On 10 FEB 1831 when Robert was 18, he married Catherine MACKENZIE, daughter of William MACKENZIE (1 APR 1770-11 MAR 1868) & Flora MACMILLAN (19 OCT 1769-15 MAY 1853). Married by Rev. John McRae. Born in 1813 in Centredale, Nova Scotia, Canada. Catherine died on 23 FEB 1879; she was 66. Buried in Bridgeville Cemetery, Nova Scotia, Canada. Was on the census for 1871 Census. Alias/AKA: Katherine. in Rev. John McRae.
These are the remembrances of Katherine MacDonald Cox as she wrote them in September 1984. They trace the descendants of Robert Grant and Catherine MacKenzie down to 1984. I have a copy of her original letter. I have transcribed her letter exactly as she wrote it in September 1984. Words in brackets ( ) are mine:

“The writing on the early settlers at the front of this book was done by Margaret MacKenzie Bamford. William MacKenzie 1770-1863 (98 years) his wife, Flora MacMillan 1769-1855 (86 years) are Margaret’s Great Great Grandparents through their son John, his son William (the Piper), his son and her father Wallace MacKenzie. They are my Great Great Grandparents too, through their daughter Catherine, her daughter Flora and her son and my father, Allan Duncan Grant MacDonald.

Daughter Catherine married Robert Grant Feb 10th 1831. She moved from her home in Centerdale to his home in Carmony so named because Robert’s parents Alexander Grant and possibly Annie McLean on the Hope 1801 from Urquhart and named their settlement in Nova Scotia for their home in Scotland (Alexander died Jan 26, 1867. Robert also had a brother William who died Apr 19, 1885, his wife Elizabeth MacDonald 1913).

Robert and Catherine had twelve children who were musical, some with large hands and great strength.

i. Duncan Grant did not marry. He moved to Providence where he died young leaving $26,00 to his brothers and sisters.

ii. William married to ?Fraser and had 5 children, two boys and Anna, Emma, Catherine.

iii. Alex married, had one adopted child and Bessie.

iv. Dan married (Anna Belle MacMillan) and had four children, Flora Belle, Helen, Walter, Robert. Dan had a blacksmith and carriage shop in Providence, he was the inventor of the goose neck wagon. Possibly Dan was the one who could hold the wheel of a loaded wagon from turning while going downhill.

v. James born 1844 was married (Tena) and had two children plus Hannah, Irene, Albert D., and Jim. In the 1871 Census James was still at home aged 27.

vi. Allan married, four or five children one was named Willie, (Margaret, George, Winnifred).

vii. John. Possibly John or Allan were noted as being strong. Most of the Grant men settled in Providence some in the carriage trade and some as policemen (as their MacKenzie cousins). One story told by my Father was that his Uncle could pick two grown men up by their collars and knock their heads together. (John married Margaret Noble).

viii. Robert I think was the youngest born in 1859. At 20 years old he died from a horse’s kick (1879) (on his birthday).

ix. Isabel 1840 (Belle) married a Patterson - no family. A very strong person my Father often told me how Belle could pick up a 200 lb. anvil and trow it on a waist high workbench (adopted Susan).

x. Elizabeth 1851 married Alex MacIntosh and lived in Blue Mountain. They had a family of four. 1. Catherine (Cassie) married Will Stewart, lived in New Glasgow, ad three sons Athal, Lloyd and Irving. 2. Findlay - died young. 3. Flora Belle - married went to live in Providence. 4. Robert MacIntosh better known as “Bobby” never married, was a plumber, lived with his sister Cassie in New Glasgow spending his off time with his cousin Allan D. Grant MacDonald helping out at Maple Shade Farm.

xi. Jane 1854 married Edward MacDonald (nickname Neddy Ogg) and raised their family in Glencoe although they got their schooling and received mail in the nearby village of Sunny Brae. Family of Jane and Ned: James, Grant, Catherine, Margaret-Florence, Edwin, Isabelle, one died young. This family moved to Winnipeg where the boys built a sheet metal works. Margaret lived in Winnipeg married Robert Nunly. Isabelle married Victor Morrison from Iceland and lived in Montreal see insert at back. (I have been unable to locate this insert).

xii. Flora Grant born April 10, 1846 married John MacDonald born Dec 3, 1845, by Rev. Simon Macgregor, M.A. on April 3rd 1869. John MacDonald was a presenter and music teacher. The nickname of this family was “Blacksmith” so called because of the family trade from the blacksmith shop at the end of the Inverness bridge in Scotland. The farm where Flora and John resided (was so named because it resembled the hills of Glencoe in Scotland) was divided between John and his brother Frederick from their father Donald (Sept 12, 1816 - Jan 2, 1896) (Wife Bella MacKinnon born Nov 7, 1817) from his father Gilbert MacDonald who came to Pictou around 1800 (Gilbert’s wife was Mary MacDonald (Roi) her brother Donald came to Pictou 1803 another brother Alex (nickname Roi married Christie Fraser). Flora and John had a family of six and spent many musical evenings in the home. John: Dec 3, 1845-Dec 31,1923. Flora: April 10, 1846-Dec 31, 1923. (Flora and John died on the same day and in the same year, but no one knows if their deaths were the result of an accident or natural causes).