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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Inverness => Topic started by: MacLost on Monday 02 April 12 01:22 BST (UK)

Title: Fr. Allan McDonald (1859-1905)
Post by: MacLost on Monday 02 April 12 01:22 BST (UK)
Has anyone compiled an extensive family tree on Fr. Allan MacDonald? He was born in Fort William to John MacDonald an Inn Keeper in Fortwilliam. He entered the Priesthood, conducting the majority of his work in South Uist, and then Eriskay where he died at the young age of 46.

I have read that he belongs to the Keppoch branch of MacDonalds on the paternal side. If anyone has any information concerning the ancestry of this family, then I would be pleased to hear from you.

Thanks
Title: Re: Fr. Allan McDonald (1859-1905)
Post by: MonicaL on Wednesday 04 April 12 21:06 BST (UK)
Hi MacLost

Not clear how much you have already?

Where do we start in trying to help you? www.scalan.co.uk/eriskay.htm

There is quite a lot on him on line so I think we need to understand what you have already and how you are trying to move on your research.

Monica  :)
Title: Re: Fr. Allan McDonald (1859-1905)
Post by: sancti on Thursday 05 April 12 17:08 BST (UK)
1861 census


John McDonald 40 born Inverallon, Inverness-shire occ spirit dealer
Margt McDonald 31 born Laggan, Inverness-shire
Charles McDonald 6
Allan McDonald 1 born Inverallon, Inverness-shire
Jas McIntosh 10 boarder
Isab Scott 19
Mary McIntosh 22

Address High Street, Kilmallie
Title: Re: Fr. Allan McDonald (1859-1905)
Post by: sancti on Thursday 05 April 12 23:15 BST (UK)
1891


Allan McDonald 31 born: Fort William, Inverness oc R C Clergyman
Alexander Campbell 72 born S Uist Retired R C Clergyman
Catherine Campbell 23 born S Uist, Inverness occ Housekeeper
Rachel Morrison 21  born S Uist, Inverness occ Housemaid



Address:

Daliburgh 56 Boisdale S Uist Inverness
Title: Re: Fr. Allan McDonald (1859-1905)
Post by: sancti on Friday 06 April 12 08:29 BST (UK)
His death certificate gives the date as 8 October 1905 in Eriskay, South Uist, parents were John McDonald (Hotel Keeper) and Margaret McPherson both deceased

Informant was his brother Ronald McDonald of Glensheil
Title: Re: Fr. Allan McDonald (1859-1905)
Post by: sancti on Friday 06 April 12 08:42 BST (UK)
1871 census


John McDonald 50 born Madallan, invernessshire occ Innkeeper
Margaret McDonald 41 born Laggan, invernessshire
Charlotte McDonald 17
Donald McDonald 13
Allan McDonald 11 born Fort William
Ranald McDonald 9
Eleya McDonald 6

Address High Street Kilmallie
Title: Re: Fr. Allan McDonald (1859-1905)
Post by: MacLost on Friday 06 April 12 14:58 BST (UK)
Dear MonicaL and sancti,

Thank you for your posts to my query.

I have attached an image which details the information that I have concerning Fr. Allan MacDonald, his family, and his ancestors, which is what I am most interested in.

I have looked at all the info that is available online, but no-one has actually detailed his family tree.

My goal is to try and determine further info concerning Fr. Allan's Grandfather and see where that might take my research, as if possible I would like to establish the Keppoch link.

Thank you again for your replies to my post, much appreciated
Title: Re: Fr. Allan McDonald (1859-1905)
Post by: MonicaL on Friday 06 April 12 15:51 BST (UK)
Hi MacLost

I did contact someone in the last few days who has amassed a huge history of the area and who may be able to help. He is looking further into his notes. From what he has sent me, I think research by a number of people is only back as far as you have got to, Fr Allan's ggrandparents:

Fr Allan's father was Iain Ailein Oig (married to Margaret MacPherson),
his grandfather was Ailean Og b. ca 1782 Kilmonivaig parish married to Elizabeth MacPherson (Cromdale),
his great grandfather Ailean MacDonald b. c. 1745 married to an Ann MacDonald. 

A number of people have been looking at this and not sure whether anyone has really got back further than you have.

There are ongoing questions marks as to Fr Allan's connections to the MacDonalds of Keppoch. As soon as I hear back with any further details, I will post back.

Monica
Title: Re: Fr. Allan McDonald (1859-1905)
Post by: MacLost on Friday 06 April 12 16:13 BST (UK)
Thank you Monica - your efforts in assisting me are greatly appreciated. I am very aware how difficult it will be to go further back, but I thought it would be best to exhaust every resource before conceding.

I look forwarding to hearing from you.
Title: Re: Fr. Allan McDonald (1859-1905)
Post by: MonicaL on Friday 06 April 12 16:37 BST (UK)
We never concede do we...we just wait (im)patiently for new info  ::) ;)

Monica
Title: Re: Fr. Allan McDonald (1859-1905)
Post by: angusm1939 on Friday 06 April 12 22:07 BST (UK)
There is one thing hat, were it evident, might have been a clue to Keppoch descent. The Fort William records are, on occasion, careful to distinguish MacDonnell from the more usual MacDonald such that there are actually  marriages between the two. MacDonnell was a usage favoured by Keppoch and Glengarry. Nothing doing in the Fr Allan line, I am afraid.

Just as a slight diversion, if anyone wants to catch a sight of Fr Allan in situ in South Uist, he is a key character in Rae's book 'A School in South Uist.'
Title: Re: Fr. Allan McDonald (1859-1905)
Post by: Sitheil on Wednesday 06 June 12 13:39 BST (UK)
Hi

Just caught these messages on Father Allan which I am really interested in as my roots are Daliburgh/Kilpheder, South Uist around the time Father Allan was my great grandfather's local priest.  I am reading a fascinating book just now which has a lot of information about Father Allan it is by Roger Hutchinson and is called simply "Father Allan" The Life and Legacy of a Hebridean Priest ISBN 978-1-84158-548-2 excellent reading of a wonderful devoted priest.

Florence Morrison
Glen Urquhart
Title: Re: Fr. Allan McDonald (1859-1905)
Post by: Br1gau on Sunday 30 September 12 18:05 BST (UK)
Hello MacLost

Do you know the name of the Ft William Inn kept by John & Margaret MacDonald?

brigau
Title: Re: Fr. Allan McDonald (1859-1905)
Post by: MonicaL on Sunday 30 September 12 18:39 BST (UK)
Ben Nevis Inn, I think!

Monica

Added: Just a snippet here: One of the bards featured on Saturday will be Father Allan MacDonald, priest of the island of Eriskay, "Father Allan's Island", who was an eminent folklorist. Fr Allan was born in Fort William High Street, in the Ben Nevis Hotel (now the Ben Nevis Bar/Jacobite/Munro Lounge) on October 25, 1859 (150 years ago this Sunday) and died on Eriskay, on October 8, 1905, at the age of just 45)
www.lochaber-news.co.uk/Home/Roamer/Local-bards-take-centre-stage-4493.htm
Title: Re: Fr. Allan McDonald (1859-1905)
Post by: Br1gau on Sunday 30 September 12 20:21 BST (UK)
A bit of historical background sourced from the Ben Nevis Title Deeds:

The property was owned by John Cameron in 1816; William Morrison in 1836; James Morrison from 1849 – 1871; Angus MacDonald from March 8th 1871 until Dec 1871, then Mr Cameron until October 1873 when it was bought by Alexander Boyd who ran it until his death in 1881. Alexander's son, William Duncan Boyd rented out the property, eventually selling it on in 1894 for £1,135.  It was sold in 1967 to Scottish & Newcastle Breweries for £28,000

The Ben Nevis prides itself on being the oldest hotel in Fort William; however, it seems that although it was a liquor outlet very early on it was made up into a hotel at a later date.  Pigot’s 1837 lists just three hotels; the Caledonian, the Neptune and the George with nine vintners and six grocery outlets licensed to sell alcohol.  From the old deeds it appears that the Ben Nevis was originally a ‘Dwelling House, Shop and Cellar, Stable and Barn with a small garden behind.’  Likely it was originally one of these six licensed grocers.

Another notable connection with the Ben Nevis is Sister Mary MacKillop, christened Mary Ellen, the eldest of six children, three of whom took Holy Orders, born to Alexander MacKillop from Ardnamurchan and Flora Hannah MacDonald who lived as a child at the Ben Nevis in Fort William.  Alexander MacKillop also studied for the priesthood before immigrating to Australia in 1838.  Mary was born in Melbourne in 1842.  She founded the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart and worked with the poor and vulnerable, including prostitutes and prisoners, also establishing a string of schools across Australia.  None of the services she and her sisters provided were restricted to the Catholic faith.  Sister Mary became Australia’s first saint, being canonised in 2010.