of Sandaig (fl. 1770s-1817; died 1817 or shortly after), emigration leader. (often called, simply, Sandaig) Born in Scotland. He was the son of John Macdonell of Sandaig. He was first an ensign and then a lieutenant in the 71st Regiment, raised in the Highlands by Major General Simon Fraser, son of Lord Lovat. As a soldier in this regiment, Macdonell came to North America and fought on the Crown side in the War of the American Revolution. At the end of the war, he was apparently back in Britain, as a prisoner-of-war on parole. He was one of the leaders–perhaps the principal leader–of the 1786 emigration from Scotland to GC. In this role, he ranks as one of the principal founders of GC. He was granted 2000 acres of land. (Johnson) His land grants included holdings in the 8th and 9th Concession of Charlottenburgh Township, GC, and in nearby East Hawkesbury Township. He was MLA for GC and Prescott 1800-1804, sharing this position under the double-member system with Alexander Macdonell of Collachie.

     Angus Macdonell of Sandaig was married to Marie-Anne Picoté de Bélestre. Their son John Macdonell (MacDonell-Bélestre), a Montreal lawyer, was a sympathizer with the Patriotes, arrested for this reason in 1838. Angus Macdonell of Sandaig has not always been correctly distinguished from Angus Macdonell of Collachie, the two men being MLAs during approximately the same period. (Angus of Collachie was the brother of the aforementioned Alexander Macdonell of Collachie). Angus Macdonell of Sandaig was a first cousin of “Spanish John” (John Macdonell).

Scott, i, 32-34 * McLean: index * Harkness: index * Johnson: index * Armstrong 96-97 * Forman * life of John MacDonell-Bélestre by Michèle Guay, Dictionary of Canadian Biography, IX, 485-486