These are some excerpts taken from the book "Fair is the Place"
about early Cape Breton life. Notes for RANALD MACDONALD: Most
of what follows is taken from "Fair Is The Place", by Mildred
and John Colin MacDonald of Judique, Nova Scotia. Ranald
MacDonald (Pioneer) was born on Eilean Shona, Scotland, on the
Baillie farm there. He was the son of James of Baillie and he
followed his father and brother Alasdair to Canada about 1796.
Ranald was probably married when he emigrated but his wife's
name is unknown, and unfortunately, nothing more is known of
her. When Ranald came out to Nova Scotia, he was more than
likely accompanied by his wife and also by his brother, Donald
Ban. They probably landed at Pictou and then made their way to
the Arisaig area of Antigonish County where they would have met
up with other brother Alasdair (1730 - 1820's) and his family.
No doubt, their father James was either dying or already dead
when they arrived, so this must have saddened them. In 1798,
Ranald and his family crossed ove