I've found my old Scotlands People Account and am sorting out info for Alexander McDonald, Ann's father. I think I had at least two Alexander McDonalds combined which I had added to Ancestry. I am charting them all tonight. Then I hope the dates tally. I'll do all the bits you suggest too and see where I get to. Most of what I had was verbal reminiscences from my Grandmother and Great Grandmother and other relatives - much of which could be Chinese Whispers, though the important information about him being known as Captain McDonald and being on the Baltic Trade Ships has been verified by the Librarian. It's the dates I need to sort & the Alexanders which need untangled before I go back to his family. Thanks for helping me see what I needed to do next.
