John MacAskill, born 1798, was the son of Peter MacAskill and Marion or Mary Ferguson of Lag a’Chealla in Ruisgarry. As a young man John held the tenancy of their double croft, paying £13 5s in annual rental in 1818 and £11 in 1830. He married the bardess Mary Morrison from Strond with whom he had nine children before Mary's death in 1836. With his second wife, Marion MacLeod, he had seven children. In 1850 John obtained the newly lotted croft named 7 Ruisgarry (Lag a' Chealla).

John was a farmer and also the ground officer for many years. In 1851 he was additionally, a sheriff officer. He died in 1875, and the tenancy of the croft was passed to his widow Marion.