RootsChat.Com

Your post raises a number of questions.  How do you know that the McDonalds were skilled miners before their arrival in Leadhills and why do you think they had not been in the area for years.  I would not place too much importance on the spelling of McDonald / MacDonald/ mac Donald or M'Donald – all seem to have been used.  It is true that Scottish women kept their surnames but they also used their husband's names as birth/death entries show.  I have no evidence of anyone in my direct line emigrating and would suggest that their supposed absence is simply due lack of records.  My direct ancestors moved to Carsphairn and Cadder and subsequently all ended up in South Ayrshire.   I don't recall anyone questioning if John fought at Culloden – extremely unlikely as he was busy having a family in Lanarkshire!  Let me know if you have any queries concerning particular people and I will try to help.  I have a lot of info on this family.

I have posted this information before - a long time ago - in reply to a previous query from Ross.  You have asked for any info on Alexanders.

I have an Andew Alexander who is named as the father of an illegitimate child on the child's birth certificate.   The birth took place at Trabboch, Stair  3 Feb. 1897, the mother (my great aunt) was from Coylton.   He did acknowledge the child and signed the certificate, giving his address as 45 Newmarket Street, Ayr.  The couple did not subsequently marry.    The child was named Jeannie and given Alexander as a middle name.  Hope this adds to your info!

Don't trust everything on LDS - some of them are submitted entries and not always accurate.  My offer of assistance is still open - I have a vast amount of documentation on this family, most of it from original records on Scotland's People.

A shot in the dark.  Do you have the names of your guy's eldest son and daughter - this can often indicate parents' names.  (see other threads on Scottish naming patterns)