NEWSLETTER OFSIB THE ORKNEY FAMILY FOLK HISTORY SOCIETY NEWSISSUE No 51 SEPTEMBER 2009 2 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Issue No 51 September 2009

ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY NEWSLETTER Issue No 51 September 2009 CONTENTS FRONT COVER Our outing to From WESTRAY

PAGE 2 From the Chair the chair

PAGE 3 TUMBLEDOWN “Oh what a summer this has been!” - this of course can be PAGES 4 & 5 read as a negative or a positive comment. Orkney has been The Gray/Baikie blessed with the best summer weather for many decades. Family “Beuy, hid reminds me o’ summers we hid when I wis a peedie boy!” I hope that members across the world have experienced equally good times. Whilst PAGES 6,7,8 & 9 The Melsetter/ visitors to the county have revelled in the sunshine, their families back home in many other Malcomson dispute parts of Britain were being waterlogged. With streets crowded with visitors, large numbers still return to “hunt down their ancestors”. PAGES 10 & 11 Family history continues to draw people back to Orkney and to the door of the Society. In Book review; nearly every case people leave satisfied, with that missing piece of their family tree, but often Eight Acres and a Boat with much more than they ever anticipated. Member access to the census and graveyard resources through the OFHS website has enabled greater advanced research and assists in PAGES 12 & 13 making better use of their time whilst in Orkney. During this Homecoming year, some of the Our outing to parishes and islands have hosted successful “homecoming events.” Westray The Society had a successful summer outing to Westray enjoying the many opportunities that PAGES 14,15 & 16 the island has on offer. In August we had an OFHS stall at the Annual Vintage Rally. With The Coupers a bigger than usual attendance many visitors to the stall made inquiries to start their own of Egilsay family history research. So what lies ahead for the Society over the next year – PAGE 17 Searching your • At our recent committee meeting, Anne Rendall was appointed as vice chair and new Family Tree members were welcomed. • The Committee are busy devising an interesting programme of monthly activities. Monthly PAGES 18 & 19 meetings will follow the normal pattern, generally meeting on the second Thursday in the The Mormons of Graemsay month. As programmes are organised they will be displayed on the website. • The committee are keen to hear from Orkney based members who could volunteer with PAGE 20 others to assist in checking Monumental inscriptions at various locations around the county. Stones from Please let the office know – Tel. 01856 879207. the East Indies • In November, members should make a diary date for the 12th for attending the OFHS PAGE 21 Annual Dinner. Mystery • The possibility of the annual outing in June 2010 being to Caithness is being investigated. Photographs • If you enjoy the Members pages on the website – look out for a new addition. The back copies of the Sib Folk News will soon be available with a searchable content index. PAGE 22 A satisfied • Whilst the committee are pleased with the contribution made to the Sib Folk News, we feel customer. that many members have interesting stories to tell but have not yet responded to my pleas for No Longer more stories to come forward. There are well over 1000 members with ancestral stories out a Mystery there – why not share them with other members. If necessary, we can put the stories together PAGE 23 if we get the information. Small stories are of equal importance, we don’t need pages. Your Searching for help is appreciated. Irvines, Heddles • Searching English records is becoming more and more in demand and, to assist with and Baikies research, the Society will be subscribing to “Find My Past” the online resource for births, PAGE 24 marriages and deaths from 1538 – 2006 for English and Welsh family history research. Membership Summer is over, Autumn is here and Christmas is just round the corner. Details. Hope you enjoy this newsletter. Westray Quiz answers regards

Alan Clouston Chairman OFHS Westray outing photo credits–Nan Scott, Ian Cameron, John Sinclair. Issue No. 51 September 2009 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY 3

By Alan Clouston – Member No 339 y ‘Tumbledown’ feature this time continues in Mthe Houton area of Or- phir with the property called ‘Eastaquoy’ - high up on the hill- side of Midland Hill overlooking the Bay of Houton. During the war years the occupants would have a panoramic view over Scapa Flow and all the activity at the Hou- ton seaplane base. An interesting building feature still remaining is The ruins of Eastaquoy the small porch constructed from vertical stone slabs to form the walls. A small window was then cut out of the slab for daylight. During the 1800s, Eastaquoy was occupied by three families – the ‘Sinclair’, ‘Norn’, and ‘Gar- rioch’ families. Their nearest neighbours would have been at ‘Quarrelhouse’, slightly further up the hill. This was occupied by the Sinclair families. The slab porch with the cut-out window for daylight The cramped living space RESIDENTS OF PARKHOUSE / PARK COTTAGE Residents of Eastaquoy, Houton 1821 1841 1851 1861 1871 1881 1891 1901

Name age age age age age age age age George Sinclair (Head) age span (60-70) 60 ------Helen (wife) 50 - - - - -

James Norn (Head) Farmer) - 45 56 64 74 - - - Margaret Linklater (Mrs Norn from 1851) - 35 46 54 65 - - - Margaret (Daughter) - - 9 - - - - - Isabella (daughter) - - 6 15 25 - - - James (Son) - - 4 14 - - - - Jane (sister unm.) (employed at home) 67 - - - - -

Isabella Garrioch (Head) Farmer (widow nee Tait) - - - - - 73 - - Cicelia (daughter) (unmarried) - - - - - 38 48 58 Peter (nerphew) (farm servant) ------15 - Alexander Smith (visitor) (retired mariner) ------56 Jane Smith (visitor) ------67

James Norn (B.1796) (1841 occupant) was the grandson of James Norn and Margaret Norn and the son of James Norn and Euphan (Ephy) Brass. He had three sisters; Jean (1785) - shown as Jane above; Margaret (1788); Fanny (1790). Eastaquoy must have given a meagre existence with land being farmed varying between 4 and 12 acres. In 1881, the acreage was listed as 15 acres. Isabella Garrioch (nee Tait) was the widow of a William Garrioch. Prior to moving to Eastaquoy the lived at ‘Sealand’ around half-a-mile away. Have you a ‘Tumbledown’ story to tell or questions to ask? Just contact Alan Clouston. Thanks to members who responded to the last ‘Tumbledown’ featuring ‘Sorpool’. Their stories may appear in a future SFN. You can contact Alan Cloustonat < [email protected]> 4 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Issue No. 51 September 2009

GRAY/BAIKIE FAMILY The Latest News

By Zoe Gray, Member No 295 began reseraching my family history nearly 20 years of what I have now found, I can state that they are not the ago now (how time flies!). In 1993 I travelled to Orkney right couple. I have since discovered an excellent website Iand visited the archives in Kirkwall and in 1999 af- by Lisa Conrad (www.southronaldsay.net/1821/) who has ter joining the Orkney FHS, I wrote an article for Sib transcribed and added details gathered in the course of Folk News on my discoveries to date. [Another Thames her research, to the original census. This, together with - Orkney Connection SFN No 9 March 1999]. the census available online (I used Ancestry.co.uk) has Although I have made a number of connections with enabled me to claim Hellen, Catherine and Benjamin as others searching for their Orcadian ancestors, I had hit mine! that brick wall that we are all familiar with - that is until On the 1841 census there is listed at St. Margaret’s now, with certain information recently becoming avail- Hope, Benjamin aged 55, a fisherman, and Hellen aged 60 able online. So I thought I would write an article to up- together with Hannah Linklater (40), a servant and Wil- date other readers with my latest discoveries and hope liam Calder (90). There is also a Catherine aged 55 liv- that I may make some more connections to take my re- ing with a John Gray aged 25 (possibly a son?) and Janet search forward. Lask (Leask?) age 30. It is known that the ages written The story begins with my 4x great grand parents, Wil- down on the census returns in 1841 were rounded down liam GRAY and Jean/Jane BAIKIE born c.1750s. The first to the nearest 5 years and again this would fit the ages written record of their existence is the baptism of their 8 precisely. (There is however no record of Magnus, David, children, which took place in the parish of Walls & Flotta, James or John on this census.) Further evidence from the between the years 1776 and 1793. From this I have as- 1851 census at St. Margaret’s Hope confirms their iden- sumed their marriage to have taken place prior to 1776, tity. We find Benjamin aged 65 as head of the household, but unfortunately the parish records for Walls & Flotta described as a fisherman and his place of birth is given have some years missing and I have not found any record as Walls. He is living with his sister Hellen, aged 72, as of a marriage between them. They may have married housekeeper. She is also born in Walls. Also listed in in a different parish, but that has yet to be establsihed. the household is Benjamin’s brother John aged 60, de- Their eight children were - Magnus baptised on 24th De- scribed as a retired Seaman and also born in Walls. Their cember 1776, Hellen baptised on 14th September 1778, loyal servant Hannah Linklater aged 52 is also part of David baptised on 5th November 1780, Catherine on 28th the household. We also find Catherine Gray aged 68 born September 1782, Benjaman on 17th April 1785, followed in Walls, living alone in St. Margaret’s Hope and her oc- by James on 3rd February 1788, John on 11th November cupation is given as knitter of stockings. By 1861, still in 1790, and lastly Samuel on 15th September 1793. Samuel South Ronaldsay, at 5 East End we have Benjamin aged is my 3x Great grandfather,a fisherman who settled in 75 as head, occupation stated to be fisherman. Also his Gravesend, Kent c.1810, as outlined in my original ar- sister Hellen aged 82 and Jannet Leask, a boarder and a ticle. dressmaker, born in Canisby, Caithness. (This is probably For some time now I have had a copy of a census tak- the same person listed on the 1841 census who was living en in 1821 in Orkney and amongst those listed in South with Catherine). Catherine is still living alone on South Ronaldsay are a Hellen, Catherine and Benjamin Gray Ronaldsay at 14 Central District aged 78, but described aged 44, 39 and 36, at a place called Quoys. They would as a pauper. appear to be the children of William and Jane, as the ages John is not listed on this census. match up with the baptism dates. There was also a Wil- I am now convinced that this is the right family and liam and Jean/Jane listed at Broch, of approximately the that they had moved from Walls to South Ronaldsay some right age, both 66. I thought they could be my 4x ggrand- time after 1793. parents. However, information kindly sent to me from However no census record for Magnus, David or James, other OFHS members about the descendents of this cou- for any of the years, has been found. Possibly, if they were ple, didn’t match with what I already knew, and because seamen, they may have been away, or they may not haveA Issue No. 51 September 2009 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY 5

Fsurvived into adulthood. If anyone can claim them as belonging to their family, I would be very pleased to hear Westray was a from them. grand day out Thanks also to the work of the volunteer transcribers, Dear Nan, working on deciphering the headstones in Orkney church- I thought I’d write you a short note of appreciation for Sunday’s outing yards, which to Westray. Had the sun been out earlier in the day the weather would I have ac- have been excellent — as it was it was pretty good. cessed via The Heritage Centre has so much more of interest now compared to the OFHS a few years back. The people in charge must be congratulated for all website. This the work that has gone into the improvement. has helped In the Pierowall Hotel the food was excellent. We also appreciated me to put the mini bus drives and the entertainment provided by the driver’s more pieces comments. of the jigsaw The Viking Settlement at Quoygrew was so much more interesting with the explanations so ably given. together. The same goes for Noltland Castle. I have been there two or three In the times before but had no knowledge of its history. graveyard of The Westside Manse tea was also a most enjoyable experience. the parish church of St. Peter’s in South Ronaldsay is a If I know of anyone considering a day out in Westray I will heartily stone transcribed thus; “In memory of Captain John GRAY recommend it. who died on the 24th Jan 1852 aged 61 years. This stone Although the writer does not wish to be identified I think is erected by h.. brother Banjamin.....” (remainder unread- her letter to Nan Scott echoes the thoughts of all of us who able). At the foot another stone “In memory of Jane Bai- were on the trip to Westray in June. Ed. kie Relich of WILLIAM GRAY WALLS she died 4th Feby 1826 aged 67 years. Also WILLIAM CALDER who died 27th May 1845 aged 93 years.” This appears to be a family MEMBERS’ USEFUL WEBSITES grave, which provides some answers, but also more ques- Alex Cromarty, member 233, has suggested that we tions. From this it seems that William had died (possibly repeat the websites mentioned in our September 2008 is- on Walls) prior to Jane, in 1826, as she is described on the sue as he feels that they are all of interest to our members. stone as his widow (relich). Jane must have come to South Here they are again together with Alex’s own site which Ronaldsay after 1821 as she does not appear on the census features the Cromarty/Gutcher family of South Ronaldsay. there that year. •Alex Cromarty’s site can be found at:- The William and Jane listed in 1821 could not be mine, http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cromartygray/ as Jane would have been aged 62 (not 66) and probably •Dave Annal researches the Annal name world-wide but came to South Ronaldsay after this date, when William with a focus on South Ronaldsay. His site also contains a photo may have already been dead. gallery of family gravestones from churchyards and cemeteries throughout Orkney. You can find it at:- Benjamin is their son and brother to John (1851 census http://homepage.ntlworld.com/dave.annal and gravestone evidence). So who is William Calder and •Lisa Conrad also has a South Ronaldsay and Burray site of what relation is he, if any, to the GRAY family? (He was great interest and you can locate it at:- living with Benjamin and Helen, but was born in Scotland http://www.southronaldsay.net ie the mainland. Did the family originate from the main- •If your interest lies in Rousay, Robert Marwick’s site contains land?) information on the people who emigrated abroad together with So, keep up the good work transcribers - I am hoping you census returns and photographs. Find it at:- www.rousayroots.com will find more GRAYS at St. Peter’s, South Ronaldsay. •Graemsay is well covered by Robert Whitton and his site has These following three deaths are recorded as notes to extensive coverage of all the families from that island, many Hoy the transcribed 1821 census website. families and everyone called Ritch or Rich who originated from Hellen Gray died on 28th August 1863 at St. Margaret’s Scotland. Check out Robert’s site at:- Hope aged 84. She was unmarried. www.robertwhitton.eu Benjamin Gray died on 2nd January 1869 at St. •If you are researching the Feas in Orkney, Shetland and de- Margare’t Hope aged 87. He was also unmarried. scendents from further afield, Mike Rendall and other researchers have a mine of information on their website:- Catharine Gray died alone on 19th January 1871 aged http://genealogy.northern-skies.net/ 87, a pauper. Marital status not given. •Marion McLeod focuses on such well-known Orkney names as It would appear that Hellen, Benjamin, John, and possi- Harcus, Paterson, Smith, Redland, Wishart, etc. Learn more at:- bly Catherine, were unmarried, and therefore have no di- http://uk.geocities.com/marionmcleoduk rect descendents - that is unless anyone out there can tell •Ray Millar began researching his ancestors on Eday but this has me differently? If the other siblings, Magnus, David and evolved to over 7000 names from Orkney and beyond with loads of James, did not survive into adulthood, then my 3x ggrand- recorded material from baptisms to land rentals and everything in between. It’s a prolific collection of outstanding data at:- father, Samuel, may be the only child of William GRAY http://www.raymillar.co.uk/ and Jane BAIKIE, with living descendents. N 6 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Issue No. 51 September 2009

The Melstter/Malcomson dispute –Lord Moncrieff issues his findings Conclusion of article by Margaret Watters © 1997 The hearing to settle the dispute between Robert Heddle as to the extent of Malcolmsons land and its quality - of Melsetter and the Malcomsons of Thurvo was convened obviously a Heddle witness. The evidence now switched on 22nd October 1830. to the Fea holding which was a 1/2 mark of land only and First to be heard was Edward Watters styled as a no buildings. The witnesses here were Crown tenants so fisherman and aged 35. He lived at Hilltown and was would be impartial. When John Ross, farmer in Fea gave In fact one of the Thomsons land portioners, his mother his evidence, he said he knew Malcolmsons land in Fea having been Jeills Thomson. After the court checked that well. He was tenant in half of the Crown lands of Fea, he was who he said he was and knew what he was talking Kenneth Sutherland had the other half. This part of Fea about, they heard his evidence. had been allotted to the Crown in the division of runrig He said that in 1818, the buildings on Malcolmsons land in 1820. Margaret Malcolmson had been very dissatisfied in Thurvo. were in a very poor state and at the present with what was allotted to her. time were ruinous except a part of the old office houses Hugh Ross, 47, then spoke. He was bishopric ground officer where an old woman stayed. Asked whether he knew in the town of Fea. He said he knew the ancient runrig why they were in such a state, he answered that Heddle’s possessions which belonged to Margaret Malclomson. It servants had carried off the thatch for manure. Some of had been 20 rigs but was now only 19 and was estimated the cupples were then stolen and the rest removed to at 1/2 mark land. It lay south and east of Boats Noust but Haybrake. The feal dyke which surrounded the kailyard did not extend to the seashore. There were no buildings had been carted off and spread in Haybrakes fields and but he had heard his father say that the houses on the the soil of the yard had been removed to a depth of 16”. south side of the Closs of North Row had belonged to the This was strong stuff and it was obvious that Edward was Malcolmsons. North Row was now a crown property. a man of independence and, of course, was not a tenant of Heddle. An impartial witness John Heddle was the last witness. He was 59, and tenant Heddle’s servants seen plundering a house in House of the Burn. He was a crown tenant and had John Robertson, also 35, and from Hilltown, next gave been 31 years in Walls, was not Walls born and probably evidence. He was also a Thomson portioner. He said he as impartial a witness as was possible. He said he had had been in the house in Thurvo 10 or 12 years ago, been told by Robert Copeland that Margaret Malcolmson and at that time it was in much the same condition as had a bit of kelp shore at Fea. Together, they estimated other houses round about the property. He had watched the value and weight of kelp every second year and that Heddle’s servants dismantle the buildings and remove he, John Heddle, had worked this bit of shore every second the soil about 3 years ago. This time scale means that year for the past thirty years. Heddle had been plundering the place after the courts Questioned by Heddles agents, he admitted that there had decided the place did not belong to him and a price was about a carts width of grass between Margaret was being negotiated. Obviously, it was in his interest to Malcolmsons rigs and the shore and he wasn’t sure if she lower the value as much as possible. owned this or not. In the long run, John Heddle didn’t John Sabiston, aged 70, and from Summercleary was come down on one side or the other but he was the first to the next witness. He had occupied Thurvo as a tenant say that kelp had been worked for Margaret Malcolmson of James Wilson the wadsetter and being a tenant of and that he had worked it. Heddles, his evidence was non committal. He paid £7 Having finished taking evidence the court moved back yearly rent but no services. He had paid a teind in kind to Edinburgh. to Major Moodie but none to Heddle. He had left 7 years On January, 15th, 1833, Lord Moncrieff issued an ago when things were in a middling state of repair. He interlocutor which found for the pursuers as regards had been sequestrated 3 years after Heddle took over as ownership and the right to payment of past rents but he could not pay the rent. His wife had died and he had found the defenders entitled to expenses but, not the six children, was not bred to the sea so could neither fish pursuers on the grounds that, had the pursuers demands nor pilot. been reasonable the case could have been settled much James Wilson, 62, then took the stand. He was at the sooner and saved the defender much expense! time in Greenlums in Oar as a tenant of Heddle. The holding was also 1 mark and he paid £6. He had previously Margaret objects been in Oraquoy where he paid £18-18-0 and that was Margaret wasn’t having any of that and put in a 2.1/2 marks. This was Moodies rent. When Heddle took reclaiming note. The revised condescendence which over it was reduced to £16-16-0. His evidence was largely followed indicates that the case had become a fightA Issue No. 51 September 2009 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY 7

Fbetween Margaret and Heddle. She and her husband runrig and estate land was mixed up with Udal land and were tenants of Heddles and they would withheld their Bishopric land and there was a large acreage of commonty rent to make up for what they thought they were owed which he decided he owned. So by this action he called on - a bold step. Now there were extravagant claims and the Udal owners to exhibit their titles. denials from both sides. The Udal owners concerned are named in the process and were; Lord Moncrieff’s findings Esther Thomson, portioner of Hilltown. In February 1833 Lord Moncrieff issued his findings; John Robertson. 1st That the trustee William Scott Moncrieff had no case Edward Watters of Hilltown. to answer and is entitled to his expenses. Margaret Brock, wife of Wm Brock in Hilltown. 2nd No case for Heddle being liable for rents prior to James Burnie, tailor of Leith. 1819. James Young, sugar refiner Dundee. 3rd That Heddle is liable to the pursuers (no objection Andrew Irving, shipmaster London. to their title now being insisted on) for the just and true Jacobina Thomson, wife of James Wilson and James Burnie rents of Thurvo and Fea after 1819. all these were portioner of Hilltown or Thomsons land. 4th That the pursuers have failed to prove right to keep The Minister was Rev James Bremner and represented shores. the Kirk. 5th Concerned with rents. The Malcolmsons were not mentioned. At that time 6th Concerned with rents Heddle was quite sure he owned all of the Malcolmsons 7th He settles the yearly value of Thurvo, 1 mark at £13. land. Reference to this planking is to be found in the 8th He settles the yearly value of Fea at £1-6-3. Malcolmson - Heddle case and must have mostly taken 9th The pursuers are entitled to moderate interest on the place from 1820-24. Division and marches were set out in unpaid rents but restricts it to 4%. what was to Heddle and the officials a sensible fashion. Finally, in respect of the extravagant nature of the It pleased nobody else however as Heddle was given the demands made to begin with (probably the £1000 stg) right to knock down any houses or steadings which came and the fact that the pursuers abandoned one or two in the way thus effectively depriving ordinary people of points finds that the defender is entitled to some part of their houses and livelihoods. This is maybe what happened this expense. The amount to be settled by the court after to the houses of Malcolmsons land at North Row. he had given in an account of same. So she’d pushed it a bit too far and Heddle still got some Heddle plagued by Udal Rights of his expenses but she and her nephews and niece And it would not have pleased Heddle either as the Udal between them had proved their case. The land was theirs. owners all stood by their rights and he was still plagued Whether they ever saw any of the money they were owed by people who could or would not be moved at his whim. is not recorded. The Malcolmsons court case seems to have prevented the No account has survived as to how Margaret and Heddle conclusion of this planking and when Robert Heddle died mended their differences as to the rent of Kirbister. in 1842, it still was not completed. In the 1841 census, Margaret is at Fea, aged 70 with her In 1843, John George Heddle, eldest son of Robert was husband Adam, described as a fisherman, aged 70, and seised in Melsetter estate as heir to his father and almost family Janet, 40, John, 40, Margaret, 30, and James,13, a immediately was confronted with a summons of Wakening grandson. and transference issued by the Officers of State against In 1851, she is a widow aged 82, with Janet and John and himself and the Udal owners this time including the the holding is now called Halters. By 1861, Margaret was Malcolmson portioners. dead, Again the heritors are detailed; John Robertson, Jacobina Janet and John were unmarried and still living at and Margaret Thomson and the Rev James Bremner have Halters. Also living there in 1861 were her son Thomas died. Others have sold their interest; Esther Thomson, Sutherland, 51, with his wife Isabel, 53 and their family James Burnie, James Young and Andrew Irving had sold Betsy,19, William,16, Margaret, 14 and Isabell, 11. In to Heddle and Edward Watters has sold to Robert Patton, 1871, Janet and John were dead and Thomas and his a Kirkwall lawyer. family were still at Halters. So the portioners now are; However, in 1872, from an address in Wick, James John Robertson of Hilltown, son of deceased John. Sutherland writes that he is heritable proprietor of Fea Elizabeth Wilson, wife of James Fotheringham, messenger (Halters) and seeks to evict Thomas and his wife, who at arms, Kirkwall. he says, occupies Fea without verbal or written lease or Euphemia Wilson, widow of Wm Sutherland, carpenter, other title of possession. James surely had nothing to Walls. learn from Heddle about eviction. Marina Gray, widow of Capt. Wm Lillie. In 1872, the index to the Register of Sasines give a Mary Stamp, wife of Henry Badder, merchant, London, as James Sutherland, then residing in Thurso, as heir to his daughters and grand daughters of Jacobina Thomson grandmother Margaret Malcolmson, being eldest son of William Brock of Lairg, son of James Brock. her second son Adam and the 13 year old James in 1841. Jean Brock, widow of John Sutherland of Flotta. Back to Robert Heddle’s activities as a new estate owner. Janet Brock, wife of Robert Wilson (son of Helen In the year 1820, there was issued an action of Division Malcolmson). of Commonty. Most of the land at that time was still in Elizabeth Brock, widow of James Constable and wifeA 8 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Issue No. 51 September 2009

Fof John Wilson, grandson and daughter of Margaret it collected. This was April, 1841, and she died in August, Thomson. 1841. Magnus lived on until 1870. The Minister was at that time Rev Walter Weir. Margaret In 1869, John George Heddle died and his son, John George Malcolmson was, of course, still to the fore and supported Moodie Heddle inherited the estate. He offered George by Helen’s sons, Robert and Hugh Wilson. Robert was Baikie the tenancy of Greengairs in North Walls on a three married to Janet Brock, one of the Thomson heritors. year lease and what seemed to be favourite terms regarding Catherine Baikie, however had died in 1841 and her son new buildings etc. He was still there aged 56 in 1881 along George took her place. He turned out later to be a lot like with his sister Margaret, 58, and brother John at 45 still his aunt, Margaret Malcolmson. unmarried, Magnus having died in 1849 and William in A report in The Orcadian of July 1856, gives details of 1848. the final outcome. It says under the title, Division of A letter from Melsetter Estate Office in 1881 gives Commonty, particulars of overcharged rent and rates since entry in Court of Session, July 12; 1872 and an offer to buy the Thurvo property. George did The proceedings began about the middle of the reign of not sell and must have then terminated his tenancy of GeorgeIII and have been conducted at the instance of Greengairs and moved into Thurvo. The friendship and fair successive generations of litigants and agents. dealing had not lasted long. Several years ago, the questions in dispute were Having failed to persuade Baikie to sell the holding judicially referred to the then Sheriff of Orkney, now Moodie Heddle decided the time had come to try another Lord Neaves. possession order. His father had acquired Helen’s third The referee having lately pronounced a judgement the from her sons in 1855 and he had bought Margaret’s third effect of which is to substantially sustain Heddle’s claim from her grandson James in 1872. In this latter sale James to fully one half of the island. The First Division of the Sutherland describes his share as “half mark pro indiviso Court of Session today interposed their authority to it. or such other share as belongs to me.” So that was the end of that. Moodie Heddle now added up 1/2 and 1/3 and made a The cost of the long drawn out action must have been a whole. factor in John George Heddle’s ability to gather up the little bits of Hilltown as the heritors sold. In 1851, W Delayed letter H Fotheringhame, a descendant of Jacobina Thomson, So in Nov, 1883 he petitioned the Court for the removal bought Edward Waters fifth from Patton and in 1855, of George Baikie from Thurvo and the Court sent a letter sold to Heddle. Also in 1855, William Sutherland, a to Baikie requiring him to answer immediately, otherwise farmer in Fara, sold half of fifth and William Brock, then Moodie Heddle would be in possession. In those days the gamekeeper to Sir James Matheson of Stornoway, sold postal service was not as it is now. Letters had to be collected his fifth. Burnie had already sold his fifth in 1825so at Longhope where the only Post Office was a long way Heddle had four fifths. So far the other fifth has not been from Thurvo and George had no way of knowing there was traced but it must have been possessed by John Robson a letter awaiting him. A well meaning friend took the letter or Robertson, son of Christain Thomson. across to North Ness and left it in the shop. There it lay for Melsetter gained the first foothold in Malcolmsons land more than a week before George became aware of it. Right in 1855 when Robert and Hugh Wilson sold a third away he went in to Kirkwall and to the Court only to find share in Thurvo and Fea. This was their mother, Helen that the case had already been decided in Moodie Heddle’s Malcolmson’s share. favour, it having been undefended. On applying to have the He had to wait until 1872 for Margaret’s share, her case reopened, the Fiscal granted a stay of execution and grandson James Sutherland sold in that year. advised him to try and come to terms with Moodie Heddle privately as a court case would be very expensive. This must Christians share was never sold have been unsuccessful as in May, 1884, the Sheriff Officer He never did get Christian’s share, her grandson George is sent to evict the Baikies from Thurvo, and requesting Baikie inherited that in 1841 and never sold. His mother £7.10 as the cost of the court process. was Catherine Baikie, only child and heir of Christian Stung into action, George consults W T Sutherland, an and her husband Magnus Baikie. Magnus was a native Edinburgh W S. (One wonders if he was a relative). Be that of Stroma and had been in the Army and seen service as it may, on 18th June, Sutherland writes to John Macrae, in the Napoleonic Wars. He was a corporal in the 1st Moodie Heddle’s lawyer, saying that Baikie has good legal Battalion, 42nd regiment of foot. His army rank and title and is taking steps to have the decree recalled. On June service stood him in good stead in 1832 when he was 23rd, Macrae replies that for nine years previous, Heddle appointed a constable for Walls. Catherine and Magnus has been trying to come to terms but Baikie would not be had five of a family. Margaret, George, William, Magnus moved and Heddle intends to continue the action. On June and John were tenants of Heddles at Ayre in 1841. 24th, Sutherland writes to Baikie “Go to Kirkwall and see In 1841, Catherine fell ill and went to Kirkwall for Cowper the lawyer. Give him £5 to have the decree opened.” an operation for breast cancer. Her doctor was John This he did and on 15th July, defences were lodged. In Bremner, a son of Rev James Bremner of Walls. He October, Cowper writes to Baikie checking facts and wants practised as a surgeon in Kirkwall in the 1830s and 40s. to know if it was in 1836 that the propertv was divided in A poignant letter survives which indicates the state of thirds between himself, Margaret Malcolmson and Robert and medical service at that time. She writes to say she is Hugh Wilson. In December, Baikie has instructions to lodge wearying for home but her doctor says she is not fit to all papers relevant to his ownership of Thurvo and proof of travel still. She asks that Magnus send what money he his own identity. He got two old men to sign for him, William can spare and a load of peats to Scapa where she will get Sutherland, farmer, and Thomas Groat, farmer. A Issue No. 51 September 2009 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY 9

FLegal processes were slow and in May 1885 George was for the job. A sharp exchange of letters settles the matter. wondering if it was safe to cut peats. Better not say the (This was the last attempt by Melsetter Estate to take lawyers. He was still wondering about peats in 1886 and over Thurvo). the lawyers were asking for £6 to account for expenses. John Baikie, by now an old man and alone, became in- The case was called in June of that year but nothing de- creasingly dependant on friends and neighbours and cided and in March, 1887, probably foreseeing another especially on young James Ward, a son John Ward and peatless year, George wrote to Macrae to say he was will- Catherine Weir, who at that time lived at Skews. Cath- ing to settle for give and tak of land on an equal footing. erine Weir, born 1850, was a daughter of John Weir and Macrae consulted Moodie Heddle who was willing to ex- Catherine Berston, whose mother was a daughter of Iso- camb for the first vacant place in Walls but only for a life bella Robertson of Hilltown. In 1909, John Baikie died rent. George’s lawyer Sutherland says not to accept this. leaving Thurvo to James Ward, so at last it passed out of He has a strong case and not to give in and says it is a the hands of the Malcolmsons but only temporarily. He scandal that things have dragged out so long. married Josephine Sutherland, a descendant of Margaret The case was fought on the grounds that the land was Malcomson thus bringing the Malcolmson blood back to Udal. The Baikies had no written title. Only proof was Thurvo. that they had occupied the holding for 50 years continu- The Melsetter Factor did not attempt to interfere with ously and could trace their forbears back to 1600. Also, James Ward and in 1913, he executed a deed of excam- while Helen and Margaret Malcolmson had feudalised bion with Thomas Middlemore which divided the lands their shares in 1818, their sister Christian was by that of Thurvo and Haybrake in a more sensible fashion. This time dead and her share had never been feudalised. The was what Moodie Heddle had tried to do in the 1880’s and Sheriff, Mr Armour, agreed that Christian’s share was failed. still Udal and belonged to her descendants. He there- The Great War broke out in 1914 and James Ward was fore found for George Baikie with costs against Moodie soon in France leaving his brother William to attend to Heddle. In a longish note attached to his findings, he had his affairs. quite a lot to say about what he called a difficult case. He With Lyness now a large Naval Base, as had been fore- also referred to Moodie Heddle’s inability to add 1/3 and seen by Margaret Malcolmson’s lawyer all these years 1/2 and get a correct answer. There is also reference to ago, the Admiralty was soon looking enviously at Thur- a previous case hinging on Udal law, Irving v Davidson vo and in due course offered £120. J A S Brown, still in in 1867, heard by Lord Gifford when he was Sheriff in charge writes back that the offer is not acceptable as the Orkney. neighbouring landlord would give two or three times as So George Baikie was secure in his ownership of Thurvo much. The Admiralty does not seem to have proceeded and he had no more trouble with Heddle. He died in 1898 any further and Thurvo was left as it was. James Ward aged 75, without having signed his will, and his brother came home and life went on as it had before. But times inherited the property, now the only one of the family were changing and in 1933, John Ward, son of James and left. Josephine, decided that island life was not for him. He sold to Tommy Sutherland who rented out the land to Melsetter’s last attempt to acquire Thurvo Haybrake. He was followed by Bob and Minnie Smi th Melsetter Estate now took an interest again, thinking and from them it passed to Mrs Lily Graham who was John would perhaps be more amenable, and in 1899 succeeded by her family Isabel and Ian. The present Duncan J Robertson, then Factor, wrote to John asking owner is Mr David Melbourne. Over the years, there have to see his Title Deeds. John replied to the letter but did been many changes; the rise and the fall of the Melsetter not send deeds. A second request met with the same re- estate, the rise and the fall of the Sandisons, once so dom- ply. John was polite but firm. All was quiet until 1903, inant, and the rise and fall of Lyness Naval Base. Thurvo when Middlemore, a wealthy Englishman, bought the es- survived them all. A few acres of land, once so important tate. He liked things tidy so he had another go at Thurvo. now means almost nothing but Thurvo is still there under Another letter from D J Robertson to John Baikie, this the hill where it always has been. L time threatening to interdict him from taking ware from Haybrakes shores. Does his title give him right? Perhaps ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS he would send them to be checked? He would not and de- Compiled from material in the Orkney Archives and the cides he would be the better of a lawyer again. Cowper’s private papers of the late John Ward from Mrs Phyllis succesor was a J A S Brown of Stromness, an ideal man Leslie. BOYS’ PLOUGHING MATCH at STRONSAY Most folk know about the boys’ ploughing match still held every year at St Margaret’s Hope using miniature ploughs but at one time it was common trhroughout the islands. This photograph from about 1929 was taken at Stronsay with around 40 boys taking part. Although the photograph is not all that clear, John Craigie No 2143 who gave me the picture, tells me that the ‘horses’ are William (Wullie) and John (Jackie) Cooper of Russland Farm while the ‘ploughman’ is Robert Fotheringhame of Hescombe. 10 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Issue No. 51 September 2009

Anne Cormack reviews this fine addition to your Orkney bookshelves by George Stout from the reams of information provided by Jerry Eunson

Two Hundred Years of crofting in the Fair Isle with the Eunsons, Irvines, Leslies, Stouts, Williamsons and Wilsons

When Nan Scott phoned to ask if I would write about tute Fair Islanders had to move further south. As a re- Jerry Eunson and George Stout’s publication, Eight Acres sult there is now very little trace of the Eunsons, Irvines, and a Boat, I wondered what a book on crofting in the Fair Leslies, Stouts and Williamsons who originally settled in Isle had to do with Orkney. I soon found out that the an- Stronsay. Some of their kinfolk who prospered as farmers swer was quite a lot, and that there was much of interest in Westray, however, overflowed into the Stronsay vacated to those of us researching Orkney family history. by their close relatives. I didn’t know, for example, that If you have in your family tree any of the five surnames Fair Isle had been owned for over already mentioned, or have a Wilson, the other Fair Isle a hundred years by the Stewarts of family, there is so much to be found out about them in Brough in Westray. When Archibald this book, with its lists of tenants from various dates, the Stewart of Brough purchased the names of their crofts, and in one list how island in 1758, it cost him £850, many cows, pigs and horses they apparently a bargain price. The possessed, the area of land link with Orkney meant that Fair available to them and so on. Islanders were encouraged to con- Following the death of sider Orkney as their future. By James Strong, the tacks- 1831, Laurence and Mary Irvine man, in 1829, a comprehen- and Robert and Barbara Leslie Jerry Eunson sive inventory was compiled, with their families had already settled in Stronsay, and detailing what he owned at the time of the 1841 census, the transfer to Orkney had and owed, for example, continued apace. Families of Eunsons, Irvines, Stouts and “Balance due by Mr Hewi- Williamsons, about sixty folk in all, were by then living son, merchant, Kirkwall, on in Lower Whitehall in Stronsay. At the same time, there sale of oil £37-15-0.” The inven- was a smaller exodus of some twenty or so Fair Islanders tory also lists tenants’ debts. to Westray, families of Eunsons, Leslies and Stouts. Ten Robert Williamson and son, years later a further eighteen Fair Islanders had been Shirva, topped the list at resettled in Westray, with five more in Stronsay. Particu- £11-9-9, with William Le- larly in the last thirty years of their ownership of Fair slie, Setter, ninepence Isle, the Stewarts willingly co-operated with this emigra- behind! By comparison, tion, since they were heavily involved in the expanding Magnus Stout and sons, herring industry and the Fair Isle men were the ‘seed Leogh, owed only 14/6. A corn’ for that development. In Westray the intention was to use the Fair Islanders to operate a fish curing station, and a pier and shed were built. There was a downturn in fishing, however, and the scheme never came to fruition. The Stewart family then engaged the men as labourers on their land at Cleat, and it wasn’t long before they were as- similated as Orcadians. They soon became ‘farmers with a boat’. While in the 1841 census most of them were re- corded as fishermen, ten years on many were now ‘fisher- men and farmers’. In Stronsay, the Fair Islanders in Lower White- hall had very little land, and when ultimately steam trawlers were to threaten their livelihoods, another Professor George Stout generation of desti- Issue No. 51 September 2009 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY 11

FPerhaps some of these folk are your ancestors? As the bought the ex Stromness lifeboat, The Good Shepherd. author puts it, the inventory was “. . . . . a welcome and This was the lifeboat on which my great-uncle, Robert most unusual piece of social history contained within an Greig, was coxswain. The Good Shepherd made its first individual’s estate.” commercial run from Kirkwall to Fair Isle on June 11th Following the ‘planking’ in 1845 there is a complete 1919, with mail, goods and passengers. Thereafter, she list of tenant holdings, showing who were tenants where, made regular passage between Fair Isle and Grutness and the number of merks involved. Although three to four in the south of Shetland. Four years later the Shetland merks equalled around only eight acres, many crofts were Council recognised it as a vital link and provided funds tenanted by father and son. To mention but a few names, for a new engine. The Post Office then gave it the contract there is an Andrew Wilson at Taing, another Andrew Wil- to deliver mail twice weekly between Fair Isle and son at Gaila, Thomas Stout at Leogh, and William Irvine Grutness. The name Good Shepherd has continued for at Shirva. Fair Isle’s lifeline service, the current vessel being Good Another interesting list is the Strong bequest, when Shepherd IV. William Strong left annuities to the ten oldest inhabitants Nearly a century earlier, in 1832, another three brothers of the island. The first payments of £2-10-0 were made in Robert, Charles and Laurence Leslie had also headed to 1904, the oldest recipient being Jane Wilson, Gaila, born Orkney, not to buy a boat, but to smuggle 10lb of tobacco 1829, and the youngest Stewart Wilson, Springfield, born to Stronsay. They were caught and their boat seized, but 1840. Coincidentally, Jeems Eunson and his wife, Jane, they were later released and their boat returned to them. who had been living in Shetland, ‘just happened’ to re- The author admits that Robert Leslie was his great-great- turn to live at Stackhool in time to be included, much to grandfather! I don’t know whether this is Jerry Eunson the chagrin of numbers eleven and twelve on the list, no or George Stout speaking - maybe we’re not supposed to doubt! know! The Inquiry into the Truck System (Scotland) in 1872 I knew Jerry in Glasgow in the sixties, and it’s great that gives an interesting insight into the limitations imposed his lifelong research into his beloved Fair Isle has now on the islanders at different times as regards buying and been put into book form by George Stout. Even if you selling, when all trading was controlled by the tacksman don’t find any mention of an elusive ancestor in Eight acting for the proprietor. One witness giving evidence said, Acres and a Boat, it’s still a good read. L “There is one boat belonging to James Rendall of Orkney, Anne Cormack Member No 73 that goes occasionally . . . . he chiefly sold in the night time when I was asleep.” When asked why at night, the witness replied, “ . . . . . the factor forbade him (Rendall) from dealing with them (the Fair Isle folk) and he would have noticed if Rendall had dealt with them in the day time.” Another witness said, “One pretty large sloop came ATTENTION down from Westray belonging to a man named Luggie . . . . Rendall goes from house to house on the island and trades with people like a hawker.” It was also stated, “Rendall OFHS was forbidden, in Mr Bruce’s time to sell his goods in Mr Wilson’s house and he began to sell them at the shore.” The Mr Bruce mentioned was John Bruce of Swanbister, Shetland, who acquired Fair Isle for £3360 in 1866 after MEMBERS the Stewart ownership came to an end. Other evidence included, “When Strachan and Hewison (John Hewison YOUR EDITOR NEEDS of Westray, the tacksman) had the Island anyone might come to the Island to trade,” and “. . . . in Hewison’s time we manufactured our own fish oil and went (to Orkney) to sell it and then brought back supplies.” Obviously Hewi- YOU son was, not unnaturally, quite happy to see trade going his fellow Orkneymen’s way. to support your newsletter with articles, photo- In 1894, the then schoolteacher, William Brown, was sacked graphs, queries etc. Our membership grows every by Dunrossness School Board because he’d been trying to year yet contributions from members don’t and 24 convince the islanders that their land was overvalued and that they should approach the Crofters’ Commission for pages takes a lot of filling. some redress. Fair Isle’s loss was Orkney’s gain, however, To those of you who have supported the magazine as he moved to Pharay where he was greatly liked and in the past I thank you; I will be putting in a good stayed until he retired. Another teacher to go from Fair word for you with Santa. Isle to Orkney, having served in Fair Isle between 1933 and 1937, was Alex Doloughan. He was subsequently in If you too would like to be in his good books be sure charge of community education in Orkney and was one of and let me have your contribution by Oct 20th. the instigators of the North Isles Sports. Remember, I’ve got the Membership List and I can I hadn’t realized, until I read this book, that I had a link, tell Santa where you live! albeit a very tenuous one, to Fair Isle’s history. In 1919, Tom, Willie and Dodie Stout went to Orkney, where they 12 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Issue No. 51 Septemberf 2009 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY 13

We loved our visit to Westray – the Queen of the Isles

Pierowall- Westray. Graphic by John Sinclair By Elaine Sinclair, OFHS Secretary and Member No 1211 On Sunday, 14 July 2009, around 35 OFHS members and sailed into Pierowall during his invasion to seize the Orkney a marriage contract between Jerome Dennison of Noltland guests met at Kirkwall Harbour to board the ferry for earldom. and Helen Traill. Visitors today can climb the staircase to Westray. The trip was calm and I noticed several wind turbines in and around the village, the highest remaining point of the building and enjoy great WESTRAY QUIZ We had a number of quizes to occupy us on the boat enjoyable with bright skies. Nan reflecting a local interest in renewable energy sources, and views. trip. You might like to try your hand at this one compiled Scott and I handed out quizzes on understand that these Our group then moved on to visit the Wheeling Steen by Elspeth Seatter, member No 1019. the history, facilities and geology include a 2.5kW turbine Gallery. This is a lovely building, showing stunning works Youll find the answers on the back page. of Westray to interest the group supplying electricity – photographs, paintings, tapestries – and providing a during the day. to heat the Hofn Youth tearoom. The gallery incorporates the deck cabin of a sailing 1. How many general provision stores are there on the island? On arrival, we boarded several Centre and a 6kW ship, which has been incorporated into the modern building. 2. Who built Noltland Castle and who did he serve? mini-buses for the road trip turbine at Kalisgarth. The ship ran aground in November 1879 on its route from to Pierowall village. Once there, people were free to visit My walk through the New York to Gothenburg. The crew were rescued and the 3. Where are the best fish n’ chips reputed to be served? facilities such as Westray Heritage Centre, Seatters Gallery, village brought me to large deck cabin was removed from the wreck and used as a 4. The Westray Stone (displayed in the Heritage Centre) was the potter at the south end of the Seatters Gallery where dwelling house for the next 123 years, before being integrated found by men quarrying in 1981 and it is deemed to be 4000 village and Raymond Leslie’s wood- I enjoyed browsing into the gallery. I - 5000 years old. What type of carving is it? turning business at Lastigar, or amongst the artworks am also reliably simply to enjoy a walk through and on the walls and the informed that the 5. Where is the current Post Office? around the village. Always a treat - a meal at the Pierowall Hotel items of pottery and term ‘wheeling steen’ A number of us found our way sculpture. Lunch was provided next door at the Pierowall meant a spot where 6. Who modeled the Geo displayed in the Heritage centre? to Raymond Leslie’s wood-turning Hotel in the form of a wonderful buffet. a funeral coffin could 7. When was the new extension to the Heritage Centre opened? business and Afterwards, our party again joined several mini-buses for be placed, while thoroughly the second part of our day. Our first stop was at Quoygrew the company had a 8. The Heritage Centre Trust have published several books and e n j o y e d archeological site, which is believed to have been occupied rest from walking booklets. What is the title of their book showing photos of all browsing his from the ninth to the and carrying. This the houses built prior to 2002? w o n d e r f u l twentieth centuries. could be a small 9. When was the Heritage Centre Trust, a Scottish Charity and a p r o d u c t s , The remains include dyke. In the case The large deck cabin is in the background company limited by guarantee, formed? i n c l u d i n g the ruins of a croft, of the gallery, the house across the road has been called Martin Tyrell - Potter m a n t l e comprising a dwelling, Wheelingstones for more than a century. 10. Where will you find the small cottage South Hammer? clocks, lamps and wall clocks. The outbuildings, a yard Finally, all of our groups met again at the 11. How many miles of coastline are there to Westray? standard of workmanship was and an enclosed garden. Westside Manse extremely high and Mr Leslie had a Excavations have re- for a wonderful, 12. Which ocean does it face? relaxed selling technique, allowing vealed a sequence of late traditional Orkney 13. Where can you find Puffins? potential customers (or not) simply Viking Age, medieval tea. The tables were Part of the Quoygrew archeological site to browse and ask questions. and post-medieval build- burdened with a 14. Where are there two recent excavations of Viking longhouses? Raymond Leslie - Woodturner After leaving Raymond’s shed, I ings. There is a mound of fish midden on the shore, which has fantastic selection 15. At the Know of Skea what might you expect to find? took a walk down through the houses and along the road, been partitioned by coastal erosion and can be dated to the 10th- of home baked running parallel with the shore and providing a lovely view 12th centuries. The types of fish bone found during excavations scones, cakes and 16. When the Vikings found Pierowall harbour what did they call it? of the sea and horizon, towards Ladykirk churchyard and have been interpreted as specialised waste from the production other goodies as 17. On the Links of Westray what tytpe of cemetery can be found the thirteenth century, ruined, church of St Mary. I spent a of dried fish, suggesting a fish-processing industry. well as sandwiches that is the largest of its type in Britain? very enjoyable time browsing the gravestones and walking Following the fascinating discussion regarding Quoygrew, and tea or coffee. around and through the ruined building. our party were driven We were then driven to catch the ferry from Rapness 18. When was the Cross Kirk built and by whom? I then walked back towards the village, along the main to Noltland Castle. back to Kirkwall 19. What does the Westray economy chiefly rely on? road, noting the Kalisgarth Care Home facility. I found This structure (now and, once again, the outward design of this building to be very attractive, ruined, although enjoyed a calm 20. When is the Westray Regatta this year? reflecting the feeling of an island setting, with its nautical substantial sections journey under 21 Who owns the Westraak guided Tour Company? history. The building received a commendation in the Laura remain for exploration bright skies, with Grimond Awards 2005 and has interesting design features, by visitors) was built in brilliant views. 22. The West Manse is a grade 2 listed including a window in one gable wall in the shape of a small the sixteenth century All in all, it was manse. For what era was it built? sailing boat and a roof design resembling an upturned boat. by Gilbert Balfour from a great day out I subsequently discovered that the name Kalisgarth means Noltland - The start of the Balfour dynasty in Orkney for the Society, Groatie Buckies (cowrie shells) prized Fife, a supporter of Mary above all others by the children of Westray Kali’s Enclosure and was used because, in 1136, St Magnus’ Queen of Scots. The property was in use, at least in parts, its members and nephew, Rognvald whose original name was Kali Kolsson, until the late eighteenth century when it was referred to in guests. 14 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Issue No. 51 September 2009

‘Sound’, on Egilsay, looking over to Rousay. By Elizabeth Copp, Member No 1350 What exactly is the connection between a woman called It was of a woman on a sailing ship, leaning nonchalantly Douglas, born on Egilsay in 1840, and a recent production against a lifeboat and elegantly dressed in a beautifully in the Old Globe Theatre, San cut coat and skirt. On the back Diego? The basis for this article first appeared in my mother had written “Lilian The woman in question is my Orkney Today on 23 October 2008. I thought Hobson (née Leask)”. I had an great-great-grandmother, Douglas it might be of interest to readers of SIB who idea this Craigie, who married David Couper may not have seen it. I have made a few elegant at her family home of Sound on changes to the original version, adding photos stranger Egilsay in 1857. Douglas was 17 and some details of the Couper family tree. w a s when she married. David, son of There is also an update of events at the end. r e l a t e d Alexander Couper and Barbara to the Davie who lived at Whistlebare on Egilsay, was 30. (In Coupers and asked Stuart if he might know her. I e-mailed him the photo. There was a swift reply. Lilian, the elegant stranger, was a great-granddaughter of David and Douglas Couper. Stuart had e-mailed the photograph to her son, David, on Vancouver Island to make sure. David then got in touch with me, for this was the first time that he had seen this particular photo of his mother. He was certain it had been taken on one of the Princess Line ships that Lilian Hobson crossed between Vancouver and Victoria. These ships had been built on the Clyde. Alexander Couper and Barbara Davie; David Couper’s parents. So there I was case you think I’ve got Douglas’ name wrong, I haven’t - corresponding with Douglas was quite a common name for women on Egilsay another newly at that time). discovered cousin, The story begins when an e-mail popped up in my in- thanks to the box from a cousin I didn’t know I had who lives in New internet. Not only Jersey. Stuart Christie (member 166) had been given that but both cousins my name by George Gray, who knew we were related. lived a very long way Stuart hoped I could help him with information about our from their roots. I common ancestors. As it turned out I couldn’t help, but by wanted to find out a now I was getting interested. A woman called Douglas? bit more about this Betsy Couper; Lilian’s grandmother That was worth looking into, I thought. In the meantime, Egilsay woman whose I wondered if perhaps Stuart could help solve a mystery descendants were scattered across the world and who for me. had brought us together. I had been intrigued by a photo that I’d come across in Stuart and David sent me a lot of information about the an album which had belonged to my mother. This photo Couper family, including photos. David and Douglas hadn’t been stuck in but was lying loose among the pages. had 14 children, of whom 12 survived. A Issue No. 51 September 2009 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY 15

scullery window. Dishes still remained in the sink. Layers of peeling wallpaper revealed the fashions of past Fig. 1 Descendants of Elizabeth (Betsy) Couper generations. It was sad to see a house so neglected, but 1 Elizabeth Couper (1860 – 1946) + Gilbert Mowat ( 1858 we took comfort from the fact that the sunlight shafting – 1891) through the gaps in the roof showed that the large hearth 2 Gilbert Mowat (1885 – 1976) and the lintel above it stood solidly in place. The heart 2 Johnanna Duguid Mowat (1887 – 1976) + John James was still in the home. Leask (1881 – 1964) Sound had been the home of Douglas Craigie in 1851 3 Lilian Priscilla Leask (1911 – 2000) + Charles David when she was 12 and employed as a servant at the Hobson (1910 – 1969) farm of Wylen herding cattle. The census of that year 3 Clarence Leask (1914 - ) + Lillian Toy (1914 - ) shows 7 people living at Sound. 10 years later it had 3 Ellen Leask (1916 – 2002) + George Edward Cartland (1921 increased to 14. Douglas and David Cooper, who worked – 1956) on the farm, now had three children under the age of 2. 3 Douglas Craigie Leask (1921 - ) Douglas’ brother James was a ploughman with a wife and 2 children. Her parents, James and Mary (née Rendall), Fig. 2 Descendants of Mary Leonard Couper formed the third family along with their 2 daughters, 1 Mary Leonard Couper (1863 – 1948) + William Tait Garrioch Elizabeth, aged 18, and Ellinor, aged 14. There was also (1862 – 1938) a servant, Archibald Campbell, aged 9, who was a scholar 2 William M. Garrioch (1885 – 1943) + Adnel Smith and had been born in Caithness. 2 John Garrioch (1886 – 1972) In 1851 the population of Egilsay was 190. 20 years later 2 Mary Garrioch (1887 – 1981) + William Flett ( 1883 1956) it had dropped to 163. It seems likely that it was becoming 2 David C. Garrioch (1889 – 1908) harder to make a living and the men were leaving to find 2 Catherine T. Garrioch (1891 - ?) work elsewhere. Kelp production, which had helped the 2 Roseanna Garrioch (1900 - 1982 + William Crichton Allan crofter pay his rent to the landlord, and had once been (1899 - 1983) a valuable export for Egilsay, had been declining by the 1840’s. Fig. 3 Descendants of Harriet Couper Nor was there 1 Harriet Couper (1867 – 1906) + John Stuart (1873 -1929) security of tenure 2 Isabella Mary Jane Stuart (1898 – 1967) + David for crofters. That Archibald Christie (1897 – 1965) would only be 2 Harriet Stuart (1900 - ) granted in 1886. 2 Helen Stuart (1902 - ) These were uncertain times so, at some point FDavid is descended from their third child Elizabeth before the census (Betsy) (Fig.1). I am descended from the fifth child in 1871, David Mary (Fig. 2) while Stuart is descended from the eighth moved with his child Harriet (Fig. 3). family to the A family holiday on Orkney in July 2008 was the ideal parish of Holm opportunity for a bit of detective work on my part, so I on mainland set off with my sister to Egilsay to find Sound, where Orkney to take David and Douglas had married and lived. Ours was up farm work. the only car on the ferry. It was a glorious summer day (Stuart Christie’s – perfect for a hike across fields to the former Couper grandmother, home. Harriet, was the We weren’t last of the Couper quite sure family to be what we would born at ‘Sound’. find – a pile ‘Sound’ was of rubble or eventually taken an inhabited over by Mary b u i l d i n g ? Craigie, Douglas’ We spotted John Stuart and Harriet Couper, Stuart Christie’s sister, and her the chimney grandparents. The baby is Stuart Christie’s mother, husband, William first, as the app 1 year old. The photograph was taken in 1899. McKinlay. house nestles below a slight incline close to the shore. William died at Excitement mounted as we drew closer and saw that up Sound on 14 April 1910. Mary died at Nearhouse, Frotoft until fairly recently this house had been extended and on Rousay on 20 January 1918.) cared for. The outbuildings looked solid and rhubarb David Couper died in 1889 at the age of 61 in the Balfour grew in the garden, but sadly the flagstones from the Hospital. Douglas, only 49 at the time of his death and roof had been neatly stacked against the front wall with 2 children still at home, (Jane, aged 14 and Alexander, of the house allowing the rain and wind free entry. A aged 13) moved into Kirkwall and became a knitter. She pigeon, startled by our investigations, flew out of the died in 1906 at the age of 65. A 16 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Issue No. 51 September 2009

Where does the Old Globe Theatre come into all of this? Well, my cousin David sent his daughter, who works there, the photograph of her grandmother on board the sailing ship. She in turn showed it to the costume The Globe Theatre, San Diego. department. They were looking for ideas for costumes for The Women, David Hobson, son of Lilian, on the Hamnavoe, leaving Stromness a large-scale production of a play set in the nineteen thirties. They liked what they saw and made a jacket I have to say a big thank you to George Gray who put based on Lilian’s outfit for a character called Mrs. us all in touch. Robert Marwick’s website http://www. Morehead who appears in Act 1 scene 7 of the play. rousayroots.com/ has also been a very good source of There is now a postscript to this story. Lilian’s son, David information. Hobson, who was already intending to visit his father’s It would be good to get in touch with any other Couper side of the family in London, decided to take the train cousins. I am in touch already with Susan Howard, north to visit Scotland for the first time and meet his (member no 981) descended from the second child, Couper relations. In May 2009, a year after we first got Margaret, Julia Ellieff, (member no. 337, descended from in touch, David arrived in Keith, Banffshire, for a five day the fourth child, William, and Jacqueline Billington, visit. My husband, Andy, and I showed him some of the (member no. 1623, descended from the eleventh child, sights in our area in glorious sunshine. Then we drove James). David is keen to find out a bit more information north for a brief visit to Orkney, so that David could see on Betsy’s brother Alexander, the fourteenth child, his Orkney roots, detouring via Rogart, where there is who also emigrated to Canada. My e-mail address is a fine memorial to the first Prime Minister of Canada, [email protected] L Sir John A. Macdonald. (On an unclassified road in Sutherland the Canadian flag flies proudly). Unfortunately, the weather on Orkney ‘Major blunder’ was cold and wet, not conducive to says Harold Esson a visit to Egilsay ‘Dear Sir, On page 14 of issue No 44 of ‘Sib Folk as everything was News’, an article on ‘The Horseman’s Word’ was shrouded in thick wrongly attributed to me. I phoned the Chairman mist. However about this major blunder and unless I have missed there were other it, no correction has been made within the pages sights to see and the The Old Kirk, Evie of the newsletter. welcome was always As it says at the foot of the page, this article was warm. For me, the highlight was stopping on the Evie taken from the Orkney Archives, RefD31/72/1. road to ask a farmer and his wife, who just happened to Perhaps you would also check with them. I trust be walking along the road to see to their sheep, how to get that an appropriate correction will appear in the to the old Evie Kirk where David’s Mowat grandparents next newsletter were married. It turned out that this couple we had met Yours faithfully, Harold Esson’ by chance could give David information on where his I apologise to Mr Esson and anyone else who may grandparents had lived. Not only that, but we were told feel aggrieved by linking Mr Esson with this article to pop in to see a Mrs Mowat in her nineties who lived which appeared in December 2007. close by as she could well be related to David. We did pop I did not attribute the story to Mr Esson but stat- in and were warmly welcomed. ed that he had related it at an open meeting of the This seems to have been a story of coincidences and Society in October 2007. This blunder occurred chance. Little did I think when I e-mailed the photo to through wrong information being passed to me about Stuart Christie that, some 70 years after Lilian Hobson the article and I trust that this now puts an end to stood on board that sailing ship which plied between the matter. Vancouver and Victoria, I would be taking a photo of John Sinclair. Editor her son, my third cousin, on board the Hamnavoe as she sailed out of Stromness for Scrabster. Issue No. 51 September 2009 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY 17

Searching your family tree By John Simpson, a Flotta man

When someone asks you. “What is your Great Grandfather’s name? “ You scratch your head and wonder—is this some sort of game. But they seem sincere, wanting some family information. I don’t have a clue, and just whisper “ damnation”.

Now a question’s been raised, to which you just cannot reply. So as to save face you s-t-u-t-t-e-r “Oh I I I g -g-ot to fly”. “But I’ll get back to you soon with my family tree, And show how it all fits together—our long pedigree.“ Then there’s “bits ,” and “’bytes” with all sorts of names, You’ve come to the conclusion, this is no innocent game. Phew—I got out of that, by the skin of my teeth, But that goal, yes that goal has got to be scored But for that answer to which I made a bequeath, Then comes another hurdle—Yes it’s the keyboard. I’ve got to start searching out all our family line. It can’t be too difficult—but I’ll start off with mine. When in school you were taught to remember the A,B,C’s So you figure this task will be mastered with ease. Then with paper and pen you sit down to compose. By this time your in—yes way up to your neck. Scribbling name after name—Oh, I forgot about those. And all you can master is to hunt and to peck. Now I wonder if I’m able to trace them to a limb. See that wasn’t too hard—damn I forgot about him. It’s a humbling experience—but you’re made of good stock. Paper gets crumpled and tossed to the floor. The goal is obtainable— you’re going for broke. Three hours later, why the pile has stretched to the door. Then you realize after a few weeks in the blue. There must be some way to get around all this mess, Your goal, yes your Great Grandfather has come into Oh, I know what it is—it is the computer guess. view .

It’s a new field to me, but with this great goal in sight, There I’ve done it, you think it’s great, my own family tree I eagerly get started—boy was I in for a fright. It was worth all this work, with new gadgets, and old For here’s a new lingo. “Just give the mouse a click”. history. Before the night’s over you wish, you ‘d given the damn But there will still be some dates, marriages and birth. thing a kick. Even skeletons in the closet, your work will unearth .

But a goal you’ve now set and you’re going to strive, So be wise, get some help— yes take it from me, Be it on “the net”, “the web ,” or hard drive. You’ll need it, to get to the roots of your tree. With icons, floppy discs, files and a screen saver in place. l’ve had lots of input, from folks who knew it, It’s a huge task—I think I’ve taken on the whole human And at this time, I want to thank SHEENA HEWITT. race. John Simpson

SIB FOLK NEWS BINDERS Open flat design provides easy access to every copy of your Sib Folk News. If you have kept every issue, three binders will hold them all and still provide space for future editions up to December 2011 . Attractively finished in dark green simulated leather with gold blocking on the spine they will make a hand- some addition to your bookshelves. See our website www.orkneyfhs.co.uk for details. 18 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Issue No. 51 September 2009

By PETER RICH JOHNSTON Grandson of William Johnston 1822 - 1902 and Isabella Green Johnston 1826 - 1879 of Graemsay

Peter Budge Johnston and his wife Charlotte are mem- lived in a stone cottage called Stane a Breck on the island bers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints of Graemsay, a tiny piece of land 3/4 of a mile long and , perhaps more recognisable to many of us by the name half a mile wide, one of the smallest occupied islands in Mormons. They visited Orkney from their home in Utah in 1998 to meet up with various cousins and learn some more of their Orcadian roots. On their return to America Peter and Charlotte began an account of their visit and before long this had expanded into a family history of the Johnstons with many of their extended family in America contribut- ing. The following is a condensed version of the article, writ- ten by Peter Budge Johnston’s father - Peter Rich Johnston - and it forms an important chapter in the book telling how their connection with the Mormon Church began in Graemsay in 1851. “My Grandfather, William Johnston, born 1822, and my Grandmother, Isabella Green Johnston, born 1826

William’s great grandson Peter Budge Johnston and his wife Charlotte photo- graphed at the ruin of the ancestral family home – Stane a Breck, Graemsay on their trip to Orkney in 1998. Orkney. They were a Christian couple who practised their faith to the best of their knowledge and used the Bible as their main source of information. They were members of the old Scottish church but felt that, for them the fullness of the gospel would not be found within that church. It was early in 1851 that Grandmother Isabella de- scribed a dream she had to her husband. In her dream a man came to their little cottage. He had two books under his arm and he read from both. He seemed anxious that the young couple should hear what he had to say about the things he was reading. Isabella recognised one book because it looked like their family bible. She told her husband of the dream and said that she felt that it was from the Lord but that she need do noth- ing other than remember the dream. He told her that if it The Johnston Mormon dynasty began with the author’s grandfather William was from her own mind nothing more would come of it Johnston (1822-1902), pictured here with his wife Isabella Green Johnston but if it was from the Lord there would be some sign of (1826-1879). They were married 4th December 1849. what should be done. A Issue No. 51 September 2009 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY 19

and set apart as the pres- ident of the local branch in Graemsay The Branch grew as William’s family grew. There were 11 children over the next 21 years born roughly two years apart and they were as follows: William 1850, Isabel- la1852, Jessie 1854, Mar- garet 1856, Elioza 1858, Peter 1860 (died 11th February 1864), Gavin R The island of Graemsay seen from Hoy where William met Brother Petrie 1862, Peter Green 1864, Isaac 1866, James Green Some days later William rowed over to the neighbour- 1868. ing island of Hoy to collect worms for bait from the near- At that time it was est sandy beach. customary when a young Peter Green Johnston, fourth son of Now about this time a young Scotsman by the name child died to give the same William and Isabella and father of the of Petrie, a convert to the Mormon Church, had sought name to the next child of author of this article Peter Rich Johnston. permission to take the Gospel to his relatives on the is- lands of Orkney. He was told by the head of the Scottish the same sex. My father - Pe- mission that it had proved difficult and dangerous for ter Green Johnston - was born others who had gone before him and that an order had next and took the name of the been issued forbidding Mormon missionaries travelling child who died. Peter was my the highways of the islands. father. Brother Petrie promised to stay off the roads and only All the other children lived contact people who lived along the shores. and came to America as part And so it was that he met Grand- of the plan of the parents to father gathering bait on a beach in get the balance of the family Hoy. to Zion. It was grandfather’s The conversation proved to be plan to bring the whole fam- one-sided until Brother Petrie ily over and at one time. Early started to describe a new book in the history of the family which confirmed the Bible but did Grandfather purchased a tick- not take away from it. et for himself and Grandmoth- ‘Young man do you have this oth- er to come to Zion. About this er book with you?’ asked Grandfa- Peter Rich Johnston, author of this time the first little Peter took ther. ‘Yes,’ answered Elder Petrie. article and father of Peter Budge sick and died and was buried Grandfather looked at the book Johnston who visited Graemsay in in Graemsay. This discouraged but handed it back and said ‘I live June 1988 Grandfather from going and he on a nearby island. Will you come never regained his enthusiasm with me. I want my wife to hear all First edition book of Mormon, for leaving Graemsay. Before Grandmother Isabella died about this and to see you’. printed about 1830 and prob- in 1879 aged 52, she made Grandfather promise that he They rowed back to Graemsay ably similar to the one carried would send each of the children to Zion, and this he did, in silence and on reaching home by Brother Petrie although it was largely one at a time because they could Grandfather asked Grandmother, not afford to do it any other way. ‘Is this the man you saw in your Grandfather William married his second wife, Marga- dream?’. She answered without hesitation ‘That is the ret Sinclair, in 1882. He died in 1902 at the age of eighty. man, has he got the book with him?’. ‘He says he has a All of the children eventually reached America, as part book’ was Grandfather’s cautious reply. of the plan of their parents to get the family to Zion. During the balance of the day they heard the fullness of Their descendants now run into many hundreds; some the Gospel from one of their own people. Both requested have enjoyed success in politics, many in church service baptism and both were baptized and confirmed members and human relations, and it all began with a dream on of the Church by Elder Petrie in the ocean water that ran Graemsay”. near the cabin. Also baptized that day were Hugh John- ston, a brother of William’s father, Hugh’s wife, Cecilia I am indebted to our new member John Craigie for most Yorston and Margaret Slater Yorston, widow of Cecilia’s of the material used in this article. brother Hugh Yorston. John’s wife, Edith, is a great neice of William Later, William was given the Melchizedek Priesthood Johnston. Ed. 20 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Issue No. 51 September 2009

Glasgow with a cargo of straw and hay, put into Hunda Stones from Bay (Coping Roads) on the evening before the storm. Cap- tain Laird came ashore to see his wife and relatives and the East during the night the gale sprang up. It was impossible for him to get back aboard, but the only thing he feared Indies was that the mate would go against the orders he had left helped build and attempt to give the ship more cable. What he feared happened. At the height of the gale the mate mustered Holm pier the hands to pay out the cable with the result that, as both cables could not be paid out simultaneously, when One night in the late Autumn of 1877 there occurred one was slackened the other was unequal to the strain a gale, which those of us old enough to remember, main- and both cables snapped. tain, has never been equalled in strength since, though Had the captain been aboard all still might have been greater velocities have been accredited to later gales. well as he could have put his ship out Holm Sound, but The older generation have solid grounds for this belief the mate was a stranger to Scapa Flow and the ship was though the gale was of short duration fishing boats and driven ashore on Hasquoy Head, Holm. big yawls were lifted bodily from their nousts and flung Carpenters and a diver were sent from Glasgow. A false inland and stacks went over wholesale. A fishing boat at deck was put in the ship and at the second attempt she Widewall Bay, South Ronaldsay was lifted completely was towed off by SS Orcadian Express and scuttled below over another boat - a yawl in Burray hurled far inland the village of Holm until spring when a company who spe- was reduced to matchwood. A schooner broke adrift in cialised in buying wrecks came with carpenters and two Scrabster Harbour and was carried out to sea, the wind tugs and towed the Argyllshire to Glasgow. being south west, but passed so close to the quay that all She sailed again but was finally wrecked in South but one of the crew managed to swim ashore. The schoon- America. Captain Laird was lost with his next ship, the er was sighted near Copinsay - her crew of one having got Fifeshire, in a hurricane in the bay of Bengal. a stay-sail set. Help went out and brought her to port. And what about the stones in the pier.? Well they were But this gale is remembered in Burray because of the from the ballast which the Argyllshire brought from the wreck of a full rigged ship of which a native - Captain East Indies and the workmen used many of them in the Andrew Laird - was master. The storm is always referred construction of Holm Pier in St Marys. to as the ‘Argyllshire Gale’, Argyllshire being the name Thanks to John Taylor of Burray for this interesting ex- of the vessel. tract from ‘Peace’s Almanac’. The Argyllshire had discharged cargo from the East The photograph of St Mary’s is from the W.W.Hourston Indies in Rotterdam and on her way from there to collection at the Orkney Library Photographic Archive.

This should be an easy one for our West Mainland members Anna Ellis nee Mowat, Member No 1778 writes:- I always enjoy the ‘Do you rec- ognise page’ and thought that you might like this one taken at Strom- ness Academy, I would hazard a guess about 1930. Second from the right in the sec- ond row is my aunt Jessie Mowat who subsequently taught there for many years and, latterly lived in Springhill Crescent. Second from the left in the front row is Miss Jeannie Wood whom I knew well when she lived with her sister in Manse Lane. I also remember her mother in the chemist shop’s back room. Happy days. I wonder who the other folk are? I’m sure that Anna’s fellow members will recognise many of the faces in this old photograph and I hope we can print the results in our next issue. Ed. Issue No. 51 September 2009 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY 21

L 4292/2 Mystery Pictures Unidentified photographs from the Orkney Library Archives. If you can name ANY of the people in the photgraphs please e-mail the editor (quoting the number) who will pass the names on to the Archives.

920 no ref No

In the top photograph, the only clue is the word Westray on the back. Maybe the name of the boat – Molly – will help. Now this centre photograph has got to be a ‘pierhead parliament’. Penciled on the back are two names. 2nd left - James Harrison and 4th left - Peter Shearer. Nothing at all for the bottom photograph but it appears to have been a pretty dressy affair. Were you at it?

L 4735/4 22 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Issue No. 51 September 2009

t is very satisfying when readers follow-up on fellow members’ queries. An article by Anne Cormack in the No longer a mystery IDecember 08 issue of our newsletter prompted Bridget Hunter to contact us regarding the Smith family and her The ink was hardly dry on the page before four of our query appeared in a recent issue. members had contacted me about these mystery photo- She mentioned Millfield Holm in Deerness and this graphs which appeared in our June issue. rang a bell with Leslie Foubister whose uncle David Thanks to Leslie Foubister and one of our new mem- Matches, had farmed Millfield some years ago. bers Claire Wood, we now know that this well turned out Needless to say Bridget was very excited when Leslie group were in fact the crew of the vessel ‘Mashona’, No contacted her as can be seen in her reply, a copy of which 471, built by George Innes at Portknockie in 1893. In 1903 she sent to Sib Folk News. the joint owners were James Bichan, James Ritch and William Bichan but in 1907 this had changed to James From: [email protected] Ritch, James Bichan and David Matches. Subject: Smith Family Hi Leslie Thank you for your email in response to my little bit in the Sib Folk Journal. Your email has excited me - for years I have been trying to find when the Smith family left Orkney. You mention that you remember seeing a newspaper report about George moving to England. I do hope you will remember when it was and where you saw it. And when you do PLEASE let me know. When George and his family left Orkney it is believed his nephew Benjamin Hagar Smith, my great grandfather, and his family including my grandfather traveled with him. The story is that they packed up their farms ‘lock, stock and barrel’ taking everything with them, and sailed away from Orkney to Hertfordshire England. My grandfather Standing L - R remembered helping water the horses in the hold, saying they were in William Stove Little Millhouse slings to stop them falling and hurting themselves. William Thomson (brother of J.Thomson in front row) George Smith was the younger brother of my gt great grandfather James Bichan Pool Donald Smith; they were the sons of William Smith and Helen Nicol- David Ritch Fea son. Sitting L - R George is shown as being born in Deerness on the census returns. James Thomson Netherstove William Smith and Helen Nicolson were both from Canisbay Caithness. David Petrie Stonehall They moved to Orkney and are shown on the 1821 census with three David Matches Breckan children all born in Caithness. The following photograph drew responses from three I know that William and Helen are shown as living at Gritley in Deer- members: Edwin Rendall, Kirton Flett and Syd Garrioch. ness on various documents in the Kirkwall Archives. So I presume that Between them we have names of this group photographed is where George and his siblings were born. in the famous “Golden Slipper’. One of them even admitted By 1841 the family were living in Palace Street Kirkwall, with George to frequenting the place. Who? That’s my secret. Ed. shown aged 13 years. On the 1861 census George is living with his wife Margaret Walls and five of their children and farming Millfield in Holm He continues there on the 1871 census now with 10 children living with them. I have 14 children listed for him. In 1881 census George is shown as farming Millfield in Holm with 225 acres of which 145 are arable and employing 5 men. I know he is in Hertfordshire in 1890 as I found him in the Trades Directory. And then I find him farming in Hertfordshire near Hertford on the 1891 census. Not all George’s children left Orkney with him, some stayed and have descendants still living in Orkney. The nearest I can get to the date the families left Orkney is a guess Back row L - R between the last child to be born in Orkney Oct 1881 and the first to John Flett (his father was a joiner with the council) be born in Hertfordshire May 1884. It was said that John born in Oct John (Hockey) Muir 1881 was 11 months old when he left Orkney, or arrived in England; Willie Farquar (the son) so any time between August to October 1882. depending how long it John Laughton (son of Davie Laughton, the blacksmith took them to travel to Hertfordshire. and of the Laughton’s band) I hope this will narrow your search of the newspapers and you will Front row L - R be able to find the report you mentioned. If you find it please let me Adrian Stuart, know. The famous Willie Farquar Many thanks for your email. Harold Grey (secondhand car salesman from Harray) Bridget Hunter nee Smith OFHS 111 L Carl Linklater (his father was a self-employed electrician)L Issue No. 51 September 2009 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY 23

Laurie McClanahan June Storey is still searching for from Australia is her elusive Irvines looking for Heddle Laurie writes from her home on North Carolina: Dear Friends, This is a picture of Robert Bruce Ir- descendants vine at 4 years of age. He delivered a bouquet of flow- The Heddle in question is John who was born on the ers to to presidential candidate Teddy Roosevelt who 1st July 1809 in St Ola, Kirkwall. was campaigning for He married a Jean Donnet on the 14th October 1839 at William McKinley on St Cuthberts, Edinburgh. September 7th 1900. June. member 1250, is trying to find decendants of McKinley was assas- John Heddle sinated a year later in and is hoping that some of her fellow members can 1901. help. You can e-mail her at:- The Irvine flower [email protected] shop, from where, no doubt, the bouquet had come, was locat- ed in a house front And Gordon at the time when the procession passed on Washington Avenue Stevenson from in Bay City, Michigan, USA. Later on a shop New Zealand has and greenhouses were built on the corner of hit a brick wall Ridge Road and Green Gordon’s GGGrandmother was born Baikie Avenue and it contin- Sinclair c 1790 (this date is derived from her ued until the death of gravestone in Scockness Kirkyard, Rousay) on the owner Richard A Stronsay (from 1851 census). She married James Irvine (1878 - 1951). Stevenson (born 11-11-1781 on Stronsay) on The original florists business had been established by John Yorston McKay 4th November 1813 on Stronsay )OPR Stronsay Irvine (1853 - 1924) when he emigrated from the Ork- and IGI). James’s (jnr) father was also James ney Islands in 1876 or thereabouts. It remained a family and his mother was Margaret Peace. My Baikie business until the death of Richard. (aka Rebekah) died on 29thOctober 1853 (grave- John Yorston McKay Irvine came over to America stone inscription) on Rousay. James and Baikie? around 1876 meeting his future bride Anna May Chan- Rebekah had six children (Rebekah 1814, James dler from Ireland on the ship that took them from Liv- 1816, George 1819, Barbara 1822, Robert 1826 erpool to America.. They were married on the 26th May (my GGrandfather) and Margaret c.1830). 1876 at the home of her sister Ellen Chandler Blair in My problem is that I can’t find any more informa- Toronto, Canada. A Robert Irvine was a witness. Ten tion on my GGGrandmother Baikie’s parentage. children were born to John and Anna May. The GRO in Edinburgh has two Baikies listed— I have discovered that John’s father was also John Irvine, (1814 - 1892 and he was married to Catherine neither fits the bill. The first Baikie was born McKay (1813 - 1862). The parents of John’s father were 12-7-1765 on Stronsay but is a generation too John and Catherine Garrioch Irvine, both born in Scot- early – daughter of Edward Sinclair and Elspeth land. Ancestry beyond these dates is cloudy and I am Cormack. Possibly she died 1801 (Book of mor- desperate to gather more information about our clan. tality - Stronsay). Aged 36. Right island. Wrong The name John Irvine is fairly common so I am hoping date of birth and date of death. that the wives’ names might help in tracing the family. The other Baikie was born 23-2-1782 which is a I am also trying to establish whether my family came better date, but was born in St Andrews, Ork- from Bonshaw or Drum. ney and not Stronsay. She was the daughter of I remain hopeful that some member out there will be Edward Sinclair and Elizabeth? Of St Andrews, able to help me. Orkney. Right age but most unlikely birth area. Sincerely Laurie McClanahan, Member 1160. Home: 142 Deep Gap Loop, Flat Rock, North Carolina 28731 Who is my Baikie or Rebekah? Phone: 828-685-9915. E-mail: [email protected] L Can anyone out there help me? L [email protected] THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY

rkney Family History Society was formed embership of the Society runs from in 1997 and is run by a committee of 1st March to 28th/29th February and Ovolunteers. Msubscriptions should be renewed during It is similar to societies operating worldwide the month of March. All subscriptions should be where members share a mutual interest in sent to the Treasurer at the OFHS address below. family history and help each other with research New members joining before the 1st December and, from time to time assist in special projects will receive back copies of the three magazines for con-cerning the countless records and subjects the current year. From 1st December new members available to us all in finding our roots. will receive membership for the remainder of the current year, plus the following year, but will not The main objectives are: receive the back copies of the magazine. 1 To establish a local organisation for the study, collection, analysis and sharing of information The present subscription rates are as follows: about individuals and families in Orkney. 2 To establish and maintain links with other ORDINARY family history groups and genealogical societies Family membership (UK only) £10.00 throughout the UK and overseas FAMILY MEMBERSHIP 3. To establish and maintain a library and other Spouse, Partner and Children under 18 £15.00 reference facilities as an information resource for SENIOR CITIZENS members and approved subscribers. Single or couple (UK only) £7.00 4.To promote study projects and special interest groups to pursue approved assignments. OVERSEAS We are located on the upper floor of the Surface Mail £12.50 Kirkwall Library next to the archives department OVERSEAS and are open Mon–Fri 2pm–4.30pm and Sat Air Mail £15.00 11am–4.30pm. Our own library, though small at the moment, Overseas members should pay their fees in holds a variety of information including: sterling or its equivalent. If it is not possible to send The IGI for Orkney on microfiche. pounds sterling please check the exchange rate. Our bank will accept overseas cheques without The Old Parish Records on microfilm. charging commission. Receipts will be issued with The Census Returns on microfilm transcribed the next magazine. Members residing in the United on to a computer database. Kingdom may pay their subscriptions by Bankers Family Trees. Order and if they wish can have their subscriptions Emigration and Debtors lists. treated as gift donations. Forms will be sent on Letters, Articles and stories concerning Orkney request. and its people. Cheques should be made payable to: Hudson’s Bay Company information. ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Graveyard Surveys (long term project). and forwarded to This material is available to members for ‘in house’ research by arrangement. ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Orkney Library & Archive Locally we have monthly Members’ Evenings 44 Junction Rd, Kirkwall, Orkney KW15 1AG with a guest speaker. Telephone 01856 879207 We produce a booklet of members and interests General enquires should be addressed to the office in writing or to to allow members with similar interests to Treasurer George Gray (e-mail: [email protected] correspond with each other if they wish. General Secretary. Elaine Sinclair ([email protected]) We also produce a newsletter 4 times a year and Research Secy. Adrianne Leask (e-mail: [email protected]) are always looking for articles and photographs of Editor. John Sinclair (e-mail: [email protected]) interest. A stamped addressed envelope should be Orkney Family History Society website— www.orkneyfhs.co.uk included if these are to be returned. Back copies of The Orkney Family History Society the magazine can be purchased at £1 per copy. is a Registered Charity in Scotland We can usually undertake research for members who live outwith Orkney but this is dependent on Articles in the newsletter are copyright to the Society and its authors and may not be reproduced without permiss- the willingness of our island members giving up ion of the editor. The Society is a registered charity in their spare time to help. Scotland and a member of the Scottish Association of Family History Societies. The Society’s newsletter, Sib Folk News is registered with the British Library under the serial number ISSN 1368-3950.

ANSWERS TO THE WESTRAY QUIZ 1. 3. Two in Pierowall and one in 12. The Atlantic. Skelwick. 13. Noup Head Reserve and 2. Gilbert Balfour who served Castle o’ Burrian at Mary Queen of Scots and Stanger Head. plotted to kill her second 14. Trenabie and Langskaill. husband Lord Darnley. 15. An Iron Age funerary com 3. Pierowall Hotel plex that contained 100 4. Neolithic. human burials when found. 5. Tulloch’s shop. 16. Hofn, meaning harbour. 6. Lizza and Genna Hume. 17. Viking. 7. April 2008. 18. 1140 by Hafidi, son of Thorkel 8. Fae Quoy tae Castle. 19. Farming, Fishing, Tourism. 9. October 2004. 20. 25 July 2009 10. The Westside. 21. Graham and Kathy Maben. subscriptions etc 11. 80km or 50 miles (rounded 22. The West Manse was built in up to the nearest mile). The Georgian/Victorian era. MEMBERSHIP