Malcolm Hugh Gillis

1856 - 1929  (73 years)

• Name	Malcolm Hugh Gillis
  Born	5 Sep 1856
  Gender	Male
  Census	4 Apr 1881	Young's Bridge, Inverness, Nova Scotia, Canada
  Census	4 Apr 1881	Young's Bridge, Inverness, Nova Scotia, Canada   [1]
  Count of Children	18
  Count of Children	18
  Count of Marriages	2
  Count of Marriages	2
  Occupation	Teacher
  Occupation	Teacher
  Died	23 Sep 1929
  Person ID	I60	gearingillis
  Last Modified	11 Mar 2015

  
  

  Father	Hugh Bridge Gillis,   b. 12 Nov 1818
  Mother	Mary Gillis,   b. 1825,   d. 1864  (Age 39 years)
  Family ID	F26	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 1	Mary MacFarlane,   d. 28 Sep 1888
  Children	1. Mary Catherine Gillis,   b. 28 Sep 1888
  Last Modified	16 May 2020
  Family ID	F30	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 2	Margaret MacFarlane,   b. (Year of birth 1869 or 1870), Margaree, Inverness, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada ,   d. 5 Sep 1952, Margaree, Inverness, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada
  Married	9 Feb 1891	South West Margaree, Inverness, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada   [2]
  	Address: St Josephs Church
  Children	1. John Duncan Gillis,   b. 13 Mar 1892,   d. Apr 1892  (Age 0 years)   2. Hugh Dan Gillis,   b. 4 Apr 1894   3. Mary Ann Gillis,   b. 19 Jul 1895,   d. 17 Mar 1973, Halifax, NS, Canada  (Age 77 years)   4. Kate Elizabeth Gillis,   b. 1 Nov 1896   5. Mary Jessie Gillis,   b. 13 Oct 1897   6. Mary (Minnie) Gillis,   b. 31 Jul 1899,   d. 17 Jan 1919  (Age 19 years)   7. John Alex Gillis,   b. 14 Sep 1900   8. Dougald c. Gillis,   b. 23 Dec 1901,   d. 29 Oct 1918  (Age 16 years)   9. John Joseph Gillis,   b. 5 Sep 1903,   d. 18 Jan 1919  (Age 15 years)   10. Angus Bernard Gillis,   b. 20 Jan 1905,   d. Feb 1966  (Age 61 years)   11. James Daniel Gillis,   b. 26 Nov 1906   12. Malcolm Gillis   13. Annie Belle Gillis,   b. 14 Feb 1909   14. Katie Agnes Gillis,   b. 23 Feb 1912,   d. 23 May 1912, Margaree, Inverness, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada  (Age 0 years)   15. Ambrose James Gillis,   b. 25 May 1913   16. Catherine Agnes Gillis,   b. 8 Oct 1914   17. John Archie Gillis,   b. 23 Apr 1893, Margaree, Inverness, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada ,   d. 4 Apr 1979  (Age 85 years)
  Videos		Gillis Family Reunion August 2004 Outside St Josephs hall children /cousins playing. Music added
  Last Modified	11 Mar 2015
  Family ID	F28	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map		Married - Address: St Josephs Church - 9 Feb 1891 - South West Margaree, Inverness, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Photos » Slide Show		Collage
  		MHG Letter to Reverend A. MacLean Sinclair
  		Gillis, Malcolm Hugh
  		Gillis-Malcolm-H-Family
  		St Joseph cemetary
  		Tombstone of Malcolm H Gillis
  		Gillis-Malcolm-H-Home-x
  		vol2660n61page1new
  		vol2660n61page2new2

  
  

  Documents

  Letter to Rev A Maclean Sinclair from Malcolm H Gillis 22 Jan 1891. Malcolm H. Gillis, Margaree, Inverness Co., to Rev. A. MacLean Sinclair, 22 January 1891 Praising the Reverend for including him in his new book on Bards. MG 1, vol. 2660, no. 61 Malcolm H. Gillis, Margaree, Inverness Co., to Rev. A. MacLean Sinclair, 22 January 1891 Copyright 2006 Nova Scotia Archives and Records Management.

  
  

  Headstones

  Malcolm H Gillis Tombstone

  
  

  Histories		Antigonish Casket Article 1896 The following is transcribed from zeroxed copies of a series of articles that appeared in the Antigonish Casket in 1896.htm
  		At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.

  
  

  Recordings		BAL NA H-AIBHNE DEAS (Ball at Southwest Margaree) (Malcolm Gillis) http://maryjanelamond.com/audio/storas/07.m3u Arranged by Mary Jane Lamond & Beolach
  		"Nighean Donn A'Chuil Reidh" Brown Haired Maiden of The Smooth Tresses. (Malcolm H Gillis) Performed by Howie MacDonald on "Just Relax" CD . Buy it! http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_m?url=search-alias%3Dpopular&field-keywords=howie+macdonald&x=14&y=13

  
  

• Notes

  He was a composer, of celtic music, poet and teacher. He was a Gaelic poet in that resided with his family at SouthWest Margaree Cape Breton Nova Scotia. He was known as The Bard of Margaree for his many musical compositions and poems. Malcolm was born at SouthWest Margaree, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada and died on the farm on which he was born in his 73rd year. He fathered 17 children and was married twice. He is buried in South West Margaree St Joseph's Cemetery. In 1978 a cairn was erected at the foot of the Gillis family farm paying tribute to his life. Two Canadian musical artists are currently performing two of his most famous compositions. They are Nighean Donn A'Chuil Reidh (Brown Haired Maiden of The Smooth Tresses) and Bal Na H-Aibhne Deas (Ball at Southwest Margaree). He was proficient playing the bagpipes, piano/organ, but is most noted for his playing of the violin. Two silver cups awarded to him from a fiddle contest in the United States and is a testament to his playing ability. Alexander MacLaren & Sons, Glasgow, Scotland published a book of his work ‘Smeorach Nan Cnoc's Nan Gleann' in 1939. A new book ‘The Songster of the Hills and the Glens' was published in 2004 that contains additional works and family history not included in the original 1939 book. In 1978 on a BBC broadcast program of Cape Breton Culture, Professor Norman MacDonald of Celtic Studies at the University College of Cape Breton, Sydney, Nova Scotia noted that, "Gillis deserves wider recognition as by far the best nature poet writing anywhere in Gaelic between 1830 and 1930." SLGG -------------------------------------------- Malcolm Gillis - Obituary "The Casket" (Antigonish, Nova Scotia) 10 October, 1929. September 23, 1929 Gillis - Sad was the news spread around the morning of Sept. 23, 1929, that Malcolm H. Gillis, Upper Margaree, was dying. Father Chisholm was soon at his bedside, administered the last rites of the Church, and he died a few hours later in his 73rd year. He had a light attack of paralysis a year ago, from the effects of which he never completely recovered. Mr. Gillis began teaching school when quite young, and followed it up, though not continuously, for some forty years, when he was put on the pension list. At the same time he had charge of the homestead, which he managed skillfully, making considerable improvements thereon until failing health obliged him to retire from active work. He ranked high as a musician, his performances on the violin being exceptionally good, often winning prizes at competitions all over the country. He-was church organist for many years, often making great sacrifices in order to teach sacred music to young people in the parish. He composed many songs of considerable merit, in both English and Gaelic. He immortalized his native district in "Cnoic us Glinn a Bhraighe", a song that is very popular wherever the Gaelic language is spoken. Many a gathering he enlivened and cheered with music and song, and his company was always sought after. He was hardly ever heard uttering a cross or an offensive word, and he made hosts of friends wherever he moved. He was twice married, first to Mary McFarlane, issue one daughter Catherine, Mrs. John Dan Gillis, Upper Margaree. His second wife, who survives him, is Margaret McFarlane, issue 17 children, two of whom died in infancy. Minnie and Dougald died of the "flu"; John Joe of pneumonia; and the following are living: Mrs. John Alex McFarlane, Upper Margaree; Mrs. William Cocker, Framingham; Mrs. AJ. MacIntyre, Boston; Hugh, in New Bedford, Mass.; Alex, in Boston; Annie, Agnes, James, Malcolm, Ambrose, John A, and Angus B. at home (the last two arriving from Boston and New York one day late for the funeral). One brother Angus in Allston, Mass.; and one sister, Maggie, at home also survive. The funeral cortege was a large one, many people coming from far and near to pay their last respect to their departed friend. The mournful strains of the piobmhor (Great Highland Pipes) on the shoulders of Allan MacFarlane reverberated among the hills that he loved so dearly, as the procession wended its way from his home to the church. Requiem high mass was celebrated by Rev. R.H. MacDougall, Margaree Forks, while in the sanctuary were seated Father Chisholm, Pastor, and Father MacKeough, Tracadie, while Father Cormier, Margaree, ably assisted the choir. Father Dougald McEachern, Arisaig, was obliged to return home the day before. The death of Malcolm Gillis has left his friends the poorer, and his place is hard to fill. May his soul rest in peace.

  
  

• Sources

  [S8] 1881 Canadian Census, Canadian Government, 1375801 /C-13165, 2006. Name Marital Status Gender Ethnic Origin Age Birthplace Occupation Religion Hugh GILLIS M Male Scottish 63 Scotland Farmer Catholic Mary GILLIS M Female Scottish 56 Nova Scotia Weaver Catholic Angus GILLIS Male Scottish 28 Nova Scotia Joiner Catholic Margret GILLIS Female Scottish 26 Nova Scotia Weaver Catholic Malcolm GILLIS Male Scottish 24 Nova Scotia M Teacher Catholic Catherine GILLIS Female Scottish 22 Nova Scotia Catholic Angus GILLIS Male Scottish 20 Nova Scotia Farmers Son Catholic Source Information: Census Place Young's Bridge, Inverness, Nova Scotia Family History Library Film 1375801 NA Film Number C-13165 District 4 Sub-district O Page Number 33 Household Number 109 Malcolm was 24 in 1881 [S16] St. Joseph's Church, Church Register, (marriages, page 88, line 21.), Marriages, page 88, line 21. (Reliability: 3).