Donald McLean

Large-scale attorney in Jamaica, including e.g. to Kean Osborn on Caswell Hill estate in Vere in 1817, and a slave-owner there also. Deceased by 1823. His short period of very wide activity is consistent with this being a single individual, probably the brother of Alexander McLean (q.v.) and husband of Ann Susanna McLean nee Rodon.

1. 'DONALD, ALEXANDER, AND JAMES MACLEAN. Donald, Alexander, and James Maclean were brothers, and were born in North Uist. It is pretty certain that they belonged to the Boreray branch of the Ardgour family. Their parents were drowned while crossing from Uist to the mainland. Donald went to Jamaica, prospered in business, and sent for Alexander and James. He married Ann Susanna Rodon, by whom he had Lachlan, George-Rodon, and Ann. Alexander was born in 1767. He became proprietor of the Crawle River and Orange Hill estates in Jamaica. He returned to Scotland in 1819, and settled in Liberton. He married, in the same year, Mary Baigrie, by whom he had Catherine-Ann, Alexander, Donald, and John M. He died in 1839. His youngest son, John [sic] M., is the well-known member of parliament for Cardiff.' [In fact the MP for Cardiff was the former India newspaper owner and editor James Mackenzie Maclean (1835-1906), who was indeed the son of Alexander McLean of Liberton].

2. Lauchlan, son of Donald McLean Esquire and his wife Ann, born at Dry River 03/02/1816 and baptised privately 02/05/1816 in Vere. George Rodon, same parents, baptised in Vere 13/11/1818. Ann, same parents, baptised in Clarendon, 24/03/1821.

3. Donald McLean died at May Pen, Clarendon, 11/10/1823 age 57 years and was buried in the orchard at May Pen 12/10/1823.

T71/51 p. 78.

1. Rev. A. Maclean Sinclair, The Clan Gillean (1899) p. 483.

2. Familysearch.org, Jamaica Church of England Parish Register Transcripts, 1664-1880 [database online].

3. Ibid.