Widow Ann MacKillop (née Ferguson) moved here with her family in 1854, following the death of her husband. Ann died of supposed consumption in 1863 and the house passed down through the family to son Roderick, a fisherman and then to his son Donald, also a fisherman.

Donald and his family moved to 8 Cheesebay in 1924, and 'house 5' became the home of William and Kate MacDonald. It was later owned by Roderick Finlay Paterson, who lived at Backhill.