My Morrin: Scottish Migration to Quebec
Join us for a presentation given by Ewen Booth as part of the My Morrin event series!
Saturday, January 25, at 2:30 p.m.
Most historians have heard of the “The Auld Alliance” between France and Scotland dating back to the early 13th century. Others are familiar with the Scottish settlement to the New World after the Seven Years War, and Irish immigration during the potato famine in the mid-19th century. This presentation is groundbreaking in that it identifies new and important points of Scottish immigration to the New World, primarily to what is present-day Quebec.
Nova Scotia claims the home of the first Scottish immigration to Canada, with the arrival of the ship The Hector in 1773. This presentation dispels this myth, based on nine years of research and genealogy. The music of Quebec, the place names and history of many French Canadian families are intertwined with these Scottish immigrants who settled in Quebec, helping forge the province to be what it is today. This presentation offers a different perspective into our history and explains many things simply hidden in time that are only now being uncovered; it is only the tip of the iceberg.
Ewen Booth “Le Chardon et la Fleur de Lys”
Ewen Booth is a historical researcher who uses genealogy as a tool to explore into areas uncommonly ventured into by others. He, along with his wife Kathleen McKen, has lived in Montmagny since relocating in 2017. Ewen is a former police officer and museum volunteer, with a passion for history. He uses his experience to now unfold history never discovered by others previously. With over 140 active family trees, Ewen’s body of work continues to grow. With a goal of putting these stories on paper and developing mini videos for a YouTube audience, Ewen has also developed a Scottish history tour of both Quebec City and the south shore of the St. Lawrence River based out of Montmagny.
Ewen was the recipient of the 2020 Gordon Atkinson Memorial Prize in Highlander Military History by the Quebec Thistle Council and is the owner of “Le Chardon et la Fleur de Lys,” a history project that turned into a business which captures all that he does: research, genealogy, history tours, public presentations, YouTube videos and written short stories. In addition, Ewen and Kathleen are restoring their 1767 home while researching previous home owners, many of whom are relatives to Kathleen. Kathleen is a French-Canadian descendant of a Scottish soldier who remained in Quebec after 1763 and is the Quebec Commissioner for the Clan MacKinnon Society. Join us on our journey!