Ann MacNeil (MacKeigan)

"History of Christmas Island Parish" - page #27-28:

Neil McDonald - Saighdear Beag

Neil McDonald had a companion in the army, named John Morrison, who had a wife and child with him. When he lay mortally wounded, he begged of Neil to look after the widow and child; and he advised him also to marry her, saying "Theid mi-fhin an urras gu ’n dean i bean mhath dhut.” At the first opportunity, he consulted a priest, and told him the situation. The priest told him to marry her there and then, and the “soldier” complied. After the marriage, the priest told hím never to say a word to her about her religion; but whenever he would be saying his prayers to pray aloud so that she could hear him, and that in the course of time, God would give her the light to see the true faith. McDonald and his wife came to Grand Narrows in 1821; and 15 years after this date, one morning when he got up early to go to perform his Easter duty, he noticed that his wife was making preparations to go somewhere, and he asked her where was she going. “I am going where you are going to make my Easter duty,” was the reply. His heart leaped with joy: his prayers were heard in Heaven at last. The priest gave her the privilege of selecting her own sponsors, and her choice fell on Neil McNeil (Ban) and his wife, Ann.

The maiden name of the “Soldier's wife” was Ann McKeigan; and it is said that some of her relations are living about Marion Bridge. The issue of her marriage to Neil McDonald was:— John, Donald, Catherine and Ann.