Dan (Donald) McDonald of South Uist

[valeriec]

I don't want to mislead you into thinking this is your family but there could be a connection. This could help narrow your search area in Cape Breton to a smaller area and if it doesn't pan out, you can increase your search area.

A tip when checking pages. when you find a name of interest, scroll down the entire page to see if any other surnames or place names are of interest.

When checking my Crowes and Blenkhorns, I went through every name and was able to piece families together through area, parents, occupations, and informants. It is time consuming but worthwhile in the end.

Good luck.

[valeriec]

http://www.capebretongenweb.com/Cemeteries/cem38.html

Loch End Cemetery, Catalone

You can view the transcriptions at the above site. Lots of MacAuleys and McDonald's with connections to North/South Uist


Cape Breton Roots
http://capebretonroots.com/directory/

[Jehane]

Thank you so much for the information and the tips I will check them out.  I appreciate any leads.

Regards, Jane

[RunKitty]

Hi,

I have looked at some online directories for Cape Bretton and the number of McDonalds is astounding. 

This may be clutching at straws a bit, but how about trying to follow up on the "son was a minister" angle.  Was the family Presbyterian?  There is a book online (Free) called the History of the Presbyterian Church in Cape Breton.
 
   http://www.archive.org/details/thehistoryofthep00murruoft 

In the left hand pane, you can click "read online"  and it pops up with a search box.  There are lots of McDonalds in this book (you will see little balloons on the bar at the bottom of the page), but there are biographical sketches of many of them.

It looks as if it wasn't unusual for the ministers to have obtained degrees from Dalhousie University and from the Presbyterian College (both in Halifax NS).  I don't know if either of these institutions have yearbooks online - or class photos/bios. 

This may help narrow down options or confirm a family that you think may be right - if you can tie it to a minister??

I know this lead is a HUGE longshot, but it might help --   

Good luck - this is a tough one for sure.
RK   

[RunKitty]

FOr some reason, the link I just sent isn't "connecting".  I'll try to post it again:
 
http://www.archive.org/details/thehistoryofthep00murruoft

[Jehane]

Thanks Kitty quite sure they would be Presbyterian.  Apparently the minister Cousin Dan McDonald came to PEI to so a service.  I'll check it out.

[valeriec]

When you read through the book mentioned in the previous post, there are 2 separate McDonald ministers.

Rev. Kenneth J. McDonald
b. Port Morien (Cow Bay)
He grew up in Big Hill, St. Ann's, primary education at Big Hill School, secondary Education at Baddeck and Sydney Academies, went to Queen's University for Arts and Theology, graduated in 1894 with B of Arts and 1896 Bachelor of Divinity, licensed by the Presbytery of Sydney in June 1896. In November 1896 he was ordained and inducted into Knox church, Beaverton in the Presbetery of Lindsay. Four years later he became minister of Port Morien. His ministry was short, he resigned his charge and went west and then to First Church Galt in the Presbytery of Guelph.

There is a full chapter on the other McDonald minister who was born in the late 1700's and came to Nova Scotia and also to PEI. I won't go into details except to say it is worth reading the chapter in case it relates to your family.

[RunKitty]

Yes, there is quite a lot in the book about this Kenneth McDonald. 

There is also a second Donald McDonald - who is younger that the first one you mentioned.  On page 88, it talks about his education etc..  He is mentioned several more times in the book too.  His age and dates make him a possibility. 

A.J. McDonald is mentioned on 76 and 192.  He was born in 1866, so also a possibility.  There is a bio of him too.
 
There are a couple of Johns mentioned - with no bios...and a Sandy too (again, no bio).   

The book is quite interesting because each section seems to talk a bit about the early Presbyterian settlers in the area.  On page 135, it mentions some McDonalds from North Uist.  I wonder if these would be the ones in the census records Valerie gave you.  Maybe this will help tie up some of that information - I hope it fits with your family. 

It doesn't take too long to read through the book, and I hope it helps.  I would suggest having a map next to you... I have only been to Nova Scotia once, so I am not familiar with the smaller towns and parishes either!! 

RK

[Jehane]

Thanks for all the info been to Nova Scotia lot's of times but I'll still need a map:)