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he Earl of Wessex leaving alter the Official Opening of the Library Tand Archive on Tuesday 2nd September 2003. In this lovely building Orkney Family history Society is to have its new office.

J Contents:- V 2 From the Chair. Future Events 8 Rev. Alexander Smith 3 From the Editor. Deadlines. 10 Website information September meeting 11 Working on the Gardens' 4 The Long Road T)ome. Directory 12 Photographic history o! 5 Official opening of Orkney Library 13 October meeting & Archive 15 ftiuiualTHeal 6 Booh Review 16 Research via the Internet Quiz 19 Robert Snhster r From the Chair Seven years later my successor has been found! At the moment I am enjoying reading yet another new Orkney Book that has ap- At the last committee meeting Anne Ren- peared in time for Christmas. It is "'The dall was appointed Vice-Chairman and Shore' and roond aboot" written by the accepted the post with the knowledge that retired Orkney Librarian, David Tinch. she would soon be Chairman. This is a In it he describes growing up in Kirk- popular appointment Anne has taken an wall in the thirties and forties and all in active part in the running of the society a very humorous style. It contains in- from the early days. Among other things teresting photographs including school she has transcribed censuses, is working groups and a major bonus is the forty- on the Old Parish Registers and looks three prints of his stunning oil paint- after the office most Saturday afternoons. ings and some of his cartoons. The paintings I had admired in exhibitions Through the week she is a banker and in the past but couldn't buy them all! I regularly visits outer islands on business will treasure this book for several rea- on Loganair planes. She knows a lot of sons. people because of her work and is well known. She lives in but the fam- It will be recorded elsewhere in the ily home owned by her parents is Holland magazine that George and I had the House in Papa . As a working girl honour of meeting the Earl of Wessex her spare time will be a bit more limited in the new library when he visited our but with youth on her side and with her stand at the opening in September. He enthusiasm she will be well able to fill the was very easy to talk to. i gave him a position. sample of our pedigree charts made out for himself with two of the Queen I certainly could not have remained in the Mother's ancestors missing. He ac- post for so long without the support that I cepted it with the remark, 'This will be have had especially from the committee, my homework." I hope he hadn't rec- including the Hon President, the willing- ognised the voice of a retired school- ness of volunteers and the enthusiasm of teacher! In view of the imminent birth those attending meetings and speaking at of their child we took the opportunity them. It has been busy at times but really of wishing him and the Countess all the very enjoyable. I'm sure that Anne can best for their future as a family. depend on you for the same qualities and kindness and that the society will go from As promised in the June magazine I am strength to strength. about to vacate the chair, so this will be the last that 1 will write in this capacity. In the minutes of the first meeting of the Steering Committee, dated 21st Oc- tober 1996 it says, "Mrs Nan Scott Future Events:- agreed to chair these meetings, includ- ing the inaugural meeting." Then a few In December there will be no meeting. lines down, "A chairman to succeed It is proposed to hold an Open Night in the Nan Scott is to be actively sought." new premises on the 8th January 2004. 3ssue no 28 D

From The Editor Open meeting on Thursday 1 Ith Sep- tember 2003 in the Lecture Theatre, Some members have suggested that I Orkney College at 7.30pm. should publish the names and titles plus the prices of the books that are sometimes pre- Chairperson, Mrs Nan Scott, welcomed viewed in this magazine. I consulted the everyone to the meeting. Thirty nine peo- committee on this subject and the answer ple attended including members Mr and was, Yes, in the meantime print the main Mrs Robertson from Glasgow and Rev and shops aod perhaps other shops in Orkney Mrs Harry Telfer from and visi- which sell 'Orkney' books would forward tors Mrs May Mooney from Nairn and Mrs their names, etc also. Mabel Grimes from Forres.

There is THE LEONARDS, 1 Albert Since the last meeting, the AGM, the soci- Street, Kirkwall, Orkney. Tel. 01856 ety had a very enjoyable trip to Papa 872014. Fax 01856 876198. E-mail- Westray for its annual outing. There has leonardsorkney@compuserve. coin been a lot of interest in the 1901 census, noticeably from 'Old Folk's Homes'. Ian & THE ORCADIAN BOOK SHOP, 50 Al- Betty Cameron and Nan responded to a bert Street, Kirkwall, Orkney. KW15 1HQ. request from the Senior Citizens Tel. 01856 878888. Fax. 01856 878001. for a talk from the society. One gentleman E-mail [email protected]. at the meeting, Mr Groat, had driven up Order on line at www.orcadian.co.uk through from Dumfries and cele- brated his ninety second birthday the next BOOKS AND PRINTS. 1 day. He was from a family of fourteen bom Graham Place, Stromness, Orkney. Tel. on the island of . and Fax. 01856 850565. Nan had received a letter of thanks from 1 rely on the articles that are so kindly Bobby Leslie, manager of the library, for delivered to me here at the office, and via the part we played in the official opening of e-mail, without which 1 would not be able the new library and archive by HRH Prince to produce this newsletter and I am most Edward, Earl of Wessex, and thanked all grateful for your contributions. those who had conveyed equipment, books etc. and set up the display. It's a year gone once more, seems such a short time since the last Christmas. The Treasurer, George Gray, reported that our weather this winter is again very mild, so one thousandth member had joined a cou- far, so on this good note I think I would like ple of weeks ago. It was Keith Scott who to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and lives in Plymouth. It has been decided to a Happy New Year. send him Gregor Lamb's latest edition of Oty the Surnames of Orkney.

Secretary, Gillian Mooney, read a letter from Len Bamett informing us of his web- Newsletter deadlines are :- site which might be of particular interest to anyone researching 'British Merchant Mar- 7th February 2004. iners of the 19th and 20th Centuries'. The 7th May 2004. web-site address is> http:// w w w. bamettresearch. freeserve. co.uk e Rewsletter the Qrhney EamBsrhistory Society 3 Some Norwegian magazines had been re- the rust red coloured cave at the Brough of ceived and were in the office but they are Deem ess, twisted layers of rock, the 'Altar' written in Norwegian. which looks like a hand in South Ronald- say, and thai there are archaeological 'digs' Alan Clouston reported that the new Li- uncovering buildings to learn more about brary & Archive is expected to be finished the way of life hundreds of years ago, the in November. It is hoped to hold Open site often being covered up again once the Days on the 18th and 19th and then be open archaeologists have finished their investi- for business on Thursday the 20th. gation. There were also reminders of busy times building hay stacks at harvest time. Nan then introduced Mr Ian Heddle who The yellow fields of oats was a common had been invited to speak at the meeting. sight in Orkney in Autumn forty or fifty Ian called his talk 'Pure Nostalgia' and years ago (now mostly replaced by the showed slides of Orkney taken between more bronze barley). 1950 and 1980. David Oddie proposed a vote of thanks Ian had captured the essence of Orkney remarking that he had heard lan lecture in with photos of the sea in all its guises and the Arts Theatre thirty years ago and the places now lost forever like the natural arch quality and presentation of his slides really of rock at Yesnaby which later fell, a stone sets a standard. lying, precariously it seemed, on a rocky ledge, photographed still there thirty five The slides had brought back memories to us years later, until a climber thought it dan- all and Nan once again thanked everyone gerous and knocked it off. Orkney is for coming on such a wet night. blessed with some very interesting cliff Teas were then available from the college scenes. There's the Hole o' Rowe in , cafeteria. (fdUo*

The Long Road Home!

Dave Higgins, our webmaster is taking a His route will include:- the South West break in the New Year. In April he plans to Coastal Path, Offas Dyke, the Pennine walk from Lands End to John o' Groats. Way, the Central Scottish Way and the He will take the footpaths which will make Cairngorm mountains. the journey eleven hundred miles long. He is doing this by himself with all he requires More details of his route and information for the journey on his back. Society mem- on fund raising will appear in the March bers have encouraged him to make it a issue of SFN. Perhaps he will keep us up to sponsored walk and he has named Age date with his progress on his website. We Concern Orkney as the charity that he wish him well. would like to benefit.

Members' Directory

Members please note that it is proposed to publish the Directory in the month of Septem- ber in future rather than March.

4 ftsnatefter of liteflrtaey ftaBy Ijteiafy SEoeftetr -i;' ,* - • , J Official opening of Orkney Library & After the traditional unveiling of the Archive by HRH Prince Edward, Earl plaque the Earl spent some time talking of Wessex. with various groups of the assembled guests while everyone enjoyed the buffet which had been prepared by the staff of Orkney College under the management of Heinz Zeigart. They deserve much praise for the delicious spread and its very attrac- tive presentation on the trays and for keep- ing the wine glasses topped-up.

The actual opening date for the building is now expected to be the 11th of December with two 'Public Viewing' days on the 9th and 10th.

To prepare for the move the society's of- Forecourt and front of Library & Archive fice in the Strynd will be closed from 1st December and re-open for business in its new premises on Friday 12th December. Committee members of the society were among invited guests who attended the Official Opening of the new Orkney Li- OFHS winter opening hours will apply brary & Archive on the morning of 2nd meantime but the hope is that some day September this year. they may be in keeping with the archives' hours. The Queen's youngest son, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, honoured Orkney with a visit to perform several duties in Kirkwall and Stromness.

The official opening ceremony of this new building went ahead although its construc- tion had suffered from a few delays but this only led to humorous comments about 'The Library without any books'.

However the various organisations which will be housed in the building, including Orkney Family History Society, had been given tables to display their resources. (See photo on the right.) OFHS stand in readiness for the visit from the Earl of Wessex. Nan Scott and George Gray stood by our display to represent the society and were able to exchange a few words with the Earl as he made his way on a conducted tour of the building. The Orkney Poll Taxes of the 1690s and the islands of Westray, Papay, Graem- By James Irvine say, , Flotta and some of the smaller islands and part of have not survived. Price £9.95. However James has attempted to redress the situation to a small extent by including At first sight this may not appear to be the names and information extracted from catchy title of a best seller, and a cursory other contemporary documents of the earl- glance inside reveals a number of lists and dom estate. statistics. However take a second look, read the text and a goldmine of fascinating in- It must be remembered that the 1690s were formation will be revealed for family and a period of severe famine, known nation- Book Review social historians alike. ally as 'King William's 111 Years' and in By Orkney as 'Brand's Years', after the rapa- Sheena Wenham The poll taxes were levied by the Scottish cious tacksman of that name. This was a #422 Parliament in the 1690s in an attempt to time when the harvest failed for several raise money to support the armed services consecutive years bringing misery and that were engaged in war with France. hardship to the inhabitants of Orkney, some Throughout Scotland lists were drawn up of whom would have been close to starva- of individuals who were liable to pay the tion and unable to pay their rent, let alone tax, only the poor and those under the age come up with the cash to pay yet another of sixteen being exempt. Most of these tax. It is more than likely that quite a documents have since been lost, but fortu- number of folk, rich and poor, attempted to nately for us the poll tax lists for twenty- evade inclusion in the lists and thus avoid two Orkney parishes have survived and liability to pay up. these remain archived in Edinburgh. It is these lists, painstakingly transcribed by All the columns of information available in James Irvine, that make up the book to- the surviving poll tax lists for Orkney are gether with a thoughtful analysis of the set out and analysed in the book. James information they yield. Irvine first puts the poll tax records in their historical and national context. He then The enumerators who compiled these lists draws out much fascinating information were issued with specific instructions, but that enhances our understanding of many the quality and layout of the data collected aspects of life in Orkney during the 1690s. varies considerably from parish to parish. There is an interesting discussion on the At their best, the lists cover much the same ratio of males to females in the population. ground as the census returns taken 150 The everage size of household and the years later. They aim to answer such ques- number of servants is calculated, and James tions as, what is the name of the house- Irvine estimates the population of the 1690s holder and his wife: where do they live and to be about 19000, not dissimilar to what it what is the name of their house: how many is today. children do they have: do they have serv- ants and what are their names: do they own The percentage of tenants, cottars and their property and, if not, what is their udallers is discussal, the latter being esti- annual rent? However it is seldom that the mated as about 9% of householders. There answers to all these questions are recorded. is also a difference to be found in the occu- pations of town and country, in rural par- Unfortunately the Poll tax lists for the par- ishes weaving being the most common ishes of Deemess, St Andrews, trade in addition to tailors, shoemakers and smiths. Kirkwall on the other hand, had important new light on the social and eco- many seafarers, and some fieshers and nomic history ofthese islands. leatherworkers, whereas Stromness had more fishermen. James Irvine concludes But above all, those of us who are members that the standard of living in Orkney was of the family history society are indebted to low and that Orkney was less prosperous James for a valuable new reference book that than many other parts of Scotland. Of pushes back the boundaries of genealogical course in this period of severe famine the research in Orkney. Now perhaps some of death rate is likely to have been high and those who have been unable to discover the number of paupers greater than usual. much relevant material prior to the 1841 James Irvine also comes to tentative con- census returns may have the satisfaction of clusions about the number of those not finding a name that links their ancestry to an listed - the tax evaders, children under the earlier age. age of 16 and the poor of the parish. Copies are available from Orkney Book- An informative section on surnames shows sellers or direct from the author to those that they tended to be localised in parishes. who are members of the Orkney Family It is also interesting to know that of the 23 History Society. most common surnames of the 1690s, Sheena Wenham. #422 twelve appear in a comparable list com- piled three centuries later in 1998, and the other eleven can still be found in the Ork- ney telephone directory today. Altogether 380 different surnames are recorded in the 1690s lists, but 150 of these are not to be Orkney Surnames Quiz found in Gregor Lamb's recently published book. Similarly 370 form names feature in Compiled by Frank and Claire Eunson #9 the poll tax lists but one sixth of these are not to be found in Hugh Marwick's book on Orkney farm names. This is perhaps unsur- 1 Old Scottish coin prising, as it is likely Hugh Marwick did 2 Disused naval airfield not have access to some estate rentals and 3 Solomon other documents that have since found 4 their way to Orkney archives. It is also Obese Before you shoot understandable that spellings of farm 5 names in the poll tax lists often differ to 6 Features of "Bonny Doon those found in Marwick, as inconsistencies 7 Slight faults in the spelling of place names could still be 8 Cattle call found more than two (if not three) centuries 9 Cape of the church later. 10 Jim's wife 11 Found where there's muck 12 Spoil the candle The information in this book is set out clearly and it is easy to understand. James Answers on page 18. Irvine is to be congratulated for making a transcription ofthese documents, housed in Edinburgh, so that they are now available to all of us in Orkney where they shed The Rev. Alexander Smith - Presbyte- When I retired I devised several ploys to- rian Minister and Covenanter - and the keep my mind active, one of which was to Smiths. try to prove or disprove the traditional ele- ment of the genealogy. I took the view that There must be thousands of people alive with the advance of information technology today in Orkney and beyond who, know- some records of that time may still be extant ingly or otherwise, can claim to be descend- which would not necessarily have been ants of the Rev. Alexander Smith whose readily available to in 1892 only connection with Orkney came about as a result of banishment to Step one of the research was easy when the in 1668. This banishment arose on account Archivist of the of his Covenanting zeal, which at that time confirmed in a two minute telephone call brought him into conflict with the then Epis- that an Alexander Smith had graduated in copalian ascendancy in Edinburgh. July 1637. This confirmed a statement in John Smith's biographical notes. In 1892 John Smith, a partner in the well- known Kirkwall drapery firm of J & J Smith I then telephoned the to produced an epic work of genealogy, based, seek access to Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae I understand, upon family bibles available at which is the ongoing written record of that time and which traced the lineage of every ordained minister of the Church of numerous Tankerness families of that era Scotland since the Reformation. I was po- back to the "worthy Covenanter". This ge- litely referred to The National Library of nealogy was constructed wholly upon the Scotland where a copy is available for pub- written evidence in these bibles, apart from he examination. 1 gained access to the li- the first two generations where the evidence brary shortly thereafter and a copy of the was based upon tradition and a certain relevant extract follows: amount of supposition on John Smith's part. I have in my possession a copy of this gene- FASTI ECCLESIAE SCOTICANAE alogy handwritten and extended by my fa- ther in or about 1932. Volume 2 - Synod of Dumfries and Gal- loway In 1668 the Rev. Alexander Smith was ban- Page 260/1 ished to North Ronaldsay as a result of the conflict of these times between supporters ALEXANDER SMITH of the of 1638 and the supporters of both Charles I and II who were Graduated MA. University of Edinburgh intent on imposing episcopacy on Scotland. 22 July 1637

Using tradition as his starting point John Schoolmaster at Penpont Smith suggests that he had three sons who had obviously accompanied him on his ban- Schoolmaster at Dumfries 1645 - 7 ishment to Orkney, with one eventually go- ing to Sandwick, one to and the Admitted to Garrel (formerly Garvald) and third to Tankemess. This latter son suppos- Dungree in the Presbytery of Lochmaben edly became the forefather of die Smith on 19 July 1647. The parish of Garrel was families of Tankerness traced in his geneal- united with Kirkmichael in 1674. ogy. Translated and admitted to Colvend and later on in the history Smith is referred (formerly Culven) in the Presbytery oj to as one of the Scottish Worthies. Dumfries on 25 December 1651. Apart from the remarkable story itself, three Deprived by Act of Parliament on 11 June things emerged from this extract. First, there 1662 and Decree of the Privy Council on 1 was no mention of any issue of his marriage October 1662. He was cited before the to Helen Newall. This is significant as con Privy Council on 24 March 1663 when he temporary entries in the Fasti and in fact promised to obey the Acts of Parliament entries up to the present day, do provide and Council, remove from the parish and detail of the issue of any marriage to the desist from preaching. He went to Leith but extent of quoting Christian names. Second, in July 1664 he was charged with holding John Smith's genealogy mentions that he conventicles. At his examination he ad- was settled in the Parish of Garvald in Had- dressed Sharp as "sir" instead of "your dingtonshire whereas it was in fact Garvald grace. " The Earl of Rothes demanded if in Dumfriesshire which moved the focus of Smith knew who the President was. "Yes search to the South West. Third, his place my Lord, " repliedSm ith, "I speak to James and date of death were recorded. Sharp, once a fellow minister with myself " On account of this answer Rothes ordered I then approached the Registrar-General's the hangman to put the minister in irons in office in Edinburgh but the staff there ad- "The Thieves Hole" in Edinburgh Tol- vised me that they did not have any old booth. On 9 January 1666 he was removed parish records for any of the parishes men- into what is called the Iron House and on tioned dating as for back as the mid to late 23 March of the same year he way ban- 1600s. They did however refer me next door ished to . In 1668 he was in Burn- to The National Archives of Scotland but tisland and after a short confinement there they too held no records for these parishes was transferred to North Ronaldsay. After for that time. McDiarmid's history states four years he returned to Edinburgh and that Colvend parish records only started in died at the Castlehill on 21 February 1673. 1715.1 was running out of ideas to trace any He married Helen Newall in Dumfries in record of birth or baptism of Alexander and February 1646. Helen Smith's children

This entry was followed by a list of biblio- I then wrote to the (at the time) current graphical references, most of which related minister of Colvend asking him to pass my to the Covenanting times in general and not request for information on to any local his- to Alexandra" Smith in particular. In, how- torian but 1 did not receive a reply. 1 did ever, the History of the United Parishes of however subsequently visit Colvend during Colvend and Southwick (McDiarmid) fur- a holiday in Kirkcudbright. In a relatively ther information is available. His banish- modern church I purchased a copy of a ment to Shetland was to an uninhabited recently published histoiy of the parish island where his only food was barley and church which did list Alexander Smith as a his fuel was wreck and seaweed. He was minister there but gave no inkling of brought back from there to Edinburgh and whether or not he had had any children- after a fiirther fourteen days confinement in There were no memorials in the ruins of the the Tolbooth was sent to Orkney to be nearby old parish church. "detained in North Ronaidsay". Smith was clearly an activist in Covenanting circles Having exhausted these sources I turned to who took a poor view of Archbishop Sharp his death to pursue my enquiries. The Fasti

^p^gter^ Hie ftrtu^T^^ stated that he died in Edinburgh at the and someone with more skill than me may Castlehill on 21 February 1673. I had a still yet find the answer. feeling that anyone dying in Edinbrugh at Kenneth I Sinclair #508. Sept 2003 that time would probably have been buried in the graveyard of the Kirk of the Grey fri- ars. The Kirk office directed me to Edin- Website information burgh City Council's department of burial grounds and crematoria who confirmed that Member Mike Clouston #37 writes:- that was indeed the case. I examined their I have set up a mailing list for the Houston records of that time, which consisted of a surname on Rootsweb. Intending subscrib- Register of all purchasers of a plot in Grey- ers should send an e-mail to clouston-1- friars Kirkyard but my expectations were [email protected] dashed. There were only three entries in the Register for 1672 and 1673 all obviously The society has been sent the following relating to people of wealth within the city two pieces of information but once again I at that time. On querying this with the would like to emphasise that I have not custodian she asked me if Alexander Smith visited the sites myself. Ed. was likely to have been rich. I suggested that as he had been deprived of his living by 1) From Prof Arnold Morrison, member the Privy Council, followed by banishment of CSFHS and G&WSFHS:- to both Shetland and Orkney this was un- New Website: Scots in and likely. She informed me that virtually all Patagonia Austral the burials of these times were in common Many Scots settled in Argentina and Pat- ground without either the grave or the death agonia Austral in the 19th century and having been recorded. later. This new website has been created to help family historians who are interested in At that stage I gave up. The fact that the tracing forebears who went there, and for Fasti recorded no children weighs heavily those with general interest in emigrant with me and I also took the view on reading Scots. The website contains a brief history, John Smith's account again, that his suppo- advice on records and repositories in Ar- sitions were fairly wide in seeking a con- gentina, Patagonia and the U.K., the use of nection with the Covenanter. Over and LDS Church microfilm and internet mail- against that it has to be said that tradition in rooms, , links with other help- those times was massively stronger than it ful sites, and various illustrations of is now with the spoken word conveying records. large amounts of information to succeeding The site can be accessed through the usual generations. We now commit things away search engines, eg. Google, Yahoo, Al- to computers and modem filing systems ta vista at:- http://mvweb.tiscali.co.uk/ without having to trouble our brains. To seotsinargpat/ or by entering the keywords: pass on the story of Alexander Smith from Scots, Argentina, Patagonia Austral. 1673 to 1892 is not a long time as far as tradition is concerned and this too therefore 2) Family History Scotland is now online must carry a lot of weight. at:- www.familyhistoryscotland.co.uk where you may purchase CD roms of Post I have filed my papers and have settled for Office Directories, academic Records, that controversial Scottish verdict of "not Church Records, Rolls of Honour and proven" (without the usual associated more. New CDs will be added to the cata- taint). 1 did however enjoy the investigation logue every week. Working on the 'Gardens'. From our own 'library' we found out that William Barclay had come to Orkney in A few days before our trip to Orkney in 1919, as minister of the Second Charge, October, we visited New Register House in then was Cathedral minister from 1921 to Edinburgh with the North Perthshire Fam- 1936. To get a picture of the man (both ily History Group. While all the members literally and metaphorically), however, we found extra bits of information to add to would have to ask around in Orkney. their family trees in the two and a half hours we were there, one friend, Kay, the Ruby Leslie has been for us over the years chairperson of the group, was very excited a never failing source of reliable informa- when we compared notes afterwards. She tion and she didn't let us down this time. had accessed the marriage certificate of a Although her family had not been members second cousin of her father, a William of Mr Barclay's congregation, Ruby could Barclay, about whom she knew nothing picture him and described him as a hand- other than his date of birth and who his some young man who had been in the parents were. "Apparently he was the min- army. As a young lass, she had attended ister of St Magnus Cathedral when he mar- William and Dora's wedding, and still re- ried in the '20s," she told us, "and his wife members, with shame, that she stood cm a was an Orkney lady, Dora Garden, whose seat to see the bridal couple better! She father was a merchant, Robert Garden. recalled that Dora was given away by her When you are up in Orkney next week, can mother Margaret (nee Jolly). After their you find out anything about them?" We wedding, William and Dora lived in the were able to help her sooner than that! We manse at the top of Clay Loan, on the right explained that Dora's father, Robert Gar- hand side - the building is no longer there den, was not just any old merchant. After and other houses have been erected on the his arrival in Orkney in 1873 until his death site. The Barclays went on to have a son, in 1912 he had become a very prominent Robin, and then to Ruby's surprise left businessman who not only had retail out- Orkney for Glasgow in 1936, the year be- lets on the mainland of Orkney but had, fore the great Octocentenary Cathedral cel- with his shop boats, extended his business ebrations. to the North and South Isles, Shetland and along the North Coast of Scotland and Our friends and fellow O.F.H.S. members round as far as Lochinver. Even more lan and Betty Cameron were able to add amazingly from Kay's point of view, we more information about William Barclay. told her that we had, at home, several let- The Minister had acted as a guide when ters written to us by Dora (Garden) Barclay Queen Marie of Romania, a granddaughter in the early '70s around the time of the of , visited Kirkwall in publication of'Days of Orkney Steam'. By 1936 while on a cruise from Hamburg. then Dora, a widow, was living in New Betty remembered having seen a photo- Zealand where she had gone to be near her graph of this occasion in one of Norman family. Sinclair's excellent photographic books 'Images in Time'. In volume 1 there it was We gave Kay the letters to pore over while - a back view of the reverend gentleman! we were in Orkney. Mention in the letters However, another photograph of a Cathe- of Dora's grandchildren, including their dra] choir function in the same volume names and ages, has helped Kay to add to showed the minister very clearly. her family tree. c • • 1 A "< L'J New Register House where this story be- had been able to correspond by e-mail, gan is a treasure trove for finding out de- there would have been no letters to give to tails of the births, marriages and deaths of Kay and the picture she is now building up our ancestors. The internet too has become of her Barclay/Garden connection would a wonderful source of information for ge- be that much poorer. nealogists. E-mails keep us in touch with newly discovered far out and far off cous- But why was Kay so interested in the first ins. No wonder researching family history place in her father's second cousin, Wil- has become popular in recent years - mod- liam Barclay? Well, at a 'Bring along your ern technology makes it all so much easier. Family Heirloom' night last winter she But the personal touch is still important - a showed us a beautiful sampler which had nonagenarian's memories, handwritten let- been sewn by William Barclay's mother ters from long ago put the flesh on the when a young girl. That is a personal touch! bones of our forebears. If Dora Barclay Anne Cormack #73

Photographic History of the Island of Flotta

In Issue Number 26 of the Sib Folk News I they would be prepared to be used in this wrote an article regarding the "casagram" project. The CD would include a list of of the families that have resided on the acknowledegments of the people who island. have kindly donated copies of their photo- graphs. This has awakened the taste buds of the islanders regarding family history and the My e-mail address is in the member's hard copy is being passed from to listings and I am quite happy to receive the croft. Needless to say I am delighted that it photographs by this method or if members has brought interest and pleasure to them. would prefer to send me copies or origi- nals by post they will be scanned and To take this project a stage further, Phyllis returned immediately. Gee has been asked if the islanders would be prepared to look at their collection of Four copies of the second CD would be photographs of buildings or people with made and distributed in the same way as crofts in the background to see if we can the first one. There is nothing commercial produce a second CD for the island mu- about this project - just one member trying seum to accompany the "casagram" and to to help the island museum become estab- bring to life the buildings mentioned. lished and to save some of the heritage of the crofts which are gradually disappear- The collection of photographs has already ing. started, some from my own collection and some from other people who have been So have a look in the attic and the "old sending the odd picture whilst requesting brown suit case" to see what you have and help on the families on the island. so help the project along. This article is to see if any members of the Stan Sutherland #225 Society have any photographs of Flotta that Open meeting held in the Supper Room, arrived that we had to move into a larger Kirkwall Community Centre room and tonight we had to bring in extra Thursday 9th October 2003 at 7.30pm chairs.

Chairperson, Mrs Nan Scott, gave a very Teresa recalled 'Unexpected Landings on warm welcome to the forty five people who Auskeny' since they moved there in 1979 attended. There were apologies from Brig- which included birds, a helicopter, a dead adier S P Robertson, Mr Bill Irvine and Mrs whale, seal researchers and visiting archae- Helen Manson. ologists, botanists, coastguards, customs and representatives from the Northern Helen had received a lot of communication Board, but her talk was to be since her photograph and the short write-up centred on a plane which landed there dur- on 'Digging up ancestors' was printed in the ing the second world war. It was rumoured June Sib Folk News, which prompted Nan that the pilot had survived and there were to point out that even very short articles can different stories about why it had landed. It receive a lot of interest. was possible that the pilot may still be alive. Teresa was intrigued by this piece of Latest date for moving to the new library is history and so her quest began. Eventually around 17th November. It is proposed to she managed to contact the wife of the hold a course for volunteers with archivist Principle Lighthouse Keeper of Auskeny Alison Fraser and the society's web-master at the time of die incident and learned that Dave Higgins. There is a new assistant the pilot's name was Douglas or Donald. archivist Lizzie Gibson. Teresa wrote to the local newspaper and received a reply from a niece of the Princi- Future dates: - ple who had a letter and a photo from her 4/6th Nov (provisional) Committee meet- uncle dated 17th Dec 1943. The pilot, on ing meeting the Lighthouse Keepers, had asked 13th Nov Annual meal in the Orkney Ho- if he was anywhere near England. His tel. A form was available for names. It was name was Donald Frank and he was Cana- suggested to investigate the provision of dian although his grandparents were Rus- some kind of'Orcadian' musical entertain- sian. ment. Some time later a friend of Teresa's Treasurer, George Gray, was not at the brought a friend from Canada to visit on meeting but Adrianne Leask was able to Auskeny and the friend became interested inform us that the membership number was in the story and offered to help by search- now 1019. ing in Canada. Nearly a year later photos Adrianne, as research secretary, had noth- arrived of Nicolas Donald Franko bom ing to report but Nan had received a request 1914. He had left Fraserburgh on a solo for information on William Melville night training exercise. In poor weather COOPER who had a son William Melville conditions the airport had closed so with no who married Elizabeth . ground contact he flew above the clouds for six hours until, low in fuel, he came Nan then introduced Teresa Probert and her down through the clouds to look for some- son Rory from and noted that he where to land. He made out white breakers was the first person to have the surname and so landed on Auskeny. When daylight Auskerry. She also remarked that at the came he saw the lighthouse and its keepers. meeting so many people They radioed . A launch came out but damaged its rudder so wouldn't take No-one has lived on Auskerry since the him off the island. He stayed for eleven twelfth century until now. There is evi- days over Christmas with the keepers on dence of Iron and life now Auskerry covered in peat, but no visits by as there were no beaches to land their boats. Luckily(?) for him the weather was so filthy that night that men on the ground at the Vice chairperson, Anne Rendall, thanked airport who had noticed the plane on radar Teresa and Rory for their talk admiring didn't send up a plane to shoot him down! Teresa's tenacity in searching out the pilot. Teresa also contacted the Lighthouse Board Teas were then enjoyed as usual thanks to in an effort to find the other keeper and as a hostesses Mags and Annie. result his widow and Donald, the pilot, met again and together made a visit to Auskerry.

OFHS Committee members 2003. From the left standing Olaf Mooney, Alan Clouston, Frank Hunson, Brig. S P Robert- son, Gavin Rendall, George Gray, Dave Higgins, Ian Cameron, Hazel Goar. Seated Adrianne Leask, Gillian Mooney, Nan Scott, Anne Rendatl, Betty Cam arm. Annual Meal in the Orkney Hotel on more. He is now in the process of trying to Thursday 11th November 2003 collate all the Kendalls in Westray adding that the Westray Heritage Centre hopes to Chairperson, Mrs Nan Scott, gave a warm produce a CD with photos of gravestones, welcome to the forty three people who at- family crofts/houses and Family Trees. tended the society's annual Christmas Din- Gavin commented on the sterling work ner. There were apologies from Joey and OFHS had done on the census returns and Linda Tait. asked if the same could be done with the OPRs. We were informed that work on this While everyone settled at their tables copies project has now begun in the office. Gavin of two quiz sheets which Frank and Claire then wished the society success and hoped Eunson had compiled for our amusement all would go well in the move to the new were passed round. A copy of the quiz can library. He then, in Nan's words, 'said the be found on page 7. bonny words' (Grace).

She then asked Hon. President, Brigadier S A very nicely presented meal was then P Robertson, to say a few words. And he much enjoyed followed by musical enter- stressed how nice it was to have the Hon tainment by the local and ever popular In- Vice President, and a founder member, grid and Billy Jolly and Owen Teirney. Gavin Rendall, with us. The society was now an established organisation, he said, Before wishing us all a safe journey home and praised the staff and committee mem- Nan commented that the committee had bers who worked veiy, very hard for noth- changed over the year and she introduced ing. He then introduced Gavin who firstly the new Vice Chairperson, Anne Rendall, thanked the society for making him Hon who, it was anticipated, would become the Vice President and commented that it was new Chairperson. seven years this month since OFHS began and it gone from strength to strength. He Anne then thanked Nan for her work and produces the magazine 'Westray Roots' called for a vote of thanks to the staff for the which is now at issue number forty four. His meal, to Hazel Goar for arranging the meal initial intention was to research his own and to the entertainers. family but he gradually got involved in tyttla*

Entertainers at the annual meal. From the left Billy Jolly, Owen Teimey and Ingrid Jolly. How researching via the Internet as a dren, many who were not recorded in the group brings a tree to life. established Church Registers, why?, because By Marion McLeod #58 John is believed to have brought the Baptist Continued from last issue faith to Burray.

From Barbara Stirling, Now via the Internet i.e.. Orkney Roots- web Mailing List I discovered Marion For about twelve months prior to making McLeod and her Laird request. From there contact with our group I had been system- we constantly exchanged whatever data atically double checking my files against and information we had discovered over a the information in two printed histories by number of years. Marion was able to tell me family members of our ancestor Walter things 1 didn't know about Orkney and I in Sinclair and reading yet again the return was able to do some work for her and Parish Register via microfilm and all the she continued passing on new contacts of same parish census, concentrating on the this family she had made. Recently I . This exercise consisted searched the Register of pre 1921 Scottish of transcribing all of the Island of Stroma Immigrants to New Zealand from the on the then five released census and at- NZSG Scottish Interest Group for just Ork- tempting to note all folks in the Canisbay ney born folks and discovered Averil who's Registers "of Stroma". This educated me home province is my own and her ancestors on the inter-relationships between practi- link in with all of ours even going back to cally all the island's people and its very Stroma. strong links with Orkney. This whole network which reaches around Next 1 attempted to discover Walter's the world is quite fascinating and proves missing sisters mentioned in a family letter that the Internet has become a very valuable by Jemima Sinclair [Mrs John Drever] tool for locating our families. No, you do written circa 1910 to one of her Sydney not have to spend hours on the "net", nor do cousins after their request for ancestor info. you have to locate databases, it's the people Yes, 1 discovered them all and as usual at contact which is the most valuable. least one was not in the Parish Register but adding the children to what appeared to be From Averil Bull, New Zealand. her marriage, the traditional naming pat- tern appeared, making me feel sure this I first became interested in family history was correct. One of the sisters, Mary, mar- when my father died in 1983. At this stage ried John Laird and the christenings for the I knew very little about where our ancestors first few children were recorded, but no came from. 1 knew my father's families more and Qurray & ap- were from Southern Ireland and my moth- peared to have Lairds in numbers but not ers father's family from Northern Ireland them. and her mother's family from the Orkney Islands away up the top of Scodand. At first Through my membership with the New Zea- I was mainly interested in my father's fam- land Society of Genealogists I discovered ily but as any Genealogist will tell you this they held for borrowing the surviving 1821 interest almost becomes an obsession so it Orkney Census fiche produced by David wasn't long before I started looking into the Weatheral and Burray & South Ronaldsay other families. The Banks family came to were amongst them. What an absolute bonus the fore as my Grandmother Margaret these proved to be for here were John and Given (nee Banks) had lived with us when Mary Laird and their children and grandchil- we were young children and in Granny's possessions was the Banks Family Bible. ber 1869 When Jessica was young the fam- This always intrigued me and I had ex- ily immigrated to New Zealand to join plained to our local Minister that we had a William's uncle Peter Sutherland who was Bible at home that was so big it needed to living at Port Chalmers. Here William be transported to Church in a wheelbar- worked on coastal boats and later took row!! charge of the Fish Sheds at Carey's Bay, Port Chalmers, Otago, New Zealand. Their My Great-grandparents William Park 2nd child Mary-Jane was bom 17th June 1877 Banks and his wife Jane Sutherland and at Port Chalmers. Their 1 * son Jack was born small daughter Jessica Banks arrived in two years later at Dunedin 15th March 1879. New Zealand at Port Chalmers near Dune- The family subsequently moved to Mosgiel, din, Otago, New Zealand. They arrived on South of Dunedin and William worked here the ship "Oamaru" on the 17th day of Feb- as a transport contractor for the Gold Placer ruary 1875. William was 28 years of age mines at Gabriel's Gully. At Mosgiel the from the Orkney Islands born in Burray, Banks family met the family and South Ronaldsay, on Thursday 26th Janu- Jessica (eldest daughter) married Thomas ary 1846. Jane was 24 years of age also Stevenson, who had originated from the born at Burray, South Ronaldsday, Ork- Orkneys also. William and Jane's next ney Islands, 15th July 1849 William and daughter (my Grandmother) was bom at Jane were married at Burray, South Ron- Lawrence 4th May 1881. Two more boys, aldsay Orkney Islands, on the 17,h Decem- George and William, were bom at Mataura, ber 1868. Their passage to New Zealand Southland, New Zealand. By 1889 the fam- costing 33 pounds 15 shillings. William ily were living at Riversdale, Southland, Banks' parents were John Banks born on New Zealand, where their youngest daughter nd the Island of Stroma in the Pentland Esther Park Banks was bom on 2 August th and Esther Park bom in Burray, South 1889. Jane died at Riversdale 5 July 1893 Ronaldsay, Orkney. William's parents im- and Esther was raised by her eldest sister Jessica Stevenson whose Is" son Thomas was migrated to Canada when he was 3 months Ul old. At that stage they had three children, bom 19 July 1896. William moved to Gore, another six children were bom in Gait, Southland, New Zealand, about 1905 and Canada, 80 km south west of Toronto. died there on the 27* June 1908. He is buried Both John and Esther died in Canada. John next to his wife Jane and their daughter died in Gait on the 11th August 1859 and Maiy-Jane in the Riversdale Cemetery, Esther died 22nd March 1863. Their eldest Southland, New Zealand. Their eldest son daughter Jane returned to the Orkneys and Jack Banks went to South Africa as a Cav- got married 31st December 1861. William alry Man in the New Zealand Army in 1900. After the Boer War Jack Banks took upland and his younger brother John Banks also in South Africa which he formed until his returned to the Orkneys probably taking death. Both his brothers, George and Wil- young James with them. William went to liam, worked for him. George and Jack sea, eventually obtaining his Captain's didn't get along so well and George left ticket. John Banks junior returned to Can- South Africa and no one is too sure where he ada probably after the death of his brother went. He is supposed to have last made in 1864 and he died also at Gait, Canada at contact with the family from Bombay?? Wil- the age of eighteen in 1865. William mar- th liam died in 1842 from a bad fever in South ried his first cousin Jane Sutherland 17 Africa. Esther and her husband and family of December 1868. William and Jane's first one son and two daughters also joined John child Jessica was born Friday 24th Septem- Banks in South Africa and still some of the Orkney Islands and have been given an their descendants farm some of Jack amazing amount of information and a huge Banks' land. It is interesting to note none of family tree. I am absolutely over the moon William and Jane's sons married. Jessica at all this information I have received. I am and Margaret remained in New Zealand still trying to wade my way through it I am and brought their families up here. Marga- finding the repetitive use of the same ret, my grandmother, married James Given names a little confusing and also the fact 9th July 1902 and had a family of six that they seem to many cousins with simi- children (two daughters and four sons). lar names!! Many thanks to all who have contributed to this Family Tree and espe- After taking a number of years to discover cially to Barbara for making the first con- all this I gave up on the Banks family as no tact and Marion for all the information. one seemed to know much more about Marion McLeod #58 them and my visits to the Family History Center were few and far between and I just didn't seem to be able to find out anymore Apologies to Marion and all concerned for until June 2002 when I received a letter a mistake in last issue's Web pages ad- from Barbara Stirling who had found my dresses, They should have read as follows:- name and address on a Scottish Interests www.btintemet.com/~tnarion.mcIeod register (which I had forgotten I had put my http://familvtreCTiaker.genealogv.com/ name on!!) and from there we have had users/m/c/l/Marion-A-Mcleod e-mail contact and thanks to Barbara f have www.photobox.co.uk/ been put in contact with Marion McLeod in [email protected]

Answers to quiz on page 7.

1 Groat 2 Twatt 3 Davidson 4 Stout 5 Aim The above photograph was taken by mem- 6 Banks ber Ian Cameron #10 when he and his wife 7 Flaws Betty were in Victoria, Vancouver Island. 8 Low He says the harbour front was lined with 9 Kirkness plaques like this in remembrance of the 10 Rosie skippers that used the port in the old days. 11 Brass The plaque reads:- 12 Marwick. "Harpooner 1849 with John Flett Presented by his grandchildren 1960" In Memo nam, Robert (Bob) Inkster, April 4,1900 - October 30,2003

We are grateful to Mr David Noakes who lives just out- side the town of Erin in Ontario, Canada, for sending this newspaper article to the society.

In August 2000, Bob Inkster (above right), then 100 years old, attended the opening ceremonies of Centre 2000, where Floyd Longbottom of Branch 422 (Erin) of the Royal Canadian Legion presented him with an "Inkster Dr." sign - the Town of Erin had decided to name one of the roads leading into Centre 2000 in his honour. Robert (Bob) Inkster was bom in Kirkwall, Scotland, in 1900, and he passed away in Callander, Ontario, last week. He was a veteran of World Wars I and II, and a life member of the Erin Legion.

INKSTER, Robert S. - Passed away at of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 445, North Bay General Hospital, Scollard Site, Callander, a past president of the Lions on Thursday, October 30, 2003 at the age Club and constable of the Town of Erin. No of 103. Mr. Inkster is survived by his god- visitation. Cremation at Forest Lawn Cre- daughter, Sherry Culling (Wayne), and matorium. There was a memorial service at their children, Jeff Culling and Jen Lan- the Royal Canadian Legeon, Branch 445, (Adam) all of Callander. He will be Callander, Saturday, November 1, 2003 at dearly remembered by Murray Dyer of Or- 2 p.m. As expressions of sympathy, dona- angeville, Millie and Barry Somerville of tions to the Royal Canadian Legion or char- Erin, Jeanne and Bob Puckering of Toronto ity of your choice would be gratefully and their families. He will be sadly missed appreciated by the family. There was a by his many friends. He was predeceased graveside service at Erin Cemetery, Erin, by his parents, one brother and one sister. officiated by the Royal Canadian Legion, Mr. Inkster was a veteran and a member of Erin Branch 442, on Sunday, November 2, the and World 2003 at 1:30pm. Funeral arrangements un- War II, a life member of the Royal Cana- der the direction of McGuinty Funeral dian Legion, Branch 442, Erin, a member Home. The Orkney Family History Society

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