In 1851 Donald Bain was 8 years old and living with his paternal grandparents Donald Bain and Jane Cormack Bain on their 20 acre farm in Bilbster, in the parish of Wick, Caithness. Also living there was Donald's uncle Donald, a cousin called Donald Bain (aged 3), a lodger called Alexander Bain (possibly an uncle), Janet Henderson, Janet Bain (a relative of his paternal grandfather Donald); David McKenzie, Alexander Sutherland and John Scod (all agricultural labourers).[1]