Boreray, 1851

Boreray is a small island off the north coast of North Uist, which suffered a population decline during the 19th century. From 181 in 1841, down to 151 in 1851 it now has just 1 permanent inhabitant. More on the island's history on this page on the Boreray Island website. It features in the Napier Report, but Boreray is not distinguishable in any of the 19th century censuses, except for 1851. In that year, 29 families were recorded in Boreray. A number of visitors, mostly young children, as well as a Sheriff's Officer, are also on the listings. I give the breakdown below. All those mentioned were born in the parish of North Uist, except where indicated otherwise.

(1)
Evan Mcdagald junior (60) Head, Farmer of 8 acres
Maron Mcdugald (47) Wife,
Children: Euphemia (21), Christian (17), Catharine (12), Hector (10, Scholar), Maron (8) and Cein (6)
Visitor: Archibald Mclean (37) Sheriff Officer

(2)
John Macdougald (64) Head, Farmer of 8 acres
Children: Meron (28), Euphemia (22), Peggy Macdougald (20), Christian (18, Weaver), Niel (16, Scholar) and John (12, Scholar)

(3)
Peter Macintosh (23) Head, Farmer of 3 acres
Catharin Macintosh (23) Wife,
Child: Ronald Macintosh (6 months)

(4)
John Macdonald (54) Head, Farmer 16 acres
Meron Macdonald (36) Wife,
Children: Peggy Macdonald (17), Angus Macdonald (15), Meron (13), Donald (10), Niel (7), and
Euphemia (9 months)
Visitors: Catharine Macrailt (32, Cottager), Kenneth (8), Donald (6), John (3): all born in Harris

(5)
John Macdonald (32) Head, Ag Labourer
Mary Macdonald (31) Wife, Weaver

(6)
Niel Macphail (36) Head, Tailor
Meron Macphail (30) Wife,
Children: Niel (5, Scholar) and Catharine (1, Scholar)

(7)
Catharine Macvicar (57) Head, Farmer of 16 acres
Children: Ronald Macvicar (25), Donald (22), Alexander (17), Niel (14, Scholar)
Visiting grandson: John Macdonald (10)

(8)
Archibald Macdougald (58) Head, Ag Labourer
Children: Euphemia (21), Margaret (18), Niel (15), Ann (11), Lexy (9), and John (6)

(9)
Catharine Maclean (62) Head, Farmer of 16 acres
Stepchildren: Margaret Maclean (34), Meron Maclean (32), Donald Maclean (30)
Son: Allan Maclean (27)
Visitors: Christian Munro (4) and Rabecca Macleod (50) (born in Harris)

(10)
Donald Maclean (40) Head, Farmer of 8 acres
Margaret Maclean (40) Wife,
Children: Ann (16), Ronald (10, scholar), Catharine (8), Allan (6, Scholar)

(11)
Meron Macdonald (52) Head, Farmer of 8 acres
Children: Rachel (17), Mary (15) and Donald (13)

(12)
Alexander Macdonald (54) Head, Farmer of 8 acres
Euphemia Macdonald (40) Wife,
Roderick Macdonald (57) Brother,
Children: Angus (16), Donald (13), John (11, scholar), Malcolm (8, scholar), Donald jr (5), Catharine (4 months)


(13)
Angus Macintosh (60) Head, Farmer of 8 acres
Margaret Macintosh (50) Wife,
Children: Isabella (19), Mary (14), Christian (12), Maryann (9),
Visitors: James Macintosh (51, Cottager), Isabella Macintosh (15, Cottar's daughter)

(14)
Allan Macdonald (60) Head, Farmer of 16 acres
Meron Macdonald (58) Wife,
Norman Macdonald (16) Servant, Ag Labourer (it is not clear if Norman is one of Allan's children)

Children: Donald (39, Boat carpenter), Finlay (34, Ground officer) and Margaret (21)

(15)
Donald Mackinnon (40) Head, Boat carpenter (born in Greenock)
Christian Mackinnon (33) Wife
Children: Donald (7, Scholar), Mary (4) and Peggy (1)

(16)
Euphemia Macdonald (23) Head, Cottager
Angus Macdonald (21) Brother, Ag Labourer

(17)
Alexander Maclean (56) Head, Cottager
Mary Maclean (42) Wife,
Children: Mary (14), Ann (8), Margaret (4)

(18)
Angus Macdonald (23) Head, Ag Labourer
Euphemia Macdonald (14) Sister,
Allan Macdonald (11) Brother,

(19)
John Munro (23) Head, Ag labourer (born in Skye)
Mary Munro (23) Wife,
Children: Anna (2) and Donald (7)

(20)
Donald Maclean (66) Head, Farmer of 4 acres
Catharine Maclean (65) Wife, Farmer wife
Children: Meron (27), Niel (22) and Euphemia (19)
Visiting granddaughter: Mary Macintosh (4)

(21)
Alex P Macdonald (42) Head, Farmer of 8 acres
Dorady Macdonald (30) Wife,
Children: John (4) and Donald (1)

(22)
Donald Macdonald (79) Head, Farmer 8 acres
Mary Macdonald (64) Wife,(born in Harris)
Children: Archibald (23) and Mary (20)
Visiting granddaughter: Rachel Macdonald (6)

(23)
Malcolm Macdonald (27) Head, Shoemaker

(23A)
Christian Morrison (75) Head, Cottager
Rachel Morrison (69) Sister, Cottager

(24)
James Macintosh (33) Head, Fisherman
Lexy Macintosh (26) Wife,
Child: Catharine Macintosh (6 months) Daughter,

(25)
Ewen Macdougald Sem (63) Head, Farmer of 4 acres
Mary Macdougald (63) Wife,
Children: Mary (22), Christian (17), and Peggy (15)

(26)
John Fraser (50) Head, Schoolmaster
Jannet Fraser (50) Wife,
Jannet Mckenzie (50) Wife,(it is not clear whose wife she is)
Children: Donald (28), Alexander (22), Margaret (19, born at Gairloch), John (13, born at Gairloch), Janet (10), Isabella (15, born at Gairloch) and Hannah (6).

(27)
William Macdonald (42) Head, Farmer of 8 acres
Margaret Macdonald (29) Wife, Farmer wife
Children: Allan (7), Euphemia (1) and Donald (3)

(28)
Meron Macdonald (67) Head, Cottager