Ruisigearraidh croft history

Bill Lawson, the well-known genealogist and historian, was in Berneray in July 2005 to launch his 25th Western Isles Croft History. The latest volume on the Ruisigearraidh township in the northern half of Berneray partners an existing book on the Berneray township of Borgh, which was published some years ago.

The Ruisigearraidh book chronicles nearly 200 years history of the township since 1814 when there were 42 crofts recorded. Although of similar size to Borgh at that time, it differed from the other Berneray township in that it was never 'cleared'.

However large numbers of families did depart for the New World in the mid-nineteenth century in search of economic improvement, and the nature and scale of the Ruisigearraidh diaspora is documented in the book.

The first copies of this meticulously researched volume were made available for sale and autographed by the author in a presentation held at the Berneray Nurses' Cottage to Seonaidh Ailig MacLean, representing Berneray Historical Society, and Domhnall-Iain Ban MacAskill, the clerk of the Ruisgearraidh township.