Kenneth was the illegitimate son of Donald Martin and Henrietta Macleod. He and his mother came from Harris to live at West Earshader or Torranish. He married Marion Macdonald and had a family of eight. This family moved about a lot, appearing in various villages in Bernera during the latter part of the nineteenth century.

Kenneth was building a house in Harris and when he returned to Earshader he found another family in his home and his own wife and children living in Croir. He built part of Tigh a Chaolais. Although his occupation is given a stonemason he was a renowned craftsman and examples of his work can still be seen in the oldest houses in the area.