103929: 53 North Tolsta

53 Tolastadh bho Thuath

53 North Tolsta was officially a newly lotted croft in 1857, but it was occupied from 1851. The first occupants were Donald Macleod, Christina Murray and their children Donald and Angus. The couple went on to have six more children there: John, Isabella, Kenina, Kenneth, Malcolm and Norman. Their sons Kenneth and Norman became a cottars on the croft, but in due course 53 North Tolsta passed to their son, Angus.

Angus Macleod married Annie Maclennan of 60 North Tolsta, but the couple had no children and 53 North Tolsta passed to his brother Norman's son, Donald.

Donald Macleod married Dolina Macleod, of 34 North Tolsta, but the couple had no children. 53 North Tolsta passed to her brother Murdo's son, John Murdo Macleod.

John Murdo Macleod was married to a woman from Tolsta and the couple already had two children: a boy and a girl The family had previously been living at 4 Camach Park. In due course 53 North Tolsta passed to his daughter. The croft house was then feued off and sold; the new owner named the house Kildonan. 
 

Cottars:

Kenneth Macleod married Mary Morrison of 5 North Tolsta, and the couple had five children: Donald, Kate, Christina, John and Donald. The house was sometimes referred to as 53b North Tolsta, but was re-named as 53 Hill Street after it was feued off from the croft. 

Norman Macleod married Christina Campbell of 7 North Tolsta and the couple had eight children: Margaret, Ann, Isabella, Henrietta, Donald, Donald, Murdo and Christina. Their house was sometimes called 53a North Tolsta. In due course their son Donald inherited 53 North Tolsta from his uncle, Angus Macleod.    

There was also a cottars house that was known as 53c North Tolsta; it is mentioned in "The Tolsta Townships" when listing those that fought in the First World War. It lists a John Macleod as a piper with the Seaforths who was severely wounded.