Murdo, born 1791, was the son of Alexander MacLeod and Effie Paterson, who held tenancies in both Borve and Ruisgarry.

Murdo married Catherine MacLeod, with whom he was to have at least six children. By 1830 the family was living in Ruisgarry, where Murdo paid annual rental of £5 15s for his farm. About 1845, with the re-organisation of Ruisgarry’s many small crofts into larger ones, the family was moved to 3 Meavaig South. They moved twice more; by 1861 they were living at 8 Deiraclete, and in 1867 to 8 Drinishader.