South Uist, John Mackay

John Mackay gave evidence to the Napier Commission at Lochboisdale on 28 May 1883. We find him in the 1881 census as living with his daughter Peggy, who was aged 28 at the time; John was 73. A decade earlier, we see three of John's daughters at 23 Kilpheder, Merion (34), Mary (26) and Peggy (26). Also present was his son Angus (30). The 1861 census shows John's wife, Catherine, who was two years younger than John.

I have located a death record for a John Mackay in this area of South Uist, but he was the widower of Marion Mackay nee Maclellan, not Catherine. This man died in 1898 at the age of 92, of natural causes. However, on Catherine's death record, her maiden name is given as Maclellan. She died in 1870 at the age of 60, of unknown causes.