Alexander MacDonald (abt. 1812 - 1899)

Born about 1812 in Sollas, Outer Hebrides, Scotland, United Kingdom

Husband of Catherine MacDonald — married 12 Mar 1850 in Sydney Mines, Cape Breton County, Nova Scotia, Canada

Descendants

Died Sep 1899 at about age 87 in Sydney, Cape Breton County, Nova Scotia, Canada

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Jack MacDonald [send private message]

Biography

According to the Sexton's records of Hardwood Hill Cemetery in Sydney, Cape Breton County, Nova Scotia, Canada, Alexander MacDonald was born at Sollas on North Uist Island in Inverness County, Scotland. ^[1] Sollas is a small crofting township on the northern coast of North Uist. ^[2] Although the actual year of Alexander's birth has not been determined, his granddaughter, Katheryn Florence (Battersby) Fraser, once wrote in a letter that she thought he was born in about 1812/1813. ^[3]3 Based upon the few available documents which might indicate age (e.g. death and census records), this appears to be supported, since they indicate he was born sometime during the period 1810 to 1818.

Despite the fact that Alexander's parents, Archibald MacDonald and Mary Morrison, were issued a parish recommend in June of 1828 to emigrate to America, Alexander is known to have remained in Scotland for approximately fourteen more years. According to an entry dated 15 July 1834, which Alexander made in a small notebook he kept, he was residing in the village of Carinish on North Uist, where he was learning the blacksmiths trade. ^[4] The village of Carinish is situated in the southern part of North Uist, and is generally noted for the archaeological remains of a Neolithic settlement and its accompanying stone circle which are located a short distance north of town. ^[5] Alexander appears to have resided at Carinish for approximately eight years before emigrating to Nova Scotia. ^[4] In a subsequent entry in his notebook, which was simply dated “1842,” Alexander wrote that he was "coming to America." ^[4]

Upon arriving in Nova Scotia in 1842, Alexander probably settled first in the vicinity of North Sydney, or Sydney Mines, a coal-producing community in Cape Breton County. However, he eventually settled at Point Edward, also in Cape Breton County, on a forty acre parcel of land that he purchased in 1846 from a Mr. Blowers Archibald of Sydney Mines. ^[6] This forty acre parcel is currently the site of a large military hospital which was constructed during World War II.

While residing at Point Edward, Alexander met Catherine MacDonald, whom he later married at Sydney Mines in Cape Breton County, Nova Scotia on 12 March 1850. ^[4][7] Catherine, who is said to have been born on the Island of South Uist in Inverness County, Scotland in about 1827, was the daughter of Archibald MacDonald and his first wife, a woman whose name is not known. ^[1][3] She came to Nova Scotia with her parents in 1828 at the age of 13 months. ^[1][3]

After arriving in Nova Scotia, Catherine's family settled first in the vicinity of Whycocomagh Mountain in Inverness County, Nova Scotia, but later moved to the nearby village of Blue's Mills, also in Inverness County. ^[3][8] According to information furnished by Alexander’s granddaughter, Kathryn Florence (Battersby) Fraser, Catherine MacDonald’s mother had apparently passed away shortly after the family settled in Inverness County, Nova Scotia. Because Catherine was still quite young, her father sent her to Point Edward to live with her grandmother who had married a man named Morrison. This is how she came to meet Alexander. ^[3]

Shortly after their marriage at Sydney Mines, Alexander and Catherine moved to the small fishing and agricultural community of Gabarus in Cape Breton County, where Alexander worked as a blacksmith, and where all of their children were born. ^[3][9] Gabarus, which is situated on the south eastern coast of Cape Breton Island, is located approximately twenty miles due south of the town of Sydney in Cape Breton County, which is the largest urban center on Cape Breton Island. ^[5] Alexander's name was later found in the Cape Breton County deed records for the years 1857 and 1858 as purchasing certain lands near Gabarus on the south shore of Long Lake in partnership with a man named Philip Bagnell, and other lands in his own name on the south shore of Levers Lake. ^[10][11]

During the years 1876 and 1878, however, Alexander and Catherine sold their land at Gabarus, as they had moved back to Point Edward. ^[12][13] They where subsequently shown on both the 1881 and 1891 Canada census enumerations to be residing in the District of Ball's Creek. ^[14][15] During the succeeding years, Alexander and Catherine seem to have spent some time at both Sydney and Point Edward in Cape Breton County, as deed and mortgage records indicate that they were involved in several real estate transactions at both locations. They eventually retired to Sydney, however, where they had a house built on Great George Street. ^[3]

Catherine MacDonald died during the month of April 1898 in their home on Great George Street in Sydney, Nova Scotia, while Alexander died there during the month of September 1899. ^[3] Catherine was subsequently buried in the Hardwood Hill Cemetery at Sydney in Cape Breton County, Nova Scotia on 18 April 1898, while Alexander was buried there on 8 September 1899. ^[1]

Issue: (Surname MacDonald)

1. Samuel - b. 7 December 1850 at Gabarus, Cape Breton Co., Nova Scotia, Can. ^[4]; m. (remained single). ^[16]; d. after 1928 at Seattle, King Co., WA. ^[16]
2. Archibald - b. 7 July 1853 at Gabarus, Cape Breton Co., Nova Scotia, Can. ^[4]; d. young at Gabarus, Cape Breton Co., Nova Scotia, Can. ^[4]
3. James - b. 17 August 1854 at Gabarus, Cape Breton Co., Nova Scotia, Can. ^[4]; m. (1) (unknown).^[17]; m. (2) 21 July 1888 to Elizabeth (Morrison) DeCoste in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, North Sydney, Cape Breton Co., Nova Scotia, Can. ^[17][18]; d. (last found on 1901 census of Nappan, Cumberland Co., Nova Scotia, Can.) ^[19]
4. (female) - b. 21 October 1856 at Gabarus, Cape Breton Co., Nova Scotia, Can. ^[4]; d. at birth at Gabarus, Cape Breton Co., Nova Scotia, Can. ^[4]
5. Archibald - b. 19 May 1858 at Gabarus, Cape Breton Co., Nova Scotia, Can. Ref: ^[4]; d. young at Gabarus, Cape Breton Co., Nova Scotia, Can. ^[4]
6. Mary - b. 28 May 1859 at Gabarus, Cape Breton Co., Nova Scotia, Can. ^[4]; m. 3 April 1883 to William Thomas Fraser by banns in St. George's Anglican Church, Sydney, Cape Breton Co., Nova Scotia, Can.^[20]; d. 1893 at Point Edward, Cape Breton Co., Nova Scotia, Can.^[21]; bur. St. John's Anglican Church Cem., Point Edward, Cape Breton Co., Nova Scotia, Can. ^[21]
7. Alexander - b. 14 September 1861 at Gabarus, Cape Breton Co., Nova Scotia, Can. ^[4]; m. 23 October 1889 to Isabella Munroe at the Presbyterian Church, Lorway Mines, Cape Breton Co., Nova Scotia, Can.^[22] d. 20 September 1913 at Whitney Pier (Sydney), Cape Breton Co., Nova Scotia, Can. ^[23]; bur. Hardwood Hill Cem., Sydney, Cape Breton Co., Nova Scotia, Can. ^[23]
8. Euphemia "Effy" - b. 3 February 1864 at Gabarus, Cape Breton Co., Nova Scotia, Can. ^[4]; m. 3 January 1888 to John James Battersby at West Side Sydney River, Cape Breton Co., Nova Scotia, Can.^[24][25]; d. 17 September 1921 at Westmount, Cape Breton Co., Nova Scotia, Can.^[26]; bur. Hardwood Hill Cem., Sydney, Cape Breton Co., Nova Scotia, Can. ^[1][26]
9. Sarah - b. 7 April 1866 at Gabarus, Cape Breton Co., Nova Scotia, Can. ^[4][27]; m. 11 October 1901 to Hector A. Melville at the Baptist Church North Sydney, Cape Breton Co., Nova Scotia, Can.^[28]; d. 22 November 1904 at Sydney, Cape Breton Co., Nova Scotia, Can.^[24]; bur. Hardwood Hill Cem., Sydney, Cape Breton Co., Nova Scotia, Can. ^[1]
10. Ann - b. 23 July 1868 at Gabarus, Cape Breton Co., Nova Scotia, Can. ^[4][29]; m. 21 January 1897 to Henry R. Fauteux at Boston, Suffolk Co., MA.^[24][30]; d. 2 September 1902 at Fall River, Bristol Co., MA.^[24][31]
11. Archibald - b. 26 October 1870 at Gabarus, Cape Breton Co., Nova Scotia, Can. ^[4][32]; m. 6 June 1907 to Mary M. Tecklenburg at Stockton, San Joaquin Co., CA.^[33][34]; d. 30 November 1945 at Modesto, Stanislaus Co., CA.^[33][35]; bur. Modesto Pioneer Cem. (aka Modesto Odd Fellows Cem.), Modesto, Stanislaus Co., CA.^[35]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5} Sextons Records / Interment Records, Hardwood Hill Cemetery, Sydney, Cape Breton County, Nova Scotia, Canada.
2. ↑ Historical and genealogical information pertaining to the island of North Uist in Inverness County, Scotland furnished by Mr. J. Blair MacAuley of Oakville, Ontario, Canada on 23 May 2009. Documents in possession of Author, Jack E. MacDonald, of Powell, Wyoming.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7} Letter written to Glenn MacDonald by Lorne Green on 10 October 1982 reciting information provided by Katheryn Florence (Battersby) Fraser of Sydney, Nova Scotia, great-granddaughter of Archibald MacDonald and Mary Morrison. Copy in possession of Author, Jack E. MacDonald, of Powell, Wyoming.
4. ↑ ^{4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17} Alexander MacDonald's record book. Unpublished. Original book and transcribed copy in possession of Author, Jack E. MacDonald, of Powell, Wyoming.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (en.wikipedia.org)
6. ↑ Deed Records, Cape Breton County, Nova Scotia, Canada, 1786-1912. Cape Breton County Registrar of Deeds. Deed Book N-O, 1843-1847. On file in the Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah. (familysearch.org)
7. ↑ Registration of Marriage between A. McDonald and Catherine McDonald. Marriage took place in March 1850 at Sydney Mines, Cape Breton Co., Nova Scotia, Can. Henry Balster, Deputy Registrar, Gabarus, Cape Breton Co., Nova Scotia, Can. (familysearch.org)
8. ↑ Deed Records, Cape Breton County, Nova Scotia, Canada, 1786-1912. Cape Breton County Registrar of Deeds. Deed Book N-O, 1843-1847. On file in the Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah. (familysearch.org)
9. ↑ 1871 Census of Canada - Gabarus, Cape Breton County, Nova Scotia Canada. (ancestry.com)
10. ↑ Abstract of Deeds, Gabarus, Cape Breton County, Nova Scotia, Canada. Hugh McEachern to Philip Bagnell and Alexander McDonald (Tenants in Common) 100 Acres for 15 Pounds, 11 August 1757 [Book V, Page 155]. (familysearch.org)
11. ↑ Abstract of Deeds, Gabarus, Cape Breton County, Nova Scotia, Canada. William Fairbanks and Jonathan Allison to Philip Bagnell and Alexander McDonald. Acreage unknown - 18 August 1858 [Book W, Page 90]. (familysearch.org)
12. ↑ Deed Record, Gabarus, Cape Breton County, Nova Scotia, Canada. Alexander McDonald and Catherine his wife, 50 acres for $140 - 20 September 1876 [Book KK, Page 533]. (familysearch.org)
13. ↑ Deed Record, Gabarus, Cape Breton County, Nova Scotia, Canada. Alexander McDonald and Catherine his wife, 200 acres for $400 - 30 December 1878 [Book NN, Page 36]. (familysearch.org)
14. ↑ 1881 Census of Canada - Ball’s Creek, Cape Breton County, Nova Scotia, Canada. (ancestry.com)
15. ↑ 1891 Census of Canada - Ball’s Creek, Cape Breton County, Nova Scotia, Canada. (ancestry.com)
16. ↑ ^{16.0 16.1} Letter Written on 13 April 1928 by Samuel MacDonald of Seattle, Washington to Margaret Adelaide Battersby of West Side Sydney River, Cape Breton County, Nova Scotia. Transcribed copy in possession of Author, Jack E. MacDonald, of Powell, Wyoming.
17. ↑ ^{17.0 17.1} Marriage License # 10725 issued at North Sydney in Cape Breton County, Nova Scotia, Canada on 20 July 1888, with attached Province of Nova Scotia, Canada Marriage Slip Dated 21 July 1888. [James MacDonald and Elizabeth (Morrison) DeCoste] Copy in possession of Author, Jack E. MacDonald, of Powell, Wyoming.
18. ↑ Birth, Marriage, and Baptism Records, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, North Sydney, Cape Breton County, Nova Scotia, Canada. Records also filed with the Beaton Institute, Sydney, Cape Breton County, Nova Scotia, Canada.
19. ↑ 1901 Census of Canada - Nappan, Cumberland County, Nova Scotia, Canada. 1901 Indexing Project. Enumeration District d, Page 1, Line 26. [James McDonald and Elizabeth (Morrison) Decoste McDonald]. (ancestry.com)
20. ↑ Marriage Records, St. George’s Parish, Sydney, Cape Breton County, Nova Scotia, Canada.
21. ↑ ^{21.0 21.1} Cemetery Records, St. John's Anglican Church Cemetery, Point Edward, Cape Breton County, Nova Scotia, Canada. Headstone Listings as of September, 2009. Inscriptions were transcribed in 1998 by George Newbury.
22. ↑ Marriage License # 2070 issued in Cape Breton County, Nova Scotia, Canada on 23 October 1889, with attached Province of Nova Scotia, Canada Marriage Slip dated 23 October 1889. [Alexander MacDonald and Isabella Munroe] Copy in possession of Author, Jack E. MacDonald, of Powell, Wyoming.
23. ↑ ^{23.0 23.1} Nova Scotia Historical Vital Statistics - Births, Marriages, Deaths. [Alexander MacDonald] Registration Year 1913 - (Book 23, Page 29, # 171).
24. ↑ ^{24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3} Misc. correspondence, documents and other information furnished by the late Mrs. Eugenie “Gene” Hennessey of Sydney, Cape Breton County, Nova Scotia, Canada during the period 29 July 1987 to 14 October 1989. Much information had been obtained by her mother, Katheryn Florence (Battersby) Fraser, who personally knew and compiled genealogical notes on most of Alexander and Catherine MacDonald’s descendants. [Eugenie was the granddaughter of Euphemia “Effy” MacDonald and great granddaughter of Alexander MacDonald and Catherine MacDonald]. Some original letters and documents in possession of Author, Jack E. MacDonald, of Powell, Wyoming.
25. ↑ Marriage License # 9375 issued in Cape Breton County, Nova Scotia, Canada on 3 January 1888, with attached Province of Nova Scotia, Canada Marriage Slip dated 3 January 1888. [John James Battersby and Euphemia MacDonald] Copy in possession of Author, Jack E. MacDonald, of Powell, Wyoming.
26. ↑ ^{26.0 26.1} Nova Scotia Historical Vital Statistics - Births, Marriages, Deaths. [Euphemia (MacDonald) Battersby] Registration Year 1921 - (Book 59, Page 535).
27. ↑ . Birth Record, Cape Breton County, Nova Scotia, Canada, 1865-1866. Public Archives of Nova Scotia, # 144. [Sarah MacDonald] Copy in possession of Author, Jack E. MacDonald, of Powell, Wyoming.
28. ↑ Marriage License # 2641 issued in Cape Breton County, Nova Scotia, Canada on 7 October 1901, with attached Province of Nova Scotia, Canada Marriage Slip dated 11 October 1901. [Hector A. Melville and Sarah MacDonald] Copy in possession of Author, Jack E. MacDonald, of Powell, Wyoming.
29. ↑ Birth Record, Cape Breton County, Nova Scotia, Canada, 1868-1869. Public Archives of Nova Scotia, # 100. [Ann MacDonald] Copy in possession of Author, Jack E. MacDonald, of Powell, Wyoming.
30. ↑ Massachusetts Marriages, 1695-1910. (familysearch.org)
31. ↑ Massachusetts Deaths, 1841-1915. (familysearch.org)
32. ↑ Birth Record, Cape Breton County, Nova Scotia, Canada, 1870-1871. Public Archives of Nova Scotia, # 475. [Archibald MacDonald] Copy in possession of Author, Jack E. MacDonald, of Powell, Wyoming.
33. ↑ ^{33.0 33.1} Family records, documents, genealogical research, and other information provided by various individuals pertaining to the MacDonald / McDonald Family and Collateral Families. Many documents in possession of Author, Jack E. MacDonald, of Powell, Wyoming.
34. ↑ California, County Marriages, 1850-1952. Also Marriage Records, San Joaquin County, California. Volume 5, 1908-1914. (familysearch.org)
35. ↑ ^{35.0 35.1} Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/57316375/archie-macdonald: accessed 21 July 2023), memorial page for Archie MacDonald (26 Oct 1872–30 Nov 1945), Find A Grave: Memorial #57316375, citing Modesto Pioneer Cemetery, Modesto, Stanislaus County, California, USA; Maintained by Ed Smith (contributor 47100545).