Hugh MacDonell of Aberchalder

In 1773, he came with his father and uncles to the Mohawk Valley of New York, as part of a major migration, settling on Sir William Johnson's estate near Johnstown.

In 1776, the war of independence of United States explodes, where the great majority of the MacDonell join to the King's Royal Regiment of New York.

During the next months in prison, Alexander of Aberchalder and John of Leek, under the orders of General Schuyler, were allowed to return to the Johnstown region to visit their families, but this did not end there.

The Mediterranean Fleet, commanded by Lord Exmouth, when being informed of the actions taken by the Dey of Algiers, makes the decision to travel to mediate the terms of the liberation of the British diplomatic contingent and the other delegates.

Ida, disguised as a British soldier, manages to outwit the Dey and escapes, along with her first daughter, Louise MacDonell, hidden in a wicker basket, covered with cabbage leaves, but Louise begins to cry, being discovered by the Dey, and at that moment, in the desperation of not knowing what to do, Ida throws herself into the sea next to her newborn daughter and is rescued by the Mediterranean fleet.

After the liberation, Hugh, with a certain age, decides to take a time of rest and travels to Gibraltar, soon to return to its place as Consul General until 1828.

He was buried in the Swiss-owned so-called 'English' cemetery in Piazzale Donatello and the words engraved in the stone are: "Sacred to the memory of Hugh MacDonell ESQ Died at Florence on the 3rd June 1847" at 94 years old.