The birthplaces are potentially confusing. The thing to bear in mind is that these are all parishes and therefore mutually exclusive unless there have been any boundary changes that have transferred a farm or village into a different parish. However the majority of such changes were later than the times you are looking at, and to the best of my knowledge did not affect Easter Ross.
14 Aug 1812 Donald marries Isobel Rule in Alness
2 Sep 1813 John, son of Isabella Rule, born in Kincardine
2 Jan 1814 John, son of Isobel McLeod, baptised in Edderton
24 Jul 1814 Margaret Ann, daughter of Isabella Rule, baptised in Alness
24 Aug 1903* John, son of Isabella Rule, dies in Australia, born in Kincardine - have you seen his death certificate? Does it confirm his wife's name? What children are listed?
*This date is contradicted by an announcement in The Australasian on 26 September 1903 which reads, "On the 15th September, at his son's residence, Valley Field, Merrigum, John McLeod, aged 90 years. Colonist of 51 years". From which I conclude that he emigrated in 1851 or 1852. Have you found him and family on a passenger list?
I also note various references to McLeods in Valley Field, including a Donald R who had a daughter Violet May and a son Donald R. Have you looked into them?
The John McLeod who married Margaret McKenzie in 1847 is an entirely different John McLeod and a complete red herring.
1850 William, son of John, born in Edderton
31 Mar 1851 John, 29, husband of Margaret and father of William, in census, born Kincardine
7 Apr 1861 John, 40, born Kincardine, with wife Margaret, 52 and son William, 10, both born Edderton, in census in Edderton
2 Apr 1871 John, 48, b Kincardine, Margaret and William in census in Edderton
3 Apr 1881 John, 60, b Edderton, and wife Margaret in census in Edderton
1886 John McLeod, mother's maiden surname Munro, husband of Margaret McKenzie and father of William McLeod, dies in Edderton
This John McLeod's baptism record, if it ever existed, is not in the surviving records. There are four records of baptisms of other children to Alexander McLeod and Barbara Munro in Kincardine and Croick.
