The MacDonalds are of very ancient origin. As Lord's of the Isles and Earl's of Ross, the Clan Donald was the greatest of the Highland Clans, their chief, until 1493, ranking as an island Sovereign. The Clan Donald is one of the most numerous and wide spread of the clans and include several families, who, while using different surnames, have an identical genealogy derivation. Of these, the families of MacDonald or McDonald are the most important as well as MacDonnell or McDonnell. The mode of writing is not important, the name is the same; they are of one stock; and the story of the Clan Donald is the story of their ancestors. This Clan derives its name from Donald, the grand-son of Somerled; and hence the name MacDonald, or son of Donald. Mac of the Gaelic Mhic, signifying son. By abbreviating the prefix to Mc and M' many families write the name McDonald or M'Donald. The ancient history of the MacDonald Clans in the early ages is very obscure. The families of the Western Highlands and the Isles of Scotland have their origins in myth and legend. They are Celtic origin and descendants of the Gall-Gall Gaelic sea rovers who inhabited the Inner Hebrides and main coast of the Highlands of West Scotland. They are purely Pictish descent. No doubt they are a mixture of Scandinavian and Celtic blood.., as these islands were over-run more or less by the Norwegian and Danish sea rovers. It has been found that the Isles were under Scandinavian and Danish Kings from 880 to 1100 AD, and somewhere in the end of the ninth century and the beginning of the tenth, the name.........
KENNETH
Kenneth appears in the genealogy of the ancient Kings of the Isles, At this time there were many clans in the Western Scottish Isles and it is quite difficult to distinguish which were the true ancestors of the MacDonald's, but as he was a Celtic Gael, there is amoung the early writers, little doubt that he was one of the ancient ancestors. He was succeeded by his son.........
SUIBNE
Suibne died in 1034, being the last king of the Gall-Gall Gaels. Little is known of the descendants of Suibne for some time as the Danes a nd the Norwegians fought many battles for they possession of the islands. It is asserted that......
GILLEDOMNAN
Gilledomnan was in possession of the islands when the authentic history of the MacDonald's began. Gilledomnan was driven from the Isles by the Scandinavians, and died in Ireland, where he had taken refuge. He was succeeded by his son.......
GILLEBRIDE
Gillebride had gone to Ireland with his father and after his father's death he prevailed upon the Irish Clan Cholla to help him expel the invaders and regain his kingdom,but his four or five hundred followers were no match for his enemies. At this time, when the fortunes of the Clan were at there lowest ebb, there arose a savior in the person of one of the most celebrated of the Celtic heroes; Somerled the son of Gillebride.
I........SOMERLED
Somerled, Rex Insularum, took his place as a leader of men, from whom descended a race of Kings, a dynasty distinguished in the stormy history of the middle ages, who ranked themselves before the Scottish Kings.
This young hunter uprose a mighty warrior, who with dauntless courage struck terror into the hearts of his foes. Somerled obtained a grant of the Islands of Man, Arran, and Bute from King David the First of Scotland, who had in 1135, expelled the Norwegians from these Islands.
Somerled was then called the "Thane of Argyle". He was the true founder of the MacDonalds. There is no doubt he was a Scandinavian by male descent. the name is a Norse one which is rendered Samuel in English. He married Ragnhildis Olave and had issue three sons........(1) Dougal
(2) Reginald
(3) AngusSomerled was succeeded by his son Reginald.
II........REGINALD (also RANALD)
Reginald assumed the title "Lord of the Isles" or received it from his followers. He and his two brothers were styled Kings of the Isles, and in the next generation, mention is made in a Norse chronicle, of the three Kings of the Isles, all of therace of Somerled, existing at the same time. Reginald obtained Kintyre and Isla, and part of Arran; Dugal acquired Lorn, Mull and Jura; and Angus succeeded to Bute, part of Arran and the territory lying between Ardnamurchan and Glenelg. From Reginald, styled on his seal, Reginald Rex Insularum, Kominus de Ergile, sprang the family of Isla. He died in 1207, leaving three sons; Donald, Roderick and Dugal. From Donald descended the powerful Clan still bears his name.........
III........DONALD
Donald succeeded his father in the Lordship of the Isles of Kintyre, Isla, and other possessions, being known as King of Innesgall, and as such entered into an Alliance with Norway against Alexander III of Scotland. A romantic history of these times has been handed down by the seannachies. On one occasion when the galleys were approaching land held by the enemy, their leader, to urge on his followers, swore an oath that the Clansman whose hand first touched the shore, should be the owner of the land forever.The Clan Donald, hero of the story, sprang to the prow of the galley, and with a stroke of his dirk, cut off his hand and cast it upon the shore, thus obtaining the lands for himself and his descendants. To this day the crest of the MacDonald's is the bleeding hand and the point where the hand was thrown is still shown in Skye, and known as Ru Barnaskitaig. Donald married a daughter of Walter the High Steward of Scotland, progenitor of the Royal House of Stewart, and died about the year 1249, leaving two sons; Angus and Alexander; and Alexander was known as Allastair Mor. Donald was succeeded by his eldest son.......
IV........ANGUS MOR
Angus, Lord of Isla, styled by the seannachies Angus Mor, had his lands ravaged by Alexander III, of Scotland in 1255, so that in 1263, when King Haco of Norway arrived in the Isles, Angus joined the Norwegians. Shortly afterwards however, he was on friendly terms again with the Scottish King, for in 1264, he was one of the three nobles from Argyle present at the convention by which the Maid of Norway was declared heiress to the throne of Scotland. About this time there were three great noblemen all holding great possessions in the Isles, and on the mainland, who attended the Scottish Parliament. According to some writers Angus Mor was of a very amiable and cheerful disposition, and more witty than any of his time. He married a daughter of Sir Colin Campbell and had two sons......
(1) Alexander
(2) Angus OgAngus Mor died in 1292, and was succeeded by his son Alexander.
V........ALEXANDER
Alexander joined John Stewart, Lord of Lorn, in his opposition to Robert Bruce, After the Defeat of Lorn at Lockow. Bruce proceeded against Alexander and laid siege to his residence Castle Swegn. Alexander could not resist the power of Bruce and was compelled to surrender and was imprisoned at Dundonald Castle, where he died in 1303 and was succeeded by his brother Angus Og.......
VI........ANGUS OG MacDONALD
Angus Og, allied himself with Bruce and received the land of his brother Alexander which had been forfeited to the Crown. Bruce was at this time trying to free his country from the Edward's of England. Angus Og entertained in his defeat, at his own Castle for one-half year and shared all his subsequent enterprises. At the battle of Bannockburn, Angus Og and his men of the Isles, estimated at 10,000 men, were a potent factor in determining the issue of the conflict and securing Bruce's famous victory. When the engagement between the main bodies had lasted sometime, Bruce made a decisive movement by bringing up the Scottish reserve. Tradition says that, at this crisis in the battle. Bruce addressed the Lord of the Isle in a phrase still used as a motto by some of his descendants, "My trust is constant in Thee, "and the words of Scott express the spirit of the:--
"One effort more, and Scotland's free!
Lord of the Isles, my trust in thee
Is firm as Ailsa Rock."As a reward for the service rendered by the Clan Donald at Bannockburn the Clan was granted, at the wish of Bruce, the proud privilege, in every battle, of occupying the place of honour protecting the right flank of the Scottish army. For his aid, Bruce also bestowed upon Angus Og the Lordship of Lochaber. with the lands of Duror and Glenco, and the islands of Mull, Jura, Coll and Tiree. Angus Og married Margaret O'Cathan. He died at Islay in 1329 and was succeeded by his son John, known as the First Lord of the Isles. He also had a second son John by a second marriage, and know as Iain Fraoch, on whom he bestowed the land of Glenco.
John became the progenitor of the MacDonalds of Glenco and settled therein the district of Lorn. The chief of the Glenco MacDonalds Mac-Vic-Ian-Mac-Ian was of Royal descent. He with nearly all his clan were massacred by Campbell of Glenlyon in 1692. He had remained constant in his adherence to King James, and loyally took an oath to serve William of Orange, but was rewarded with as foul an act of treachery as was ever perpetrated.
There were many clans of the MacDonalds, but I am most concerned with the history of the MacDonalds of Glenco, as it was from this clan that my ancestors came. My father Francis Ganong MacDonald was a direct descendent of the MacDonalds of Glenco, so I have felt it my duty to compile a little of the background of this family for the future descendants.
THE MacDONALDS OF GLENCO As previously recounted the MacDonalds of Glenco were the descendants from John, son of Angus Og, who had received the land of Glenco as part of his reward for his help in obtaining a victory for Robert Bruce. John received Glenco as his inheritance, settling there and becoming the progenitor of the MacDonalds of Glenco. In 1689 the then Chief of Glenco, was one of the chieftains who supported the cause of King James, and as a clan followed "the bonnets of Bonny Dundee."-
Glenco fought at the battle of Killiekrankie, and in consequence of his share in the campaign passed under a decree of forfeiture in 1690, circumstances gradually leading up to the terrible episode known in history as the Massacre of Glenco, In August 1691, the Government required that all the clans who had taken up arms in favour of King James, should take an oath of allegiance to King William and Queen Mary, before the last day of December. MacDonald of Glenco had postponed taking the required oath until the stipulated time had nearly expired, and when he set out for the purpose of complying withthe order, he was detained by the snow-drifts in the passes. As soon as he could get through the country, he went to the commander at Fort William to take the oath. The commander not being empowered to administer the oath, sent him with a letter to Sir Colin Campbell of Ardkinglass. Sheriff-depute of Argyle. The weather was so severe that the Sheriff was detained three days before he could meet Glenco at Inveraray, the time had lapsed, but on the earnest solicitation of the old chieftain and explanation of the cause of delay, Ardkinglass administered the oath January 6th. Suspecting no treachery and persuaded that he had secured safety of his Clan, Glenco returned to the Vale. Meanwhile the Earl of Breadalbane had gone to London; Dalrymple, Master of Stair, then Secretary for Scotland, had been arranging a plan for extirpating the MacDonalds; and the following proclamation was drawn up and signed by King William:
"It will be proper for the vindication of Publick justice to extirpate that set of thieves. W. R. " Captain Robert Campbell of Glenlyon, with 120 men of Argyll's regimentwas ordered to Glenco on the 1st of February. Captain Campbell was uncle to young MacDonald's wife, and he and his party were hospitably received in the Vale, Glenlyon assuring the MacDonalds that the object of his visit was friendly. During twelve full days Campbell and his men spent the time in merriment, receiving the most generous treatment that their appointed victims could afford. On the twelfth of February the order was sent to Campbell to fall upon the MacDonalds precisely at five o'clock the following morning, and put all to the sword under seventy years of age. With this dastardly order in his pocket, Campbell spent the evening before the massacre with John and Alexander MacDonald, sons of the Chief. At parting, he wished them good night, and even accepted an invitation from the Chief to dine with him the following day.
The massacre commenced at five o'clock on the morning of February 13th1692. Glenlyon undertook to butcher his own host and the inhabitants of his house, and his host, with nine others were dragged from their beds, tied hand and foot, and slain in cold blood. A boy of twelve years clung round Glenlyons feet and begged for mercy; but the child was shot dead. The old Chief of Glenco, roused by a knocking at his door, and as he was rising to receive his guest, was shot dead behind his back. He fell in the arms of his wife, who died the next day in a state of distraction. The slaughter became general; neither age nor infirmity was spared; women defending their children were killed. Thirty-eight, including the old Chief and his two sons were shot down. How many of the fugitives perished amoung the snow-clad hills will never be known.
The MacDonalds of Glenco fought at Sheriffmuir, and , in 1745, joined Prin ce Charles with 130 men, fighting through all his campaigns up to the final defeat of the Stuart cause at Culloden.
Thus the remnant of the Clan of Glenco were driven from their native land to seek refuge in another place. They are next found in Ireland. The early records of this family are very obscure on account of the atrocious massacre and it has been found impossible to give a complete genealogy of the successive heads of this house. Some family records show........
I ..........JOHN MacDONALD
John MacDonald was born in 1663 in the county of Inverness in Scotland, a descendent of the MacDonald's of Glenco. He married a Miss Aimes with issue in line......
II ........DAVID MacDONALD
David MacDonald was born in Scotland in 1693. He moved to Ireland with his father in 1712 and settled in Ulster. His son Alexander became next in line.
David left Ireland for America and arrived in New England in 1759. He later went to New York where he taught school. His wife's name was Ann-? and she was suppose to be of Irish descent. They had eight children namely-------1. David
2. Frances
3. Daniel
4. John
5. Alexander born March 25, 1738 in Ireland, next in line
6. Elizabeth
7. Ann
8. CatherineWe do not know what became of the rest of the family as Alexander was the only son that came to New Brunswick as far as we know.
III ........ALEXANDER MacDONALD 1738-1834
Alexander was born in Ireland March 25, 1738. He came to America with his father and settled in New York in 1759. Some family records say that he lived in Staten Island, N. Y. and that there are records of his family in the Public Library there. It is said that he was a Captain in the Kings forces during the American Revolution, surrendering at Washington at Yorktown. While in the army he met a Dr. Earl who was a surgeon in the British Army. The two became friends and Captain MacDonald was invited to the home of Dr. Earl and while there met his sister whom he later married in 1772. She was the daughter of Marmaduke Earl an English resident of New York. Her mother was of Dutch descent. Her name was Rebecca.
At one time Alexander drove cart in the city of New York for which he had the following license-----COPY.
To all to whom these presents shall come, GREETING,
Know ye that I have license and appointed and by these
presents do license and appoint Elick MacDonald of the City of New York,
labourer, to be a publick cartman of this City of New York,
during my will and pleasure, he keeping a good
and sufficient horse and cart, which cart shall be plainly
marked with the number (433) and obeying such rules and orders.
As shall at any time or times in my absence, of the
Deputy Mayor, Recorder, or any of the Alderman of the said City,
and likewise obeying and performing such directions as shall
from time to time be received from the persons appointed
foreman over the respective cartman of the said City, and
this shall be sufficient authority for so doing.Given under my hand and seal the
twenty-first day of February in the
twelfth year of His Majesty's Reign.
Annoi Domoni 1772
Whitehead Hicks
Alexander and his wife Rebecca and two children, John and Ann embarked on the Brig Hopewell from New York in 1783 and landed in Saint John, New Brunswick, along with other Loyalists, after a voyage of 13 days
They landed and pitched tents on the beach as at that time there was not one frame house and only one log building and that was a Fort. In about a week he drew a lot in the Lower Cove, This land was well wooded and they built a log cabin of the spruce logs. They lived here for 1 1/2 years and then left in 1785 for the Washademoak Lake, then called North River, where he had been granted 2000 acres of land. The amount of land given to each grantee was determined according to his rank in the army. Their baby Ann died on the way up the river.
They must have endured great hardships at first. Their houses were log huts and their meat was game that was plentiful. They fished at first with hooks, their clothing was scanty for at first the had no sheep. Having no Oxen or horses at first, they hauled supplies from Saint John on toboggans in the winter. There was a good market in Saint John for furs of all kinds to supply the "Old Country"market. and in this way they were able to obtain money. With an axe to chop down the trees and a new hand hoe to work the soil after the trees were cut and burned, they began to raise grain and vegetables. When they began to have livestock, the marshes furnished their first hay. As soon as horses could be kept they began to furnish cord wood for Saint John fuel. Very soon boats began to appear to carry this wood . Richard MacDonald was Captain and owner of several of them. Alexander settled at MacDonald's Point which was named for him, and built a house at what is now McKiels shore.
The old cellar may still be seen. Part of the old house was moved by his Grandson, David Jr., to where Fulton Barnes his Great-Great-Great grandson lived, now owned by Fultons's Grandson Steven Barnes
Children of Alexander and Rebecca (Earl) MacDonald were:
1. John born in New York March 1, 1777.
2. Ann also born in New York, died coming up the river.
3. David born June 17, 1786.
4. Mary born February, 29 1788-- married Daniel Smith
5. Ann II born July , 1791-- Married John Golding
6. Marmaduke named after his mothers father. died at 10 months.NOTE: Alexander and Rebecca MacDonald are buried in the MacDonald's Point, Cemetery, and the original gravestone still stands. Their family name is spelled McDonald on the Gravestone, and this spelling is used on the gravestones of many of their descendants. However it seems to have been a matter of individual choice as most of the descendants of their oldest son John use the MacDonald spelling while the descendants of their second son David use either spelling, depending on individual preference. I have tried to list the families by whichever was the family choice of spelling if it is known.
A point of interest would be to go to Clan Campbell
and read their version of the tale.