Person:Angus McDonald (6)

From: The Highland Settlement of Mara Township; George D. MacDonald, 1909

"...Angus MacDonald, brother of Ronald was born [in Glenderlochen, Knoyda rt, Scotland], February 1st, 1819, came to Mara when 14 years of age. He was a carpenter by trade and built most of the houses and barns in Mara in the early days. He...died February 5th, 1902, aged 81 years. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Donovan, died April 28th 1909, aged 81 years."

From a letter of Angus McDonald:

-Uptergrove Post Office Feb.9, 1892

DearSon,

We received your letter and were glad to know that you were well as this leaves us at present except James, he has a bad cold that settled on his lungs. I think it is partly a continuance of the grip that he had last spring, and was not wholey clear of all summer, and the cold of winter revived it some. He is now at home with us.

I was born in Glendulochen. Inverness-shire Scotland. My Father's parents resided and raised their family in the Island of Eigg. Inverness-shire Scotland. My Father was Alexander, son of Ronald Og (or young) son of Big Ronald, son of John, son of Ronald, son of John Gear (or short) son at the Chief of Glencoe. who was married to one of the daughters of the Duke of Argyle.

At Christmas time his mother took John to her Father's place for Christmas and he was playing shinny, with the others, and the Duke, his grandfather. was looking at them and asked what short young man is that taking the ball from my men, not knowing him at a distance; so the name John Gear, or Short, stuck to him afterwards.

My Father's mother was of the family of McDonalds called Clan Ronald of Kepoch. They were said to be the strongest men in Scotland. and my uncle Donald could crush his hand full of hazlenuts, or jump over any place he could reach with his hand. He stood six feet in his stockings. He also thrashed eight men at one time, in an upper room in an hotel where they came to get him after dark, he got the landlord to hold the door open and he blew out the light and pitched into them and soon cleared the room.

My Mother's Father was Angus Cameron, son of Alexander Cameron of Glenlaogh Lochaber, son of John, son of Hugh or Ewan in Gaelic, (what they call in English Evans), son of Alexander, son of little Finlay, son of Big Finlay, son of John, son of Hugh, son of Alexander. My mother's father's mother was a daughter of the owner of Achatriachaden, the two sides of Spiaken and Glenroy, and Scridan of the mountains, all his own free land. I think that it is Lochaber. but I am not sure.

Your mother's father was Samuel Anderson Donovan, son of Colonel Donovan, an Irishman. Your mother's mother was a daughter of William Johnson, one of a family who left the States when the British lost it. They were called U. E. Loyalists. Her mother's mother was Dutch, Hollandsheads. Your Grandfather Donovan's mother was a daughter of Judge Anderson of Cornwall Canada.

My Mother's Mother was a Murray, a sister of John Murray, that owned a tract of land on the west side of Loch Snissard. Isle of Skye, Scotland, namely Coishleatir, Re-birin, Greashernish, and the Aird-vor, I do not know whether he owned more or not. He owned about ½ of one side of that Loch. You can see on the map of Scotland in the geography.

Your mother was born in the Township of Markham, Yonge Street, between Toronto and the Holland Landing. Canada. You were born on the 30 March, 1865, leaves you 27 years next March.

We all except Alexander, had very bad colds that was very much of the nature of the Grip, but we are all well of it now except James. The most of people had that bad kind of cold in this part in the Country. I would like to put up a barn next summer if possible.

With love from us all to you, from your affectionate Father. Angus McDonald

post script: My uncle Donald was pressed on board a Man-of-War in Old Napoleon's wartime, and the war with the States in 1812 to 1815, and the warship he was on was sent to active service to the coast of the United States, and we have no reliable account of him since; he lost his vessel by that. He was engaged in the coasting trade of England, Ireland, and Scotland, the same as his father was before him. George, my brother, Is going to try to trace out if there is money coming to him as pay from the British Government. Thought pay for the value of that vessel he lost by being taken away in that manner by force. There is a rumour that my Uncle Ang us that died in Austraia left a large sum of money. The last account I heard of him was that he went security for railroad contractors and lost his money by it. After he was dead anyone could such as that if they wanted to get the money. It shows anyway that he was a rich man when he would be taken as security for such a contract.

transcription of a letter dated 9 February. 1892, from Angus M(a)cDonald to his son, Kenneth

1. ↑ "The Early Highland Settlers in the Township of Mara" by George D. MacDonald, 1909
   p. 7.

   QUAY 3 "Angus MacDonald, brother of Ronald, was born February 1st, 1819, and came to Mara when 14 years of age. He was a carpenter by trade, and built most of the houses and barns in Mara in the early days . He lived to a good old age, having died February 5th, 1902, aged 81 years..."

2. ↑ obituary
   The Orillia Times; 17 April, 1902.

   QUAY 3 The Late Angus McDonald
   The sudden death of Mr. Angus McDonald on the 5th instant, removed from the streets of Orillia a familiar figure for a great many years. Angus McDonald was one of Mara's pioneers, having resided in that township between fifty and sixty years. Five years ago he removed to Orillia where he spent the evening of his life in retirement. He was born in Glendlochen, Inverness-shire, Scotland, on the 1st of February, 1819. He sailed for Canada in 1833, in company with an uncle, Angus Cameron, who stayed in Toronto for some time, afterwards turning to Montreal to do some surveying. He took Angus with him, and when the surveying was completed, the lad came out to Thorah, where he settled, afterwards coming to the township of Mara, where he spent the greater part of his life. Mr. McDonald was a thorough mechanic, and was educated for the profession of schoolteaching. In 1846, he married Mary Ann, the second daughter of Samuel Donovan, then of Barrie. His family consisted of ten sons and four daughters. The wife and eight children survive him: Alexander Ewan, of Orillia; Angus, George, Mrs. Calverly, Mrs. Ball; Kenneth of Midland; John, now in Alaska; Mrs. Jilson of Manistae, Michigan. Mr. McDonald was a fine Gaelic school, and some years ago compiled a pamphlet of Gaelic proverbs, with their translation into English. His literary talents were often manifested through the columns of the press. He was a devout and zealous Christian gentleman, and at his death a member of the Orillia Presbyterian Church. His demise was very sudden. The day before his death he performed his customery (sic) house duties, and split a considerable quantity of wood. He had remarkably good eyesight, and never wore glasses. Old age was the cause of death. The funeral took place from Orillia to the Uptergrove Cemetery, on Monday, Rev. Dr. Grant conducting service at his late residence here. In the Uptergrove Presbyterian Church Rev. A.M. Currie, M.A., preached a very appropriate sermon from Deut. Iii, 10-12. The pallbearers were: Messrs. Coll. Robertson, W. Calverley, Neil Beaton, and John McIsaac.
   
   The Orillia Times
   17 April, 1902
   
   
   
   )

3.   1871 census.

   Name: Angus Mc Donald
   Gender: Male
   Age: 50
   Birth Year (Estimated): 1821
   Birthplace: Scotland
   Marital Status: Married
   Nationality: Scotch
   Religion: C Presb
   Event Place: Mara g, North Ontario 49, Ontario
   Page Number: 54
   Line Number: 18
   House Number: 184
   Family Number: 185
   GS Film number: 4396619
   Affiliate Film Number: C-9987
   Digital Folder Number: 4396619
   Image Number: 00694
   
   
   Household Role Gender Age Birthplace
   Angus Mc Donald M 50 Scotland
   Mary Mc Donald F 44 O
   Catherine Mc Donald F 19 O
   Adelia Mc Donald F 16 O
   John Mc Donald M 15 O
   William Mc Donald M 7 O
   George Mc Donald M 4 O
   
   
   
   Citing this Record:
   "Canada Census, 1871," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M47M-534 : accessed 23 February 2015), Angus Mc Donald, Mara, North Ontario, Ontario, Canada; citing p. 54, line 18; Library and Archives Canada film number C-9987, Public Archives, Ottawa, Ontario; FHL microfilm 4,396,619.

4. ↑ Knox Cemetery at Uptergrove is not found in a list of old Ontario or modern Simcoe County cemeteries. The nearest are at Atherley and Gamebridge.