Capt Allan MacDonald, of Kingsburgh

During the American War of Independence Captain Allan MacDonald served the British government in the 84th Regiment of Foot (Royal Highland Emigrants).

In February 1776, he was captured after the defeat at the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge and was held prisoner for two years until a prisoner exchange occurred in 1777. He was then sent to Fort Edward in Windsor, Nova Scotia where he took command of the 84th Regiment of Foot (Royal Highland Emigrants), Second Battalion.

Allan MacDonald, of Kingsborough, Scotland, was one of the most important Scottish Highlanders to serve the king's cause in North Carolina and elsewhere during the American Revolution. The husband of the famed Flora MacDonald (heroine of the escape of Charles Edward Stuart, Bonnie Prince Charlie, the Young Pretender, to France following the Battle of Culloden), he had suffered with many others of his homeland the breaking up of the vast clan holdings and the enforced loyalty to the House of Hanover. In 1774 Allan and Flora arrived in North Carolina, where he bought two plantations in Anson County.

With the approaching Revolution, MacDonald was one of the first to come to the aid of Governor Josiah Martin in his clashes with the Assembly and the local Patriots. As early as 3 July 1775 he journeyed to Fort Johnston (at the mouth of the Cape Fear), to which Martin had fled from the capitol at New Bern, and proposed to the governor that he raise a battalion of "the good and faithful Highlanders" from among those who had recently come to the Upper Cape Fear. Later in the month, Allan's brother Donald and his son-in-law, Donald McLeod, arrived in the colony from Massachusetts, sent by General Thomas Gage to recruit men for a battalion of the Royal Highland Emigrant Regiment. Over the next several months these three enlisted Highlanders and Regulators from the backcountry in a force that eventually numbered about 1,600 for a march to Brunswick to join an expedition heading south led by Sir Peter Parker and Sir Henry Clinton. Joined together, these forces were intended to crush the rebellion in North Carolina.

Highlanders willingly joined the cause (300 in the battalion being formed for the Highland Emigrant Regiment, the rest in the governor's militia), encouraged by Martin's generous land grants of two hundred acres, remission of arrears in quitrents, and twenty years of tax exemption. Also, those in the militia were to receive the same pay as regular soldiers and liberal compensations for the use of any equipment such as horses or wagons, and they would not have to fight outside the colony. Moreover, most had entered the colony too recently (some as late as 1775) to feel any commitment to the rebel cause. Regulators embraced the king's cause more slowly; in the end only 130 joined the expedition. The Loyalist force, commanded by Donald MacDonald as brigadier general with Donald McLeod as major and second in command and Allan MacDonald as captain, finally assembled on 18 Feb. 1776 a few miles below Cross Creek (now Fayetteville), actually three days later than Martin's planned rendezvous at Brunswick, for its march to the sea to join the larger force from the North. However, the Patriots in the area became aware of the Loyalist activities and raised their own forces in retaliation, commanded by James Moore, colonel of the First North Carolina Regiment from the Wilmington District. By 18 February Moore had 1,100 men at Rockfish Creek (a few miles to the south of MacDonald's camp), with more on the way from the New Bern District commanded by Richard Caswell.

What followed was a series of small-scale movements, complicated by the necessity of crossing several streams, with the Loyalists trying to get through to the coast (Donald MacDonald's main concern was to deliver his Highland battalion to Clinton) and the Patriots trying to stop them. At Moore's Creek Bridge (the last stream before Wilmington), the deciding action of the campaign took place. The Patriots (Richard Caswell's forces of 800 from New Bern plus Alexander Lillington's 150 minutemen from the Wilmington District dispatched there by Moore) removed the planks from the bridge, leaving only the log stringers, and entrenched themselves on the east bank. Arriving at the scene and observing the difficulty of the situation, the Loyalists (in a council of war, led on by the younger officers and over the opposition of Donald MacDonald) nevertheless chose to attack. This they did on the dawn of 27 February to their own decimation. McLeod, John Campbell, and a few others leading the attack actually got across the bridge, to be killed later; a number were killed before they got that far. Within three minutes the Loyalists were routed. The Patriots left their entrenchments, quickly relaid the bridge, and gave chase to the main Loyalist force, capturing both Allan and Donald MacDonald (who had been too ill to direct the attack), several other officers, and about 850 soldiers, plus 13 wagons, £15,000 in gold, and about 800 rifles and muskets and 150 swords and dirks. In the fight about fifty of the Loyalists had been killed or wounded; only two Patriots were wounded (one of whom died four days later).

The regular soldiers, on their capture, were paroled and allowed to return to their homes on their oaths not to take up arms against the Patriot cause in the future. However, the officers were not treated so generously. Allan, his brother Donald, and the others were transported first to New Bern and then to the Halifax jail as prisoners of war. From there Allan MacDonald and at least twenty-five other prisoners, including his son Alexander, were sent to Philadelphia. Here he soon was released, on account of "his candor and low state of health," on parole, with liberty to live at Reading, Berks County. In 1777 he raised at New York a company of eighty-six North Carolinians and Virginians which he led for about a year. In October 1778 he rejoined the Royal Highland Emigrant Regiment in Nova Scotia, where he remained for the rest of the war.

When the war ended, the regiment was reduced in size, and MacDonald, his wife Flora, and their daughter settled on regimental land along the Kennetcook River in Hants County, Nova Scotia. In October 1784 he left for London to present a claim for compensation, telling the commissioners that he intended to return to Nova Scotia. Ironically, on the way home, the ship on which he and Flora were traveling was attacked by a French man-of-war. During the clash Flora, ever the heroine, remained on deck spurring on the sailors and was thrown down, breaking her arm. She said later that she "had now perilled her life in behalf of both the house of Stuart and that of Brunswick, and got very little for her pains." Flora died in 1790 and was buried in a shroud made from the sheet on which Prince Charles had slept and which she had preserved for that purpose through all her adventures and migrations of almost a half century. Allan survived Flora by a few years and died on the half-pay list of the British army.

Allan and Flora were survived by three sons and a daughter; their other son, Alexander, had been killed during the war. All four sons—John (ultimately to achieve the rank of colonel in the British army and become a writer on military subjects), James (a lieutenant of infantry in the British Legion by 1782), and Charles (by 1782 a captain in the British Legion), as well as Alexander—served the British cause during the Revolution. John died in Exeter, England, in 1821 at age seventy-two. The only surviving daughter, the widow of Major McLeod, died at Steine, Isle of Skye, in 1835.

The Isle of Skye Kingsburgh and Kilmuir are on the Trotternish peninsula

Alexander Macdonald of Kingsburgh was succeeded in the representation of the family by his older son,

VII. ALLAN. Having received an elementary education in his native parish, he was afterwards sent to Edinburgh to complete his studies, at the expense of Sir Alexander Macdonald. He lived for a number of years at Flodigarry, of which his father had a tack, and continued there until 1772, when, on his father's death, he succeeded him at Kingsburgh. On old Kingsburgh's retiral from office in 1765, Allan was installed in his place as Chamberlain for Troternish, a post which he held until 1774. It was while at Kingsburgh that Allan and his distinguished wife entertained Dr Samuel Johnson and his biographer, in 1773. In 1774 a change came over the fortunes of the family of Kingsburgh. It was a transition time in the Isles when great economic changes rendered it difficult for the good old class of gentry to maintain their ancient state. Animated by the desire to repair the somewhat shattered family fortunes, Allan broke up his establishment at Kingsburgh arid sailed for the new world. Soon after his settlement in North Carolina, the American War of Independence broke out, and Allan was appointed Captain of a Company in the Royal Highland Emigrant Regiment. With his five sons he played a brilliant part in the campaign of 1777, but on the defeat of the loyalist army he was captured at Moore's Creek and taken prisoner to Halifax, where he was confined till 1783, when, the American War having been concluded by a Treaty of Peace, he was liberated, and returned to Scotland after an absence of nine years, his wife and other members of the family having returned in 1779. For a short time after his return to Scotland, Allan lived at Daliburgh in South Uist. in the neighbourhood of Milton, his wife's native place. About 1785 he and his wife and family left South Uist for Skye, and once more took up their occupancy of the house and farm of Kingsburgh, Allan in the enjoyment of a captain's pension. Here he died on the 20th September, 1795, and was buried in the family burying-ground at Kilmuir. Allan married on the 6th November, 1750, Flora, daughter of Ranald Macdonald of Milton by his wife, Marion, daughter of Rev. Angus Macdonald, minister of South Uist, with issue—

1. Charles, a Captain in the Queen's Rangers. He married in 1787 Isabella, daughter of Captain James Macdonald of Aird, son of William, Tutor of Macdonald, without issue. He died in 1795.
2. Alexander, Lieutenant 84th Royal Highland Emigrant Regiment, lost at sea, unmarried. He went down in the ship " Ville de Paris," captured from the enemy, at the battle of Eustati in 1782, and in which he and his brother Ranald were placed to take charge of the prize and crew.
3. Ranald, Captain Royal Marines. Lost at sea with his brother Alexander.
4. James, known as Captain James Macdonald of Flodigarry. He married Emily, daughter of James Macdonald, of Skeabost, and died in 1807, leaving issue —

(A) James Somerled Macdonald, Lieut. -Colonel of the 45th Madras Native Regiment of Infantry. He died unmarried in London in Jan., 1842, and was buried in Kensal Cemetery.
(B) Allan Ranald, a Captain in the 4th Bengal Native Infantry. He married Miss Smith, daughter of General Smith, of the Bengal Army, with issue —

(a) Reginald Somerled Macdonald, of the Colonial Office, who married Zeloe, a daughter of Sir William Grove, an English Judge, and died 1877, leaving issue — (1) Zeila Flora, who married Colonel Baker, R.A. ; (2) Leila, Mrs Cracken- thoi'pe ;
(b) Leila, who died young in Florence ;
(c) Leila Flora, who married Marshal Canrobert, and died in 1895, leaving issue — (1) Marce Certin, an officer in the French Army ; (2) Claire, who married Paul de Navacelle, a naval officer.

(C) John, who died young.
(D) Flora, died unmarried.
(E) Charlotte, died unmarried.
(F) Jessie, married Nihian Jeffrey of New Kelso, Loch- carron, with issue —

(a) Captain James Jeffrey, who married Mary Irwin, with issue. He died 1875.
(b) Captain George Jeffrey of H.M. 32nd Light Infantry, a very brave soldier, who greatly distinguished himself in various campaigns in which the British Armj were engaged. He married Annie, daughter of Colonel William Geddes, H.E. I.C.S., with issue. He died in China in 1868.
(c) William John, stipendiary magistrate at Demerara, married Sophia, widow of the Rev. William Hamilton, of the Episcopal Church at Leguan, Demerara, with issue,
(d) Allan Ranald, who married, and had Allan Ninian Charles,
(e) Thomas Mackenzie, lost at sea ; unmarried.
(f) Alexander Lachlan.
(g) Ninian.
(h) John — both the last died in infancy,
(i) Amelia Macdonald, died unmarried, 1864.
(j) Agnes Johanna, married Ranald Livingstone of Drimsynie, Argyllshire, with issue — (1) Captain Ranald Livingston Macdonald, 3rd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders ; (2) Alexander ; (3) Emily ; (4) Mary ; (5) Flora.

5. John, who became Lieutenant-Colonel of the Clan Alpine Regiment and Commandant of the Royal Edinburgh Artillery. He contributed largely to the literature of of his profession, and became a F.R.S. He married — 1st, Mrs Bogle, a widow, with issue, two children, who died young. He married — 2nd, Frances Maria, eldest daughter of Sir Robert Chambers, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Judicature, Bengal, with issue —

(A) Robert, a Major in the Indian Army. He married, with issue — a son, Somerled, who died young.
(B) John, a Captain in the Indian Army, married, with surviving issue — (1) Herbert Chambers, Lt.-Col. 108th Regiment. He married first, and had Clarence Herbert, Major 86th Berar Infantry, who married, and has several children ; (2) Flora, who married Colonel Cooke, Q.M.G. Madras Army, with issue. He married, secondly, and had (a) Percy Edward, (6) Hugh, (c) Annie Flora, (c?) Adrea Louisa, (e) Annabel Gladys.
(C) Allan, died young.
(D) William Pitt, a Major - General in the Indian Army, who married twice, and had issue — (1) Reginald Mackenzie, General Madras S.C. He married, and has issue — («) Neville Douglas, (6) Arthur Gabell, (c) Clarence Regi- nald, (d) Emily Florence, (e) Flora Mary, (/) Ethel Clanranald, (g) Grace Elizabeth. (2) John Collins, General Madras S.C. He married, and has issue — (a) Reginald Percy, a Captain in the Army ; (b) Walter Douglas ; (c) Fanny Julia, who married Robert Watson ; (d) Florence, who married John Barras, with issue ; (e) Alice Maud. (3) Charles Frederick. (4) James Ochterlony. (5) Rev. Reginald Chambers, Vicar of Frampton, Dorchester. (6) George Edward Russell. (7) Rev. Grant William. (8) Henrietta Frances. (9) Caroline Eliza. (10) Catherine Austen, who married Rev. W. Johnson, with issue. (11) Ellen Maria, who married Colonel Chalon. (12) Alice Susan, who married Rev. J. Smith, Madras, with issue.
(E) Charles Edward, in the Indian Civil Service, married, with issue — (1) John, Major-General B.S.C., who married, and has (a) Charles, Captain 6th B.C. ; (b) Reginald, (c) Flora, (d} Annie, (e) Agnes.
(F) James, a Captain in the Indian Army, married, with issue — Augustus and a daughter, both married.
(G) Reginald, Lieutenant 17th Lancers, married Miss Morris, with issue — Amy, unmarried.
(H) Flora Frances, who married Edward Wylde, of the Royal Navy, without issue.
(I) Henrietta Louisa Lavinia, married Benjamin Cuff Greenhill, of Knowle Hall, Somersetshire. Issue — (a1) Lavinia, married Edward Amphlett, with issue, a son and daughter ; (61) Flora, married Thomas Hussy, with issue ; (c1) Clare, married, with issue. Colonel John Macdonald died at Exeter on 16th August, 1831, aged 72 years.

6. Annie, married Major Alexander Macleod of Lochbay, Skye, and of Glendale, Moore County, U.S.A., who fought in the American War of Independence, as also in European Wars, in all of which he greatly distinguished himself, and rose to the rank of Major- General. Issue —

(A) Norman, a Lieutenant, who died from effects of a wound inflicted by Alexander Macdonald of Glen- garry in a duel.
(B and C) Sons, one of whom married in India.
(D) Flora, who married Mr Mackay, Forres, with issue.
(E) Mary, who died unmarried in Stein, Skye. Mrs Major Macleod died in 1834.

7. Frances, who married Lieutenant Donald Macdonald of Cuidreach, Skye, with issue

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