Angus Macdonell, 3rd of Scotus

Biographical Summary

"III. Angus. He is represented as being a retired, quiet man, unfit to lead the Clan, and there is a tradition in the family that Lord Macdonald made choice of Alastair Dubh to succeed him with the consent of all parties. Alexander undoubtedly led the Clan in the lifetime of his father, though Angus, and not Alexander, was the eldest son.

Angus married Katherine, daughter of Sir Norman Macleod of Bernera, and had by her —

• Donald.
• John of Crowlin. Being intended for the Church, which he afterwards abandoned, he was educated at the Scots College, Rome. He was " out " with the Prince, and held the rank of Captain. He married in 1723 Janet, daughter of Donald Macleod of Arnisdale, and had by her a numerous family of sons and daughters, among whom, John, known as " Spanish John." At the early age of 12 he was sent, in 1740, to the Scots College, Rome, to be educated for the priesthood. After being three years at this college, he gave up the idea of becoming a priest, and resolved to become a soldier instead. A Spanish army was at that time in Italy, and he decided to join the Irish Brigade, under General Macdonald (of the Macdonalds of Antrim), who was second in command of the army. He afterwards saw a good deal of service, and suffered many hardships, being dangerously wounded in one of the battles. Hearing of the success of Prince Charles in Scotland, he and others of the Irish Brigade left Dunkirk in April, 1746, to join his standard. They landed at Lochbroora, and were informed of the defeat of the Prince at Culloden. Spanish John had been entrusted by the Duke of York with letters and a sum of £3000 for Prince Charles. In the attempt to carry out the Duke's instructions he had many adventures, and was finally made prisoner by Captain Ferguson, who took him for Archibald of Barisdale, who was wanted. He was detained at Fort-William for nine months, and was released for want of evidence against him. He afterwards settled down at Knoydart, and had a tack of Inverguseran from Glengarry. He emigrated to Canada in 1775. He married in 1747, and had issue.
• Allan of Ardnaslishnish. He was " out " in the '45, and was a Captain in the Prince's Army. He had a daughter. Flora, who married, as his second wife, Ranald Macdonald of Gerinish, and a son, Captain John, who fought in the American War, and left a son, Angus, whose daughter, Annie Cecilia, married, in 1861, James Sutherland Chisholm of Chisholm, and had a son, Roderick, who succeeded his father, and two daughters.
• Ranald.

Angus of Scotus married secondly, and had —

• Alexander, a priest, known as Muighstir Alastair Mor.

Angus III. of Scotus, who died in 1746, was succeeded in his estate before his death by his eldest son."

SOURCE: The clan Donald; by the Rev. A. Macdonald, minister of Killearnan, and the Rev. A. Macdonald, minister of Kiltarlity; Vol. III; 1896; page 321