In a message dated 10/05/00 5:07:59 PM Central Daylight Time, logl@usit.net writes: << 1935.According to the census in Scotland the McKenzie,Michie's,Gillis and McLeods stayed in the same area of Portree. I think some of them live in Ramsey also?????. I've sent to Scotland for the birth certificate of John McKenzie in hope to locate one which would lead me to his parents. So far no luck in them finding it. They were farmers and Coffers. I'm not sure if they own their land or work for someone else. Any help would greatly be appreciated. Thank You. Lois >> A crofter by definition does not own the land. Crofting is a term used to describe a person who makes a living by several means, usually seasonal. A crofter would usually do a bit farming, raise a cow or two, perhaps the wife would do a bit weaving and perhaps the man also. The husband would do some fishing or perhaps even have a trade of sorts like a smithy. The average croft is about 5 to 7 acres on average and there is often a "common" grazing area. rent is paid in either cash or kind, (today it is mostly all cash). Crofting is much like sheer cropping in the Southern US. In many areas of the Highlands the soil was so bad that rocks and stones were pounded into dust and sea weed added to create soil that would allow for the growing of subsistence crops such as potatoes, turnips, (rutabaga in the US). and cabbage. The diet was added to with a bit fish and what ever meat could be hunted or raised, (and that was dam little), and the ever present oats and oat meal, (porridge). The land was usually hand plowed/planted and hand harvested. The usual "crofters cottage", was made up of a single or two room building with a dirt floor and a wee hole for the smaoke, which later became a fire place which heated the home and allowed cooking and a way for the smoke to get out. It was not uncommon, (in the 1700 to 1800) to have livestock in the house at night. The roof was thatched with Grasses and often called "Black Houses " because the smoke from the fire would blacken the inside of the cottage over time. Work was usually from dawn to dusk, and in Scotland that's dam near 24 hours in the summer. I can't imagine why they would want to give all this up for several hundred acres and a log home in the new world. Hope this helps. Dave M.