Scotland The conventional way to start the history of Norman Hume McDonald would be to give his birth date, but that has not been ascertained exactly, but was probably the last quarter of 1827.
We do know he was baptised on the 25 December 1830. He was the son of Godfrey McDonald a farmer and Elizabeth Montgomery who lived on the Isle of Scalpay, a little island off the Isle of Skye.
The 1851 Census of Scotland shows that Norman was living with his mother and two siblings, his brother James a shoemaker aged 22 and a sister Christina, a wireworker, aged 18 at 10 Gibbs Entry Edinburgh. Those are the bare bones of Norman’s beginning and for the Patriarch of the McDonalds of Yarraville a poor and pitiful description. Perhaps the landscape would compensate for the lack of information about Norman’s family and be found suitable for his ultimate position.
The Isle of Skye sets just the scene. Skye is best described by a contemporary description written by the Rev. John MacKinnon for the Church of Scotland’s Statistical Account of Scotland of 1842 on the Parish of Strath of which he was minister, of which part Scalpay is part. After describing where the parish was situated he then proceeds to extol the scenery,
“To the admirer of nature, this parish presents objects of no ordinary interest. On its western boundaries is situated a landscape of unparallel grandeur. No place, perhaps, affords more picturesque subjects for the painter than parts of this parish. In it he meets with such prodigality of natural wonders, that he must feel as bewildered, and at a loss to make a choice. The scenery shifts at every step, and each successive view seems to excel the rest. The cloudcapped Cuillin raises its inaccessible pinnacles beyond the other mountains, and is visible in almost every part of the island. Next in order Marsco, Blath-Bheinn and Beilig shoot themselves forth in every variety of fantastic figure and appearance, each struggling for supremacy with its neighbour, and each possessing every imaginable characteristic of native rudeness and splendour.”
While the landscape is breathtaking, Skye does have its drawbacks – “The climate is cold, damp, and changeable and the complaints over which it may be said to exercise any influence, are, as may be supposed, acute rheumatism, pleuritic affections, consumption, and other pulmonary ailments. The only land-owners in the parish are Lord Macdonald and Mr. Macalister of Strathaird.”vii Gaelic is the language of the country and that for the most part preached but of late, in consequence of the constant intercourse held by the natives with the low country. It is very much corrupted with a mixture of English words and phrases.”
The good Reverend MacKinnon goes into some detail about the condition of his parishioners.
“It is to be regretted that the people have not more regard to cleanliness. The cattle and poultry are generally to be found under the same roof with the rational inmates, separated only by a tallan or partition, for the most part made of stone or wattle-work, a few feet in height. They wear home-made woollen clothes, and are very expert at dyeing almost all colours. Their diet chiefly consists of potatoes and herrings, occasionally varied with meal and milk.” “As their possessions are too limited, to afford employment for all who are located on them, almost all the young men leave the country annually, and resort to the south, in vast numbers, in quest of any employment which may procure. In the same manner, many of the young women go to the Lothians in harvest to procure employment in reapingviii They are generally most mindful and attentive in sending a part of their earnings home to their parents, to pay the rents, as well as for other useful purposes.”
For this reason, it is not surprising we find Norman finding employment in Edinburgh as a Police Officer. ix The Edinburgh Police Registerx shows a Norman McDonald joining the force on 29 March 1849,
Age 25 years xi Height 5ft 8½ inches Face oval Eyes grey, Hair brown, Complexion fresh Trade labourer Country ScotlandMarried and the following in the remarks column:
Dismd 27/5/1854xii . Warrant no. 1118 One of the main criteria for selection into the Edinburgh Police, even in 1849, would have been character.
Once again turning to the Rev MacKinnon’s essay we find the following comments of the character of the people of his parish
“Character – They are, with few exceptions, or sober and correct habits, - charitable to their less fortunate neighbours, - hospitable and attentive to strangers, - and obedient and respectful to their superiors.
Flagrant breaches of the peace are almost unknown, there being but two instances on record of criminal prosecutions against natives.
” It must be assumed that the Police in Edinburgh could read and write, so how well was Norman educated.
The Revd MacKinnon’s report on his parish for the Church of Scotland’s Statistical Accounts contains a description of what was being taught and the level of interest in Education on Skye. “Education.- There are five schools in the parish, - one parochial, two unendowed, and supported by the parents of the children, and two on the establishment of the Gaelic School Society. The parochial school is in the possession of an efficient teacher, and is well attended, particularly during the winter. The branches usually taught are, English reading, writing, and arithmetic. Very few now prosecute the study of Latin and Greek, although the teacher is well qualified to give instruction in these branches.”
Norman next appears in the official records, on his marriage to Johan McKenzie Munro on 25 January 1852. The entry in St Cuthbert’s Edinburgh parish records their marriage as follows Norman McDonald Police Officer Residing at 63 Buccleuchxiii Street, and Johan Munro residing at No. 154 Causewayside both in this Parish,
Second Daughter of Donald Munro, Night Watchman at Edinburgh Prisons, have been three several times duly and regularly proclaimed in the Parish Church of Saint Cuthbert’s in order to marriage and no objections offered. Married at Edinburgh on the 28th January 1852 [sic] by the Revd. Mr. Wm Tasker, Minister of Dr. Chalmers Free Territorial Church, West Port.
The next major event in the historical records is the birth of Norman and Johan’s first child, a daughter, Elizabeth Montgomery McDonald.
The announcement of her arrival was recorded in the St Cuthbert’s Parish registry thus:- Norman McDonald, Police Officer at 60 Buccleuch Street and Joan Munro his Spouse had a Daughter at Armadale in the Parish of Farr, Sutherlandshire, on the 2nd day of February last Named Elizabeth
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