 October 1851 Rev Norman McLeod moved to Australia, then to New Zealand.

All of Murdoch senior’s children, at least to Barbara, were born in Assynt. His last child was born in 1822 at St. Ann’s, Cape Breton. Both Murdoch senior and junior named one of their sons Norman. All of Murdoch junior’s children, at least to Isabella were born in St. Ann’s, Cape Breton. Englishtown is close to St Ann’s. One of Murdoch’s senior’s children, George died in New Zealand.

Several branches of the family moved to Kincardin, Ontario, including Angus McLeod.