This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: MacDonald McDonald Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/7aB.2ACEAE/570 Message Board Post: I am interested in all information regarding the McDonalds (MacDonalds) listed in the following article taken from "Pictonians at Home and Abroad" and other sources Regards, Ben MacDonald Glendale Arizona ================ In 1784, a settlement of disbanded soldiers was made further up the river. They came to Pictou at the close of the American War. They were, originally, from the Highlands of Scotland. The first who came was James Fraser, Big James, who in company with Donald McKay, elder, settled on the intervale a little below where St. Paul's Church now stands. He and fifteen others took up a tract of over three thousand acres, extending up to Samuel Cameron's on the east side of the river, and to James Fraser's, Culloden, on the west side. The names of these first settlers were: Donald Cameron, his brothers Samuel and Finlay, Alexander Cameron, Robert Clark, Peter Grant, first elder in the settlement, James McDonald, Hugh McDonald on the east side of the river. James Fraser, Duncan McDonald, John McDonald, brother of James, John Chisholm, drowned at the Narrows with Finlay Cameron, John McDonald, 2d, John Chisholm, Jr. John McDonald was born at Glen Urquhart and belonged to the Glencoe McDonalds. At the time of the Glencoe Massacre, 1692, one of the McDonalds fled to Glen Urquhart and settled there. John McDonald was a grandson or great grandson of that man. He was about eight years in the Royal Highland Emigrant Regiment, and three of his sons fought with him in the Revolutionary War on the Loyalists' side. Also referred to as Iain MacEoghainn, Oig John MacDonald was said to have been a veteran of Culloden and over 60 when he finally settled at bridgeville placing his date of birth at abt 1723 or a few years earlier He was married twice. By his first wife he had Duncan, Alexander, Mary and Christy. By his second wife, Margaret Grant, he had James, Ewen, Ann and Ellen. Ann was married to Thomas Fraser, Basin. Ellen was married to James Robertson. The well known Deacon Robertson, Churchville, was their son. Duncan, eldest son of John McDonald, was married to Catherine Fraser. James, their third son, was born about 1759. He was a Corporal in the 84th regiment. He married about 1782, Mary Forbes, by whom he had Alexander, Edward and other sons. There is some thought that Hugh (Evan or Ewen) the 4th son, could have married Jane Grant in 1794 I am also interested in all information on the following family from Bridgeville, Pictou County, including the parentage of Annie McIntosh. "Big" John Mor Macdonald was the son of Ewen Mor (Hugh) Macdonald. He is also listed on page 342 of the Rawdon & Douglas book. He was born in Bridgeville in 1800 He married Annie MacIntosh, with whom he had Duncan, Donald, Alexander, Ronald, Ellen, Jane, Mary, Charlie, Hugh, and Samuel. Duncan was known to have been a Superintendent on Sable Island from 1873-1884 Samuel was known to have been alive and living in California in 1920 Donald and Ronald were said to have 'gone West' in the mid-1800's Hugh (Evan) died in 1861 at age 33 at Salmon River Ellen (1824-1917) died unmarried and is buried in Bridgeville Alexander died in Providence RI on 4 Aug 1886 Jane Ann married Duncan McDougald John Mor MacDonald died on 31 Dec 1864 at age 64. His obituary was mentioned in the "Colonial Standard" 10 Jan. 1865, "On Dec. 31st East Branch, East River, John McDonald, Evan’s son. Before Evan was old John of the 84th Highland Emigrant Regiment-fought in Revolutionary War in the U.S".