In August, 1827, John Macdonald expired in his son’s house, in the
Lawnmarket, at the advanced age of one hundred and seven years. He was
born in Glen Tinisdale, in the Isle of Skye, and, like the other natives
of that quarter, was bred to rural labour. Early one morning in his
youth, when looking after his black cattle, he was surprised by the
sight of two ladies, as he thought, winding slowly round a hill, and
approaching the spot where he stood. When they came up, they inquired
for a well or stream, where a drink of water could be obtained. He
conducted them to the “Virgin Well,” an excellent spring, which was held
in great reverence on account of its being the scene of some
superstitious and legendary tales. When they had quenched their thirst,
one of the ladies rewarded Macdonald with a shilling, the first silver
coin of which he was possessed. At their own request he escorted them to
a gentleman’s house at some distance, and there, to his great surprise
and satisfaction, he learned that the two “ladies” were Flora Macdonald
and prince Charles Stewart.
This was the proudest incident in Macdonald’s patriarchal life; and,
when surrounded by his Celtic brethren, he used to dilate on all the
relative circumstances with a sort of hereditary enthusiasm, and more
than the common garrulity of age. He afterwards turned joiner, and bore
a conspicuous part in the building of the first protestant church which
was erected in the island of North Uist. He came to Edinburgh
twenty-three years before his death, and continued to work at his trade
till he was ninety-seven years of age.
Macdonald was a temperate, regular-living man, and never paid a sixpence
to a surgeon for himself, nor had an hour’s sickness in the whole course
of his life. He used to dance regularly on New-year’s day, along with
some Highland friends, to the bagpipe. On New-year’s day, 1825, he
danced a reel with the father, the son, the grandson, and
great-grandson, and was in more than his usual spirits. His hearing was
nothing impaired, and till within three weeks of his demise he could
have threaded the finest needle with facility, without glasses.[317]
[317] Scotsman, August, 1827.
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~Discoveries~