John MacLeod was born on Berneray in 1820, the son of John MacLeod and Margaret MacAskill. During the 1840s he was removed to Borgh Mhor, Harris together with his unmarried siblings.

John and his wife Marion returned to Berneray in the mid 1850s where he was given the tenancy of both crofts 1 and 2 Sandhill. John's brothers Murdo and Donald returned with him to become cottars on the croft.

As well as crofting, John was a cattle dealer and the local ground officer. He and his wife had eight children. On his death the croft was passed to his son Malcolm.