« Reply #2 on: Tuesday 02 August 16 23:42 BST (UK) »
Hi Gemoliver - thank you for replying. My Gr Grandfather Donald McDonald (Macdonald) came to Australia in 1886. I have his death, marriage and birth records, and census records. He was born in Brechin, Angus to Donald McDonald and Ann Sinclair. When Donald McDonald Snr died - young Donald was the only one left in the family and was about 16. He put 'Charles' as his father's father, but put a dash for his father's mother's name on the death record as he obviously didn't know who she was. In all the census data, Donald McDonald Snr says he was born in Rosskeen Rossshire. His age differs in all materials, but it appears he was born around 1810. The only birth I could find for a Donald to a Charles around that time was to a Charles McDonald and Katherine Ross. However there appear to be 2 marriages within a couple of months of each other one being to a Catherine Ross and the other to Katherine Ross. Births in Familysearch seem to have children listed under both so I am unsure if they are two separate couples or one. I also don't know for sure if these are my ancestors. The clue to the possibility it might be is that one of Donald Snr's daughters was named Isabella MILLAR McDonald with the Millar being the name of Anne Sinclair's mother's maiden name. Another daughter was called Georgina ROSS McDonald, so I wondered if Ross was Donald McDonald Snr's mother's maiden name. I have been trying to search the other children of Charles and Catherine/Katherine to see if they may know if its the same family. If I have the right parents, Donald McDonald Snr had a twin sister, Margaret McDonald. I have no idea what led Donald Snr to move to Angus and unsure what happened to Margaret. I believe she may have married a Bain and had a son who at 1 year of age was living with his Uncle Donald McDonald Snr and his first wife Margaret Sinclair. Looking forward to any help you may be able to give. My tree is public and is on Ancestry if you want to have a look through. Its called the Anne Stewart family tree.
Scotland: Stewart, Smith, Edward, Barron, Macdonald, Sinclair, Millar/Miller, Ross, Salmon(d), Cuthel, Cuthill, Macalister, McAlaster, McAllister, Forsyth, Haddow, Todd, Aitken, Gartshore, Mackie, Strang
England: Lucas, Parkinson, Nicholls
Ireland: Keys, McAuliffe, Achilles, Fenner/Fannin, Halpin
Germany: Achilles, Bartels, Barthold, Pralow, Schreiber, Kloth, Cords