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Skye Pioneers and "The Island"
Belfast Families - Family of Dr. Angus MacAulay, Point Prim


Aeneas Macaulays's birthplace is not known definitely, but it is believed to have been Skye or Lewis. It is probable that he was kinsman of Lord Macaulay, and also of the famous Lewis family to which belongs the great captain of finance, T. B. Macaulay, President of the Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada.

Aeneas Macaulay was graduated A.M. by the University of Glasgow, and later took a course in Theology, probably in the same institution. For some years he was Chaplain to the 1st West India Regiment. Later he took up the study of Medicine in his Alma Mater, and in January, 1803, was graduated M.D. by that University.

When the Earl of Selkirk undertook his scheme of colonization in Prince Edward Island he chose Aeneas Macaulay his Factor, and in that capacity he accompanied the immigrants who arrived in the Belfast district in 1803. On the voyage he was ship's surgeon on the "Polly." From the first Doctor Macaulay employed all his skill and strength in an effort to improve the lot of his neighbors and friends in the new settlement, and by them he was looked upon as a wise counsellor and faithful friend. In as far as he could he endeavored to ameliorate their position. His compassionate nature is proven by a letter from the proprietor chiding him for being too easy with the tenants in collecting the rents. He took a leading part not only in local, but also in the larger affairs of the whole Island. In 1818 he was Speaker of the provincial house. In 1825 he was leader in the movement for Catholic Emancipation and Reform. Nothing could better show the tolerance of this Presbyterian minister and the Highlanders among whom he lived, than his stand on these contentious matters.

Prince Edward Island owes much to Dr. Macaulay and his wife, and their memory is not forgotten to this day by the descendants of the settlers of 1803.

The Doctor received a grant of eleven hundred and two acres of land in the Point Prim district, from Lord Selkirk. Some of this is occupied by his descendants at the present time.

The wife of Dr. Aeneas Macaulay was Mary Macdonald, daughter of Captain Samuel Macdonald of Sartle, in Skye, who was born about 1739, and died 10th October, 1830. "Captain Samuel," as he was always known, was a son of Alexander Macdonald, of the Ardnamurchan family, who occupied Sartle in 1733, and his wife Margaret, daughter of Somerled ("Soirle") Macdonald of Sartle, fourth son of Sir James Macdonald, second Baronet of Sleat. Donald, a brother of Samuel, occupied Boronos Kitag and Glensdall. Samuel Macdonald emigrated to Carolina in 1770, and on the breaking out of the Revolutionary War joined the Loyalists, and served under Allan Macdonald, husband of the celebrated Flora Macdonald. In the battle of Widow Moore's Creek Bridge he was taken prisoner. Being exchanged he rejoined the Army. In 1787 he was in Shelburne, N.S. Shortly afterwards he returned to Skye a ruined man, but with the rank and half pay of a Lieutenant. He acquired Sartle after his return and lived there for many years. On leaving Sartle for Quintolan the old place was acquired by John Graham, husband of Susan Martin, who was grandniece of the old Captain. The mother of the Martins of Beallach, viz:- Martin Martin, who was married to a daughter of Macleod of Raasay, and the father of the late Mrs. Martin, Tote House; the Rev. Donald Martin, Rev. Lachlan Martin (grandfather of Dr. L. M., Matheson) and Rev. Angus Martin-was a daughter of said Alexander Macdonald of Sartle. Captain Macdonald was a man of gigantic frame and herculean strength. When he was about ninety years old he married Catherine Stewart, then twenty-two years of age, who died in Kilvaxter in 1886. She was a relation of his own. By this union there were three children. On the mother's side she was niece of Adjutant Eon Macdonald, of Lord Macdonald's Regiment, who latterly had a house and lands in Bernisdale. The Adjutant's grandfather on the mother's side was Eon Mor, who walked from Edinburgh to Kilmuir, Skye, in three days, and, before partaking of any kind of refreshment (for he was under a vow) thrashed a bully who had maltreated a nephew of his.

The said Alexander Macdonald's wife, Margaret, was sister of Captain Hugh Macdonald of Armadale, stepfather of the celebrated Flora. Mrs. Macaulay was therefore cousin of Annabella Macleod, wife of Dr. James Munro, who settled with his family in the Orwell and Alberry Plains district, in 1840 and 1841. She died April 9th, 1857, aged ninety-nine, and is buried beside her husband in the Mount Buchanan cemetery, Belfast, which he had donated for the purpose of a graveyard.

Dr. and Mrs. Macaulay had six children who reached maturity:
I. CHARLOTTE, wife of Angus MacLean, Point Prim, with issue: Mary, married; Margaret, wife of Malcolm MacLeod, Glashvin ; Angus, unmarried ;
II. FLORA, unmarried;
III. JOHN, unmarried;
IV. WILLIAM, Wisconsin, married Miss Henderson, Ontario, with issue: one daughter;
V. EBEN, unmarried, died aged 22;
VI. ALICE, wife of Samuel Murchison, Pinette, with issue reaching maturity :
a. CHARLOTTE, unmarried;
b. MARY, wife of Donald McLeod, Mount Buchanan, with issue :
1. ANNE, wife of Donald McKay, Montague Bridge;
2. ALICE, wife of John Martin, Whim Road;
3. FLORA, wife of John McKinnon, Point Prim;
4. M A L C O L M, Master Mariner, married Catherine McDonald, Point Prim;
5. ALEXANDER, Master Mariner, married Margaret Murchison, Point Prim;
6. MARY ANNE, married Samuel Murchison, Pinette;
c. CATHERINE, wife of Walter Ross, Eldon, with issue;
d. ANGUS MACAULAY, married Catherine, daughter of Roderick Mackinnon, with issue who reached maturity:
1. ALICE;
2. JOHN;
3. LAUGHLAN ;
4. SAMUEL, Contractor, Vancouver, married Mary Anne MacLeod, with issue: Alice; and Mary Kathleen, wife Leonard John Hovington, Honolulu;
5. CATHERINE, wife of James Fraser, Eldon, with issue: John Murchison; and Alice, wife of George L. Telfer, New York;
6. MALCOLM WILLIAM. Pinette, married Margaret MacDonald, with issue: Alice, Roderick, and Angus.
They live on the ancestral homestead;
7. RODERICK, Master Mariner;
8. FLORA MARGARET;
9. NEIL ALEXANDER;
10. MARY;
11. ANGUS.


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