Donald, born 1806, was the son of Angus Morrison and Catherine MacLeod of Rodel and Ruisgarry. Donald married Catherine Paterson of Borve. Together they were to have four children. In 1841 they were living in Ruisgarry, where Donald was a farmer, but about 1845, with the re-organisation of the crofts, the family emigrated to Loch Lomond, Cape Breton.