Jonathan Colbert McDonald b.about 1826 d.1864

- Notes -

According to the 1850 census Jonathan was born in Alabama but we have been unable to determine exactly where. We also do not know who his parents are. From the history of that time we have made some guesses that his parents were among the many who made their way from Scotland between 1740 and 1800 in an attempt to find a better life in the new world. It's likely that the family landed near Wilmington, NC and made their way inland in search of land to farm. Much of the farm lands available at the time had already been settled and what was left was the hilly highlands of the western NC mountains. While that kind of terrain would be familiar to the highland people of north western Scotland the enticement of free homesteads likely lured them out of NC and into the new territories being wrestled from natives peoples who formerly occupied the large region now known as Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi. It's hard to know if the route taken by the McDonald family was south through South Carolina or west through Kentucky and Tennessee to make their way into Alabama.

The first time we find them mentioned in official documents was when Jonathan made a request for a land grant which he was eventually able to secure. There were two of these reqests and the family eventually owned about 80 acres of land in Pike County, Alabama. Today this area is known as Spring Hill, very near the town of Troy, Alabama. The land the family owned is locally known as McDonald Hill which suggests that they family was well known in that area. The name McDonald Hill still lingers today but will not likely be found on any map.

In 1854 a new Calvery regiment was formed from local people to help with the war effort. It's not clear if Jonathan joined of his own account or was conscripted. However we do know that the unit after being formed locally was moved to a camp just north of Mobile and shortly thereafter was shipped directly into battle to join Johnsons Army to help fend off Sherman's push out of Chattannoga. Sherman was able to push the confederates back into Georgia and somewhere near the Battle of Peachtree Creek our Jonathan died. It's most likely that he is burried in a mass grave somewhere near there but we have not been able to uncover any information that tells that he died quickly or was wounded and lingered on for some time. We also do not know if his death occured in battle or what caused his untimely death.

The one thing we do know is that his wife, Susannah, did apply for a widow's pension which was eventually granted. We have uncovered records to show that she resubmitted her petition quite a few times over a period of years and that she was quite old when her requests were honored.

We have requested and received what remains of Jonathan's milirary records. These records show that he was involved in a dispute with his commanding officer (a local from the Pike County area). It also shows that Jonathan had apparently been promoted to Sergent but reduced in rank following the court-martial action. We do not know the story of what happened. There is an account filed in Montgomery, Alabama in their historic archives. That account is detailed in a letter written by the other fellow. Apparently the problem did not just exist with Jonathan but with many in the unit. I did copy that account but don't have it available at this time.

Jonathan's death date information was secured from Susannah's petition for a Widow's pension.