John Macdonell of Leek (abt. 1689)

Born about 1689 in Inverness-shire, Scotland

Ancestors

Descendants

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Biography

Had 3 sons and 9 daughters. All nine daughters married Macdonells. All three sons emigrated to New York in 1773, in a group of about 600 Scots, then later moved to Canada during the American Revolution.

Was a descendant of John Og, second son of Donald MacAngus MacDonald 8th of Glengarry, who was granted a tack or lease of the lands of Leek in 1661, in Glengarry, by his nephew Lord Macdonell and Aros.

This is NOT the John Macdonell of Leek described in an appendix of "The History of the Macdonalds and Lords of the Isles" by Alexander Mackenzie. He was too old to be that person but was probably related. ^[1]

Disputed Origins

According to the writings of the Reverends MacDonald in Clan Donald. Vol. III (1904), p. 351 John (identified as 3rd of Aberchalder) was the son of Donald MacDonald. He married his cousin, Mary, daughter of Ranald MacDonald of Culachie.

This claim is disputed by William Lewis (W. L.) Scott, K.C., a historian and descendant of the family. In his writings he claims that John Macdonell, holder of the tack [of Leek] in the early part of the eighteenth century, is the father of "three gentlemen" and also of nine daughters, all of whom married Macdonells. Those "gentlemen" are identified as John Macdonell of Leek, Allan Macdonell of Collachie and Alexander Macdonell of Aberchalder who with their families and 400 Highlanders from Glengarry, Glenmoriston, Glenurquhart and Strathglass came to New York State in 1773.

In the end, Rev. Archibald McDonald, one of the authors of Clan Donald, agreed with W.L. Scott. Scott quotes McDonald as saying

"I remember distinctly testing Mr. Scott's Genealogy by these Chisholm records and finding his tree confirmed in every particular where it differed from the pedigree given in the "Clan Donald."" ^[2]

Scott found evidence suggesting one of the daughters was married to John MacDonell of Crowlin which also contradicts the Clan Donald.

Identity Confusions

The Clan Donald lists John as being the son of Angus, 4th of Leek, and lists some of this John's sons as his brothers. The family in Canada is pretty clear that there were two Johns, father and son, and that this John is the father.^[3]

Also, this is NOT the same person as John Macdonell of Leek described in an appendix of "The History of the Macdonalds and Lords of the Isles" by Alexander Mackenzie. He was too old to be that person but was probably related. ^[4]

This is also not Captain John Macdonell.

Sources

A United Empire Loyalist Family, by W.L. Scott, K.C. Reprinted from Vol XXXII, Papers and Records, Ontario Historical Society. pdf available from Anemone Cerridwen

The Macdonells of Leek, Collachie and Aberchalder, by W. L. Scott, K.C. CCHA Report, 2 (1934-1935), 22-32. available online.

Macdonald, Rev. A. and Macdonald Rev. A. (1904). The Clan Donald: Volume 3. Inverness, Scotland. Northern Counties Publishing Company Ltd., p. 351.

Footnotes

1. ↑ See The Macdonells of Leek, Collachie and Aberchalder for a discussion of this.
2. ↑ "The Macdonells of Leek, Collachie and Aberchalder"
3. ↑ A United Empire Loyalist Family; The Macdonells of Leek, Collachie and Aberchalder
4. ↑ See The Macdonells of Leek, Collachie and Aberchalder for a discussion of this.