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Hugh Howard MacDonald born c1866 Nova Scotia
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Researching my great-grandfather's birthplace and ancestors. Hugh Howard MacDonald died in Pittsfield, MA USA in 1932. He was married in Pittsfield in 1894 and had children John W., Ernest Leroy, Raymond Frances, Joseph Robert, Christine Mary, another Ernest Leroy (after first so-named died), Helen F., and Dorothy M. The first evidence he was in the U.S. was a Pittsfield, MA area city directory of 1893.
He listed the year he entered the U.S. as 1890, 1887, or 1883. No record has been found of his naturalization. Anecdotal evidence says that in the years between leaving Nova Scotia and settling near Pittsfield he may have lived in the Boston area, and may have spent time with American Indians in upper New York state. My grandfather said that his father, Hugh Howard, had to leave Nova Scotia because of a Halloween prank gone wrong. He was 17 or so and his friends crept into a farmer's yard Halloween night. They pulled the steps away from the porch and then started making a racket. The farmer ran out to see what was the matter and fell off the porch. He was hurt and may have died later of his injuries. Hugh Howard never revealed what area of Nova Scotia he was from.
Hugh Howard's parents were Hugh and Christine (Mary) MacDonald. Her maiden name may have been MacDonald (perhaps Kenny). Hugh Howard was Catholic. After going through the Nova Scotia records the best lead for his parents is a Hugh and Christine of Bailey's Brook, Pictou County. Hugh Sr.'s parents were John and Catherine (MacGillivray) MacDonald. Hugh Sr. died in 1866 and his widow Christine went to her brother's home in the town of Antigonish soon after. Hugh Jr. was born in April 1866 in Antigonish and baptized there in St. Ninian's.
Another possibility is Soldier John MacDonald of Ardness (Bailey's Brook)
I have had my DNA tested and the closest match thus far is to the Bohuntin Keppoch MacDonalds.
Any information on Pictou/Antigonish/Bohuntin MacDonalds or Soldier John MacDonald would be greatly appreciated.
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Hugh Howard c1900
in loving memory of our cat, Bo
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