The Macdonalds of Panmure Island l3

Archibald settled on Panmure Island in a log cabin near the present house of John and Bea Keaveney. His great grandson Edwin was the father of Bill MacDonald, who still lives on Panmure Island, farms and takes care of the lighthouse, since George Creed moved to Sturgeon. His daughter, Margaret and her husband Roger MacLeod, help him farm. He has cattle and chickens, from which we get our eggs. Our Bed and Breakfast guests like the eggs, especially because they are so fresh.

Two uncles of Joe are buried in Panmure Island Cemetery. They died young at the age of 16 or 17. Another son of Andrew was Colin who became a colonel in the British Army. And son, Joseph R., had a store and built ships.

The ships in those days went to the West Indies for rum, brought it to Scotland, and sailed to Prince Edward Island for lumber and to build more ships, which carried wood to Scotland.

Archibald MacDonald from Grandpa’s Diary 1909 by Helen Macdonald

My birthplace was Panmure Island where my father, mother, grandmother (Catherine, Hugh’s wife), and Aunts Matilda and Catherine, lived in a large brick house on a farm considered large for that time. My earliest memories recall a happy family of contented people all much respected.

The Catholics of Launching and Murray Harbour assembled to hear Mass in the small church near the residence and our house was always a home for the priest.

I can remember, when I was very young a terrific storm that destroyed buildings, boats and the wharf. Trees were felled across the roads and it took many years before others grew to so great a size.

Our nearest neighbour was Uncle Archie and family who lived about 1 3/4 miles away.

Uncle Colin built the dwelling house in Georgetown. My father (Hugh) was Collector of Customs and a Justice of Small Debts and had to move to Georgetown, but Panmure Island was the home that I loved and every day that I was not at school would find me and the other children at Panmure Island.

The Indians always camped in our woods to make sugar and to shoot geese in the Spring months. We would sometimes visit the camp and attend Sunday service which was quite edifying. They would sing the Mass, had a fine faith and much intelligence.