1844 - Crìoch Linn nan Sìophortach – End of the Seaforth Era

“Our places were crowded first when Mealista was cleared. Six families of that township were thrown in among us; the rest were hounded away to Australia and America, and I think I can hear the cry of the children till this day.”

Norman Morrison, Breanish. Napier Commission, June 4th 1883

There were further evictions from Reef and Kneep in 1842 before the Seaforth era came to an end. James Matheson a native of Lairg in Sutherland and partner in Jardine, Matheson and Company of Hong Kong purchased the island in 1844.