Archibald Macdonald of Sanda

ARCHIBALD MCDONALD OF SANDA

Archibald McDonald of Sanda here treated is not the same person as Archibald Macdonald of Sanda who was his younder brother by his father's second wife Anne Stewart

According to Alexander Mackenzie, Archibald Macdonald here treated was the son of Ranald Macdonald of Sanda and Anne Stewart. He is said by Mackenzie to have died age 34 in 1681, and to be the father of another Archibald Macdonald of Sanda, who was succeeded, in turn, by a son named John Macdonald of Sanda. Macdonald History: 475 It hardly seems likely, though, that a man who was born in or about 1634 could have been the product of a marriage that cannot have taken place much before 3 October 1671. NRS: GD92/12A Ranald Macdonald of Sanda was married previously. His first wife was Margaret Macdonald. She must have died before this last mentioned date, when Ranald was contracted to marry Anne Stewart. The date of Margaret's death is not known but she was contracted to marry Ranald on 8 February 1665. NRS: D92/70 Moreover, the fact of her marriage is confirmed by her testament dative, which was confirmed on 24 October 1672. NRS: GD92/19 It seems quite likely, therefore, probable even, that Archibald Macdonald of Sanda here treated, if he existed at all, is the son of Ranald Macdonald of Sanda and his first wife Margaret Macdonald.

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

                   1

6 February 1665: Marriage contract dated 6th Feb. 1665, between Ronald McDonald of Sanda and Margaret McDonald, sister of Angus McDonald of Lergie. National Records of Scotland, Macdonald family of Sanda, Argyllshire, reference GD92/70

                   2

3 October 1671: MARRIAGE CONTRACT between Ronald Mcdonald of Sanda [Macdonald of Sanda] and Anna Stewart, daughter of Sir James Stewart, knight, sheriff of Bute, by which Anna's tocher is set at 3000 merks, and provision made for the payment yearly of 600 merks furth of the lands of Machrireoche [Machrireoch] to Christiane Stewart, relict of deceased Archibald Mcdonald of Sana, said Ronald's grandfather. National Records of Scotland, Macdonald family of Sanda, Argyllshire, reference GD92/12A

                   3

24 October 1672: CONFIRMED TESTAMENT dative ad omissa of deceased Margaret McDonald, late spouse to Rannald McDonald, of Sanay [Macdonald of Sanda], in parish of Kilblaine [Kilblane] and diocese of Argyll. National Records of Scotland, Macdonald family of Sanda, Argyllshire, reference GD92/19

Note: Margaret Macdonald died before 3 October 1671, the date upon which her widowed husband was contracted to marry Anna Stewart. NRS: GD92/12A

Genealogical Accounts

1. History of the Macdonalds and Lords of the Isles; with Genealogies of the Principal Families of the Name by Alexander Mackenzie, FSA. Scot. (A. & W. Mackenzie, Inverness, MDCCCLXXXI), pp. 473-78 for Macdonald of Sanda
2. Stirnet: Macdonald 08