Descendants of Michael Eisan
Who settled in Ship Harbour
Halifax Co. Nova Scotia, Canada

Michael Eisan(1), born 1730 in Bavaria Germany, died December 8th 1833, at the age of 103 years, at Ship Harbour, NS. His marriages were (1) Elizabeth, 1780 (2) Anne, 1783 (3) Sarah Lawrence Nov. 30th, 1831.

Michael Eisan(1) left Germany and came to America in 1760 arriving in South Carolina. He served in Stevenson's Creek Militia, rising to the rank of sergeant in the company of Captain Thomas Thornton. He evacuated Charleston with the British force in November, 1782. Arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He lived in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, until 1784, when he moved to Jeddore, Halifax Country, where he lived until in the late 1780's. The family settled in Ship Harbour, where he bought Lot #16 from Adam Newgressor on March 3rd, 1788. He built his first home on the shore of Colville Harbour, later renamed Ship Harbour.

Michael Eisan's(1) sir name was spelled EISEN at the turn of the 18th Century. This was changed to EISAN (pronounced ICE-IN). His first son Michael Eisan(2) was born in South Caroline November 11th, 1781 and died in Ship Harbour, June 29th, 1876. He was married to (1) Abigail Wisdom, Nov. 12th, 1810 (2) Mary Weeks (b)1797 (d) 1876. He lived on the north side of Ship Harbour waters, a place called Seal Cove, where he operated a sawmill for his father-in-law David Weeks. Daughters Janet, married to George McCarthy and Elizabeth (b) March 14th, 1784 (d) June 29th, 1878.

Michael Eisan(1) along with others were granted 800 acres of land in 1812. In the early 1800's, the Eisan's were owners of about 1600 acres of land in Ship Harbour. In the year 2000, the Eisan's owned's about 700 acres of land in Ship Harbour. Each year the acreage owned by the Eisan's is reduced.

Michael Eisan(1) built his home on the shore of Ship Harbour on Lot #16. A road led from his home to where his son John Eisan(2), married to Sophia (Siteman), built their home. This road called Dan's road, leads to where John Michael Eisan(3), married to Julia (Cowan), built their home near Eisan's Lake, across the Old Ferry Road. This property is now called Add Eisan's Place, is where his son Add Eisan(4), married to Catherine(Monk)(they had no children), lived. A brother to Add Eisan(4), John Robert Eisan(4), married to Alice (Robson), built their home in Bobbie's Field across the Old Ferry Rd. The road that leads from John Eisan(2) to John Michael Eisan's(3) is called Mike's road. John Eisan's(2) son Frederick Eisan(3), married to Mary(Weeks), built their home near the shore on Lot #16. This home burnt down in 1934 and a new home was built on the same foundation by Louise and her brother Dan Eisan(4), where they lived all their live. This home has exchanged owners many time since then. It is now owned by Edward (Ted) Rust, formally from England. Dan Eisan(4) also built a home along this road, but never lived in it. It was later taken down and used for a boat building shop near the shore of Ship Harbour by his brother George Eisan(4), where he built boats for The Lewis Company that had a peg factory at the head of Ship Harbour.

The Old Ferry Road was the only road that was from Halifax to Lower Ship Harbour. At Lower Ship Harbour, a ferry boat was operated by Ted Tracey, crossed to the east side of the harbour. Then this road continued through to Sherbrooke. In the winter, people crossed the ice by horse and sled as transportation.
Many roads in the 1800th that start at the shores of Ship Harbour to the Old Ferry Road are still usable. There are roads from Eisan's Cove, Monks Cove and also Marks Cove, one from the shore through the Garrett property to the Old Ferry Road.

In the 1800's Eisan's built homes on this two hundred acres lot. Only three homes that still around today contune to be owned and occupied by Eisan's. The first have one built in the late 1800's on Eisan Point Lot #16 near Eisan's Cove by John Henry Eisan(4) married to Sarah (Buffet). This home is now occupied by Alfred Eisan(6) married to Mary (MacAuley) nephew of John Henry Eisan(4). The second one was built by George Eisan(4), married to Louisa (Gerrard)(Newcombe) built in the mid 1930's on Lot#16, now occupied by Darren Victor Eisan(6), married to Catherine Benton. The third one was built by Andrew Eisan(3), married to Ann J. (Webber). Is now occupied by Lyle Eisan(5), married to Sabina (Arnold).

Frederick Eisan(2), married to (1) Barbara (Shellnut), built his home in the early 1800th, near the shore of Ship Harbour on Lot #14, where he owned this two hundred acres lot. He deeded some property to St. Stephen's Anglican Church and cemetery. His son John Michael Eisan(3) went to Bonnie Bay, Newfoundland, where he married. One of his descendant, Derek Steven Eisan(6) is now living in South Shields, England. Lot.#14 was later bought by Peter and John Mitchell and is now called the Mitchell property. A home is now built on this property by descendent of Mitchell's, on Lot#15. A home was built in the 1800's by John Shellnut, married to Mary Ann (Carter) May 15, 1871. This home later occupied by Wilson Ross Eisan(4), married to Amy (Shellnut). He was the son of Charles Eisan(3). The home was taken down in the 1900th. Wilson Eisan's(4) sons, Lloyd Eisan(5), married to Evelyn (Marks) and Maynard Eisan(5), married to Irene (Smith), built homes on this property, Lot#15.

Lot #17, has three homes built on this property. The first one built in the 1800th by Charles Eisan(3), married to Elizabeth Ann (Webber). Later occupied by sons, Edgar Eisan(4) and Cyris Eisan(4), was later taken down. The second home was built by Andrew Eisan(3). It was later occupied by son, Alex Eisan(4), married to Sarah (Major) and is now occupied by Lyle Eisan(5). The third one built by Samuel Eisan(6), married to Laura (Newcombe). Was later occupied by Reuben Eisan(4), married to Bertha (Edward), this building burnt down in 1937. It was later rebuilt by Reuben Eisan(4). This building still stands and is occupied by Ken Beckman.
A number of homes and summer cottages were built by Eisan's and descendants of Eisan's in the Ship Harbour area. Some are still occupied by them.


Family Crest


By Victor Eisan

May 16, 2002

Return to main menu page