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.
