24431: Isabella Maciver

Iseabail Choinnich Dhòmhnaill

Isabella (1829-1922) daughter of Kenneth Maciver and Christina Macaulay, 9 Laxay.

At Stornoway, in 1865, she married John Macarthur, 2 Cromore, a widower with children.

In 1883, Isabella established the first regular mail delivery service to South Lochs by running a ferry across Loch Erisort from Crossbost to Cromore. For the first eight years, the service operated over the summer months only, beginning in May and ending in October. Her salary was four shillings a week, with a seasonal increment of one shilling and a further six shillings for running the ferry service to Cromore. She delivered the mail on foot as far as Lemreway.

Isabella was widowed in 1891 and in 1921, aged 94, was living with her daughter, Christina at 1 Kershader.