Sib Folk News

No 12 December 1999 Orkney Family History Society

Cure for wheat rust discovered by son of Orcadian immigrant Contents

Read about it on page 13 From the Chair and the Editor 2

Correspondence & OFHS Membership hits 435 Queries 3

Fair Isle Emigration Did your ansces- How to use to Orkney 4 tors hail from Stronsay Statistical the Report Part 8 10 Fair Isle? Internet Oldest Pioneer Dies 11 Read from page 4 onp!6 The Wyiies of Burray 12

THE BLACK & RED Orcadians WYLiES OF BUHRAY of Nova Scotia 13 Read about them on page 12 Two great great grandfathers 15

The Internet Page 16 Who cuene the Qth The Beattons of Vetenen Battalion Clowegarth & Langsacle 18 of KmkamLL I

Find out on page 15

1 years earlier. I was the eldest From the of three. If we sometimes felt From the Editor Chairman's Desk that Dad was a bit impatient with us Mum would remind I suppose the phrase "this is us that we were the second the last issue of the century" This edition is going to find has been used in many jour- us at the end of another year, family that he had had to bring up.. He was naturally nals recently. For the another century, and another Society, this , the 12th issue, millennium. To look back is shy but had a great sense of humour, and he did play represents three years of no new thing to any genealo- publication. Hasn't time gist but those of us who can games with us as children. I never heard him complain of flown by? It does not seem recall the iast fifty years are long ago since the first issue left wondering if things can the hardships of his earlier years was being published. Our change as much in the next membership keeps on fifty. growing and as readers will Although he lived to be nine- see from the latest Directory A look at my own family tree ty-two he was not interested which accompanies this leaves me thinking that I am in recalling the old days or in issue, membership stands at probably lucky to be of an genealogy. Instead he was around 430. age to see the turn of the interested in the news of the day. He often asked who was century. I could have been I have to thank the many twenty years older and here dating who among the young folk hereby demonstrating contributes to the newslet- is the story. My Pottinger ters. This issue, a 20 pager, grandfather met an untimely that he preferred to look to the future. makes up for the last rather death, and that too is a story. small 12 page issue. I am He had a croft of 52 acres As a society we are looking pleased to say that I have had with kelp rights and he left a more than enough contribu- wife and thirteen children, back with gratitude at the progress of the last three tions for this issue and as a the youngest still unborn. result I have a good supply The oldest son had died years. We are indebted to a great many people for of material left over for issue young, the second, at the 13. However do not stop time of his father's death had support in many ways. However we are now looking sending in articles as some of just married and of necessity the materials sent in may not was preparing to go to to the future with a measure of excitement. At our last be used, not because they are Canada where land for uninteresting but because of fanning was to be had. My committee meeting we saw the plans for the new Orkney their size. One article is father was now left with the about 24 pages long. Even if sad task of seeing his mother Library and for the O.F.H.S. room therein. It will be good I break such long articles through her last pregnancy down to three pages per issue and looking after his brothers to have more space for our equipment and better condi - it would take 8 issues or two and sisters who were still at years to complete. home. It was to his credit tions to store our books and papers etc. Contributers will agree, I am that the youngest sister, who sure, that each issue must never knew her father, said contain a good mix of arti- that, "Tam was always good I would like to send cles, some of which will be to us". His name was Christmas greetings to all our of interest to the general Thomas Mowat Pottinger readers and I hope the year reader. One solution would and he was called after his 2000 will be a special year be to summarise such an grandfather, Thomas Mowat, for us all. My sincere good article and have full copies who moved to Westray from wishes for a relaxing holiday available from the Society. Dunrossness, Shetland in the season to all the volunteers, Recently when I received early part of the nineteenth researchers, correspondents such an article, I submitted it century. and our editor Gavin and his to the ORKNEY VIEW who wife Pearl who work hard to published it — see Adam The outcome was that my produce this magazine. Cromarty's article on father was almost forty years Alexander Cromarty, Master old and my mother was thirty Mariner and Marine Artist in seven when they married and the Dec/Jan Issue of this is why I reckon that I ORKNEY VIEW. might have been born twenty "RutcbUl

2 Correspondence and Members' Queries

From Mrs C J Whit ham, to Australia and married her 4, Airdale Drive, cousin James Scott, son of Horsforth, Leeds, William Scott, brother of my LS18 5ED Peter Scott. found several MERRIMAN Does anyone know anything HARCUS families in different parts of extra on Betty Liddle, Peter Can anyone in the Society Orkney and I have resear- Scott and Barbara Dearness, shed some light on the fol- ched the OPRs, the IGI and or Peter and Barbara's lowing people? the Census returns for infor- daughter Mary? mation, I would welcome James Harcus (Hercus), born any lead or link to a in Scotland, 1820, a seaman Shapinsay SHEARERS Merriman who left the who eventually settled in Orkneys in the first half of Cumbria. I am also endeavouring to the 19th century. compile information on the James Irving Harcus (son of Shapinsay Shearers who In the mid 19th century my the above) born 18 Dec came to Victoria and South great great grandfather went 1856, North End, Stromness, Australia. If any reader can to the West Indies/British Orkney. help I would be most grate- Guiana where he was ful. engaged in government I am anxious to go back in building and construction time as I have a lot of infor- work. From my research his mation about the family after From James Louttit (299), name may have been "W they moved to Cumbria, Durham, NC, USA, Merriman" (possibly although I am unsure as to William or Wallace). I have when that was, other than it LOUTTIT been able to gather a great was after 1856 and before My name is James Louttit, deal of family history of the 1880. and I am still seeking the Guyana Merrimans but I birthplace of my great grand- would now like to trace the father, William Louttit, who family history back in the From Gloria Cant, (375), was born 17 October 1827 Orkneys. Can anyone help? South Australia. either in Orkney or perhaps the USA. My postal address From George Matthew SCOTT was incorrect in the Brown, Florida, USA September (No 11) edition of My ancestors are Peter Scott Sib Folk News. My address Rendall b 20.6.1800 and Betty is James Louttit, 3546 Liddle, their parents being Hamstead Court, Durham, I have a cousin whose father James and Margaret Scott NC 27707, USA. was William Rendall and and James Liddle and g-father, George Rendall Charlotte Leask. Their From Mrs Coreen A married to Eliz. Taylor and natural daughter was Jane Merriman, (311), thought to have hailed from Scott b 29.10.1828. Loughton, Essex Orkney. George lived in Blantyre in 1894 before No record has been found of MERRIMAN moving to Leith. William Peter Scott and Betty Liddle had two brothers, Magnus marrying, but Peter married I have been researching this and David. Help please. Barbara Deerness on name for several years and 13.2.1834 and had a child have gathered much reliable [email protected] Mary Scott b 5.5.1836 at information from British Fort, Eday. Jane Scott came Guiana (Guyana). I have

3 Emigration from Fair Isle to Orkney

Preface to the Article by George Stout I am delighted to write a paragraph or two about Jerry Eunson who was one of life's characters. A veritable "magpie" when it came to collecting Fair Isle and Shetland lore. He had an encyclo- paedic knowledge about the northern isles and family histories. He and I were related, as all people with Fair Isle ancestry tend to be, and, of an evening with a dram or two in his hand, he had the most fascinating and hilarious tales to tell.

A native of Fair Isle, Jerry left the island to spend a career with the Royal Bank of Scotland and, for a time, he was in Orkney where he worked on the floating bank which went around the islands in the 1930's. He then moved to Glasgow and spend the rest of his life there. He wrote a number of books, the best known of which is probably his "Words, Phrases and Recollections of Fair Isle". He also did some broadcasting.

He joined the Glasgow Orkney and Shetland Association in 1938 and served at various times as Secretary and Treasurer and as President from 1957 to 1959. He also gave generously of his time to the Orkney and Shetland Benevolent Society.

In his later years, he produced a manuscript for a major book on Fair Isle to be entitled "Eight Acres and a Boat", based, quite strongly on regular correspondence with his father, whose know- ledge of Fair Isle and its people went well back to the 19th century. When Jerry died in 1987 his family passed this manuscript and other papers to me that I might be able to bring his work to fruition. Until now I have felt inadequate to edit the book, having had neither the time to sort out the numerous strands to the story and put them in readable order nor the knowledge of Fair Isle to do so. However, on both counts I am now in a position to begin to put that to rights and I owe it to a marvellous companion to do so.

Emigration from Fair Isle tenants; the economic order Colonies or to the United in the 19th Century and the was transformed as cattle States of America. Orkney connection. farming was replaced by the ubiquitous sheep; and the Fair Isle did not escape the The last half of the 18th.Cen- sheep displaced the local emigration experience. In tuiy and the first half of the population through systematic many ways it was as extreme following one witnessed a clearances carried out with as on the mainland of catastrophic breakdown in much hardship to the dispos- Scotland. However, the the social and political order sessed and often with great forces at work were quite of the Highlands and and unnecessary cruelty. Most different. In this instance Western Islands of Scotland. of those who were displaced there was little effort by the Clan chiefs abandoned their found their way to the urban landlord to evict his tenants responsibilities to their areas of Scotland, to the or to change the economic

4 structure of the island. the Dunrossness parish and Shetland to the worst off on Instead, there was a rapidly Mill was supposed to make the Isle. The heads of the rising population, unable to annual pastoral visits to the families affected included achieve a tolerable existence island. Thirty miles of open Henry Stout and Laurence on an island only three miles sea were not journeys that he Stout, John Williamson and long by a mile and a half ever contemplated with equa- Laurence Williamson, James broad, where the pastoral and nimity and, particularly in his Irvine and two John Irvines, arable land was limited and later years, he did not meet William Leslie, John Mader already fully utilised. The his obligations. (or Mather), Ann Kelday, principal occupation, fishing, George Brown and John depended upon the harvest The Old Statistical Account Yonson (or Eunson). from a sea that was forever of Scotland in June 1798 treacherous and dangerous to produced the first authentic The 1798 list does not give men in small open boats and, population record for Fair Isle the crofts of the families so it like the harvest on land, was with 221 people living there impossible to do other than fickle and uncertain in its in 37 households; thereafter it make an educated guess as to return. became much easier to follow where everyone resided at the trends in the population. that time. However, subse- In the 1750's Fair Isle formed Living conditions are outlined quent population counts on part of the estate of Robert by the comments of Dr Kemp, the Isle from 1831 onwards Sinclair of Quendale, Secretary of the Society for proceeded up the West Road Shetland whose bankruptcy the Propagation of Christian and down the East Road and, led to the estate being Knowledge, in his Report to as families seldom moved managed on behalf of credi- the directors of the Society in outwith their "townships", it tors. Documentary evidence 1799. is possible in the main to link at the Scottish Record Office "The men are all fishers and, up the 1798 list to that of shows that at this time the under Mr.Stewart's manage- 1831. Fair Isle tenants were chro- ment, since he became their It may seem an exaggeration nically behind in their rent landlord a few years ago, to refer to "townships" on an payments and in debt to their have got into easy circum- island which measures only landlord. It is no surprise stances, as the Secretary was three miles by one and a half therefore that, when the informed, and their appear- but, where strip cultivation Quendale estate was finally ance in church vindicated the was still the norm,(con- broken up, this part of the information. On his arrival on solidation of holdings did not estate proved the most diffi- the island, the elders came take place until 1846), the cult to sell. Fair Isle was ulti- soliciting him to baptise a families lived in groups of mately disposed of in 1758 number of children, some of dwellings sharing the agricul - and was purchased by whom were considerably tural chores of farming the Archibald Stewart of the advanced in years, no mini- strips. As a family expanded, Brough, Westray for some ster having been there for a new house would be built £850, a sum well below the several years before". alongside an existing one. upset price. An account of the The outlines of the strip culti- tortuous negotiations is also It requires some imagination vation are still visible today. in the Scottish Record Office. to believe of "easy circum- stances" ever existing in Fair These "townships" were ori- 1758 is a convenient point at Isle and one has a certain ginally designated Leogh, which to begin a population sympathy for the Rev. Mill, Shirva, Busta and Gaila. survey in Fair Isle. Not only backsliding over his baptis- Shirva included more distant does a new owner assume mal duties. settlements at Setter, Field control - and the Stewarts and Taing. Of the 96 Merks would continue to own Fair Although 1799 may have of land in Fair Isle (1 Merk = Isle for the next one hundred coincided with a year, or 2 Acres apprx.), there were 24 years - but there is a reliable several years of relative pro- merks at Leogh, 48 at Shirva, estimate of the Fair Isle popu- sperity, there is evidence that 9 at Busta and 15 at Gaila. lation at 200 people, given in in the 1780's conditions had However, this gives a false the diaries of the Rev. John been much more difficult. In impression of their relative Mill, the minister at 1783, for example, following importance as much of the Dunrossness for over forty a bad harvest, there was a Shirva lands were on the years. Fair Isle formed part of distribution of meal from higher ground, were much

5 in Orkney and Shetland prior to ting. Although the latter activi - 1700. ties were subsidiary to fishing, Nowhere is the adage "a every penny was invaluable. Shetlander is a fisherman with a croft" more appropriate than to Fish was never far away from Fair Isle. This is manifest from the {dates and the minds of the how the island was valued for islanders. The main diet was rental purposes. A report on Fair fish and home grown tatties. Isle in 1804 by Patrick The tatties would be served on Fotheringham, the Town Clerk one large truneher (plate) and of Kirkwall, to George Traill, the fish on another. Knives and the Factor to the Stewarts of forks were an unnecessary Westray disclosed the basis of luxury when hands could do the valuation as follows:- " The job equally well and the meal islanders are expected to would generally be preceded by produce for the owner 600 ling a Grace.-- @3/6 per doz.; 2000 cod @1/- remote from the south per doz.; 2000 saithe @ 1/'- per "Oh Thou who blest the harbour which was the point doz.; oil from the fish amount- loaves and fishes, of contact with the outside ing to 20 barrels @ £1 per bbl. Look down upon our world. Consequently lands (The owner is to provide salt for two poor dishes, to the north of the island curing and casks for the oil). And tho' our tatties were valued less highly. There is also 6 stone of feathers be but sma' @ 3/- per stone; and the women Lord grant that they Little is now known about are to be paid 6 pence per may fill us a'." the families in Fair Isle prior to spindle from 600 spindles of the 1700's though they would linen lint provided. By these After which there would be a have been primarily Norse in means is the rent of £64 met". pause; then someone would say origin. By the 1750's, however, "And that will be a miracle". six family groups had become "The proprietor has also consid- established. The Stouts were erable profit from the supply of The crofts varied in size but most closely associated with produce. Domestically produced averaged about three merks or Leogh, the Irvines, Leslies and grain lasts less than six months." six acres. The problem for Williamsons with Shirva, the rapidly growing families was Eunsons with Busta and the In broad terms, ling, cod and how to subdivide the land Wilsons with Gaila. In 1800 saithe were of equal total value among numerous sons. Six acres there were several smaller (although fishmongers today was little enough and subdivi- family groups in Fail Isle with might be surprised at the relative sion could mean the difference the surname Brown, Smith and prices) and almost half the total between survival and destitu- Mather, but the Smiths were value of the fish catch was in the tion. It is unclear how this gone by 1831 and the Browns oil. The women folk would problem was tackled in the and Mathers by 1862. contribute between a fifth and a period of strip cultivation, but as quarter of the rent. The landlord soon as the "Planking" or conso- There is, of course, much spec- was not inclined to generosity. lidation of holdings took place ulation as to where these inha- All the sea catches had to be in 1846 the Census returns drew bitants came from. As Fair Isle sold to the Factor at the land- attention to whose families who is roughly equidistant from lord's price; all purchases of had houses but no land. Shetland and Orkney, they are household articles and equip- as likely to have come from the ment had to be made at the By 1831, thirty three years after one as the other. It is said, for island shop at prices set by the the previous survey, it was clear example, that the first Stout on Factor; and when the year's that significant population shifts Fair Isle in the 1730's was one harvest was exhausted, as it were underway. The population of the early teachers provided would be by the early Spring, in Fair Isle had risen to 269 by the S.P.C.K - but there were the inhabitants had to buy their from 221 in 1798 i.e. by over Stout families in both Shetland grain and other supplies at The 20% but, in the interim, some and Orkney before then. The Shop. emigration had taken place. As Irvines, Wilsons and Leslies the Stewart family were also may have had Covenanter Fishing was of prime economic substantia] land proprietors in connections with Central importance to the islanders and Westray and Stronsay, they Scotland; while the Eunsons the landlord expected sons to were therefore in a position to (or Younsons) and take the place of grandfathers provide a safety valve for the Williamsons were more likely and fathers in the yoals. This exploding population in Fair to have been Norse in origin. was vital to perpetuating the Isle. It was a time when the All these names can be found system. Fanning the land was fishing industry was beginning women's work as was the knit- to expand in Orkney and who

6 better to bring that fishing achieved its purpose in Fair Isle expertise to Orkney than the The pattern of resettlement and the 1851 Census showed a Fair Isle men. So began a differed between Stronsay and reduction in population to 281 policy of encouragement or Westray and this was to have with several men, not counted, at obligatory resettlement of Fair major economic consequences the whaling in Greenland and the Isle families in Stronsay and for the future. In Stronsay, the Davis Straits. It was only a lull. Westray. immigrants were almost all By 1861 it had soared to 380, confined to Lower Whitehall - excluding 5 men at the fishing, Among the early arrivals in the Station - in almost ghetto- and many families had no land Stronsay, pre-1831, were like conditions. There the men and were in a poor state. Laurence and Mary Irvine, and continued to ply their trade as However fertile the chemistry of Robert and Barbara Leslie, both fishermen but now without the intermarriage of Eunsons, with families. They were from backup of a few acres of land Irvines, Leslies, Stouts, Shirva in Fair Isle. There may that had been the norm in Fair Williamsons and Wilsons, the also have been resettlement in Isle. So long as the fishing economic results were disastrous! Westray. By the time the 1841 industry continued buoyant, Desperate measures were called Census came round, the popula- they could survive. With for as light crops and bad fish- tion in Fair Isle had exploded increasing competition from ings in the early 1860's precipita- and the transfer of families to the steam trawlers, however, ted a crisis. Stronsay and Westray was in their livelihood again became full flow, particularly to the threatened and it was not long Public attention to the plight of former.. before destitute families were the Fair Islanders was drawn by on the trail once more - some, an evangelising deputation of The population of Fair Isle was temporarily, to Kirkwall, but Free Church ministers headed by now 332, having expanded by mostly to the mainland of the Rev. George Brown of almost a quarter since the Scotland, to Aberdeen and St.Paul's, Edinburgh and, through previous count, but this did not Leith. their exhortation and assistance, reflect a wave of emigration arrangements were made to reset- now taking place to Orkney. In Westray, conditions were tle 22 families, amounting to 137 Families of Eunsons, Irvines, quite different. The islanders people, in New Brunswick, Leslies, Stouts and Williamsons may have arrived as fishermen, Canada. had all been transferred to and were so described in the Lower Whitehall in Stronsay, 1841 Census, but they had been Public subscriptions to assist the amounting in total to about 60. given land to work and it was emigrants were opened at the Significantly, no Wilson fami- not long before they were assi- Union Bank of Scotland in lies had been relocated (one of milated as Orcadians - Lerwick and Kirkwall. The the Wilsons - Thomas Wilson - "farmers with a boat". Most of Orkney Herald of 13th.May 1862 was now Factor in Fair Isle and them were settled close to reported on the emigration party perhaps they were better able to Stewart's farm at Cleat and which passed through Kirkwall. look after their own!). some were employed there. For example the brothers George "Several families from the Fair Simultaneously, there was a and John Stout and their fami- Isle, numbering in all 137 smaller influx of Fair Islanders lies were at Cloudy in 1841 and persons of all ages and both to Westray with the newcomers described in the Census as "fis- sexes, arrived in Kirkwall yester- being Eunsons, Leslies and hermen". By 1851, however, day, by the sloop the 'No Joke' en Stouts. This group amounted to they had become "fishermen route for New Brunswick. They some 20 people. Without this and farmers" and had renamed will go south today by the "Prince safety valve the population of their crofts East and West Consort' and the vessel in which Fair Isle would have been over Taing after their former home they are to cross the Atlantic is 400. at Taing in Fair Isle. expected to leave the Clyde on the 17th of the month .The The emigration was to continue Today, the fishing industry is expenses of the emigrants on the throughout the next decade. extinct in Stronsay and the passage are to be defrayed by the The 1851 Census revealed that Eunsons, Irvines, Leslies, and Government and it is expected another 18 Fair Islanders had Stronsay "Stoots" have gone. that, on landing in New been resettled in Westray and Only the Williamson name Brunswick, 10/- will be given to another 5 in Stronsay Many of survives. In Westray, by con- each adult and 51- to each child". the immigrants of 1841 had trast, the Fair Islanders have gone on to fresh pastures, prospered as farmers; to such The Orkney Herald further repor- however, and the Fair Isle con- an extent indeed that some of ted on 3rd.Junc: tingent in Stronsay had actually them have now overflowed into declined to 50 while, in the island vacated by their Fair " The Fair Isle emigrants, who Westray, the total was now 35. Isle relatives. recently landed at Kirkwall on There were also a few families their way south, have taken their who had gone to Shetland. The emigration of the 1840's departure in the 'Olympia', from

7 the Tail of the Bank, for talk with them about the way in 1869 and came to Kirkwall. We St.John, New Brunswick. The which their shop was supplied? all left because meal was so Fair Islanders were mustered on Answer: Yes, I met almost dear and wages so low. I am deck, after their inspection by all of them and I got some infor- sure they all left of their own the Government Medical mation about how they deal at accord and were not warned Officer, and addressed in touch- the shop, because they enquired away by the landlord." ing and impressive terms by the at what prices the articles were Rev. Mr.Philip of the Union sold in Shetland. The six families that Tom Free Church. Councillor Question: Do you know Wilson referred to included George Clark added a few anything about the prices of three Wilson families, two words of encouragement and goods at the shop on Fair Isle? Eunson families and a family of intimated to them that he had Answer: There was a Stouts. They totalled thirty one been entrusted with the sum of general complaint that the prices people. £24 which he had transmitted to were above the currency StJohn and, on their arrival charged in Shetland. This loss of population is almost there, one of the cabin passen- Question: Did the people exactly reflected in the 1871 gers would draw the money and seem to think that there was a Census with the number of distribute it among them". better way in which they could people in Fair Isle now reduced be supplied? to 226. However, the resilience So happened one of the saddest Answer: Yes, they of the islanders was beginning episodes in the history of Fair seemed to think that if they had to weaken, broken by the Isle which touched only briefly liberty to sell their fish to the restrictions on trading and by upon Kirkwall in its unfolding, best advantage, they could the first evictions which took but would be mourned in supply themselves from Orkney place in 1875. The Shetland Stronsay and Westray where at a cheaper rate than they could Times of 29th. May reported as there were many close relatives get them for in Mr.Bruce's store follows:- of those who departed. All in Fair Isle. family names, apart from Question? Do you think "Three families arrived in Wilson, were in the emigrating anybody would be willing to go Kirkwall this week numbering party. to Fair Isle to buy fish and sell 24 persons, poverty on the goods? island not enabling them to It is said in Fair Isle that the Answer: There were make sufficient to pay their rent hearths in the cottages, deserted plenty who would do so if they and they were compelled to quit by their occupants, never lost had the chance. Mr James Smith their holdings". their warmth as they were of Hill Cottage, Sandwick used immediately reoccupied by to go there, but he was stopped These were Leslie families from those homeless islanders who from doing so by Mr.Bruce the crofts of Pund and Barkland, chose not to emigrate. when he bought the island. related to Leslies on Stronsay. A few of them were to remain in In 1866 ownership of Fair Isle Other damning evidence to the Kirkwall while the others went passed from the Stewarts of Tribunal was given by Tom South. Westray to John Bruce of Wilson, formerly of Fair Isle, Sandwick in Shetland for the who had left for Kirkwall in Three years later four Eunson sum of £3360. If life had been 1869. Excerpts from his state- families called at Kirkwall on hard on Fair Isle during the ment are as follows:- their way South, the first step on previous regime, it was to get their eventual passage to New no better under Bruce. The "The farms on Fair Isle are Zealand. occasional floating shop which from four to six acres with a had come from Orkney to right to the scattald (common Between 1881 and 1891, the undercut the Factor's prices for land). I believe, since I left, they Fair Isle population remained everyday products was now are not allowed to pasture their fairly stable at around 220. warned off and the islanders cattle on the scattald without However, the 1890's became faced penalties for dealing with paying for it another decade of misfortune, of outsiders Much of this malprac- We have to sell the fish to poor crops, low fish prices and tice was exposed in "An Inquiry Mr John Bruce Jnr. and to him disasters at sea. Early in 1897 into the Truck System only, since Mr.Stewart sold the the islanders lost two of their (Shetland)" in 1872, the flavour island. The price offish has yoals, which were smashed to of which may emerge in the been fixed by the man who pieces when trying to come following extracts. comes to settle, which is in June ashore in storm conditions. The or July. That settlement is for crews just managed to escape. A Witness Henry Gilbertson: the previous year, up to the third boat was severely First of May immediately pre- damaged. As a result of these Question: Did you meet ceding, I have seen him miss a accidents, the poor conditions with any of the people (on Fair year and the meagre rewards, life on Isle) while you were there and Six families left Fair Isle in the Isle was becoming intoler-

8 able and, in early summer, it was for saithe were terrible. decided to prepare another mini- In the years that followed, while emigration to Orkney, Aberdeen It was also another disappoint- there was no further mass exodus and Edinburgh. Forty four ing summer for the crops and, from Fair Isle to Orkney, there people left Fair Isle including with forty people fewer to work was a steady attrition, particular- Eunsons, Wilsons, Stouts and the land, the harv est was iate. A ly of the younger families. Williamsons and, by the autumn, quotation from Haa Maggie Moreover, there was no influx of several were working in the fish (Maggie Wilson of Haa new blood. The population fell trade in Kirkwall and Aberdeen. cottage) who lived through that to 147 in 1901 and continued a year sums up the misery of the dramatic decline to 108 in 1931 Of those who found their way to time:- and to 46 in 1961, by which time Edinburgh, some found employ- ownership had passed, first of all ment with Robert McVitie of the "After they had cutted just five to George Waterston in 1948 well-known biscuit manufactur- sheaves, the men laid down and thereafter, in 1954, to the ers. The latter's solicitous com- their huiks (corn hooks), they present owners, the National ments about the Fair Islanders were so exhausted. One minute Trust for Scotland. The popula- are worth repeating;- you could be cutting your corn tion of Fair Isle has now stabi - "... the price of cured saithe and the next you were running lised at around 70 but descen- having fallen to 1/- per 1121b.. down to the beach to make up a dants of only two of the the Islanders have been in a crew for a passing sailing ship, nineteenth century names remain chronic state of destitution and a often scantily clad and without - those are the Stouts and the number have emigrated to the having had a real meal for Wilsons. Mainland. Two, at least, of the many hours". drowned fishermen had crofts of about seven acres, on which they On the morning of the 2nd reared a scanty crop of potatoes, September four yoals set out to turnips, bere and oats. One of barter goods with passing the men, who was in my vessels seen coming over the employment until today, has horizon. Ships returning from Editor's Note: returned to gather in the crops of the whaling were eager to these two crofts and assume the exchange salt beef, spirits and Readers may be interested to responsibility of caring for the tobacco for fresh vegetables know that another Stout, the late two widows and seventeen and chickens. During the day Thomas Stout of Thurso, has dependants of his brother and the weather worsened consider- researched the Stouts who came brother-in-law, but however ably and, by nightfall, with the from Westray. A copy has been good his intentions, he will be boats still not back, it was deposited in the Westray herit- unable to maintain them blowing a gale. Two of the age Centre and I believe also in and there are other yoals eventually returned that the Kirkwall Archives. widows and children to be provi- night. Another boat was sighted ded for. " next morning and was brought to the shore by a rescue party. The drownings referred to All five of the crew, including a W M Gibson has published occurred in the September of fifteen year old, Alex Eunson, several books related to that momentous year of 1897. at the tiller, were dead. The Stronsay. One of these, Mr.McVitie's employee was a other boat with its crew of four Tales of an Orkney Island was never recovered. The men John Eunson whose brother 7 contains many stories, poems, William and nephew Alex had had left twenty six dependants. songs, maps and lists of people been lost, together with his involved with various activities. brother in law George Stout. Resistance was crushed. The The book contains the names of Altogether, eight fishermen lost active fishing force had been 49 Fair Island people who settled their lives, four of them under 23 decimated. Was it worth while in Stronsay. Most lived in the years of age, in what became carrying on? Competition from village of Whitehall and were known as the Fair Isle Disaster the trawlers around Fair Isle valuable families for the new of 1897. It was a blow from was increasing and fish prices herring industry which was which the island never really were ludicrously low. The price established there. recovered. for saithe, now the principal catch, had collapsed to only 1/- Following upon the emigration per cwt. It had been 9d. a dozen earlier that year, there were now a hundred years previously. The only twenty men capable of car- islanders continued to have no rying out the fishing at Fair Isle influence over the marketing of that summer (apart from a few their products. Those who had youths) i.e. a crew for only four left, however, poor their cir- to five boats. Although the fish cumstances, were better off catches had been good, prices than those who remained.

9 The First Statistical Account of the Island of Stronsay and Eday 1795 -1798 Part 8 Written by the Rev. John Anderson, Minister.

Ecclesiastical state and a half long; this grave was afterwards were converted to Ancient and Modern. dug up to the deepness of money at low rates, by mutual about six feet, in the month of contracts between tenants or About the time of the July, 1792; the stones at the heritors, on one part, and Reformation, there were five head and feet, which appeared ministers for the time being, parish kirks in this district. about a foot above the on the other; therefore, the Three in the island of surface, reached to the bottom stipend, instead of being Stronsay, dedicated to the of the grave. Many human augmented since the said year Virgin Mary, to St. Peter bones of an ordinary size were 1653, is actually diminished and to St. Nicholas; the found, and, moreover, frag- and made worse than it was in fourth in the island of Eday, ments of a human skull, and 1614, by means of said con- dedicated also to the Virgin of a lower jaw bone, with the versions, which are now Mary; and a fifth in the isle case of teeth, which were found detrimental to the inter- of Faray, to which saint perfectly sound, and frag- est of the minister. The rise in dedicated, tradition gives no ments of thigh bones; these value of commodities paid in information. were all of enormous size, and kind, was found to be so afforded a convincing proof inconsiderable, that down to There were also, in the that the body buried there had the date of the incumbent's island of Stronsay, at least required a grave of the dimen- admission, in 1779, this four chapels, one of which is sions above specified. There whole benefice, including called St. Margaret's kirk; is an old chapel in ruins on the stipend and glebes, was let for two chapels in the small isle isle of Eday, and one in each a period of ten or twelve years of Papa, dedicated to St. of the pasture isles, called preceding, from year to year, Nicholas and to St. Bride Lingmeikle, and Auskerry; in at no greater sum than £54 respectively. St. Nicholas' this last, there are also ruins of Sterling; out of this small chapel was almost entire what seems to have been a benefice, the minister is twelve years ago; the dimen- small house, which retains the obliged to pay one shilling sions within the walls 15 appellation of monker-house, freight every time he passes feet by 12; the quire, 7 feet or monk's house; such over the ferry to preach in the by 9; this quire is covered recluses might no doubt have isle of Eday. There is no fund with a complete stone arch, lived in the isle, as there is for communion elements, as but the chapel hath lately plenty of fresh water in it; the the stipend was never mod- been demolished by the distance, however, at which it ified by the court of Teinds. tenant, in order that the lies from the isle of Stronsay, Lord Dundas is patron. stones of it might build a is no less than three miles. new barn. St. Bride's chapel Thus we find that there have The kirks were in ruinous and quire, now in ruins, are been of old five parish kirks, state in 1779. The kirk of nearly of the same dimen- and at least nine chapels in Stronsay, which was built in sions as those of St. this district. 1726, got new slates put on its Nicholas. About half way roof in 1785, but it still needs between these chapels, there The value of the stipend of great repairs. The kirk of is on a rising ground, called this district, in 1653, was Eday, which was built about the Earl's Knowe, the formerly stated, the particular the year 1730, is in ruinous appearance of old ruins and articles then paid, continue yet state; it had not a pane of graves; one of these graves, to be paid, with the exception glass in any of its windows in evidently defined by two of some vicarage and parson- the memory of any man stones, one at the head, the age tithes then paid in kind, living. As it is situated at other at the feet, is eight feet which at different periods seven miles distance from the

10 manse, and in another island, and in so bad a state, the Death of Oldest Pioneer minister will not be able to Obituary from the Victoria Times, March 19,1887 officiate there at all, if the (Vancouver Island, BC Canada) heritors do not rebuild or repair it. Contributed by Susan Gibb (167), Winnipeg, Canada. Notes by J Store Clouston. (These are not reproduced here as they are long for this Hillside, this city, at 7 of his time and labour in their type of publication. He o'clock this morning, in the service and for their sole researched the stipends of 73rd year of his age. The benefit", being compensated various Orkney parish mini - deceased was the oldest with the annual salary of sters around 1746 and quoted pioneer on the British seventeen pounds. their incomes in kind. His Columbia coast. He came to final comment amplifies the York Factory, Hudson Bay, William crossed over from Minister's complaint about in the year 1834, in the the Orkneys on the Prince the state of the kirks )— service of the Hudson Bay Rupert, landing at York quote: - Company, crossing the Factory in August 1835. He Rocky Mountains to the was the eldest son of James Columbia river in the year Pottinger and Isabel Cormack A discreet of the presbytery 1837, and has remained here of North Isles went out in the of Westray. His brothers were ever since. He was a native George Pottinger, a teacher year 1780, for repairing the of Westray, Orkney Islands. manse, and building offices. who followed him to Victoria While in the service of the in 1864, and James who But these repairs and build- Hudson Bay Company, he ings are not yet executed; remained on the family farm was a faithful, hard-working Ousness, in Westray. they are indeed far from servant, and much liked by being completed. the officers under whom he George Pottinger, William's served. After leaving the brother, left a large family in The minister gave the heri- service of that company, tors no charge on this dis- Victoria but as far as I can tell about 1853, he entered the William's only son James creet, till seven years after its employ of Mr. John Work, of date, in the hopes that there died unmarried. Family Hillside, with whose family records do not include the would be no necessity for he has remained ever since, charging them; but these name of James' mother who in the capacity of gardener. was aboriginal. (Red Indian) hopes were frustrated; Mr. R. Finlayson, himself the accordingly, he gave them a oldest resident of Victoria, Ed's Note. charge, which they instantly informs us that the deceased suspended, and they have was the oldest pioneer of the I was interested in this article litigated the cause for British Columbia coast, another seven years before because I published a piece having resided at Fort on George Pottinger, the Court of Session, and Simpson for some time before arbiters, whose final William's brother, in my before Mr. Finlayson arrived WESTRAY ROOTS newslet- discreet hath not yet been in Victoria. A record of his given out. ter in Issue 25, October 1995. times would be a complete The succeeding issue con- history of our province from tained a photograph of the day when it first emerged George plus further details of from the darkness of the past his work as a teacher in down to the present day. Victoria, Canada. W M Gibson's second book Auld Peedie Kirks A bit of background: Susan, if you don't receive contains an immense Westray Roots I can send amount of information and While in the employ of the you a copy of the articles. photographs of the Hudson's Bay Co. William Stronsay chapels and kirks. Pottinger was a General Labourer. His Contract was a standard one for a term of five years during which time he was to "devote the whole

U The Wylies of Hurray

Contributed by Joan M Bourne (270)

Having read the article by washed up on the beach after branches but so far have not Peter D. Anderson, entitled their ship was wrecked on come across any Black THE ARMADA AND THE the rocks at the east ctf the Wylies. NORTHERN ISLES, I was island. They were the only reminded of a family legend survivors, the rest of the It would be interesting to of two shipwrecked crew having drowned. For a hear of other family legends Spaniards who settled down time they scavenged in order or stories, whether in connec- on Burray and that the to keep alive, then eventually tion with the Armada or not. Wylies were their descen- obtained seasonal work. If stories are not written dants. I began to wonder how They were referred to by the down they tend to be forgot- many similar stories there locals as the wild ones, one ten and lost for ever. were of Spaniards making being known as the Black their home in the Orkneys Wild One and the other as after being shipwrecked on the Red Wild One, the one their way home after the having dark hair and the defeat of the Armada. other red hair. They eventu- ally settled down and became Being a descendent of the integrated into the commun- Index Wylies, 1 have a particular ity, but they and their fami- interest in their alleged lies remained independent of required for origin. For some time I had one another, apparently Sib Folk News been aware that there were because of some feud. Their two separate unrelated fami- nickname evolved into lies of Wylies, known as the Wylie, the families becoming While it is quite possible to Black Wylies and the Red known as the Red Wylies compile an index semi- Wylies, and that these names and the Black Wylies. automatically when using a had something to do with desk top publisher, I regret hair colour It was in later It is debatable whether the that I have not been in the years that I heard the story of story and others like it are habit of doing so. My other their alleged origin. true or not, and lack of docu- publication, WESTRAY mentary evidence must mean ROOTS, is in its 36th issue The story goes back to 1588 that they will continue to be and does not have an index. when the Spanish Armada a legend. However, the fate was defeated by the English of twenty seven of the ships It would be a great pity if in the English Channel. of the Spanish Armada can Sib Folk News was to con- Pursued by them and being not be accounted for. tinue without an annual driven by storms, they turned index. into the North Sea, taking a My Wylie descent is from course home that would lead my great grandmother, Anne I wonder if any computer them beyond Shetland and Wylie (1838 - 1929), the literate member would like down the west coast of daughter of a Robert Wylie to take on this task and Ireland. There were many and Helen Bower. She produce an index for the reports of ships being married a James Wards first 12 issues. I shall wrecked on the Irish coast (Warse), a native of the endeavour to produce an One of the most famous island of Stroma, in 1857.1 index automatically for Armada stories was that of have traced the Wylie branch future issues. the wreck of the El Grifon on of my family tree back to a Fair Isle. William Wyllie and Anna If you are interested, please Morwick who were married contact me. According to the Burray in Stromness in 1740.1 have legend, two sailors were researched several Wylie The Editor

12 The Orkney Hill Settlement in Pictou County, Nova Scotia Contributed by Reg Thomson (Dutch) Charlottestown, Princ Edward Island, Canada

My name is Reg Thomson. hill settlers. My ancestors-Thomas Willard Craigie whom I Thomson and his wife The Orkney hill settlers pro- mentioned earlier, and his Elizabeth Burgher- emigrated spered in N.S. and Canada sister Sadie are descendants to Pictou County in Nova even though their land was of William Craigie who came Scotia (N.S.), Canada around very poor- probably why they to N.S. in 1842. William was 1798-1800. Subsequent to are now gone from the area. the son of Hugh Craigie of that-around 1835- an James Haws, who had been a Rousay. Earlier William had "Orkney Hill Settlement" sealer and whaler before been to Western Canada arose in the wilds of rural emigrating stayed in the where he worked for the Pictou County, comprised of Orkney hill settlement until Hudson's Bay Co. in York 2 Craigie families, a Flaws his death and is buried in an factory. He protested at the family, plus a Ross, a Reid unmarked grave at the Company's treatment of the and a Macdearmid (or Merigomish Presbyterian native Indians and left for the Macdormand) family. USA and eventually went back to the Orkneys. It is said A.A. (Anthony) Mackenzie, a Craigie that the H.B.C. prevented retired history professor at St him from marrying his child- Francis Xavier University in hood sweetheart, Jean Antigonish, N.S. has resear- Flaws Mainland, so they eloped in a ched this small settlement rowboat and came to the which has now been Orkney hill settlement in N.S. reclaimed by the boreal (this last information comes forest. George Smith, whose Ross via Dr James Craigie who property borders the old also notes that William and Orkney hill settlement knows Jean had 4 children, Jean who the whereabouts of a few Reid married a Glidden; Anne who stone foundations and a well marred a Franklin; William, a which lie behind his house in minister died young; and Merigomish, Pictou County. Church. He had a family of 7- John who farmed in nearby 5 girls and 2 boys. One French River in Pictou Co. daughter married a Daniel Jean (Mainland) died and I'm told the last person born William remarried a Stuart to these Orkney families was Robertson - there are still many Robertsons in the area woman. Their son James was Willard Craigie, whom I a railway conductor in N.S. vaguely remember as a boy and some may be her descen- dants. There are no Raws left and another son ran a paper some 40 years ago. His fami- mill in Maine, USA. ly's house is still standing, in Pictou Co. and is now occupied by Ken Miller, whose ancestor, the Hugh Magdearmid operated Another Craigie family - Rev. A.P. Miller (the family the Vendome Hotel in New John and Elizabeth (Pollock) claims the correct spelling is Glasgow, 18 miles to the had 8 children, one of whom, Millar) from Clackmannan west of Merigomish. He was John Hubert Craigie, became near Stirling, preached for a called "the Mark Twain of a world-renowned botanist while in the Orkneys before Nova Scotia" because of his and scientist. In 1927 John emigrating to Pictou County. wit and humorous nature. His Hubert Craigie discovered It is possible he was the descendants include Aulds, the connection between connection for the Orkney Camerons, Clarkes and wheat and the barberry bush McCaras, all of Pictou Co. which led the way to the cure

13 for wheat rust. John Hubert in the early to mid-19th 1832 letter I have. The letter taught school in Pictou Co. century. I'm not sure of his was to Thomas Thomson and had himself attended a connection with the Orkney from his brother John who one -roomed school in French hill settlers was living in Kirkwall at the River. Later he went to Pictou time. I assume the spelling is academy and then on to My own family's connection, a variation of Pottinger, and Harvard and the Universities if any, with these settlers is that she was a friend of the of Minnesota and Manitoba. also unknown. In fact I am Thomsons - the letter was In 1931 he won the world- trying to find out how sent care of her in Pictou, the wide competition for his Thomas Thomson got his shire town of Pictou County, work on wheat rust. He land - some 250 acres on the some 35 miles to the west of retired as Dominion Botanist Northumberland Strait, which the Merigomish area where in 1952 and died in 1989 separates Prince Edward the Thomsons settled. aged 101.1 believe he is Island and N.S. He and his buried in Ottawa, Ontario, wife appear to be the only Yet another possibility is our nation's capital. Orcadians in the area for 40 - through the Ballantyne 50 years. I am told there family. There were Volume 167, # 8, a paper in might be a connection with a Ballantynes living near the the public archives of N.S. Ross family - but so far I Thomsons in the early 1800s. has Hugh Craigie and 4 other have drawn a blank at this Some are still in the area. I Scots signing a letter printed end. assume Ballantynes' Cove in the January 21, 1842 of the nearby is named after them. Pictou Observer newspaper Another possible connection Perhaps the Ballantynes were noting a good voyage on the between Orkney and Nova from the Orkneys and sailed barque Superior. Scotia for my own family is across with the Thomsons. through a " Mrs David There was also a Benson man Potanger" whose name is living in Pinetree, Pictou Co. listed on the envelope of an A Tale of Two Great- Great* Grandfathers

Contributed by Anne Cormack (73)

It is always interesting to find checked some of the source a family bible in the posses- out what one's forebears material for the book and in sion of another OFHS worked at, particularly if they the Balfour Papers in the member, Davina Brown, who had jobs such as straw plait- Library Archives found a pay is also a direct descendant of ing or tide waiting, which no roll of the 9th Royal Veteran his, Francis was born on longer exist. I was, however, Battalion for the period 25th October 12th 1787, the first a little disconcerted at first to October to 24th November ctf eight children of Francis find my great-great- 1812, in which Thomas Greig and his wife Margaret. grandfather, Francis Greig, Wilson received 7s 9p. On I don't know exactly when described as a pensioner that pay roll, also earning 7s Francis died. It must have when he was still a young 9p, was Francis Greig. Our been between 1833 and 1841, man. Coincidentally, fellow great-great-grandfathers had since in the 1841 census his OFHS member Betty been colleagues in the same wife Amelia was recorded as Cameron had discovered battalion. a widow age fifty, living in exactly the same designation Main Street with her for her great-great grandfa- What was the 9th Royal youngest child aged eight. ther, Thomas Wilson, when Veteran Battalion, which was in 1824 Thomas registered based in Kirkwall? Thomas Wilson died in 1853. the birth of one of his child- Apparently, it was composed ren. When Thomas had of soldiers who were no I wonder if many other folk married in 1810, however, longer fit for front line action in Orkney are descended the OPR shows he was a but were able to do garrison from the eighty-six men on private in the 9th Veteran duties. While Edinburgh born the 1812 pay roll. By their Battalion, so the conclusion Thomas, who had previously names, most of the soldiers' was that "pensioner" of four- served with the 6th Regiment unlike Francis Greig, were teen years later meant "army of Foot, perhaps would have not from Orkney. There is an pensioner". This was con- had initial doubts about being abundance of Mac- names, firmed by the Kirkwall and St posted to Orkney (although and other Scottish names Ola census for 1851, where he was to marry and happily such as Ross, Sutherland, Thomas, whose birth place settle here), Kirkwall born Campbell, Ferguson and was Edinburgh was recorded Francis assuming that he too Colquhoun. There was, as an "out Pensioner of had been a serving soldier, however, a Thomas Chelsea". must have been delighted to Learmonth and a James come home. Within two or Burges, possibly local men. The reference to the 9th three years of his appearing Interestingly, more than half Veteran Battalion took Betty on the 1812 pay roll he too of the men were illiterate and to Ray Fereday's little book had married and started a could not sign their names for Phin of Finstown, as she real- family. their pay. The signatures of ised that her great-great- Thomas Wilson and Francis grandfather and Phin had a Francis remains quite a Greig are, however, there. similar military service. She shadowy figure. According to

Proposal from Marion McLeod for consideration by the OFHS Committee.

Would it be possible to include in a future issue of SFN a complete list of items held at the OFHS office so that members can know what is available. Members, especially those outside Orkney have no way of knowing what is available?

Fron the Ed. A good idea but I would think that a supplement or an addition to the Directory would be more practical than as a part of SFN.

15 Internet Page Two extracts from Dick Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter sent oat weekly on the Net at http://www.rootscomputing.listbot.com.

Family Search "FamilySearch on the "Web Publishing for Internet" is a nice booklet for Genealogy" assumes that you on the Internet anyone who wants to under- already have a genealogy stand how to use program and that it shows This week I had a chance to FamlIySearch.org effective- different methods for read a new booklet written by ly. This publication costs exporting your data to HTML David Hawgood and pub- £1.50 (roughly $2.50 in U.S. pages suitable for use on the lished jointly by David and funds). It is available from World Wide Web. Most of the Federation of Family Family Tree Magazine, 61 the examples focus on con- History Societies Ltd. in Great Whyte, Ramsey, verting GEDCOM files to England. "FamilySearch on Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire Web pages although theau- the Internet" is a 16-page PE17 1HL England thor does make brief mention booklet that describes the (telephone 01487 814050) as of several programs that can services available on the well as from FFHS directly produce HTML files popular FamilySeareh.org Publications, 2-4 Killer without going through a Web site. Street, GEDCOM conversion. Ramsbottom, Bury, Hawgood's booklet is brief Lancashire, BLO 9BZ, but always straight to the The topics covered in this 60- England. point. He does a nice job of page book include: covering numerous topics in only 16 pages of print. The 1.Introduction What is the author assumes that the World Wide Web? Why is reader is already Internet the Web useful for genealo- literate. Topics covered gists? What do you need for include: Web Publishing? How Web pages work. The Process of Web Publishing. * What you get from FamilySearch * Ancestor Search 2.Web Publishing Software. * Printing and Saving - Text Editors HTML Editors. HTML Word- Processors and other * Custom Search - menu of applications. WYSIWYG databases Web authoring tools. HTML Converters. Other * Family History Library file formats. Other Utilities. Catalogue Web Publishing for Which is the best tool? * Ancestral File * Family History Centers Genealogy (LDS Church) 3.Genealogical Tools. I also read a second English * Source Guide - help Genealogy Software with booklet this week: "Web about genealogy Web output. GEDCOM Publishing for Genealogy", * Websites, Browse conversion tools. Genealogy second edition, written by Categories, Keywords Software without Web facili- Peter Christian. This book ties. * Collaboration by email gives a good overview of * Preserve your Genealogy how to publish your own 4.Designing Your Web Site. - send a GEDCOM file family tree online. It also * Add a Site What to include Organizing describes practical methods your information. The Look of how to tell other Internet of Your Pages. Good and Bad The book also has a small users that your information is bibliography. Web design. available online. Legal and Ethical Issues.

16 5.Creating the Pages. A Skeleton Page. Understanding Tags. Basic Page Design The History Archive

6.Going Public. Publishing It is not generally known that the Memorial University of Your Pages. Getting Readers Newfoundland, St. John's is the largest documentary resource for Your Pages. Maintaining in the world for the study of maritime history. & Improving Your Web Site. The collections: The archive has collected original and micro- 7.Advanced Web Facilities. film records relating to the history of the seas, with special Style Sheets. Image Maps. emphasis on Newfoundland and the North Atlantic. Dynamic Web pages. Frames Controlling Access. British Shipping Records. The largest collection in the archive is the Crew Agreements of 8.Appendices. Glossary. British Empire Vessels, 1863 - 1976. Other significant acquisi- Recommended Books & tions include collections from the British Board of Trade ship- Articles. Where to Get Web ping records; Registers of Colonial Shipping; the Mercantile Software. On-line Resources. Navy List; maritime newspapers, custom records, consular records, Lloyd's Register, Lists, Captains Registers and many- 9. Index other records.

All in all, this is a nice little Readers wishing to pursue their researches have several book. It covers its subject avenues open to them. A number of descriptive brochures are well. "Web Publishing for available on application to the Secretary. Genealogy" sells for £4.00 (about $6.50 U.S. funds).). It The Address: The Secretary, Maritime History Archive, is available from Family Tree Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NF, A1C Magazine, 61 Great Whyte, 5S7, Canada. Ramsey, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE17 1HL Phone: 709 737 8428 e-mail [email protected] England (telephone 01487 814050). Website:http://www.mun.ca/mha

ED: The Eastman Newsletter There is also an interactive CD available entitled Ships and is FREE. Seafarers of the Atlantic Canada, and contains data on vessels, captains and crews of Atlantic Canada, 1787-1936.Price $49.95

Advert SCOTTISH CENSUS RECORDS

Transcripts and Indexes to the Census Records of ORKNEY are now available on micro- fiche, transcribed and edited by David Armstrong, (Member of the Western Australian & the Ontario Genealogical Societies, and the Orkney Family History Society). Parishes: 1821 Census: Deerness, Orphir, St Andrews, Sandwick, South Ronaldsay and Burray, Stromness. 1851 Census: Birsay, Deerness, Eday & Pharay, Evie and Rendall, Firth and Stenness, Harray, Holm & Paplay, Hoy and Graemsay, Kirkwall & St Ola #, North Ronaldshay, Orphir, St Andrew's, Egiishay, St. Andrews, Sandwick, South Ronaldsay and Burray *, Stromness *, Walls and Flotta. Price: A$4.00 each or * A$4.50, # A$5.00 (inch p & p). Discounts 10% on 5-9 sets, 20% on 10-24 sets. Agents: Aberdeen and North East Scotland Family History Society, Ontario Genealogical Society. Email: [email protected] Please make payment to:-D.S. Armstrong, P.O. Box 136, Maylands, Western Australia 6931.

17 The Beattons of Clowegarfh and Langscale

Contributed by Charles Flawn (301)

Gavin, Thank you for SFN 11 Beatton (55), Catherine without trace. which I very much enjoyed. Brown (41) Jannet (21), You mentioned that you Catherine (16) Peter (14) I see from your excellent would like some copy for David (12) William (10) John directory that I appear to be your next issues and I thought (8) Margaret (6) Samuel (3) the only one interested in the you might be interested in my Thomas (1). A further child Beattons. Does the fact that wife's ancestors, who lived in was born in 1822. Another the name is spelt with two T's the above houses in the family of Beatton's were make it an exclusive Orkney hamlet of Kirbister in 1821. living close by in Langskaill name? * (latest spelling) comprising The details that have been James Beatton (70 - the IGI I'm enclosing two family handed down through her shows his wife was Margaret trees, as the descendant tree family were that her Irvine— Jannet Beatton (67), is rather large. On the ances- 2xGt.Grandfather, David his sister (?), Margaret (29) tor tree Marjorie Beatton is Beatton, was born in Orkney James (25) Jannet(33). Both my wife's mother. I started in the early 1800's, he sailed a families were farmers. What from her so as to reduce the cod - smack called Nora was the relationship between size and keep the Beatton down the east coast to either these two families? Were name constant. The Kirkwall Woodbridge in Suffolk or James and the elder David library has been most helpful London in about 1840. He brothers? If so, who was their in supplying census and other married two sisters, in turn, father? Does the name of data. Without their help I from Woodbridge, raising 5 David's eldest son, Peter, would not be writing to you children. He was a Customs hold the clue? now. Officer and they lived in East London. I have established a From the 1841 census the I hope this will be of use, if family tree up to the present family at Clovigarth is still in you need any further data let day, although I know that residence, with David me know. there are some branches Beatton (75) with Catherine missing. Beatton (45) a discrepancy of From the ED. 16 years or is she Catherine, When I checked these recol - his daughter, who was 16 in Thank you Charles. I have lections against the IGI and 1821 making a discrepancy reproduced one of your trees the 1821 census return for of 9 years. The children are and I am sending your origi - Stromness, the picture likely to be hers as they are nal trees to the Society Office became clearer. The IGI aged 15,10 and 8, but who is where any reader may obtain showed that David Beatton the father? The other a photocopy, on application. was born in 1808 to David members present are Peter Beatton & Catherine Brown. (30) and William (25), which * There is no Beatton The 1821 Census showed the roughly ties in with the 1821 surname in Lamb's book of family at Clovigarth (latest census. The Beatton family at Orkney Surnames. spelling) comprising David Langskaill has disappeared

Errata: I regret that from time to time I make errors in transcribing data from correspondents.

Mrs Dorothy Wilson has pointed out that in her contribution on Page 4 of SFN No 11,1 said that she was a descendant of the Birsay Thomsons whereas she is a descendant of the Birsay Johnsons.

Conscientious readers should therefore amend their copies accordingly. The Ed.

18 Ancestors of Marjorie May Beatton

David Beatton b: 1808 in Clovigarth, Stromness,Orkney .Scotland m: 17 June 1850 in Parish Ch. St Botolph, Aldgate, london James Dott Beatton d: September 1877 in 59 Exmouth St. Mile End b: 14 November 1850 in 1, York Place, St. George in the East, Middlesex in: cir. March 1873 in Stepney d: 23 November 1914 in Nagasaki, St.Georges Pk.Ave. Westcliff-on-sea, Essex. Caroline Clark lO ifW) b: 1821 in Woodbridge, Suffolk d: Unknown James David Beatton b: 30 November 1873 in 9, Lucas Place.Mile End, London m: 9 July 1898 in St Clements Ch. Great flford, Essex d: 28 May 1959 in 117,Sutton Lane, Hornchurch Essex

Ann Harrison Thompson b: 1850 in South Shields, County Durham, d: Unknown Marjorie May Beatton b; 24 May 1906 in 104 Grosvenor Rd. llford .Essex m: 14 June 1930 in Parish Ch. of IlfontEssex. d: 1 March 1993 in Chalfont St. Peter

James Charles Crook

Jane Louise Crook b: 6 August 1874 in Bethnal Green, London d: 1945 in 113 Walton Way .Aylesbury The Orkney Family History Society Membership, Subscriptions, etc.

Membership of the Society runs from 1 March to 28/29 February and subscriptions should be renewed during the month of March.

New members joining before 1 December will receive back copies of the 3 magazines for the current year. From 1 December new members will receive membership for the remainder of the current year plus the following year but will not receive the back copies of the magazine.

The present subscriptions rates are as follows:

£10.00 1 Ordinary - Adult membership £15.00 2 Family membership - ( Spouse/Partner & children under 18 ) £ 7.00 3 UK only - Senior Citizen/Students - ( single or couple) £12.50 4 Overseas - ( Surface Mail) - All categories. £15.00 5 Overseas - ( Air Mail) - All categories.

Overseas memebers, paying in their own currency, should check the exchange rate to ensure the correct amount is forwarded. Overseas members should not send foreign Postal Orders as they are not accepted in the UK. All subscriptions should be sent to the Membership Secretary.

Cheques should be made payable to: ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY.

Receipts will be issued along with the next magazine.

Members residing in the UK may pay their subscriptions by Bankers Order and may also take out a Deed of Covenant. (Forms will be sent on request)

The Society publishes 4 magazines in the year. Members may place queries in the magazine at no charge. Queries should be sent to the Editor.

Back copies of the magazine may be purchased at £1.00 per copy.

Our office address is: 8 Broad Street, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1NX Office opening hours are as follows: April to September Mon to Fri 2.00pm to 4.30pm Sat 11.00am to 4.30pm October to March Mon, Wed, Fri 2.00pm to 4.30pm Sat 11.00am to 4.30pm

Articles in this newsletter are copyright to the Society, and its authors, and may not be repro- duced without permission of the Editor. The Society is a Registered Charity in Scotland, and a member of the Scottish Association of Family History Societies. The Society does not neces- sarily accept the views expressed in letters and articles published within. The Society's newslet- ter Sib Folk News is registered with the British Library under the serial number ISSN 1368-3950 General Secretary; Miss Helen Angus, Kaimes, 26 Royal Oak Road, Kirkwall, KW15 1RF email [email protected] Membership Secretary: Mr Frank Eunson, Furrigarth, Downie's Lane, Stromness, KW16 3EP Editor of Sib Folk News: Mr Gavin Rendall, 55 Plough Lane, Purley, Surrey,CR8 3QL email westroot @nildram.co.uk

20