103913: 40 North Tolsta

40 Tolastadh bho Thuath

40 North Tolsta was a newly lotted croft in 1851 and the first occupants were Mary Macdonald, her daughters Mary and Effie and possibly some of her other children. The family had previously been living at 10 Old South Tolsta. Mary lost the croft in 1853 and settled, as cottars, with her daughter Effie on the land that would eventually become 60 North Tolsta.

40 North Tolsta passed to Angus Murray. He settled there with his wife: Annie Macdonald and their children: Catherine, John, Mary and Roderick.  Their daughter, Catherine, married and moved out of the village, but her son Kenneth Macritchie became a cottar at 40 North Tolsta. In due course 40 North Tolsta passed to their son, John.

John Murray never married and upon his death, in 1891, 40 North Tolsta passed to his brother: Roderick.

Roderick Murray was married to Margaret Stewart and they had three children: Angus, Malcolm and Mary. The family had been living at Goathill Road prior to inheriting 40 North Tolsta. After they settled at 40 North Tolsta they had their last child, John. In due course 40 North Tolsta passed to John.

John Murray married Catherine Macdonald and the couple had five children: Malcolm, Alexander, Catherine, Margaret and Agnes. Agnes married and settled on a feued off section of 40 North Tolsta: 40b North Tolsta. In due course 40 North Tolsta passed to Malcolm.

Malcolm Murray married Dolina Maciver and they had five children: two girls and three boys. In due course their youngest son, Donald, settled on a feued off section of 40 North Tolsta: 40a North Tolsta. The croft passed to their eldest son.

Kenneth Macritchie married Christine Macleod and the couple had ten children: John, John, Mary, Murdo, Mary, Donald, Malcolm, Catherine, Joan, and Donald. In 1922 the family obtained 12 New Tolsta as a newly lotted croft and settled there.