Description Eastern Chronicle, 6 Feb 1873

Remarkable Longevity. - The longevity of John Macdonald, late of Back Settlement of Bailey's Brook, Pictou County, and of his wife and children, and their numerous families, are worthy of record.  He, with his wife and family, emigrated from Ardnish Inverness shire, in the year 1790, and settled on a large lot of land granted him by the Crown for his service in the British army that fought in the American War of Independence; and on which the greater number of his numerous decendants now living yet reside.  All his family outlived himself and his wife who died at the ages of 88 and 87 year respectively.  This worthy couple left eight children, whose ages, issue, and periods of their death are as follows:  Lachlan died June 13th, 1865, aged 99 years, issue 6 boys and 4 girls; Angus died January 1858, aged 98 years, issue six boys and four girls; Mrs. Sarah McAdam died January 1858, aged 94 years, issue five boys and six girls; John died April 16th, 1860, aged 90 years, issue eight boys and five girls; Ronald died December 31st, 1861, aged 88 years, issue eight boys and three girls; Donald died January 1st, 1863, aged 84 years, issue then boys and three girls; Roderick died December 14th, 1849, aged 74, issue seven boys and three girls; - Mrs. Mary McGillivary died December 1855, aged 78 years, issue two boys and nine girls.  It will be seen that the combined ages of Mr. McDonald's children are 700 years, making an average of eighty-seven and a half years to each.  Again if the ages of the parents be added to the ages of their children, the average age of each will be the same - eightyseven and a half.  The number of grandchildren is 89; the number of children 8, making in all, including the parent stock, the respectable family of 99 in number.  We doubt whether such longevity in one family can be found in the Province. - Casket.