FAMILY OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD
Hello Aaron, I hope the following information will connect with your records somehow. The only information I have on James MacDonald's children or descendants is what I included in my first message, namely that his children were John, Effy, Catherine, Alexander, Isabella, William and my great-great grandmother Ann (McDonald) Murray. This information came from his will. James McDonald acquired title to Lot 3 in the 10th concession, East Zorra, on March 5, 1839. The "Christian Guardian" of February 5, 1851 contained his obituary: "Last night a wedding party assembled at the house of James McDonald, 10th concession Zorra to make merry since Mr. McDonald's son was to be married the next day. Mr. McDonald, in drawing water from the well slipped on some ice and fell into the well from which he was taken a half hour later, a lifeless corpse". I hope to hear from you. Nora Hockin
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FAMILY OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD
I have MacDonalds in my family as well as Murray's for the Zorra area. Do you have any information on James MacDonald's children or descendants. Aaron Murray
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FAMILY OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD
Hi Nora, Found some information on Sir John A. MacDonald for you. John was born in George Street, Glasgow on 11 Jan 1815, the 3rd child of Hugh MacDonald who was born in Sutherland, most sources say Rogart but one source says Dornoch. The family emigrated to Kingston, Ontario in 1820. In 1968, four thousand pounds was raised to erect a memorial to Sir John A. MacDonald at Rogart, his ancestral home. The plaque reads: Sir John A. MacDonald, G.C.B. P.C. M.P. First Prime Minister of Canada, Father of Confederation. His monument is a nation: this cairn is but a footnote to his greatness. Dedicated on July 13, 1968 by Right Honourable John G. Diefenbaker P.C. Q.C.C. M.P. Thirteenth Prime Minister of Canada. Two days later Diefenbaker unveiled a similar plaque in honour of his great grandfather, George Bannerman of Kildonan, Sutherland. The cairn to MacDonald is at Dalmore, Rogart, a small crofting township. It is assumed that this is his ancestral home. In 1965 on the 150th anniversary of Sir John's birth a commemorative plaque was unveiled at St. Paul's and St. David's Church, Glasgow in the parish in which Sir John was born. The unveiling was performed by his great, great, grandson, Mr. Hugh A.G. MacDonald Gainsford. On the same day in Kingston, Ontario, a dinner was held in his memory attended by the Prime Minister. Now I hope to find out for you where the Murrays fit into this. Best Wishes, Christine
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FAMILY OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD
My great-great grandmother Ann (McDonald) Murray (b. May 21, 1817 in Rogart, died January 21, 1897 in Woodstock, ON, Canada) was said by my great grandmother Murray and my grandmother Ann (Murray) Hockin to be a first cousin of Sir John Alexander Macdonald, first Prime Minister of Canada. I am trying to ascertain whether this is true and gather more information about her family. Ann (McDonald) Murray's father was James McDonald, who died February 4, 1851 on his farm in East Zorra, Oxford Co., ON, apparently after falling down a well. I don't know her mother's name. Her siblings were John (eldest), Effy, Catherine, Alexander, Isabella and William. She married David Munro Murray (b. 1815 Rogart, d. 1878 Woodstock ON) on December 31, 1841 in Zorra Township. Sir John A. is recorded as having been born in Glasgow on January 11, 1815 to Hugh Macdonald and to Helen Shaw of Dornoch. Apparently Sir John A's grandparents lived in Rogart. There is a cairn in his honour in the Dalmore area of Rogart. Nora Hockin
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Hi Do you have any further information on the Calder connection? The Calders from Sutherland may well fit into this family. Can you email me and I will try to help you. Christine
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My Grandfather Alfred James Calder born Edinburgh Scotland 1891 always told us that he was a cousin to Sir John a MacDonald - unfortunately he never told us just how that connection came into being -- I would very much like to find that connection too -
take care Joanne Bechard St. Thomas Ontario Canada
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Re: FAMILY OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD
My stepgrandmother was a cousin or 2nd cousin of Sir John MacDonald - Buelah (McDonald) MacDonald. She died in Seattle WA and had many children and grandchildren and ggrandchildren. We have a MacDonald tree at macdonaldtree@hotmail.com. I am robmacdonald@yahoo.comStill looking for James MacDonald
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Re: FAMILY OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD
Not sure if you are still acitve, but found your thread on the net and thought I would commment. My family shows that a Annie MacDonald Married a Hugh Murray Aug 20 1802 in Dornoch Scotland. Annie was born on September 8, 1779 in Rogart. I show that there were two children, Mary and Robert. Could be there were more kids, like your Ann who was born May 1817.
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Re: FAMILY OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD
Hi I will look up family tree- My grandmother was Donella Sutherland born June 1898 in Golspie. she emigrated to SA but always said she had Mac Donalds as family. I will double check family tree and reply-
Regards
Sandra Monaghan
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Re: FAMILY OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD
Nora, Please contact me regarding your ancestry and possible connection with Sir John A. Macdonald. Graham Evan MacDonell Principal Researcher The Great Glen Genealogical Research Centre Suite 324 - 24 Station Square Inverness, Inverness-shire Scotland, UK IV1 1LD graham_macdonell@yahoo.co.ukgreatglen45@btinternet.com
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