Isle of Skye

McDonalds of Skye

A Generational Project to Discover the McDonalds of Skye

Update to Angus Sr. Theory

posted on 07/15/24

Julie Merrill
Angus Sr
Theory
Angus Parents
My uncle Buddy McDonald had three theories as to the parents of Angus McDonald, my earliest known ancestor to the United States.

  1. Hugh McDonald, son of James McDonald, was suggested by a family history booklet.
  2. Malcolm McDonald/McDaniel, married to Christian Robeson, suggested by genealogist Edith Huggins.
  3. An older Angus McDonald, possibly left out of earlier family listings, as proposed by Archie Pickering based on land grants and census records.

He mentioned that he felt that Hugh McDonald was likelier because of Scottish naming conventions. I wonder if he misinterpreted how those naming conventions worked or if this was a case where they did not follow them.

I've recently had a genealogist, Julie Merrill, do research on Angus McDonald to learn the truth about his parents.  She has a theory that his father was an Angus McDonald Sr.  This supports the findings of Archie Pickering.  I've asked her to continue her research, and until then, I will document a summary of her findings here.

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1. Proximity and Land Ownership:

  • 1782-1790 Petition: Both Angus Sr. and Angus Jr. are listed together in a petition for immigrant rights, indicating they were living in the same area and were likely related. This petition includes several other McDonalds, but not the ones living in other parts of Richmond County, strengthening the idea that these two were closely connected.

  • Property Records: Angus Sr. owned property on the east side of Big Juniper and on the east side of Gum Swamp, areas where Angus Jr. also settled and owned land. These properties were close to each other, reinforcing the likelihood of a familial relationship​​.

2. Census Records:

  • 1790 Census: In the 1790 Census, Angus Sr. is listed with two males over 16 (likely including Angus Jr.) and one male under 16, along with three females. The presence of multiple adult males suggests a father-son relationship, with the younger male being Angus Jr. This census also places them near known neighbors of Angus Jr. from later records, further suggesting they lived in the same household or very close to each other.

  • 1800 Census: Angus Jr. is identified as the head of a household with neighbors consistent with those listed in the 1790 Census, indicating he remained in the same area. The continuity of neighbors across censuses supports the idea that Angus Jr. inherited or continued living on land associated with Angus Sr​.

3. Migration and Settlement Patterns:

  • Scottish Immigration: Both Angus Sr. and Angus Jr. immigrated from the Isle of Skye around the same time (circa 1785), as noted in family letters and historical accounts. This shared migration history supports the father-son connection.

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