Exploring the past

Alexander Macdonald (c. 1796 – 1847) was only ever called Alexander . He was never called Alexander Cameron, as some online family trees assert.

Alexander’s mother Margaret called him Sandy. ‘If you see Sandy, tell him to come home to his bed’ she said to John Grant when he dropped off some stolen hats to her in the early hours of New Year’s Day 1812.

Alexander’s sons were baptised George, Alexander, Peter, John, William and Charles.*

Later in life, all but George gave themselves a middle name. They became:

Alexander Cameron

Peter Fitzalan/Fitzallan (or PF)

John Graham

William S.

and

Charles Hugh

John married Adelaide Graham, which probably explains his choice. As for the others, I don’t know. Perhaps their direct descendants do.  

I do not know why they chose to add a middle name at all. Was it to distinguish themselves from all the other McDonalds/Macdonalds/MacDonalds in the colony; or to distance themselves from the ‘convict stain’, sharply felt during their adulthood; or simply to distinguish themselves? Perhaps some of their direct descendants can cast light on this.  

Alexander’s daughters always remained plain Margaret, Sarah, Jane and Isabella.#

*#Alexander also had two children who died in infancy – the first William and the first Jane.