The McDonalds of Richmond County, North Carolina

The main goal of this site is to discover who my fourth great-grandfather's parents were. By sharing my research, I hope to create a platform for collaboration where we can all fill in some blanks and learn something for our own genealogy research. Your contribution could be the missing piece we've been looking for.

My fourth great-grandfather was Angus McDonald. His tombstone states he was 92 years old and from the Isle of Skye. Angus was born in 1769 and died December 9th, 1861, in Richmond County, NC, where he apparently spent most of his life. He was a farmer and married Catherine Buchanan (b. 1776). Angus had roughly eight children, and it's worth noting that many of their descendants, through their contributions, have significantly advanced our research over the years.

My secondary goal is to explore the lives of Hugh C McDonald (Angus' firstborn) and his children. I am especially interested in my 2nd great-grandfather, Rev. Claiborne McDonald.

It can be challenging to research Hugh McDonald. There have been multiple Hugh McDonalds in Mississippi during this period. A few news articles and other research have often mixed up the Hughs. There is little about Hugh besides his purchase of "McDonald's Mill," previously known as "Carlile's Mill," in Perry County, MS.

Rev. Claiborne McDonald has the most recorded information of the three relatives mentioned here. He was a circuit rider in Mississippi for much of his life. He also joined the Confederate Army in 1861 and eventually surrendered at Appomattox Court House in 1865. Many records state that Claiborne wrote extensively about the family and likely knew many of the answers so many have had questions about. Sadly, many of his writings and extensive diary have been lost. I am hopeful they are amongst one of the items he has donated to institutions such as Millsaps College.