Peter MacAskill, born in 1899 and known as Pàdraig Geal due to his white hair, was the eldest child of Kenneth MacAskill and Lexy MacKillop. Their croft, 4 Ruisgarry (Tarraloch), was passed to Peter on his father's death. 

Peter started attending Berneray School in 1906. Later he became a schoolteacher himself, teaching in Northton, Harris. He was living at the schoolhouse in Dalwhinnie in 1945, and later settled in Edinburgh. With his wife, Nora MacKinnon, he had four children.