MacDonald Family Sleat (Calligary or Ardvasar)

[CaileanMac]

I am looking for any information about:

Alexander MacDonald
Born: Unknown, Possibly between 1740-1760?
Died: Unknown
Occupation: Agricultural Labourer/Woollen Weaver

1st Married (date unknown): Kate MacKinnon

• Niel MacDonald (b. Abt 1784 Sleat/Strath, Skye - d. 1874 Sleat, Skye)

2nd Married (date unknown): Ann (Christy) Fletcher

• Donald MacDonald (b. 1795 Paisley - d. 1879 Calligary, Sleat, Skye)
• Alexander MacDonald (b.1800 Paisley - d. ??)

Donald MacDonald (my ancestor) married three times, to Jean Pollock (1819), Margaret MacPherson (1851) and Margaret Nicolson (1862).

His half-brother Niel MacDonald was married to Anne MacDonald, date unknown.

I really would be interested in finding:

• Census records for Alexander MacDonald depending on when he lived to
• Birth, Death and Marriage records of Alexander MacDonald
• Birth record for Niel MacDonald

[McDonald_George]

Found connections to Isle of Skye during Mac/McDonald family research.
 
Earliest known Mac/McDonald ancestor:  Malcolm McDonald born abt 1740-1755 ? Skye or Paisley.
Married Catherine Stewart - Paisley 1776
 
Their granddaughter Elizabeth Helen McDonald was mother to African missionary Frederick Stanely Arnot - Her parents were Neil McDonald (b.1776 Paisley) and Mary Dunn (m.1806)
 
The Skye connection is revealed in a biography of F.S. Anrot by Ernest Baker (out of copy write)
- THE LIFE & EXPLORATIONS OF FREDERICK STANLEY ARNOT

It says - "His mother was the youngest daughter of Neil Macdonald,  of Macdonald and Dunn, sewed-muslin manufacturers of Paisley. Mr. Macdonald died before his daughter's marriage with Mr. Arnot. His grandparents belonged to the islands of Skye, from which they fled at the time of the rebellion in connection with Prince Charlie."
 
 
Re: Donald Mac/McDonald:
 
Found a Donald McDonald recorded at the same address as Neil McDonald (b.1776) while researching the Paisley trade directories (1810 - 1840's) . Firsty recorded at St.Mirren Street then later at Love Street.
 
As yet unable to establish the family connection to this Donald McDonald.
Neither Neil (b.1776)  or his father Malcolm have any (recorded) children called "Donald".

Paisley Trade Directory entries:

1823  - 'McDonald & Dunn - Manufacturer' at 34 St.Mirren Street with 'house' at 15 Love Street.
1823  -  Donald McDonald,' Sherriff Officer' is also recorded at 34 St.Mirren Street

1834  - Donald McDonald, 'D & J Manufacturers' at 14 St. Mirren St. - 'House' recorded at 49 Love St. The same entry appears for 1836 and 1838 directories.
 
 



 

[CaileanMac]

Hi George,

Certainly an interesting story there, maybe there is some kind of connection between us somewhere far down the line. Just three points I wanted to make-

1. The problem I am having with Skye records is that they don't begin until relatively late, from around 1815 and onwards. This makes it extremely difficult to trace back from this point.

2. The MacDonalds of Sleat, while sympathetic, never 'came out' openly in the '45 rebellion.

3. From my own research I know my ancestor Alexander MacDonald came down from Skye to Paisley some time between 1781-1795. I believe the MacDonald Lord of Sleat was evicting tenants from the land as part of the highland clearances, but he also raised a regiment of men from his estate to go off and fight the Americans in the War of Independence (the war finished in 1783). One can only speculate for the motives of individuals but these could of been 'push' factors in men wanting to leave the area at that time.

[McDonald_George]

Hi , thanks for the reply.

Sounds like we have been reading the same historical sources for Skye.

Noted that your Donald McDonald (b.1795) was married to Jean Pollock in Paisley. During my own research I found a will for Neil McDonald (b.1776 - first son of Malcolm McDonald & Catherine Stewart) The executor for Neil's will was a James Pollock (Yarn Merchant - Paisley). As yet not established if there is a McDonald family connection to James Pollock. Census for 1841 indicates James Pollock lived at Underwood Rd (Paisley). The maiden name for his wife was Landale, her first name is not recorded.

Family of Malcolm McDonald & Catherine Stewart:
Married 1776 (6th Jan) - Paisley Low Church

Children all born in Paisley:

Neil McDonald b.1776  - m.1806 Mary Dunn (Manufacturer and Town Baillie for Paisley)
Peter McDonald b.1778 - Died as infant
James McDonald b.1779 - m.1807 Mary Jarden - (Weaver, later Customs Collector - 3 x gt.grandfather)
Catherine McDonald b.1780
Peter McDonald b.1783 (Spirit Dealer, Census 1841 - Broommielaw St, Glasgow)
Margaret McDonald b.1785
Elisabeth McDonald b.1788
Jean McDonald b.1786
Alexander McDonald b.1790 (Weaver, Census 1841 - Castle St, Paisley )
Janet McDonald b.1792 - m.1814 Robert Provan
Agnes McDonald b.1795

(1841 Census details for Peter & Alexander still to be verified)




 

[Skoosh]

Macdonald of Sleat & the MacLeod both raised the militia to support the Earl of Loudon & the Hanovarians. They assisted in the looting and lifting of cattle of  Jacobite supporters in the aftermath of the '45. The MacLeod's of Raasay for example were cleaned out by the visitation of the Skyemen.

Skoosh.

[CaileanMac]

Skoosh, I have never heard that information before and having done a quick search online I see you are correct. I can't say I've ever read much that has particularly endeared me to the MacDonald Lord's of Sleat. Really, quite a questionable legacy.

From what I can see the men in the militia had pretty mixed feelings about having to hunt down their own relatives and friends and I suspect the motivation was self preservation rather than any particular interest in the Hanoverian cause. The wife of the Lord of Sleat had very strong Jacobite sympathies for example and the population in general was sympathetic.

I've come across the cattle theft to which you refer before. I don't have the numbers to hand but it was a truly staggering amount and constituted a devastating attack on the economy of Northern Scotland.

Anyway.... getting off topic!