| Administrative History | Margaret or Peggy MacDiarmid was a native of Glenlyon who came to Sutherland with her brother a gamekeeper in the Reay forest. When she married Donald MacKay they lived at Shegra in the parish of Kinlochbervie until they were "cleared" after which they settled at Achinver, Melness. She was a great admirer of Dr Kennedy of Killearnan, sage in Memorabilia Domestica. Domestica describes her as "distinguished for the vitality of her christian character". She was known to her contemporaries as "Bean Chreidimh Mhoir" (the woman of great faith). The Duchess of Sutherland gave her free liferent of house and land at Melness. She died on the 15 April 1841. |