John MACDONALD (1766-c.1841) John Macdonald, baptised on 30th November 1766, was the only child of Donald Macdonald and Mary Macdonald recorded in the baptismal register of the Parish of Tiree. That he was an only child, or at least the only son, is consistent with the writings of his grand-daughter, Flora MacDougall, in her autobiography ("Footprints of One Bonnie Scotch Lassie", published in Autumn Leaves Vol.88 (1925), a journal of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, USA): "He was only a blacksmith, the son of a blacksmith, and being an only son he was sent to Glasgow where he received education and learned all kinds of work in the iron trade. When he came back from the city he was such a dandy, so grandmother told me, and looked so nice beside the country lads that she fell in love with him at first sight. They were married, and in time grandfather became a well-to-do farmer and the magistrate of the island." On 24th January 1797, John Macdonald, then aged 30 and working as a blacksmith in the township of Balinoe, Tiree, married Marion Campbell, the 21-23 year old daughter of Murdoch Campbell and Catherine MacLean of Balinoe. John and Marion had eight children: Donald, 1797 (married Annabella Black 1841) Hugh, 1799 Murdoch, 1801 Catherine, 1803 (married Duncan MacDougall 1824) Flora, 1805 Mary, 1807 John & Murdoch (twins), 1809 John Macdonald was not listed in the first national census of 1841, so he must have died before the census date. His wife Marion was listed as living with their son Donald and his family at Balinoe. Flora MacDougall wrote that her grandfather died at about the time that her Uncle Donald married, which was in January 1841. Marion Campbell died on 30th January 1868 aged 93 in the township of Balephuil, Tiree, where her daughter Catherine and husband Duncan MacDougall lived. _________________ Keith Dash Sydney, Australia