McDonald, Alexander

  • DICTIONARY OF CANADIAN BIOGRAPHY ARTICLE: Donald P. Lemon, “McDONALD, ALEXANDER,” in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 6, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003–. https://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/mcdonald_alexander_6E.html
  • DCB profile:
    • Landowner, office holder, and militia officer; b. c. 1762 in Scotland; m. c. 1790 Grace McLean, and they had 13 children; d. 11 Dec. 1834 in Bartibog, N.B.
    • Known as Macdonald’s Highlanders, the regiment was raised to fight in the American revolution and it embarked for the Thirteen Colonies in 1779. After seeing service throughout the colonies, the unit became part of the British forces that surrendered at Yorktown, Va, in 1781. With the cessation of hostilities, in 1783, Macdonald’s Highlanders were returned to Scotland to be disbanded. A portion of the regiment, including Alexander McDonald, was discharged at Shelburne, N.S.
    • The following year McDonald arrived on the Miramichi, probably some time during the summer. In 1788, and over the ensuing 30 years, he acquired by grant large tracts of land on both sides of the river. By 1818 he controlled approximately 1,400 acres. His partial interest in two islands near the mouth of the Miramichi allowed McDonald to participate in the salmon fishery. By all accounts, however, he took little part in lumbering and shipbuilding, the principal commercial pursuits of Northumberland County. His interests, beyond the fishery, were presumably largely agricultural. At the same time as his landholdings increased McDonald’s status within the community rose. Beginning in 1791, when he was appointed town clerk for the Middle District, Southside, he was extremely active in parish government, serving in numerous capacities. He was reappointed a town clerk annually until 1798, and on various occasions up to 1824 acted as assessor, commissioner of roads, overseer of the poor, and school trustee. 
    • In 1799 McDonald was appointed captain commander in the 1st Battalion, Northumberland County militia. As a large landowner and minor public official he had the necessary income to support his militia activities; not only was he responsible for the yearly training exercises, but he had also to meet the costs of his uniform and accoutrements. In 1813 he became major commandant of the 1st Battalion, and it appears that around 1829 he was commissioned a lieutenant-colonel of the same unit.
  • Proven United Empire Loyalist listed in Loyalist Directory: https://uelac.ca/loyalist-directory/detail/?wpda_search_column_id=5229
  • Find a Grave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/261529638/alexander-fraser-macdonald