Hugh, born 1835, was the son of Murdo MacLeod and Catherine MacLeod of Ruisgarry. The family lived in Ruisgarry until 1845 when, with the re-organisation of its many small crofts into larger ones, the family was moved to 3 Meavaig South. Unmarried and working as a fisherman, Hugh moved with his parents to 8 Deiraclete then 8 Drinishader. During the 1870s Hugh married Christina MacKinnon of 4 Caverstay, becoming a crofter in Drinishader.