Cape Breton's Magazine

the 4 acres for many years after his death. A fifth generation, Charles H. Ross, lives on the crown grant today. I want to say, in correcting what I wrote several years ago, I now believe that Gran? ny Ross was not bom in France, but that she was one of the Acadian family of Le? Jeunes living at Little Bras d'Or in the latter part of the 18th century. Tradition has said that she made 60-mile trips on foot to Little Bras d'Or with her husband, and carried home potatoes and other sup? plies on her back. This seems quite reason? able. During the winter they could easily have hauled hand sleighs on the ice from Little Bras d'Or to Baddeck or Nyanza when they came to visit their relatives. I also believe she was much less than 117 years of legend. When we consider that her mar? riage to Lemuad Briard was in 1786, she could have been bom as early as 1770. Girls married early in those days. She was probably still a young woman in 1793 when James Ross married her. If she died in 1860--the date of which I've never found any documentation--she could very well have been less than 100. (You don't think she ever went to France?) No, I don't. (What about the vaccine? Do you have any feeling for the smallpox stor? ies?) Well, there was such a thing as cow- pox. The cows used to have it. I don't know if they had it about their teats or not, but a milkmaid who had a cut in her hand, and milked a cow who had cowpox, used to catch the cowpox. And they found out that anybody, whoever had cowpox, nev? er took smallpox. So it's possible that they made use of that. I don't know if they would subject themselves to cowpox be? cause it wasn't a very serious illness--so that they wouldn't take smallpox. I've heard of that. So it could have been, you know. Museum of Cape Breton Heritage Northeast Margaree on Cabot Trail Inverness Co., Cape Breton, N. S. OPEN 9 TO 6 DAILY MacDonald Hotel Comfortable Beds at Reasonable Rates Licensed Dining Room 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Excellent Homestyle Cooking * Fresh Seafood -Rest and Dine in a Pleasant Atmosphere- St. Peter's 535-2997 D. GOLDMAN & SONS LTD. GALLANT STREET GLACE BAY NOVA SCOTIA. CANADA 'pnc''uMtt' Sea''f'' THE HOME OF FINE SEAFOOD; we have a pickup booth at the SYDNEY AIRPORT. Call us. Coast To Cdast Air Shipping - Ask For Our Price T;iSt Phone: Plant (902) 849-5505, Night (902) 849-2705 Write: P. O. Box 160, Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, B1A 5V2 Telex: 019-35241 CHARGEX - MASTER CHARGE - VISA In conversation, Miss Jackson pointed out another reconsideration--the nickname "The Little Woman," which in 1956 she applied to Granny Ross. In his History of North? east Margaree (1963), John F. Hart wrote, "On her grave stone erected in recent years she is referred to as the 'Little Woman' which is decidedly incorrect. The title 'Little Woman' belonged to her sis? ter-in-law, Ann Ross, wife of Edmund Ross, the 'Big Man,' and to no one else." Family Planning Resource Team Box 1598, Sydney, Nova Scotia BIP 6R8 Telephone: 539-5158 I Every Child a Wanted Childl Office: 180 Charlotte Street, Sydney INFORMATION * COUNSELLING * REFERRAL Construction and operating details are clearly described with the aid of more than 100 photographs and diagrams. Available for $5.00 at the Nova Scotia Government Book Store P.O. Box 637, 1597 HoUis St., Halifax, B3J 2T3 Make money order payable to The Minister of Finance 1'1 . Mines and Energy Energie, Mines et (53)