Hi my family desenants also sailed over from Nova Scotia on the Ellen Lewis (but i thousht is ws more around 1859?)i was told that 3 brothers went to the south island (our family is made up from one of the ones that stayed in the North!) My Nana's Mother left a casette tape explaing all this. My Nana knows much about our history...but of course has never used a computer! I will ask her and see if i can help, i know for sure that there are many documents with her.

Delighted to know more information and happy to help if I can. Regards, Alison.

There have been four different lots of McIsaac's arrived New Zealand that I am aware of:

1. The family of Alexander McIsaac who came over on the "Ellen Lewis" with his nephew Angus and his 10 children arriving in Auckland May 14th 1860. They were from Broad Cove, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Most of the family settled in Thames.

2. Another McIsaac came to New Zealand on 27 March 1886 on board the ship RMS Rimutaka, arriving in Lyttleton, there is an Angus McIsaac b. 1811 linked but I am not sre if he was the one who emigrated.

3. Richard McIsaac, born 19th March 1831 in Lanark, Glasgow, Scotland and Jean Scott, with his parents and siblings emigrated from London onboard the "Clifford" in Dec 1841, arriving 1842 in Nelson, NZ. They settled in Renwick, South Island.

4.Bruno George McIsaac arrived with his sister Theresa May McIsaac in 1883, coming from Prince Edward Island. Bruno married Ruth Powellin in 1886. After living in Melbourne and Kaipara, Ruth McIsaac and her family settled in Auckland.

General MCISAAC sites I've found whilst searching the web...

The Ships List - Sebim, Chebucto, Margaret, Highland Lass, Gertrude, Spray, Breadalbane, Ellen Lewis,

Barque ELLEN LEWIS - Cape Breton, NS 1859-12-07 to Auckland, NZ 1860-05-14 with 188 passengers

ELLEN LEWIS, barque, 336 tons, James Ross, master, sailed from St. Ann's, Cape Breton, for Auckland on 7th December 1859 and arrived there on 14th May 1860. Owned by the Hon. William Ross and others.

Amongst the passengers were John MCISAAC with 9 accompanying adults, Archibald McIsaac from Broad Cove.

Maritime Provinces to New Zealand
Name: Karen McKain <karcol@xtra.co.nz>
Date: 2006-02-02
Have you succeeded in locating the passenger list? Emigrated from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia to Auckland,NZ but settled in Waipu and Thames.
Name of ship. NZ arrival port and date Internet & House of Memories, Waipu
Comments:
Alexander McIsaac, b 1810 Cape Breton and his 10 children Allan, John, Angus, Francis, William, Donald, Ann, Mary, Catherine and Joseph came with Norman McLeod and his followers' for a new and better life in NZ. He also brought with him a lady named Flora McLeod to look after the children (his wife Mary (Beaton) died in Cape Breton 1857/1858.)

Passenger List Sir Allan McNab 1853 and 1854 mentions a Janet MCISAAC aged 21 years, unmarried, sponsored by the Duke of Argyle.

Brig Commerce with passengers from Broad Albion, Perthshire, from Port Greenock Scotland to New York July 9, 1775 mentions a Malcom McIsaac, aged 29 years, occupation: Smith.

Prince Edward Island PEI Ships built in New Zealand lists a B.G. McIsaac as Master of the Brigantine 'Parnell' 1884/1891.

New Zealand Archives

MCISAAC query on page 174 of The Scottish Genealogist

The High Council of Clan Donald - Clanranald in New Zealand mentions Harold McIsaac, High Commissioner for New Zealand

Scottish Clans Association - Auckland District Inc.
Has photos (MCISAAC etc.) from NZ reception in 2007.

Passenger List Clifford 460 ton barque

MacIsaac, Richard m 32 soap, candlemaker & baker
MacIsaac, Jean m 30 wife
MacIsaac, Robert c 13
MacIsaac, Richard c 10
MacIsaac, Jean c 8
MacIsaac, Ann c 6w

Similar site, but more detailed information from Rootsweb.

Passenger List Clifford 1842 ex London, Gravesend, England arrived 11 May 1842 Nelson, New Zealand