At this stage of my family tree search I am desperately in need of help. I have traced my family line back to Alexander McDonald, a weaver and Janet (Fraser) both born c.1790, he in Leek and her in Kilmonivaig, Inverness. The OPR's show no death or burial records nor any marriage records, in fact they don't show much of anything for that period. They had seven sons, two of whom are recorded in OPR's at Leek.Oneof these, Ewen (Hugh) came to Australia in 1852 with another brother unknown (possibly Duncan). I have not been able to trace any of the other brothers. The Clan Donald records provide very detailed family tree info from the 1600's when John Og McDonald was first granted tenure of Leek (a farm on Loch Oich). Subesquent elder sons held tenure of these lands until John McDonald of Leek (1712-1813) and his brothers from Aberchalder and Collachie led around 600 of their clan from Leek and adjoining farms to Canada aboard the Pearl in 1773. Because Alexanders parents did not migrate with their leader, I have assumed that they were not closely related to, or part of the ruling family. The first records of my family apart from the OPR birth records of two sons, are the 1841 census which showed some 13 McDonald familes remaining at Leek and by 1851 they had virtually all gone.Most of these family groups were remnants anyway, ie. a mother and two daughters, single member familes etc. None of the 1841 familes provided enough family naming pattern details to link my family to them. Where next? Can I use the Scotish naming pattern for sons to predict what the name of Alexander's father & brothers might be, or is this unreliable at the time in question (late 1700's) Alexanders seven sons carried the same names as John McDonald of Leek and his six brothers but I accept this proves little. I would appreciate any suggestions as to what direction I should proceed in as I have run out of ideas. David McDonald Port Fairy Australia