Betsy, born about 1822, was the daughter of farmer Samuel MacAulay and Christina MacLeod of old Borve. She married Finlay MacCuish, also of Borve, with whom she was to have nine children.

In 1851 the family was registered living on her brother-in-law Murdo’s croft in old Borve, but the family were soon removed from their home, as the land was needed for the formation of Borve Farm. They made their home as cottars in Backhill.