DEATH OF A GRAND DAUGHTER OF FLORA MACDONALD Fayetteville Observer (Fayetteville, North Carolina), Thursday, December 30, 1858 Contact: Myrtle Bridges May 11, 2016
The Skye correspondent of the Inverness Courier, dating October 30 says:--"An aged maiden lady, Miss Mary MacLeod, died yesterday at the village of Stein, Waternish. She was the daughter of the late Major Alexander MacLeod, by Anne, eldest daughter of Mrs. MacDonald, of Kingsburg, better known by her maiden name Flora MacDonald-a name celebrated in history. Major MacLeod served some time in America, at the period of the Revolution, as an officer in the Royalists corps; and his wife showed something of the maternal spirit, in conveying intelligence to her friends during that period of trouble and danger, having on one occasion narrowly escaped while carrying a message sewed up in a button on her dress. After the hostilities had ceased, Major MacLeod and his family returned to the Island of Skye. They both died there, and their only daughter, Miss Mary continued to reside in the house at Stein until her death. She had long been in infirm health, and had nearly reached the age of ninety. She had several brothers, three or four of whom died officers in the army, and all deceased before her. The lonely life of the old lady was relieved by her attention to the poor and distressed." The above announcement in one of our exchange papers induced us to call upon a friend who is probably more familiar with the history of Flora McDonald and her family then any other person in this country. He has furnished us the folling particulars:-- Anne, the mother of the deceased, bore a striking resemblance to her mother Flora. Previous to the rising of the Scotch before the Battle of Moore's Creek, every precaution and artifice were resorted to in order to elude the vigilant eyes of the Whigs. A favorite method adopted for bringing the young people together was giving Balls at various places in Cumberland and Moore. At those gatherings schemes were convassed and adopted which led to the arming of the Royalists and their defeat in North Carolina. In the ball room Anne reigned supreme. An eye witness has informed me that she was the most graceful dancer he ever beheld, and that he had walked thirty miles just to have her as his partner in the dance. Her beauty and accomplishments won the heart of Alexander McLeod, then of Glendale, on McLennon's Creek in Moore county, (now the plantation of a family named Black.) He joined the Royalists in the contest subsequently attained distinction in the European wars, and rose to the rank of Major General in the British service. He died some years ago at Stein. The deceased, Miss Mary McLeod, having nearly attained the age of 90, must have been born at Glendale. Some of her relatives are now living in our midst, among whom may be mentioned our townsmen, James B. and Henry B. Ferguson.
A GRAND-DAUGHTER OF FLORA MACDONALD London Times. Daily National Intelligencer (Washington, District Of Columbia), Thursday, November 29, 1860 An aged maiden lady, Miss Mary Macleod, died on October 29, at the village of Stein, Waternish, at Skye. She was the daughter of the late Major Alexander Macleod, by Ann, eldest daughter of Mrs. MacDonald of Kingsburg, better known by her maiden name Flora Macdonald-a name celebrated in history. Major Macleod served for some time in America, at the period of the Revolution, as an officer in the royalist corps; and his wife showed something og the maternal spirit in conveying intelligence to her friends during that period of trouble and danger, having on one occasion narrowly escaped while carrying a message sewed up in a button on her dress. After the hostilities had creased Major Macleod and his family returned to the Island of Skye. They both died there, and their only daughter, Miss Macleod, continued to reside in the house at Stein till her death. She had long been in infirm health, and had nearly reached the age of ninety.-London Times.
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