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Archiver > CAPE-FEAR-SCOTS > 1999-10 > 0941231010


From: "Doug Purcell" <>
Subject: Re: Flora and Allan MacDonald's Children
Date: Fri, 29 Oct 1999 16:03:30 -0500


Thanks for this information Kimberly. I am interested in learning the truth
about the children of Flora Mcdonald who may be buried in North Carolina.
But a primary source of some sort will be needed to comfirm the information
that appeared in the book on Red Springs that was published after the 1984
tornado. This book, as a secondary source, may have just repeated community
tradition that might have no basis in fact. Don't get me wrong. I have an
intense interest in this subject as my Purcell and Torrey (Torry, Torrie)
ancestors moved from Scotland to Cumberland County, North Carolina near
Cross Creek (Fayetteville) about 1770. The Purcell family later lived in
Robeson County after it was formed from a part of Cumberland. James Torrey
(c 1744-c 1818) was a loyalist at the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge in
February 1776. I also believe that my g-g-g-g grandfather, Malcolm Purcell
(c 1748-c 1776, who married Beatrice Torrey sister of James Torrey) was at
this engagement as a loyalist as well. So it is possible that they knew
Flora and Allan Mcdonald and some of their children.

By-the-way a family history book entitled "Lumber River Scots and Their
Descendants" which was published in 1942 (reprinted in 1986 and copies are
still available) maintains that my ancestor Malcolm Purcell was an "ardent
patriot" during the early days of American Revolution. Of course this book
is a secondary source. The primary sources that I have consulted seem to
indicate that he was an ardent loyalist.

Doug Purcell

-----Original Message-----
From: Kimberly Huber <>
To: Doug Purcell <>;
<>
Date: Friday, October 29, 1999 3:25 PM
Subject: Re: Flora and Allan MacDonald's Children


>Doug:
>
>Taken from the book made after the tornado in 1984 for Red Springs is the
>following quote: "Fallen debris and trees liter the graves of the children
of
>Flora Macdonald for whom the college is named." I will personally go to
the
>gardens today to find the names of the children buried there.
>
>Kim
>
>
>
>Doug Purcell wrote:
>
>> Kimberly, "Flora MacDonald: The Jacobite Heroine in Scotland and North
>> America" by Ruairidh H. MacLeod (1995 by Shepheard-Walwyn) lists seven
>> children of Flora and Allan MacDonald as follows: Charles, Ann,
Alexander,
>> James, Ranald, John and Frances. None of these children are buried in
North
>> Carolina according to this book. Some did not even come to North
Carolina. I
>> was with Ruari MacLeod on a tour of the Argyll area of Scotland this past
>> July and, if I am not mistaken, he stated that the story about some of
Flora
>> and Allan's children being buried in North Carolina is not true. I am
>> curious to learn the names of the children that are supposedly buried in
>> North Carolina. Perhaps there is another source that refutes the position
>> taken by Mr. MacLeod. It would also be interesting to learn the source of
>> the story that maintains some of Flora's children are buried in North
>> Carolina.
>>
>> Doug Purcell
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: Kimberly Huber <>
>> To: <>
>> Sent: Thursday, October 28, 1999 3:02 PM
>> Subject: Flora Macdonald
>>
>> > Flora Macdonald Academy is still in use in Red Springs, NC. My
children
>> > are currently attending the Academy. Flora Macdonald's original marker
>> > was placed there when it was removed from Scotland for a new marker.
>> > However in 1984 a tornado hit Red Springs and devistated most of the
>> > town, the gardens were practically destroyed and the marker was heavily
>> > damaged. Her children are buried there with the memorial to her.
>> >
>> > Kim
>> > Red Springs, NC
>> >
>> >
>
>

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