76388: John Robertson MacDonald

John Robertson MacDonald was factor of Harris during the mid 1800s, a time of great hardship in the area. At a time when the crofters were struggling to pay their rent due to the combined effects of the collapse of the kelp industry and potato blight, he seized islands previously used by the islanders of Berneray. The island of Sursay he kept for his own use. To the island of Tahay he sent tenants he had evicted from Pabbay.

In 1848 he evicted 40 crofters from the island of Berneray, sending them to Scalpay, Diraclete and Borve, Harris.

His Gaelic nickname, Bàillidh Rubh Roghadail, refers to him as the ‘Black Baillie of Rodel’.