This story starts about 170 years ago – in 1855, when our main character, Morag MacKinnon was born. She was born on the Isle of Eigg, 2 a small island off the west coast of Scotland. 

Morag MacKinnon was born 28 May 1855 at Galmisdale in Eigg. It states on her birth certificate that she is ‘illegitimate’. In other words, her mother and father were not married. Morag had many names. 

On the certificate they have given her the name ‘Christina’, but the name ‘Sarah’ is given on other documents. The islanders of Eigg spoke Scottish Gaelic not English. 

However, the authorities were English-speaking, so they transcribed Gaelic names into their English equivalents on official documents. Sarah is the English equivalent of Morag.