The property sketch showing how a single property has changed hands since the first grantors aquired it at Lake Ainslie. PROPERTY SKETCHAmong the many and varied families who emigrated from Scotland from 1800 to 1820 was oneby the name of Robertson. There is not much known of this family as they, nor their descendantsremained at East Lake Ainslie very long.The Robertsons, along with the Mac Kinnon's (Allan Ban), were the two earliest settlers to cometo East Lake Ainlsie. Mac Kinnon pioneered in the Kirkwood area, about two miles south of theScotsville intersection. Robertson pioneered in the Trout Brook area, about six miles south ofScotsville.It was Duncan Robertson who cleared the land on the two hundred (200) acres now bounded bythe property of Peter Mac Millan on the north, crown land on the east, Johnson property on thesouth and the waters of Lake Ainlsie on the west, extending from high-water mark at the lakeshore to the Crown land at the rear, a distance of one and one quarter (1 1/4) miles.About forty (40) acres were cleared while they lived on the property. Much work was done for itwas necessary for the pioneer to cut the heavy timber, burn and uproot the stumps, clear away therocks and put the soil in a workable condition.While occupying the property, Duncan Robertson divided it, giving one-half to his son, NeilRobertson, who married Ann Mac Innis of Mac Innis Island (Whycocomagh area).According to information obtained by Barrie Fraser, they moved to Sioux City, Oregon, U.S.A.,and later moved to a farm in Plymouth County, Iowa. A son of Neil, Rev. Murdock Robertson,lived in Portland , Oregon.The property on which the East Lake Ainslie Presbyterian Church was built(Grant # 13339-1880) was at one time owned by Neil Mac Millan, who apparently took over from DuncanRobertson, or from the Crown, and sold to the Managers of the Presbyterian Church around1880. The ninety-eight (98) acres on which Neil Robertson lived was held for a time by AngusMac Millan. (Neil's father, Duncan, received a Grant to the land in 1873, Grant # 11033.).Angus Mac Millan sold it to Alexander Mac Millan (Sandy) in 1898, who sold it to Lewis MacKay in 1914. Lewis Mac Kay worked the land and built a good sized barn on the property butnever lived there. He lived with his wife, Martha, on the land owned by her.In 1935,Edward A. Campbelll and his wife, Margaret, bought the property from Mr. Mac Kayand in the same year, made arrangements to purchase the Orange Hall which was located on JimAlex Mac Dougall's farm. The hall was dismantled, cut into sections and moved to theRobertson property in 1936. By 1937 a reasonably attractive and comfortable home was erectedinto which they moved in June, 1937. The same year material for a good-sized barn was cut andhauled to the barn site and erected in time to store feed for the animals for the following winter.In 1967 approximately seven (7) acres were sold to Arnold and Jean Tobey, on which they built an attractive home and he and family became permanent residents in 1969.In 1967, one and one-half acres was deeded to Hugh T. Campbell, on the Johnson side, andprevious to that, Approximately one and one-half acres on the manse side was deeded toCatherine Marie (Campbell) Mac lean and , a stand in the center, with right of way, was deededto Mrs Florence ( Campbell) Coleman. In 1976 another portion was sold to Francis Campbell.Thus, all the land below the highway on the west side was sold or given away as mentioned.In 1979, seven and on-half (7 ½) acres, including the house and three cabins, was sold to TomSudds, Sydney. This is the way the property stands at the present, March, 1983. Living on the property permanently in 1983 were the following persons:Edward A. Campbell and his wife, Margaret Alena (They built a new home in 1979 on part of thelanded they owned.), Arnold Tobey and his wife, Jean , Thomas Sudds and his wife , Phyllis,son, Keith and daughter Darlene.Summer residents: Roy Coleman and his wife, Florence, Eddie Roberts and his wife, Leslie andson, Scott, renting cottage of Cathy and D.J. Mac lean. At this time, Tom Sudds sold a lot of thehill above his home to a Hartford family where a trailer was placed..The other part of the Robertson land was held by the East Lake Ainslie Presbyterian Church forthe use of their ministers. A barn and manse were erected by the congregation, as well as abeautiful Church building. The resident minister used the buildings, worked the land and wasable to get his fuel from the forested area for many years.A portion of the land, across from the highway from the church was set apart for a burial ground.- "The East Lake Ainslie Cemetery".In 1925, following the division of the congregation by "Church Union", a new manse was builtby the Presbyterians who remained together. The new manse was used up until approximately1960, when it became vacant and remained so for about ten (10) or eleven (11) years, when thechurch Managers decided to sell the property on the east side of the highway, including thebuildings, except that part on which the Church and hall are situated.Hugh T. Campbell bought this part of the farm and buildings in June 1970. A year later, May1971, he and his wife Florence and family moved into the manse after repairing, remodling andconverting the buildings into a very comfortable home.Residing on this portion of the Robertson property in 1983 are Hugh T. Campbell, his wife,Florence, son, Milton, and daughter, Brenda Jill.In 1980 Professor Pieter de Vries, from Concordia University, Montreal, spent a year in "Cathy'sCottage" with his wife, Georgi, and daughter, Rachael. While her, a son, Peter Ainslie was born.Also while here, Mr. De Vries purchased two acres of land (a portion of the Robertson property)from the Presbyterian Congregation. He is now in the process of building a summer cottage onthe land. Professor de Vries spends his summer here with his family. Written by Edward A. Campbell in 1983. ******************Several other changes in land use and ownership have taken place since 1983. Arnold and Jean Tobey sold their property to Tom and Connie Barlow in The cottages on the property were built and operated by Edward and Margaret Campbell, andchanged hands four times. Purchased by Tom and Phyllis Sudds, then by Mrs. Mary Mobercatte,then, Mike and Peggy Mercer, and finally are at ime of writing are the property of the RoyalBank of Canada.After the death of Margaret and Edward Campbell, in 19 their "new" home became the propertyof their Grand daughter, Jill Campbell-Jessome and her husband, Vince Jessome and theirdaughter, Robyn. In 2003, Hugh and Kathy Campbell built a house on property given to him by his father andmother, Edward and Margaret Campbell, and moved there July 2003.This gives some idea of changes in ownership and land use of one farm of one hundred acres at East Lake Ainslie. Most of the farms have changed hands in more or less the same fashion overthe years. Some have remained intact and in the same family, but they are the exception ratherthan the rule.Cathy Mac LeanSeptember, 2003