CLERGYMAN AS SLAVE OWNER

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 136, 26 October 1912, Page 2 (Supplement)

CLERGYMAN AS SLAVE OWNER

DIES A MILLIONAIRE. Tin; Scottish descendants of Donald Maeleod. a minister who emigrated to America at the close of tin; eighteenth century, are prosecuting a claim to a huge fortune. They declare that the money is now being enjoyed by those who have no light to it. Donald Macleod. who was the son of an Invernessshire farmer, won the hand and fortune of a beautiful heiress in (South Carolina. In addition to his pastoral duties, he became a successful planter and slave owner and died ;t millionaire.

According to Mr. Allan Macleod, a descendant, who now resides in Birmingham, old Donald Macleod left the bulk of his proper! v in tni-t for his only daughter, a girl of eight or nine. A clause in the will provided that if slit; died childless the estates should pass to his sisters and brothers or their heirs.

In din 1 course tin* heiress married, but died without children. The estate should have devolved on the Scottish Macleods, but for some obscure reason it did not, and it is supposed that it is now being enjoyed by those who have no right to it. Thirtv vears ago. when the estate was valued at £1,000,000, a lawyer was sent to America to investigate, but his quest was cut short bv a refusal of his Scottish patrons, the Macleods of Glenelg. to provide more money for expenses. The estate still exists, and has appreciated in value, so that although the descendants of Donald Macleod's brothers and sisters now number from thirty to forty, if successful, may mean a fortune to each of anything from £40,000 upwards.

Old Donald Macleod, besides being a planter, was also a minister of the Presbyterian Kirk of Charleston. He was at once a saviour of souls and an owner of bodies, and his will contains a number of careful provisions as to the disposal of his slaves.