MacGillivray_Hugh (Andrew’s Son)– (Eigg Mountain Settlement History)

Hugh MacGillivray was born January 5, 1794 son of Andrew Ban MacGillivray and married Catherine MacDonald who was born about 1808 in Scotland. They had at least 5 children – Father Andrew, Marcella, Catherine, John and Flora.

In the 1838 census Hugh MacGillivray was identified as “Andrew’s son” and had a total of 8 in his family – one son under 6 years of age, three girls under the age of 6 years and one son and one daughter between the ages of 6 and 14 years. The research continues to discover the name of their sixth child.

In 1838 he had 50 acres of cleared land and 50 acres of “wilderness” land and 12 cattle, a horse, 15 sheep and 6 pigs.

In 1871 he owned 350 acres – 60 acres developed and 40 acres in pasture. He grew spring wheat, barley, oats, potatoes, hay, clover, flax seed and flax. He also had an orchard and reported a crop of plums or pears. It would have been unusual to have an orchard on the mountain.

He had 3 horses, 7 milk cows, 9 horned cattle, 30 sheep and 4 pigs. They produced butter, cheese, wool and homemade cloth. They had a house, barn, 2 carriages/sleighs and 2 wagons/sleds and cut 20 cords of firewood. This was a more prosperous farm than most other farms on the mountain.

Hugh died January 5, 1883 and left a will and probate file.