DONALD  MacPHEE
(c1794 – after 1863)
    Donald was born in Scotland about 1794. The exact location is not known, but it is assumed that it was on Skye, as his known children were all born there. He married Janet or Jessie McLEAN, and had children John, born 17 August 1825 in Roag, Duirinish; Mary, born c1826; Angus, born c1828; Murdoch, born 28 October 1834 in Feorlig  Duirinish, and baptised in Dunvegan; Norman, born 24 June 1837 in Duirinish, baptised in Feorlig; Archibald, born 13 July 1840 in Duirinish, baptised in Dunvegan, 1842.
    Donald was listed as residing in Dunvegan in 1842. By 1851, Donald is listed in the census as: 57 years and resident at Holmisdale Duirinish. His main occupation was probably a crofter,  and indeed on his son Norman’s  marriage certificate in 1863, he is recorded as that.
    It is not known when Donald died, or where he may be buried. However, it is known that he was alive in 1863 when his son Norman married.

JANET  McLEAN
(c1796 – after 1851)
    Janet, or Jessie  was born about 1796, daughter of Norman McLEAN, and his wife Ann. Janet is listed in the 1851 census as 55 years old, however there is also a Janet, aged 41 years, and some of their children, listed in the 1841 census. It was not uncommon for people to list incorrect ages in the census. She is listed as resident at Holmisdale, Duirinish. Also listed in the house in the 1851 census, is a Helen McLEAN aged 9 years, not born in the county. This Helen may have been a niece of Janet’s.
Janet is believed to have been the daughter of a goldsmith from the island of  -------- in Loch Dunvegan. One wonders why a goldsmith would have been located on Skye amonst the crofters. Perhaps he was employed by the McLEOD’s from Dunvegan Castle.

MARGERET  McPHEE
(1861 – after 1940)
    Born 5 December 1861, in Kilmuir by Uig, Skye, daughter of Malcolm MacPHIE and Ann ROSS, Margeret lived in Clachan, Kilcalmonell, Argyll when she married Alexander, and her occupation is listed as domestic duties. It is thought that Alexander and Margeret had twelve children. And that Margeret died sometime after 1940.
Parents of Margeret: Malcolm McPHEE and Ann ROSS
 Malcolm and Ann were married at the Manse, Kilmuir by Uig, on 27 November 1855.  Malcolm is recorded as a farm servant of Stensholl, aged 30 years. He was born 16 May 1825 at Stensholl,  son of Donald McPHEE (farmer) and Catherine MacPHEE . Witnesses of the marriage were Alexander MATHESON (inspector of the poor), and Alexander MacLEOD (miller). When his daughter Margeret was married (1883), Malcolm is listed as a crofter. Ann was born in Kilmuir in 1835,  daughter of Alexander ROSS (farmer) and Effy MacDONALD. At the time of her marriage, Ann was listed as a maid servant living in Kendrom, Parish of Kilmuir. Margeret was the eldest of two known children of Malcolm and Ann. Her brother Alexander was born 25 September 1866,  also in Kilmuir by Uig.

Donald-Archie MacPHEE
    Born about 1896 in Glendale, Donald Archie was in the Medical Corps during WW1. He presented psalms in Gaelic in Glendale. He died in 1972. He married Alexandrina MacKINNON, daughter of John MacKINNON from Molivag. They had two children:
1. Christina who had son, Donald Alexander MacPHEE.
2. Alastair Ian (1930-1952) served during WW2.
Euphemia MacPHEE Euphemia was born after 1896.
Alexander MacPHEE Born after 1898, Alexander was a policeman in Glasgow. Known as Alec, he married Ira DAY, and had no children.
Angus MacPHEE  Born about 1900, Angus married Flora McLENNON and moved to Canada where he presented the psalms in Gaelic. They had children: Ruth; Alexander; John David; and Norman.
Donald-Murdoch MacPHEE Born after 1895, Donald-Murdoch served in WW1, even though he was too young to fight. He died in the War (1914-18), and his name is listed on the War Memorial at Glendale.
Mary MacPHEE
    Mary was born about 1905, and is believed to be the youngest of Alexander and Margeret’s children. This may explain the concern that Alexander had with Mary’s betrothed Donald BLACK. It must have been very difficult for Mary to be divided between her love for Donald and her devotion to her parents. One wonders how her mother dealt with the situation. Donald BLACK agreed to leave the Glen and to never see Mary or her child again. This we assume he did, as there is no knowledge of him in the Glen after this event. It is believed that he died ina village called Strontium. Mary went to work as a housekeeper for the owners of Grants whiskey in Glasgow, but didn’t stay long as she pined for the Glen and her family. Her son Alastair stayed with her parents until about the age of 11 or 12, at which time he lived with his mother and step father for a short time. On Mary’s return to the Glen she met and married Murdo MacDONALD (c1905 - 23 September 1993) from Colbost. They had three children: Peggy Mary; Alastair; and Catriona. Mary died 18 August 1979, and is buried in Glendale Cemetery.

Do you recognise any of these faces?
Back row:- ?    ?    ?    Donald,    ?
Front row:-    Mary,    Margeret MacPHEE,    Alexander,    Alexander MacPhee,    Ann.
 
 
 

ALASTAIR  MacPHEE
(1925 – 1976)
    Alastair and his mother Jessie came to Australia about 1927, with Alastair breaking his arm on the voyage, after falling from one deck to the next. He was 2 and a half.  Nanna was upset that she couldn’t communicate with Alastair, as he spoke only Gaelic, which he had learnt while living in Glendale. He spoke no English, and Nanna spoke no Gaelic. Alastair attended Darlinghurst Public School, Glenmore Road Public School, and a Business College at Rose Bay. He joined the army in 1943, and Private Alastair MacPhee (N.456982) served from 7 May 1943 to 16 Nov 1943. He received the War Badge and General Service Badge. Medical examination showed: fit for class two - hammer toes and corns. The medical form shows numerous visits: 9 visits in the 6 months, being discharged as medically unfit. Description: complexion - mid; height 5' 11"    hair dark    eyes hazel    marks scars on both feet.
    He next joined the merchant marines, and while on the SS Stagen, he wrote to Molly saying that he broke up with Betty the night before he left (July 16). Alastair was engaged to a girl named Betty, however, he broke up with her about 1946. She was apparently a Catholic girl, whom Jessie (Alastair's mother) didn't like - probably because she was Catholic. Betty also wanted Alastair to convert to Catholicism.  In letters to Molly, Alastair often refers to himself as Llewellyn. When I asked Molly about this, she said that it was a nickname given to Alastair by their friend Vera PATE (now CHAPMAN). Vera could not remember the name Alastair, and so called him Llewellyn. The name stuck, and when ever Alastair wrote to Molly or Vera, he signed it Llewellyn.
    Alastair first met Molly CHIPPENDALE, about 1935/6 [when about 10 yrs old] at Glenmore Road School. He married Molly 27 February 1954 at the Methodist Church, Oxford St, Paddington, Sydney, N.S.W. Their wedding reception was held at the Presbyterian Church, on the next corner to the Methodist Church where they were married. They went to Mereweather Beach, near Newcastle, for their honeymoon. They went by train, and stayed for two weeks.
 A member of AA, he helped start the youth group: Newspaper article July 1956:
 "When the meeting finished a supper of tea and biscuits was served and I was introduced to the founder of the Sydney Youth Group, an intelligent 31 year old named Mac. Mac told me that AA saved his life. He started to drink at an early age and soon he discovered that one middy was too many and 100 not enough. ......"
    Alastair had various occupations: Junior Mechanic; Stewart; Textile Salesman; Textile Worker; Salesman; Real Estate Salesman. Alastair suffered from Charcot Marie Tooth - a neurological disorder, and died 11 May 1976 in St Vincent’s Hospital. The cause of death is listed as : Bronchopneumonia - 2 days; Metastatic Carcinoma - 3 years; Charcot Marie Tooth disease - 10 years; Duodenal ulcer - 1 year.
 
 
 

I would be grateful if anyone reading this would contact me if they find any information incorrect, or can add extra information. I would be happy to add families of any person, no matter how distant. As some family members may want some information kept private, this will be respected.