Michael Buchanan was the first witness heard by Lord Napier's commission at Castlebay in May 1883. We find him in the 1881 census living with his brother Alexander, 8 years his senior, and sister Catherine, aged 49. The three siblings recur in the censuses of 1871 and 1891. In 1901, we find Michael living at Borve with his brother Finlay and sister Catherine.
In 1861, the three Buchanan siblings we found in 1901 turn up living with their uncle Niel Mackinnon. The picture becomes clearer in the 1851 census, when Michael is an errand boy, living with his uncle Niel. Other siblings present are Donald, Ann, Alexander and Cathrine.
I am not certain about Michael's date of death; he did not die in Barra. It could be that he was the Michael Buchanan who died at Bute Hospital in Daliburgh on 29 April 1915 at the age of 77. The name of his father is given as Neil.
Michael Buchanan did pass away in Uist as far as I know and he was a prominent Highland Land Leaguer in his time.
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