I am tracking down my family's maternal line who were well rooted in the village of Lower Barvas on Isle of Lewis during the 1800's and I suspect the 1700's. My understanding is that the Parish of Barvas did not start maintaining Birth, Marriage, Death records until 1810 so my research is stalled at a gggggreat-grandmother born circa 1760.
My question is: where does one go, either on-line or physically, to research the history of Barvas for past centuries, specifically Lower Barvas if possible or does anyone know offhand the history of Lower Barvas - how was it settled in 'recent' centuries (emigrants due to Jacobite uprising?). I understand vikings had settlements on Isle of Lewis/Harris as well, could the villages of Barvas have started then? What major events occurred between the viking settlements and the Jacobite uprising that could have had an impact on Lower Barvas' emigrants?
I was born and raised in the United States and am Very new to the history of Scotland. The maternal ancestor is Mary MacIver, who lived in Lower Barvas in 1841 judging from the census, married to Kenneth MacLennan who I believe was deceased before 1841. I am interested in finding her mother also.
Thank you in advance to anyone who can help me in my research.