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Interviews
with Nova Scotian MacDonalds
by John Dye
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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)
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