The ship sailed from  Loch Broom in Scotland and the waters off  Pictou were given the same name in commemoration of the event. This momentous undertaking took more than ten years to complete and will be a lasting tribute to the dedication of the skilled craftsmen who laid her keel in 1990. She was launched sideways from the slips and the 15,000 spectators who had waited so patiently for this moment, cheered loudly as she slid down with ways smoking from the heat of friction on the huge wooden timbers.  Her flat bottomed hull designed for shallow water harbours  brought her quickly upright. 

Read the story of the journey from Loch Broom , Scotland to Pictou, Nova Scotia by clicking here

To return to home 

click here to see Hector original manifest (adults on board)

Click here to see manifest -children on board

click here to see manifest listed in Alphabetical order

click here to see celebrations

I am writing the story of the voyage from Loch Broom to Pictou  in English and in Gaelic. It may take a while !! 

The Ship Hector, decommissioned Dec. 1773 - born again September 17, 2000

Her flags flowing majestically in a stiff  breeze, a replica of a Dutch 'flute' known as the "Hector"  now sits proudly in  Pictou Harbour, Nova Scotia. This is a replica of the ship that brought the first Scottish Highland settlers to Canada in Sept. 15th. 1773. 

   Picture courtesy of the Pictou Advocate.    

The "Ship Hector' is a ship of 200 tons berthen and is 110 ft. overall. When the masts are stepped next year she will be three masted and ship rigged, with large gaffsail aft.

She  was christened by Ltd. Gov. Myra Freeman and Vern Shea the project manager was no doubt greatly relieved to see  ten years of painstaking work slide safely down to a perfect launch. 

The original Hector sailed out of Pictou for Boston. She returned  to Pictou  with provisions and from there home. But her nail sick timbers had finally succumbed to the years of heavy pounding from Atlantic storms and she was 'laid up' when she arrived back in England. This was her last crossing.

I have mentioned many times before how disappointing it is to note that almost every Canadian schoolboy knows the names of the three ships who landed the first settlers into the United States at Plymouth but have never heard of the Hector.

To know of the Hector however is to know of the Highland Clearances, an event which is completely ignored in British school history books. Even Scottish lowland schoolchildren know little or anything of these events. It is only recently that the infamy of the Clearances have become more widely known. This in part is due to an awakened interest by the Scottish people and those of Scottish descent abroad in the history of the Gaels and their language. 

It is now October 2004 and the Hector has long since had its masts and sails fitted. It is also complete below decks and now sits proudly alongside the wharf in Pictou harbour. It was badly damaged in a storm last Winter but the repairs are almost complete. I was there this summer and took pictures of the ship. I hope to have the pictures on a new page currently under construction.  If you go to Nova Scotia it is well worth visiting the museum at Heritage Quay in the town of Pictou. The displays are awesome.