Interviews with Nova Scotian MacDonalds
by John Dye


MG1 Vol. 559 Ranald
MacDonald Family No. 395

Interviews with John-Jo-Angus-Jim" MacDonald, Scotchfort: (50 years of age). i.e. Mr John A. MacDonald, hereinafter referred to as "J.A.".
Mrs Joseph MacDonald, (age 82) Mount Stewart.
Mr. Frank MacDonald, Pisquid.

Mrs Joseph MacDonald, (hereinafter referred to as "Mrs. J. M.") lives with Maggie MacDonald at the telephone store, Mount Stewart, a cousin of "John-Jo-Angus". Mrs. J. M. claims relationship with John-Jo-Angus, and also with the Apple Valley MacDonalds.

Here is their genealogy as well as I could get it out of them: J.A. is now quite clear that his great-great-grandfather was Alexander (not Allen as he told Colin S. MacDonald). Mrs. J. M. confirms this. He was also sure they came from Kinlochmoidart, and said they were formerly called the Kinlochs. (Mrs. J. M. had no idea where they came from, but related the story of their ancestor, Reginald MacDonald and his sons who ……….. ashore, and one threw his finger ahead and got the land. This lands them on the West coast near Morar.

They both told a story of a fortune left by Allan, brother of Alexander, who had a plantation, (a "tea" plantation(sic)) in South America or the West Indies, to Alexander MacDonald and to Alexander's son Allan, who had worked for three years with his uncles on the plantation, but left because he didn't like it, - "all blacks there". His uncle gave him fifteen puncheons of rum to take back with him, but he didn't get a good price for them. The plantation had an archway over the entrance with the name Alan MacDonald on it. Allan, the uncle, was coming to see his brother Alexander, but died near Inverness, or at Inverness, where the boat landed him. He never married, but was far from childless, I discovered.

It was a most remarkable fortune, according to Mrs J. M. "£40,000,000 which must now be £100,000,000 as nobody ever proved their right to it." The MacDonalds in Prince Edward Island clubbed together and sent a man over to see about it, but couldn't prove their right. The "Rhetland" MacDonalds also tried to get the money, but it wasn't theirs.

No wonder they all failed. The money wasn't left to them. I went on to Mr Frank MacDonald's, Pisquid, who had a copy of the Will which he showed me. He was quite sceptical that it had ever been anything to do with the descendants of Alexander. (But see my 1805 note about the petition of the "very old man" who came into money - his son, Alexander MacDonald of Ardmolich's petition). Colonel MacDonald said that money came probably from the West Indies, and so it apparently did. Allan MacDonald's will was proved in June 1805, and the "very old man's" petition is dated 1805. Allan, the man who got the £4,000 was the son of Donald MacDonald, presumably of Ulgary, not of Alexander MacDonald of Prince Edward Island.

The total assets as I calculated them were, including seven slaves and bad debts, £6,283. So after all the legacies were paid, Donald didn't get a great deal, but probably enough to buy his farm at Ulgary.

Copy of Will of Allan MacDonald, of the Parish of Westmoreland, of the County of Cornwall. Made July 15th, 1802. Proved 14th June, 1805.
Jamaica, "T.T" or "L.L." or "S.S."

After usual preliminaries, leave to my nephew, Allan MacDonald, of the Parish of Westmorland, in the County of Cornwall, Planter, son of my brother Donald MacDonald, the sum of £4,000, current money of Jamaica.

Several legacies to his "reported natural sons" by various negro or mulatto women, (with many details about "Pheobe" and "Fanny" etc.) James, John, Alexander, Allan and Donald MacDonald, £800 to one, £300 each to the others, plus horses and slaves.

They were all to be apprenticed to trades, and not to get the money until their apprenticeship was over. A Donald MacDonald, son of a friend, also got a legacy.

After those legacies he leaves "the rest, residue and remainder of my estate, whatsoever and wheresoever, whereof I may die possessed or be entitled to, I give and bequeath unto my brother Donald MacDonald, now in the County of Mordant (but the original must be Moidart), in the Shire of Inverness in North Britain - and to his heirs and assigns forever."

If Donald MacDonald predeceases him, he gives it all to D. MacDonald's lawful issue, to be equally divided.
Everything to be disposed of as soon as possible to the best advantage.

Executors: Hon. George Murray
Archibald Galbraith
"My nephew", Allan MacDonald, Planter &c.
Signed: Allan MacDonald
Winesses: John Sangster
Alex. Rose

(Below are two indistinct signatures: Ruth Rouse, Aug. 21st 1930 and Mary Salearus(?). A note below says: This may be the Lochans family, or the Kinlochmoidart one)