Father William B. MacDonald was pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish (formerly St. Bridget's Parish, Albion Mines) in Stellarton, Nova Scotia (not to be confused with Lourdes, Cape Breton). He is mentioned in "A History of the Catholic Church in Eastern Nova Scotia", Vol II, pages 415, 484,486, 494, and 546. He is listed as #216 in the list of priests, and was "born West Merigomish (now Egerton), N.S., of Scottish parents 1849; ordained Quebec 28 May 1876." (Page 484) Father William B. MacDonald was a nephew of Father William B. MacLeod and of Father Neil MacLeod, who were also first cousins of Bishop (later Archbishop) Colin Francis MacKinnon. Father William Bernard MacDonald was the son of Aonghas Mor (Big Angus) MacDonald (born abt 1809 in West Merigomish, NS) and Eunice MacLeod (born abt 1810 in Knoydart, Antigonish Co., NS. Big Angus was the brother of John MacDonald (Custos Rotulorum for Pictou County). Eunice MacLeod was the daughter of John MacLeod (son of Neil MacLeod and Mary Campbell) and Mary MacDonald. Eunice had a brother William Bernard MacLeod who was a priest. Father William B. MacDonald was called after his uncle, Father William B. MacLeod. Angus Mor MacDonald's parents were Donald MacDonald and Catherine MacDonald. Donald MacDonald's parents were Angus MacDonald (Pioneer to St. John's Island/PEI with the Glenaladale settlers in 1772) and Catherine MacDonald who was born in Lochaber, Scotland. This last Angus MacDonald was a soldier stationed at Annapolis, NS in 1788, which is where his son Donald was born. The last mentioned Angus MacDonald was born in Morar, Scotland, as Angus Gillis. He was a brother to John Ban Gillis who settled in Arisaig, Nova Scotia. It is not clear exactly why Angus changed his name to MacDonald; Father Rankin's book "The History of the County of Antigonish, Nova Scotia" claims that it was necessary for Angus to adopt the surname MacDonald because that was the name under which he received his grant of land as a Glenaladale settler. There are other versions, so we will never know for certain. It is fact that these Gillises were tacksmen and close family associates to the MacDonald Lairds of South Morar. It was not uncommon for people to change their surname to a chief or laird's name in those days when surnames did not have the defined importance of today. On 26-Oct-10, at 11:37 AM, M.T. Redican wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > I am looking for anyone who might have information concerning a > William B. MacDonald who was born in Halifax in ca 1918 and died in > Halifax in Feb 2003. William was the son of Colin MacDonald > (1878-1966) who was born in New Glasgow and Margaret Walsh (1879-?) > who was born in Halifax. > > Margaret Walsh came to New Glasgow to work with her sister in the > early 1900's. Colin and Margaret were married in 1917 in Truro. > They lived in Massachusetts for a while with their children but > eventually returned to Canada, most likely to the Halifax area. > Colin and Marggaret also had a daughter Mary who was born ca 1919 in > Halifax. > > Colin MacDonald was the nephew of Father William B. MacDonald who > was the pastor of Lourdes until his death in 1918. His parents were > John( 1839-1923) and Mary MacDonald (1846-1937). John and Mary > raised their family in New Glasgow and are buried at Lourdes Cemetery. > > If anyone has access to the obituary for William B. MacDonald from > Feb of 2003 that would be a great help. Thank you in advaance for > any assistance you can provide. > > > > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to CAN-NS-PICTOU-request@rootsweb.com > with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and > the body of the message