Malcolm, born 1799, probably in Carnish, was a son of Norman Nicolson and Marion Macdonald. His father was a tenant on Vuia Mhor in the early 1800s and Malcolm may have spent some years there too.

He became a mason and lived at Àirigh na Bèiste, near Stornoway, with his wife Ann Macleod and children John 1831, Duncan 1833, Marion 1836 (m John Macleod of Carloway, with issue), Donald 1844, Malcolm 1847 and Norman 1850.

After 1851 Malcolm's father Norman came to live with them, and in 1861 his unmarried sister Rachel was living with them, as well as Marion, John Macleod and their new-born son.