I am trying to trace descendants of my 3xGreatGrandfather James MacDonald (spelt McDonald in his Will). James is believed to have been born circa 1766 probably at Banscol (alt. Banskail) near Braegrudie in Upper Strathbrora in Rogart Parish, Sutherland, Scotland. His father was John MacDonald (born 1736, died 1822 – the Grandfather of Sir John Alexander MacDonald) but the name of his mother is not recorded. This was John MacDonald’s first marriage, but there is no surviving official Marriage record. There are two surviving official birth records relating to this marriage (but not for James). John’s first wife must have died (possibly in childbirth) and then John married for a second time to Jean MacDonald on 18/08/1776 (John was aged 42 and jean aged 21). Although Pope’s biography of Sir John Alexander MacDonald states that Jean and John were not related, I suspect that they were. John and Jean lived initially at Dalmore in Rogart Parish where Hugh (Sir John Alexander MacDonald’s father) was born 12/12/1782. There are no surviving official records for the marriage or the birth of their children.

James was recorded as a witness (Godfather?) on the official birth/baptism record of Sir John Alexander MacDonald on 10th January 1815 at Ramshorn Kirk in Glasgow Scotland. 10th January 1815 is the birth date of Sir John A handed down from James in our family.

James married Lydia Sproule (taken from an official record) but the place and date of the marriage is not known. It could have been in Donegal Ireland, as at least one of their children was born there. I have not been able to ascertain if James was in Ireland in a military capacity or if his presence there was related to the “Plantations”. The only occupation that I have ascertained for him was as a Master Tailor. By 1831 James was back in Rogart Parish living at Rhiline from where he emigrated to Canada in that year. I believe that his wife was deceased by then.

The next record of James is as a witness at the marriage of his son John to Janet Sutherland at St Andrew’s Church York, Home County Ontario on 31/08/1832.

James McDonald acquired the title to Lot 3 in the 10th concession, East Zorra, Oxford County Ontario on March 5, 1839, where he died on 4th February 1851 after falling down a Well whilst preparing for the marriage of one of his sons.

John, his son, acquired the title to Lot 10 in the 11th concession (100 acres), East Zorra, where the 1851 Census lists John (age 44 next birthday) his wife Janet (43) and children, Alexander (17), John (15), David (13), Christian (11), Marianne (9), Hannah (7), Janet (5), Margaret (3) and Danelda (1).

The other children of James reference in his will are:-

1. Effy (Is this an Elizabeth or Euphemia??) born circa 1809/1810 (an Elizabeth McDonald married Kenneth Murray 18/12/1840. Witnesses James McDonald & George Murray)
2. Catherine born circa 1811 (single as of 1840 according to Will)
3. Alexander born circa.1812/1813
4. Isabella born circa 1814 (married Angus McIntosh 21/02/1845??, Witnesses James Mcdonald & David Murray)
5. William born circa 1815/1816 in Donegal, Ireland (my 2xGreat Grandfather), Married Hannah Boyle in Greenock Scotland 20/04/1841
6. Anne born 21/05/1817 Rogart Scotland (could have been Donegal, Ireland), Married David Murray at East Zorra 31/12/1841 (Witnesses James Murray and Alexander McIntosh)

There may be one other son, Donald, as on 22/03/1849 James transferred half of his farm (Lot 3 in the 10th concession, East Zorra) to Donald Madonald, and Donald is not otherwise a beneficiary of his Will. The 1851 East Zorra Census lists, Donald (age 37 next Birthday) and his wife Janet (30) with no children. A Donald McDonald married Jane A Murray 14/02/1845.

As far as I can ascertain William sold his share of the Farm on 11/10/1851 and returned to Scotland with his family, and his other siblings remained in Canada.

I would like to trace any descendants of William’s siblings.