10/13/2025. Greetings from Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia, a suberb of Halifax. My name is Donald R. MacLeod (originally and correctly spelled McLeod). My wife Eleanor (nee
MacPherson, were married, in 1960, We have two sons, six grandchildren and, thus far, two great grandsons. We’ve also lived in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver (my job
transfers). I was employed in the marine transportation industry (on shore, not on the ships) and she with the Royal Bank. While there, we lived in Richmond. Some months, fter
arriving in B.C., my wife, Eleanor and I learned that the Clan MacLeod Societies were holding their North American Gathering at the University of B.C. so we visited that large
(to us) event. Soon after, we became members of Clan MacLeod Society of Greater Vancouver. Our first experience with a Clan MacLeod Society.
When we returned to Halifax
in late 1994, we became members of CMS-Halifax. I am a former Regional Vice-President of the Atlantic Canada Region (that title/position is no longer used) and a 10-year
Past President of the now defunct Clan MacLeod Society of Halifax. CMS-Halifax closed down a number of years ago, as did CMS-PEI , CMS-Cape Breton and Pictou.
CMS-Pictou was led, for some years, by a late clansman and friend, Gordon McLeod of that County. His brother, Rev. Allan, lives in B.C. and is, to be best of my knowledge,
an active CMS member.
While with CMS-GV, we met Dr. Donald Murdoch McLeod and his wife., who were members of CMS-GV. When we returned to Halifax, in 1992, my next
elder brother, Frank, and Dr. Don, I larned about DNA testing, do we both took the Family Tree DNA series of tests. It turned out that descend from Murdoch and Effie (McNicoll)
McLeod. Dr. Don desends from their first born, aka Murdock (b.1802) and me from their last child, Angus, born in 1818, in Assynt, Scotland
I have been workiing on my McLeod/Patterson family trees for a while. It is “a work in progres”s. If interested, please have a peek at it on My Heritage.com under the title
Donald’s McLeod-McKenzie/Patterson-Beals Family Tree.
It often takes considerable effort to ensure I am not including other persons who have the same name. That can sometimes take effort to achieve. Donald MacLeod/McLeod
(Mc is the correct form, Mac was later used by some Scots. Our (perhaps) original family name was probably spelled MhicLeoid,at least in English. It menas “Son of Ugly” not
in looks, but temperment. It, is a very common Scottish family name, and, it seems, many given names were/are “in short supply”. My father’s name, John Angus are yet another
common names. My grandfather, also a John McLeod, had the nickname “Cricket”.
I heard him called that by, what turned out to be a cousin we met, in 1960, while Eleanor and I were on our first trip on the Cabot Trail, visiting home from Montrreal. . “We” set up our tent on a beach on the
Cabot Trail, in a rain storm. The next morning the rain stopped but the wind was still strong. My father, as a boy, lived for a time on St. Paul’s Island, off the northern tip of Cape
Breton Island. I was unaware that we were not yet near the “top of the Island” or even if one could see St. Paul’s Island from here. So, I climed up a slope to a barbed-wire fence
tthinking I might see the island, (this during very heavy overcast??). as I stared northward, a man cam along, on a horse-drawn mowing maching. He stopped and asked
“What are you lookng for boy?” I told him “St. Paul’s Island Sir” and he chuckled. “Why would you want to see that “aweful” place?. he asked. I told him my grandparents, father
and uncle lived there for a time. “What’s your name boy? he asked. “Donald MacLeod” I responded. He broke out in a huge smile and said, “Be ****** boy, your “Crickets”
grandson and I’m your cousin.” “Cricket” I learned, from him, was grandfather;s nickname. I still have no idea regarding the reason for that nickname. Cape Bretoners
were/are known for giving people nicknames. I never asked my father about that nickname. He didn’t tell me his name. It had to be either McLeod or McKenzie. They
can be complimentary or otherwise. Being young and being unaware of genealogy, I didn’t have the common sense to carry on the conversation. Later in lfe, I leanred what
a loss that opportunity was.
Genealogy is a very interesting persuit. It can sometimes be difficult, but it is, in the final analysis, very nformative and rewarding.
My family name was spelled McLeod. For unknown reasons, after my grandparents had both passed, my father and uncle change it to MacLeod.
I asked my father why and he told me it was none of my business…….. REALLY!
If you have any questions, please drop me a line, via email, to nova.don@ns.sympatico.ca . I was the only son who dared to “challenge” our father.
That would lead to yet another “amusing” story about his father’s razor strop/strap. Later perhaps.
Yours in Clanship,
Donald R. MacLeod
Lower Sackville, N.S.
MacLeod and Proud ! Love the website .
Looks great, Neil!
10/13/2025. Greetings from Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia, a suberb of Halifax. My name is Donald R. MacLeod (originally and correctly spelled McLeod). My wife Eleanor (nee
MacPherson, were married, in 1960, We have two sons, six grandchildren and, thus far, two great grandsons. We’ve also lived in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver (my job
transfers). I was employed in the marine transportation industry (on shore, not on the ships) and she with the Royal Bank. While there, we lived in Richmond. Some months, fter
arriving in B.C., my wife, Eleanor and I learned that the Clan MacLeod Societies were holding their North American Gathering at the University of B.C. so we visited that large
(to us) event. Soon after, we became members of Clan MacLeod Society of Greater Vancouver. Our first experience with a Clan MacLeod Society.
When we returned to Halifax
in late 1994, we became members of CMS-Halifax. I am a former Regional Vice-President of the Atlantic Canada Region (that title/position is no longer used) and a 10-year
Past President of the now defunct Clan MacLeod Society of Halifax. CMS-Halifax closed down a number of years ago, as did CMS-PEI , CMS-Cape Breton and Pictou.
CMS-Pictou was led, for some years, by a late clansman and friend, Gordon McLeod of that County. His brother, Rev. Allan, lives in B.C. and is, to be best of my knowledge,
an active CMS member.
While with CMS-GV, we met Dr. Donald Murdoch McLeod and his wife., who were members of CMS-GV. When we returned to Halifax, in 1992, my next
elder brother, Frank, and Dr. Don, I larned about DNA testing, do we both took the Family Tree DNA series of tests. It turned out that descend from Murdoch and Effie (McNicoll)
McLeod. Dr. Don desends from their first born, aka Murdock (b.1802) and me from their last child, Angus, born in 1818, in Assynt, Scotland
I have been workiing on my McLeod/Patterson family trees for a while. It is “a work in progres”s. If interested, please have a peek at it on My Heritage.com under the title
Donald’s McLeod-McKenzie/Patterson-Beals Family Tree.
It often takes considerable effort to ensure I am not including other persons who have the same name. That can sometimes take effort to achieve. Donald MacLeod/McLeod
(Mc is the correct form, Mac was later used by some Scots. Our (perhaps) original family name was probably spelled MhicLeoid,at least in English. It menas “Son of Ugly” not
in looks, but temperment. It, is a very common Scottish family name, and, it seems, many given names were/are “in short supply”. My father’s name, John Angus are yet another
common names. My grandfather, also a John McLeod, had the nickname “Cricket”.
I heard him called that by, what turned out to be a cousin we met, in 1960, while Eleanor and I were on our first trip on the Cabot Trail, visiting home from Montrreal. . “We” set up our tent on a beach on the
Cabot Trail, in a rain storm. The next morning the rain stopped but the wind was still strong. My father, as a boy, lived for a time on St. Paul’s Island, off the northern tip of Cape
Breton Island. I was unaware that we were not yet near the “top of the Island” or even if one could see St. Paul’s Island from here. So, I climed up a slope to a barbed-wire fence
tthinking I might see the island, (this during very heavy overcast??). as I stared northward, a man cam along, on a horse-drawn mowing maching. He stopped and asked
“What are you lookng for boy?” I told him “St. Paul’s Island Sir” and he chuckled. “Why would you want to see that “aweful” place?. he asked. I told him my grandparents, father
and uncle lived there for a time. “What’s your name boy? he asked. “Donald MacLeod” I responded. He broke out in a huge smile and said, “Be ****** boy, your “Crickets”
grandson and I’m your cousin.” “Cricket” I learned, from him, was grandfather;s nickname. I still have no idea regarding the reason for that nickname. Cape Bretoners
were/are known for giving people nicknames. I never asked my father about that nickname. He didn’t tell me his name. It had to be either McLeod or McKenzie. They
can be complimentary or otherwise. Being young and being unaware of genealogy, I didn’t have the common sense to carry on the conversation. Later in lfe, I leanred what
a loss that opportunity was.
Genealogy is a very interesting persuit. It can sometimes be difficult, but it is, in the final analysis, very nformative and rewarding.
My family name was spelled McLeod. For unknown reasons, after my grandparents had both passed, my father and uncle change it to MacLeod.
I asked my father why and he told me it was none of my business…….. REALLY!
If you have any questions, please drop me a line, via email, to nova.don@ns.sympatico.ca . I was the only son who dared to “challenge” our father.
That would lead to yet another “amusing” story about his father’s razor strop/strap. Later perhaps.
Yours in Clanship,
Donald R. MacLeod
Lower Sackville, N.S.
The next parliament. Each country should hold sign designating which country they represent.
Some genuinely nice and useful information on this website, too I think the design and style has excellent features.
Hi Chris
Another test from Guest Book sent at 1712Hrs EST 3rd March
Please let me know if you receive.
Regards
Neil