Here's a letter exchange between Kenneth McDonald and Claiborne McDonald II. They were contacted through Capt. John Napier.  I need to clean up this transcription as it's not accurate in some areas.

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Mr Claiborne McDonald
419 Main Street
Picayune, Miss.

1. Enclosed find the very interesting reminiscences of your father, the Rev. Claiborne McDonald

 2. Your genealogical sheet (your family)

 3. The blank genealogical sheet filled out with my family

My g-grandfather William (middle name may be Jack) McDonald, St., was said to have been brought to Virginia, what part or date I know not, and then came to Alabama in Old St. Stephens, Washington County (then Miss. Terr.) about 1811. He had a brother John and a sister Elizabeth. John is said to have gone West. I traced one of Elizabeth’s descendants to Selma. She is a Mrs. Dayton Dolenty, her husband is an M.D. and administrator of the Selma hospital. She had made me of the traditional data she had but nothing which helped me. She thinks our McDonald’s lived in present Baldwin Co. (some part of Washington Co. (M.) Ala. between Pine log & Majors Creeks which flow into the Tensaw River before 1820. William, John, and Roben McDonald lived there. I know nothing of Roben, if he is same as Robert or a descendant of both William McDonald Sr & his sister Elizabeth, it seems highly probable that their mother’s maiden name was Julia Benson. A Mr. McGowan who lives in Baldwin Co. Ala. courthouse thinks that the father of William, John, Roben & Elizabeth was named William.

McGowan’s are a sept of the McDonald Clan and Rev. Guy McGowan, pastor of Highlands Methodist Church, B’ham, who is from Baldwin Co, Ala, says that his g-grandfather William McDonald Sr’s, g-grandfather married a McDonald widow (4th John McDonald) buried near Tensaw or Major Creek (I am told). These McDonald’s seem to have been associated with the McIntoshes in Ala.

On the other hand, there were McDonald’s on Buckatunna (spelling?) Creek in present Wayne Co., Miss., evidently our ancestors. I have a court-minute record which shows William McDonald as a witness, at St. Stephens, with milking paid them for 50 miles. This seems related to Buckatunna Creek area & Majors-Pine log Creek area. A deed of gift and an affidavit of my g-grandfather Mrs. William (Elizabeth Perkins) McDonald prove that she was married to William McDonald at St. Stephens on Nov. 3, 1814. Pettus signed it. William, John, and various other McDonald’s at St. Stephens & G’sboro (believe that’s Greene Co.) Ala. about 1818-20, Mr. Gowan says that William McDonald’s Sr. administration papers on file in Lawrence Co., Cl. at Eutaw, Ala. show trips to Co. admin Srater Dugger for trips to St. Stephens (to sell property) there in 1820. He died in Probate in 1827. I lost my father and father came to B’ham, followed a little later by his other brothers and sisters.

It is difficult to trace ancestors through given names of my g-grandfather’s children (the use as only child) or the name. Some for friends and others for relatives. Amongst my father’s brothers who died in infancy were: Sidney, McDonald, A.D. McDonald, The Wars to Donald, and maybe the McDonald’s, The Wars to Donald, and maybe the McDonald’s, and Archibald or Alexander I died. I do not know for whom these were named. It does not do the rest.

Edinburgh, Scotland is not the McDonald Clan area. My g-grandfather and Uncle spent three months in the Europe, including Scotland about 1890-91. Suppose they visited the old home town of my g-grandfather.

In summer of 1894-95, I was not born, but I gave letters to Uncle Calhoon McDonald who never came up again. I have never thought to ask him where they went in Scotland.

There is a Clan Donald Society of America. Write Reginald H. MacDonald, Atty., 525 5th Union Trust Bldg, Pittsburgh, Pa. if you wish to join. I will be glad to hear from you if my data gives you any ideas about our ancestors.

Sincerely,
Kenneth Madison McDonald

For various McDonalds that lived in the St. Stephens area signed petitions to U.S. Govt. etc. Sec. Mississippi Territorial Papers Dr. Clarence Edwin Carter ed. Vol 6-7, etc. pub by US Govt Printing Office. Also Alabama Territorial Records, same.  You can find in one of New Orleans Libraries no doubt.

P.S.  Some Sinclairs, McDonalds & Douglases et als came to Leesburg, Va. about 1746-7 not long after Battle of Culloden May (?) be my ancestors.

How did Hot Coffee, Covington County, Miss. get it's name?
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Dr. Kenneth M. McDonald

2928 Pine Haven Drive

Birmingham 13, Alabama

Dear Dr. McDonald,

I have your recent letter with all that valuable information you sent. I have been trying to get a complete, or as near complete record of my family. I will still have a big job of searching out and putting together the information. Hope some day to have it. Or as near complete as possible.

I have been trying to get the names of the parents of Angus McDonald who came to America when he was about 16 or 17 years of age. Also the complete list of the children of Angus. When completed, if I ever do, I will have what we want.

You asked how “HOT COFFEE” got its name. I am told that in the old days the main road from Ellisville southwest ran through Covington County and that a farmer, who lived on that road, ran a country store and that travelers would stop for refreshments and he a a big sign advertising HOT COFFEE. Later a little settlement sprang up and it was called HOT COFFEE. I am enclosing a newspaper clipping that I cut out and am enclosing. This was in last week’s New Orleans paper.

Thanks again for your nice letter.

Sincerely yours,

Claiborne McDonald, Sr.

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