Allan Macdonald 7th of Kingsburgh Macdonalds, he was the eldest son
of Alexander Macdonald, factor of Kingsboro, he was born c1689. He was
a man of splendid physique and extraordinary strength. Few men of his age
could hope to vie with him. On many occasions he was the conqueror even
of the redoubtable Martin of Bealach in those trials of strength that were
then in vogue. He was one of the best cattle drovers of his day, earning
himself the name “Ailean nam mile mart” or “Allan of the thousand kine”.
Boswell also described him as “He had jet black hair tied behind, and was
a large stately man, with a steady sensible countenance.” Allan married
in 1750 the celebrated Flora Macdonald, only daughter of Captain
Ranald Macdonald II of Milton, of South Uist and Balevannaich Benbecula,
and Marion Macdonald, daughter of the Reverend Angus Macdonald who was
a Presbyterian Minister in South Uist. Flora’s father was Ranald s/o angus
jr s/o Angus Sr. Macdonald of Clanranald Milton. She had a brother Angus
who succeeded their father. Flora was born in Milton South Uist in 1722.
In 1724 her father died, and her mother Marion remarried in 1728, Captain
Hugh Macdonald of Armadale Skye who was 3rd s/o Somerled, s/o Sir James
Macdonald 2nd Baronet of Sleat. Being blind in one eye, he was known as
“Uisdean Cam”.
Boswell described Flora as “a little woman, of a genteel appearance,
and uncommonly mild and well bred.” For 22 years Allan and Flora lived
in Flodigarry, then moved in 1772 to Kingsborough, when Allan succeeded
to his patrimony upon the death of his father. In August of 1774, Flora,
her husband and two of their children sailed for North Carolina on the
ship Balliol. In North Carolina they took up residence in Mount Pleasant,
and a year later moved to another plantation of 500 acres, as well as the
house and farm steading. They called their home "Killigray". During the
American War of Independance, in 1776 Allan and his two sons left home
with a large number of Highlanders to fight for King George III. Allan
was appointed Colonel, and was subsequently taken prisoner at Moors Creek
in North Carolina. Eventually he was paroled in New York, and he rejoined
the army in Fort Edward Windsor in Nova Scotia Canada. Shortly after the
war ended Allan rejoined his wife in 1784 in South Uist. They returned
to Skye in 1787 and moved to Peinduin, not far from Kingsburgh house. On
March 4 1790 Flora died at the age of 68 years, and 2 and a half years
later Allan died at Kingsburgh House. On his return to Skye, Allan resumed
the management of the estates of the clan and he continued in the execution
of that office until his death in 1772 at the age of 83 years and is buried
beside his wife in Kilmuir. Flora had died 2 and a half years previously,
on March 4, 1790, age 68 years, both are buried in the Churchyard in Kilmuir,
where a huge Iona Cross marks Flora’s grave.
To this part of the New World came Flora and Allen MacDonald
in the autumn of 1774. They were accompanied by their sons Alexander and
James (and, possibly Ranald) and by their daughter Anne (Anny, Nan, Nanny)
and her husband Lieutenant Alexander MacLeod and the small MacLeod children.
They were accompanied also by a small retinue of indentured male and female
servants. Relatives of Flora who had preceded her to North Carolina included:
her step-father, the former Captain Hugh MacDonald who, in all probability,
had been the brain behind the escape of Prince Charles (whom he traditionally
believed he was obligated to protect as his lawful monarch; in spite of
his lack of enthusiasm for Charles Edward Stuart as a man); her half-sister
Annabella and her husband Captain Alexander MacDonald of Cuidrach and several
of their sons, and her half-sister Florence and her husband Archibald MacQueen,
who lived on a plantation of Alexander MacDonald of Cuidrach.Allen MacDonald
had a cousin named Alexander MacDonald; a veteran of thirty years service
as an officer in the British Army who had settled on Staten Island, New
York, several years earlier. He was to play an active part in the War of
Independence and to leave valuable records of some phases of it, including
interesting items of information on the activities of Allen and his three
sons. Alexander, Ranald, and Charles, while serving with the Royal Highland
Emigrants Regiment (or The 84th Regiment of Foot) of the British Army in
the Carolinas, New York, and Nova Scotia.
http://www.clandonald.org.uk/cdm04/cdm04a25.htm
Flora and Allan had a family of 7 children, five sons and 2 daughters;
E1.Anne Macdonald eldest daughter, m. Major Alexander Macleod of Lochbay
s/o The Wicked Man (Norman 22nd chief) and Janet Macdonald. They
occupied Dunvegan Castle when Norman Macleod the 23 chief was in India
circa 1780. ( Major Alexander Macleod was natural uncle to this chief.)
E2.Major
John Macdonald born 1759 died in august 16th 1831 commander of the Macdonald
Fencibles in 1794, commandant of the Royal Edinburgh Artillery, went back
to Scotland when the war was over.: He married Frances Maria Chambers with
children;
F1. Major General William Pitt Macdonald d: 12.3.1867 m: Charlotte Scott
F2. Major General John Collins Macdonald d: 14.2.1891 m: Sarah Anne Cotton,
Daughter of General cotton
F3. Florence Ellie Macdonald b: 1857 d: 1942 m: Colonel Henry John Waller
Barrow b: 1850, d: 1923
E3.Captain James Macdonald army officer, went to North Carolina. “a brave
officer who served with distinction in
Tarleton’s British Legion.” He went back to Scotland when the war was over.
E4.Lieutenant Alexander Macdonald army officer, went to North Carolina.
He was lost at sea with his
brother Captain Ranald on Sept 14 1782.
E5.Allan Macdonald jr., “writing in his diary on Dec 22, 1756, wrote “in
the end of the year 1744, fourteen persons saw a large vessel coming in
below Kingsborough, in the dusk of the evening, and drop anchor in the
entrance of Loch Snisort a very uncommon harbour which surprised us all.
This sight we had till night deprived us of it; but next morning there
was no vessel to be found, so that we all agreed it to be the 2nd sight,
which was soon accomplished; for Captain Ferguson being in search of the
young pretender, with the Furnace sloop of war, anchored exactly in the
dusk of the evening, in that unusual place above mentioned half a mile
below the house of Kingsborough.” Skye, by Derek Cooper page 226-227.
E6.Ranald Macdonald Captain of the Marines. “In the summer of 1782,
the Ville de Paris” started for England in convoy. There were upwards of
500 men on board. The prize crew was under the command of Flora’s son Ranald,
Captain of Marines, who was wounded on the “Princessa” in the battle. With
him was his brother Lieutenant Alexander Macdonald, who had joined the
ship shortly prior thereto. In mid ocean, on Sept 14 1782, she was stuck
by a terrific hurricane, and foundered. All on board were lost” Skye
Pioneers and the Island page 133.
E7.Frances Macdonald called Fanny m. her cousin Donald Macdonald of Cuidrach.
With children;
F1.Major Alexander Macdonald of Cuidrach m. Annabella Macdonald with children;
G1.Kenneth Macdonald died Feb 13 1814. Aide de camp to General Donald Macdonald
at Moore’s Creek Bridge. He m. a daughter of Nicholson of Scorrybreac.
The family monument at Forres is inscribed thus” In memory of Capt. Kenneth
Macdonald 84th Foot Regt. of Caroline Hill Skye, and his wife Jane Nicholson.
Also their daughter Jessie, died at Forres, 15th June 1857. Mary, long
resident in Forres, died in Edinburgh 11th May 1898 aged 95” - Skye
Pioneers page 133. With children;
H1.Frances Macdonald, called Fanny m. John Munro of Forres.
G2.James Macdonald m. Isabella Macqueen d/o Reverend Donald Macqueen of
Skye, a Captain at Moore’s Creek. James was a Prisoner of war for two years
in Maryland. Rejoined the Kings Army in N.Y. Died of fever in 1780. Reverend
Donald Macqueen was a brother to Reverend William Macqueen. Their mother
Florence was a d/o William Macdonald styled “the Tutor”, uncle of Sir Alexander
of the ‘45.
G3.Donald Macdonald Ensign Tarlton’s Br. Legion in 1780. In 1790 married
his cousin Frances Macdonald d/o the celebrated Flora. They emigrated to
Australia. He arrived in North Carolina in Christmas 1774. Given 500 acres
in Anson Co, by his grandfather Capt Hugh Macdonald. Returned to London
1783.
G4.Daughter Macdonald first wife of James Macdonald tacksman of Skeabost,
and merchant
of Portree s/o John Macdonald of isker, North Uist, with children;
H1.Emily Macdonald m. Captain James Macdonald of Floddigary.
H2.Jessie Macdonald m. Ninian Jeffrey with children;
I1.Agnes Johanna Macdonald m. Ranald Livingstone. ch;
J1.Col. Ranald J. died 1926.
J2.Alexander
J3.William John
J4.Emily Nina
J5.Mary Frances
J6.Flora Charlotte
G5.Janet Macdonald m. her cousin Major Alexander Macdonald of Courthill
House, Kishorn, Loch Carron, died Nov 19 1815. He was s/o Reverend Hugh
Macdonald of Glenmore, s/o Hugh Macdonald of Glenmore s/o Sir James Macdonald
2nd Baronet of Sleat. Janet died at Stornoway 1847, buried Skye. Major
Alexander Macdonald acquired Mogstadt when the Macdonald chiefs left there
for Amadale sometime after 1745. With children;
H1.Alexander Macdonald unmarried.
H2.Hugh Peter Macdonald of Monkstadt died July 1868 m. Jessie Macdonald
d/o Donald Macdonald 2nd
of Skebost with children, who all emigrated to Australia; see the Australian
Macdonalds.
H3.Elizabeth Macdonald pursuant to marriage contract dated at Mugstot,
Skye on Oct 6 1813 m. Alexander Macleod of Borlin Skye (eldest son of William
Macleod b. 1750 died at Borlin Skye 10 Aug 1811, of Luskintyre, Harris)
without issue. Elizabeth died at Stornoway 1872 where she is buried.
H4.Alice Macdonald b. c1805 died May 27 1870 m. Roderick Millar M.D. died
1889 s/o
John Millar M.D., of Storoway with children;
I1.Johanna Elizabeth b. nov 10 1844.
I2.Janetta Macdonald b. Sept 6 1846 both now residing in Edinburgh and
dispensing
cheerful Highland hospitality and Highland history.
G6.Jacobina Macdonald b. in Carolina. In 1805 or 1806 she m. Adjutant John
(Eon) Macdonald of Skye, of Lord Macdonald’s Regiment. He is said to have
died about a year after their marriage.
G7.Marion Macdonald d/o Major Alexander and Annabella m. Captain Murdoch
Macleod of Cuidrach Skye ( a branch of the Lewis and Raasay Macleods) with
children among others;
H1.Alexander m. with issue Banna.
H2.Marion Macleod m. Mr. Macintyre with children among others;
I1.Mary Macintrye
I2.Margaret Macintyre m. Reverend George Rainey Kennedy, minister of Dornoch
in 1868, with issue
among others George Rainey and Harry A.A. prof. Edinburgh.
H3.Margaret m. Reverend Alexander Macleod minister of Rogart Free Church,
Sutherlandshire in 1868, with no children.
H4.Malcolm Macdonald emigrated to Cape Breton.
H5.Annabella Macdonald m. James Munro M.D. of Kilmuir Skye. She was born
in 1792, and
emigrated to PEI in 1841. She died at Alberry Plains in Aug 1852.
E8.Captain Charles Macdonald
a Captain in the Queen’s Rangers, under Col. Simcoe. He returned to
Scotland when the war was
over.