Donald was born about 1796, the son of John MacKillop and Catherine MacLeod of old Borve. Their home was at a site now known as Tobhta Iain 'ic Bhàic. He became a farmer and married Catherine Morrison, with whom he was to have three children. They too made their home in Borve - in 1830 Donald was paying rental of £2.16.8. However, in the early 1850s, the tenants were cleared from Borve, and Donald and his family were removed to the northern part of Berneray, to Quay, then on to Baile, where he worked as a fisherman.