It is likely that Alexander McKinnon, The Wooden Priest of Grand River West (Lot 14), Prince Edward Island and Neil McKinnon of the Brae were brothers. Though there is no direct proof of a connection to Alexander at this time, this theory is partially substantiated by one indirect link through Alexander's son Murdock. Regarding Neil and Murdock, Mary McAllar, granddaughter of Neil wrote in 1967 ". . . the nearest I can come to that is that Murdock MacKinnon from Grand River was Neil MacKinnon's, our grandfather's brother because Sandy MacKinnon and our father Felix were first cousins." The 'Sandy' she refers to was Alexander McKinnon of the Brae who, other sources agree, was the son of Murdock and the grandson of Alexander the Wooden Priest. Other sources speculate that Neil was Alexander's younger brother but I haven't yet found data to establish the facts. I include information on Alexander because I believe that he and Neil were somehow related and that, at the very least, details on the life and times of Alexander shed light on the circumstances which resulted in the departure of the Highlanders from Scotland as well as the conditions on P.E.I. after their arrival. The men and their time are most vividly captured in the history of Grand River Parish, included here for convenience but also found on the Island Register.

Obituary of Alexander McKinnon from the Islander newspaper 23 July 1852.

"At his residence, Grand River, Lot 14, on the 3rd inst., Mr. Alexander MacKinnon,

Burial of Alexander McKinnon from St Patrick's RC Church Register, Grand River, Lot 14, P.E.I.:

Burial of Mrs. Alexander McKinnon from St Jean Baptiste RC Church Register, Miscouche, P.E.I.:

It can be seen that Alexander was 17 years older than Nancy Ann who would be about 18 when they emigrated. She may have been his second wife and she may not have arrived on P.E.I. at the same time as Alexander. Documents written by descendants of Neil have it that Neil's father arrived in P.E.I. with two young boys while other sources hold that Alexander had only one son and four daughters.

Summary:

m: Nancy Ann McNeil b: about 1772 and d: 21 Oct 1818 at age 46.

buried: 22 Oct 1818.

children:

2.            i. Murdock McKinnon

3.           ii. Ann McKinnon

            iii. daughter McKinnon

            iv. daughter McKinnon

d: 3 July, 1852 Grand River, Lot 14, Prince Edward Island, Canada

religion: Roman Catholic

immigration: 1790 possibly aboard the ship Jane.

occupation: farmer

location: 1755 to 1790 Isle of Barra, Invernesshire, Scotland; 1890 to 1792 Cascumpec; 1792 to 1852 Grand River, Lot 14, P.E.I.

b: 1804

m: Catharine Gillis

3.             i. Alexander McKinnon

4.            ii. Ann McKinnon

              iii. Elizabeth McKinnon

              iv. Mary McKinnon

religion: Roman Catholic

location: Grand River, Lot 14, P.E.I.

Head of Household

Birth Year <1804>

Birthplace Prince Edward Island

Age 77

Occupation Farmer

Marital Status M <Married>

Ethnic Origin Scottish

Head of Household Murdock MCKINNON

Religion Catholic

Source Information:

Census Place Arlington (Lot 14), Prince, Prince Edward Island

Family History Library Film 1375798

NA Film Number C-13162

District 1

Sub-district N

Page Number 47

Household Number 161

name                     Murdock         Catharine         Phillip         Elizabeth         Neil

marital status       M                     M

gender                  Male                Female             Male            Female             Male

ethnic origin        Scottish          Scottish            Scottish      Scottish          Scottish

age                        77                     73                      37                 33                     31

birthplace             P.E.I.                P.E.I.                 P.E.I.           P.E.I.                P.E.I.

occupation          Farmer             Farmer              Farmer

religion                 Catholic          Catholic           Catholic       Catholic          Catholic

name                     Margaret         Agnes             Michael Gillis         Catharine Gillis         Sarah Gillis

marital status

gender                  Female             Female             Male                        Female                       Female

ethnic origin        Scottish          Scottish           Scottish                   Scottish                    Scottish

age                        28                     9                       17                              12                               62

birthplace            P.E.I.                 P.E.I.                P.E.I.                        P.E.I.                          P.E.I.

occupation                                   school              school                     school                       Farmer

religion                 Catholic          Catholic           Catholic                   Catholic                    Catholic

b: 1832

m: 23 January 1866 Rosella Boulter b: about 1839 daughter of Jane Boulter (1831-1860).

children:

5.             i. John Francis McKinnon

6.            ii. Murdock McKinnon

7.           iii. Daniel McKinnon

8.           iv. Mary Jane McKinnon

9.            v. Philip McKinnon

10.        vi.  Catherine Ann McKinnon

11.        vii. Stephen Willie McKinnon

12.       viii. Elizabeth McKinnon

13.          ix. Peter McKinnon

d: 22 Sep 1909

buried: Cemetery #2 Section B Stone #100 Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church Cemetery, Brae, Lot 9, P.E.I.

religion: Roman Catholic

location: Brae, Lot 9, P.E.I

Note 1: PEIGS cemetery transcription give Alexander's birth date as 8 Apr 1836 but he gives his age as 49 and 59 in the 1881 and 1891 Census respectively.

Note 2: Rosella Boulter is listed in references variously as Rosalie, and Rosa, McNeil, Manson, and Boulter. She was baptized 7 Oct 1853 at St Mary's Roman Catholic Church, Brae as ". . . age 14 years, of unknown parents". Sponsors were Donald McNeil and Eugenia McKinnon SM B119 Pp 28. Rosella and Alexander's wedding is entered in the St Jacques (Egmont Bay) Parish register for 1866 as follows:

 "M1 Le vingt troisieme jour de mois Janvier mil huit cent soixante dix apres la publication

des bans a Brae Alexander McKinnon son of Murdock McKinnon et Rosella Manson fille

de (unreadable, looks like Anionsis) Manson et Jane Bolter."

It appears that Rosella was raised by Donald McNeil and possibly Eugenia McKinnon. Jane Boulter's extensive family history is available on the web at http://www.islandregister.com/boulterh.html

Note 3: Donald McNeil was a blacksmith and had a forge originally on the farm of Felix McKinnon. He died 21 Aug 1889 age 89. "A native of the Isle of Barra, Scotland." Buried Cemetery #2 Section B Stone #82 Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church Cemetery, Brae, Lot 9, P.E.I. Donald McNeil may have been married to Eugenia McKinnon but her relationship to Neil and/or Murdock McKinnon, if any, has not been established. Donald McNeil may have been connected to Alexander McKinnon (Murdock's father) since Alexander's wife was Ann McNeil.

b: 26 Sept 1836

baptized: 24 Jan 1837 sponsors Donald and Mary McIntyre, St Augustine's RC Church Rustico

religion: Roman Catholic

b: 16 June 1867

baptized: 30 Aug 1867 St Anthony's RC Church Register B31 1867, Bloomfield, P.E.I. Sponsors Donald McNeil and Johanna McKinnon

religion: Roman Catholic

location: Brae, Lot 9, P.E.I; unknown

b: 1869

religion: Roman Catholic

location: Brae, Lot 9, P.E.I; unknown

b: 16 Jan 1870

baptized: 1 Feb 1870 SM B15 Sponsors James McKinnon and Ann McIsaac

d: 4 Dec 1924 age 54

buried: Cemetery #2 Section B Stone #87 Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church Cemetery, Brae, Lot 9, P.E.I.

religion: Roman Catholic

location: Brae, Lot 9, P.E.I; unknown

b: 1873 age 8 in 1881 Census and 18 in 1891 Census

b: 25 Apr 1874

baptized: 1 May 1874 Sponsors Donald McIntyre and Sarah McIntyre, SM B17 Pp 77

religion: Roman Catholic

location: Brae, Lot 9, P.E.I; unknown

Note: Probably died young - not there in 1881 Census or later.

b: 13 Aug 1875

baptized: (unreadable) Sponsors Felix McKinnon and Elizabeth McDonald, SM B28 Pp 80

d: 1929

buried: Cemetery #2 Section B Stone #100 Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church Cemetery, Brae, Lot 9, P.E.I.

religion: Roman Catholic

location: Brae, Lot 9, P.E.I; unknown

b: 1 Sep 1877

baptized: 17 Sep 1877, Sponsors Felix McKinnon and Isabella McKaller, SM B5 Pp 87

religion: Roman Catholic

location: Brae, Lot 9, P.E.I; unknown

b: 27 Jan 1879

baptized: 30 March 1879 SM B25 Pp 91

children:

                i. Preston McKinnon.

religion: Roman Catholic

location: Brae, Lot 9, P.E.I; unknown

Note: aka Lizzie and Lizbeth

b: about 25 Dec 1880

baptized: 25 Jan 1881 ". . . aged one month" Sponsors Felix McKinnon and Mrs. Felix McKinnon, SM Pp 95 1881

religion: Roman Catholic

location: Brae, Lot 9, P.E.I; unknown