Murdo, born 1806, was the son of Finlay MacAskill and Catherine MacCuish of Ruisgarry. He married Mary, whose surname is unknown, with whom he had at least four children.

Murdo shared a croft with his older brother Roderick, paying £13 5s annual rental in 1818, falling to £6 10s by 1830. Roderick moved away by 1841, leaving Murdo as sole tenant. About 1845, with the re-organisation of Ruisgarry’s crofts, Murdo and his family emigrated to L’Ardoise, Cape Breton.