Donald Nicolson (abt. 1725 - abt. 1780)

Born about 1725 in Aird, Inverness-shire, Scotland

Husband of Flora (MacDonald) Nicolson — married 1760 in Skye, Inverness-shire, Scotland

Descendants

Died about 1780 at about age 55 in Skye, Inverness-shire, Scotland

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Biography

Rev Donald Nicolson is Son of Alexander Nicholson and Marion MacDonald. The Rev. Donald Nicolson, minister of Strath, Torrin and Kilchrist whilst working as a Minister.

He was appointed as Tacksman of Aird, Sleat-Skye when not working as a Minister.

The Nicolsons or MacNicols are undoubtedly one of the oldest, if not the oldest clan, that occupied Skye. The name frequently met with in Norway and the Orkney Islands and shows Norwegian origin. Information first hand Canon Nigel Nicolson, 2018

The Chiefs were at the head but only some resided on their estates, the Tacksman farmers (A Tacksman was frequently a blood relative of the Chief) managed the Crofts. Donald Nicolson was a tacksman.

In 1760 Donald Nicolson married William MacDonalds daughter Flora. (Jobs for the boys!)

Another of the smaller clans is the Nicolsons who had their lands at Scorrybreak just north of Portree. They didn’t have a castle but the ruins of the chief’s house can be seen at Torvaig. The last Nicolson chief emigrated to Tasmania in the early 1800s.

It is noteworthy that Nicolson ministers together served the church for a total 527 years. Of which 208 consecutive years from 1626-1834.

Sources

• "History of the MacDonalds and Lords of the Isles. 1881.

A little bit of common knowledge for the reader:- Rev Donald Nicholson, born 1725, Aird, Sleat, Isle of Skye, Scotland. Died 1780. Tacksman of Aird, Sleat, Skye, Scotland.

• Fasti ecclesiae scoticanae; the succession of ministers in the Church of Scotland from the reformation Author: Hew Scott. Publisher: Edinburgh, Oliver and Boyd 1928. Page: 179 #1706.

• tolharndor.org/ft/mcdonald-skye.htmlCached Maggie MacDonald Sleat Historical Society.

• tolharndor.org/ft/mcdonald-skye.htmlCached All children of Donald & Flora born SLEAT

• Also from papers and letters from the Robertson family

• Isle of Skye History | Churches, Clans, Castles and Brochs https://www.isleofskye.com/skye-guide/history Isle of Skye has a very long and complex history featuring the clans of the smaller clans is the Nicolsons who had their lands at Scorrybreak just north of Portree. They didn't have a castle but the ruins of the chief's house can be seen at Torvaig. The last Nicolson chief emigrated to Tasmania in the early 1800s.

• William MacDonald of Boronaskitoch. THE progenitor of the MacDonalds of Vallay, was William MacDonald, son of Sir Donald Macdonald, third baronet of Sleat, better known as "Tutor of MacDonald". He obtained the farm of Aird, near Duntulm in Skye, free for life, and a perpetual fee of the Island of Vallay, in North Uist, for one shilling a year, in return for his services to the family of Sleat, during the forfeiture, after 1715.

Acknowledgments

• WikiTree profile Nicolson of Aird-1 created through the import of Family Nov 2011.GED on Sep 6, 2011 by Jim Tarbet. See the of Aird-1 Changes page for the details of edits by Jim and others