9210: Alexander Smith

Alasdair Dhòmhnaill Chaluim

Alexander (1824-1909) was the son of Donald Smith and Annabella Nicolson, Laxay.  His father was joint tacksman there with John Smith (Iain Tuathanaich). Donald and his wife both died at a relatively early age and so their children were brought up by various relatives. Alexander lived at Valtos Farm.

In Lochs, in 1850, Alexander married Margaret Maclennan from 11/12 Achmore. The couple initially lived with Margaret's parents at 11/12 Achmore where they had five of their ten children.

In the 1860s Margaret's father exchanged crofts with Donald Mackenzie, Cleascro.  The croft was passed to Alexander.

He was widowed in 1903.

Alexander looked after Sir James Matheson's tree plantation (Buaile Beinn nan Gobhar) near Cleascro and where he stayed rent free. It was intended that this area would provide sport for Sir James and his guests but the work ran into a number of difficulties and was never completed. Only a few remnants of this planting work remain to this day.