- from Jean MacDonald Selines (contact information can be found at bottom)
Below is a list of my MacDonald family members buried in St. Margaret’s Pioneer Cemetery. This line of MacDonald’s is often referred to as the Dan Joe, Mick’s. The complete handle is Dan Joe, Mick, Donald, Lauchlin.
The 1798 census show both an Allan and Hector MacDonald residing in Lot 43. In "The MacDonalds of Lot 14 PEI and Related Families" it is noted that two of the family Allan and Hector went East. Around 2005, according to Walter MacDonald of Boston (one of our donors), the DNA of the Lot 14 MacDonalds was established as part of the Clan Donald study. This today is thought to be the largest single family study in the world.
In 2009, the DNA results of a descendant of Big Cape/Neufrage Hector's were matched against he DNA of the Lot 14 MacDonald's with the following results: test 1 - 12 markers of 12 markers were identical; test 2 - 25 markers of 25 markers were identical; test 3 - 37 markers of 37 markers were identical; test 4 - 66 of 67 markers were identical. This leads to the conclusion that Major John of Lot 14 and Hector of Big Cape/Naufrage were brothers.
Royal Gazette, August 13, 1833
On Saturday night the 3rdinst. Mr. Roderick MacDonald, of Norrie’s Pond, was severely injured by a bear. Having information that he was in pursuit of some sheep, MacDonald went out accompanied by a person of the mane of MacAulay, with his gun loaded with swan-shot; when within a few paces of the prowler, he fired and lodged the contents of his musket in his body, from the effects of which he fell. He thought he should now have no trouble to dispatch him, ran up and struck him with an axe, but before he gave a second blow, he wrested that weapon from his hand and threw it to some distance. He was now in the power of bruin single handed, who made several attempts to seize him by the throat, and it was only by getting hold of his ears, he extricated himself from his desperate embrace.
The bear now endeavoured to make off,but MacDonald getting hold of a longer from the fence renewed the fight—he struck him two or three times, the longer breaking at each blow; having a small piece only left in his hand, he endeavoured to thrust it down his throat, but missing his aim he again fell against the bear, who made every effort to seize upon him in the vital parts,and it was merely by putting his hand in his mouth which was bitten desperately, that he was prevented.
After struggling for some time with his savage antagonist, he succeeded in getting again hold of his ears, by which means he ws relieved from his fangs. After this rescue he was covered with blood from the top of his head to his feet, which proceeded from his own wounds and those of the bear. It seems unaccountable how MacAulay could have remained quiet during this frightful contest and not render assistance. MacDonald called to him several times but he gave him no aid, his excuse afterwards was, that it being dark, he was as likely to strike MacDonald as the bear. Although MacDonald was dreadfully mangled, we are happy to say he is in a fair way of recovery. A pursuit was made after the bear by a number of the neighbours, but it raining during the night they lost all trace of his path.