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Hello Jim,

Greetings from the auld country.

I was able to look through the OPRs for Old Parish in Greenock in the Micthell Library (Glasgow) this evening, and found the following marriage entry:

"Alexr McDonald and Isobell McLaughlan both of y(?) Par[och] were married Decr. 12 1720"

The writing is very clear and the year is definitely 1720, 1721 starts on the same page.

The baptism registers only start in 1698, so I was unable to check whether Alexander was perhaps born in Greenock.

Hope this helps. Justin

Hi Justin,

I'm narrowing down some things and wondered if you could assist or provide guidance.

I've determined that the Alexr. family folks have stated is our ancestor, is not. A quick summary, Alexr. was in the Aberdeen Tolbooth eight days before Culloden, was imprisoned because he harboured a rebel and was not deported. I just had the feeling that our Alexr. was not from Aberdeen because of his marriage in Greenock.

I believe Alexr. was born in the 1698 - 1702 time frame (he died in 1783). This would put his marriage age between 18 and 22. And, I'm looking in the Renfrew, Inverness, Ross & Cromarty parishes.

There is listed in "The Directry of Scots Banished To The American Plantations"
Alexander MacDonald, Merchant, Mickle-Strath, Ross. Jacobite in Cromarty's regiment. Prisoner at Inverness, ships and Medway. Transported, 1747(?).

I've checked ALL IGI records with no luck. And, since he married a McLaughlan(in), he should have resided where the MacLachlan Clan was dominent.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Jim

I have been mulling over your McDonalds because they (obviously) would originally have come from the Highlands and Islands, particularly the Western Isles. There wouldn't have been many in Ellon at this time, so you could be pretty confident the McDonalds mentioned in the IGI would be 'yours'. I note that a John McDonald was having children around the same time as Alexander so I guess there is a possibility they were brothers.

In the 1696 Poll Book for Ellon there are no McDonalds - indeed there are only a handful of people with any Mc or Mac surname. (However, I should also say that this doesn't mean they weren't there at the time, as people in my tree who should have been in a certain Parish in 1696, were not always in the Poll Books.)

There were Donaldsons in Ellon at that time.

I have a book 'A History of the Burgh and Parish of Ellon, Aberdeenshire,' by James Godsman which has a chapter 'A short record of the tenantry'. It isn't particulary short and it's not indexed, but knowing the comparatively early date was helpful. However, there was no mention of any McDonalds as tenant farmers. I had been hopeful as Godsman does mention quite a few non-tenants who had Jacobite sympathies, but no luck.

One last thought : Eleanor would have been an unusual given name in Ellon at the time, so perhaps was a McDonald family name?

Also, if you wanted to know where in the Parish Alexander was when the children were born, it would be worth buying a few credits on Scotland's People to look at the originals.  Often, although the mother wasn't important enough to be mentioned when the baptism was recorded, the farm was eg Alexr McDonald in (wherever) had a son baptised...etc. Marriages tend just to say 'of this Parish', but you never know. Or maybe someone here with a few spare credits could look for you?

Trish

Hi Trish,

There is a on-line book (google books) "Historical papers relating to the Jacobite period, 1699-1750, Colonel James Allardyce, LL.D, Volume First", that has provided enormous information.

Because of the above, I'm getting closer as Alexr. was not at Culloden because he was imprisoned in the Aberdeen Tolbooth on 8 April 1746, eight days before Culloden. His charge was harbouring a Jacobite rebel (From researcher at the Tolbooth).

He was listed as a merchant.

Also, there were two Alexander McDonald's as residents of Aberdeen on 28 December 1745.

That gives me concern whether the John born in Ellon is our John.

Also (but not verified for our Alexander),

Macdonald, Alexander of Aberdeen (Male) Date: 1744 Occupation(s): merchant, commerce(s) Subscribed to The ancient Liturgy of the Church of Jerusalem, 1744, RATTRAY, Thomas. London, Subject: religion. 

In Frances J. McDonnell's "Roll of Apprentices, Burgh of Aberdeen, 1700 - 1750", there is an Alexander McDonald, son of the late Duncan McDonald who was a farmer in Killeyn Parish, apprenticed to Thomas Niven, merchant for 4 years - no fee. Mr. Alexander Keith, minister at Cruden, cautioner.

Trish, is there someone who would be willing to volunteer to determine the above is our Alexander and if possible determine his birth and location? (it is said to be in Aberdeen, Jan 14, 1695/1695). I have checked all IGI records with no luck.

Alexr. was treated as a Jacobite and transported to the colonies from Liverpool on 5 May 1747.  When/how was he transported from Aberdeen to Liverpool? Did his family accompany him or?

So many questions huh?

May 2008 be kind to you.

Jim
 

Hi,

Thanks for asking. No, I've been busy with other projects and haven't had the time to investigate. I did send an email to the Tolbooth but did not receive a reply. There was a grad student I was trying to reach that was giving a lecture on the Tolbooth prisoners.

Regards,

Jim

Hello,

Alexander was deported to the colonies on the ship 'Gildart' after the aftermath of and his participation at Culloden in 1746. The Gildart left Liverpool on 5 May 1747, arrived 5 Aug 1747 Port North, Potomac, Maryland.

The McDonnald-MacDonald-McDannald-McDonald-McDaniel (variations of name) descendents are spread all over the United States today. Primary locations until about 1880 were Culpeper County, Virginia and Montgomery County, Kentucky.

Regards