Ailean an Ridge , Ailean 'ic Alasdair 'ic Aonghais 'ic Alasdair Bhàin | Allan “The Ridge” MacDonald
(1794 - 1868)

Born 1794 in Braes of Lochaber, Inverness-shire, Scotland
"Allan, the Ridge", son of Alexander, son of Angus, son of Alexander, son of Alexander Mor, son of Angus, son of Angus Mor, son of Alexander, son of John Dubh, son of Ronald Mor, Seventh Chief of Keppoch, was married to Catherine MacPherson.
Catherine MacPherson, sister of Allan’s brother Angus' wife, with whom he had the following family, namely: Alexander, Ronald, Murdoch, Donald, John, Alick, Ann and Janet. In 1847 Allan, with his family, moved from Mabou Ridge to Upper South River, in the County of Antigonish, where he afterwards lived and died. His two daughters died young, but his other descendants are very numerous and scattered into many places and pursuits. One of them became the popular and enterprising proprietor of "The Royal George Hotel," in the university town of Antigonish. Most of our early settlers were men of large stature and great bodily strength. Whatever else they had or lacked, they had all plenty of brawn, and they had
a sore need of it. But "Allan the Ridge" had a brain and brawn. We have heard several of the Gaelic songs, composed by this man. Of course we must disclaim any title to pass upon their merits, but at the same time we feel firmly convinced that these Gaelic songs are evidence that "Allan the Ridge" was not only an entertaining songster but also a natural poet of singular genius.
Allan passed on 1 Apr 1868 at about age 74 in Upper South River, Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada

(NOTE)—Allan MacDonald, commonly known as "Allan the Ridge", was for twenty-one years a resident of Antigonish County. He was born in the Braes of Lochaber, Scotland, in 1794, whence he migrated to Cape Breton in 1816. He settled at Mabou Ridge, and there dwelt till 1847, when he moved to Upper South River. He died in 1868.
2. A History of the County of Antigonish, Nova Scotia by the Reverend D.J. Rankin, Toronto: The MacMillan Company of Canada Ltd. 1929, p. 202-205