In the late 1700's and early 1800's thousands of Scots left the Western Isles and Highlands of Scotland for North America. Between 1800 and 1810 exactly when we do not know. Some of these immigrants settled in the area now known as Big Pond. A strong local tradition supported by some documentary evidence in land petitions holds that the first settler in the area was Roderick MacNeil, who received his land grant in 1809. It seems, by and large, that the first comers to the area already had a foothold in the New World on the mainland of Nova Scotia or in Prince Edward Island before removing to this area. Later they were joined by the others who came directly from the Old Country when the immigrant ships began making landfall in Cape Breton. more... See more text