I think MURDO SMITH was a child of Duncan Smith (about 1803-1855) and Henrietta MacSween (about 1811-1882).
● MURDO was born about 1833 at Old Gearraidh Ghuirm, Parish of Stornoway, Ross-shire, Scotland, United Kingdom.
● Murdo married Margaret MacKay at Ness, Parish of Barvas, Ross-shire 18 March 1856.
● Murdo died on 31 May 1902 at 8 Newton Street, Stornoway, Parish of Stornoway, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland, United Kingdom.
Murdo is the anglicised form of the Scottish Gaelic name Murchadh.
There isn’t a baptism/birth record for Murdo, but I'm saying he was born at Old Gearraidh Ghuirm about 1833 because his parents' marriage record shows his father Duncan was living there when he married Henrietta in 1832 and their second and third child's birth records show they were born there in 1835 and 1837. Old Gearraidh Ghuirm was cleared around 1840 and the family was living in Tong by the time the fourth child, Angus, was baptised in December 1840. Birth year for Murdo of about 1833 matches his census records and marriage and death records. Old Gearraidh Ghuirm was a crofting village that existed between 1830 and 1840.
■ Murdo’s Marriage Record:
Marriage Record. Murdo Smith, 23 yrs, Fisherman residing at Skegersta, Parish of Barvas, Ross-shire, Father: Duncan Smith, Woollen Weaver, Deceased, and Mother: Eric Smith, maiden name Swanson [usual spelling MacSween] married Mary MacKay, 23 yrs, Domestic Servant, residing at Fivepenny Ness, Parish of Barvas. Father: Malcolm MacKay, Fisherman, Deceased, and Mother: Catherine MacKay, maiden name MacKay. Married at Ness, Parish of Barvas, on 18 March 1856. SOURCE: National Records of Scotland (NRS) Statutory Registers Marriages 086/ 14. See ScotlandsPeople.com.
[Skegersta - spelling Skigersta.]
■ Murdo’s Death Record:
Death Record. Murdo Smith. Age: 69 years. Occupation: Crofter. Wife: Margaret Mackay. Father: Duncan Smith, Crofter, (deceased). Mother: Henrietta (née Macsween) Smith (deceased). Informant: Malcolm Smith, Son, of Steinish, Parish of Stornoway. Died on 31 May 1902 at 8 Newton Street, Stornoway. SOURCE: National Records of (NRS) Statutory Registers Deaths 088/84. See ScotlandsPeople.com.
1841 Census, Murdo living at Tong with his parents, Duncan and Henrietta, and siblings.
1856 Marriage to Margaret MacKay at Fivepenny, Ness, Parish of Barvas.
1861 Census, Murdoch living at Fivepenny Ness, Barvas with his wife Margaret and children.
1871 Census, Murdo living at Tong with his wife Margaret and children.
1881 Census, Murdo living at Tong with his wife Margaret and children.
1891 Census, Murdo living at Tong with his wife Margaret and children and grandson.
1901 Census, Murdo living at 7 1/2 Newton Street, Stornoway (town) with his wife Margaret and grandson.
1902 Death Record, Murdo died at 8 Newton Street, Stornoway (town).
(The only thing that seems out of step is the 1861 census saying he was born in Barvas.)
(The Marriage and Death Records are images from ScotlandsPeople.com. The census records are transcriptions from Ancestry.com.)
According to the book, "Tong: The Story of a Lewis Village.", page 46:
" 'Squatting' was forbidden in the new regulations
with callous disregard for the results of enforcing
this rule. Murdo Smith, 5 Tong, was married in Ness to Margaret
Mackay. Margaret had been born in Rona and had
come to live in Skigersta when she was quite young.
They settled on Murdo's father-in-law's croft in
Skigersta. One day in 1870, on his return from a
fishing trip, he found the factor's man enforcing
the 'no-squatting' regulation. They were tearing
the thatch off his cottage. He put his family and
his belongings into the boat and sailed for Tong
where he found accommodation until he was able
to acquire a croft at 29 Aird Tong — a croft
appearing for the first time in the 1872 rent roll."
Murdo, his wife and children would have stayed with some of Murdo’s family in Tong after being forced off his father-in-law's croft; and before acquiring the newly lotted croft at 29 Aird of Tong in about 1871.
In the Tong history book, page 62 - looks like Murdo is mentioned again:
A fishing boat was registered in 1871 named "MARGARET" SY 435
Owner — Murdo Smith, 29 Aird Tong
Skipper — Murdo Smith
Lines and nets.
Tonnage — 21/2
Keel — 19ft.
Crew — 6
Does anyone have other sources?
