SIB FOLK NEWSISSUE No 47 September 2008 NEWSLETTER OF THE FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY

Kirkwall. The busiest cruise liner port in On the 10th May the first of the visiting cruise ships returned to Orkney when the Marco Polo tied-up at Hatston Pier in Bay. Over the year 44 vessels have visited the islands, some as many as 5 times. The smallest carried just 25 passengers; the largest over 2500. The total passenger capacity was in the region of 40,000 and many disembarked to explore Kirkwall and visit the 12th century St Magnus Cathedral. Others took the tour to the 5000 year old village of Skara Brae which also allows time to visit the of Maeshowe, the Standing Stones of and the . Some will return in the future, the first of many visits they will make as they fall under the spell of the Orkney Islands. Perhaps we can welcome you too?

The Minerva, Silver Cloud and Marco Polo visitrd Kirwall on August 7th

Photograph. John Sinclair. 2 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Issue No 47 September 2008

ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY NEWSLETTER Issue No 46 June 2008 CONTENTS

FRONT COVER Echoes of a From Bygone Age

PAGE 2 From the Chair the chair PAGE 3 Tumbledown With the summer over, the Society now looks forwards No 4 to our forthcoming winter programme. How quickly Page 4 & 5 this summer appears to have gone! I recall a story linked to Robert Louis when I was a small boy about how quickly “time flies” - it was said to have Stevenson originated in a well known house in the parish of Stenness when the “man o’ the

PAGE5 hoose” retorted, “Heh-heh Time Flies” after his wife had flung the clock at him. I Robbie the Sholtie hope that summer has been reasonable for you and you now find the time to get back into your family history. PAGE 6 Fiery Bill Inkster Ancestral tourism is certainly alive in Orkney, as the office has continued to PAGE 7 Last Ranch welcome visitors from all over the world. On occasions simultaneous enquiries

PAGES 8 & 9 result in the instant meeting of family kin. There is no doubt that returning to The Spences Orkney to find that link to Orcadian ancestry is as popular as it has ever been. If of Cumming & Spence you have experienced a worthwhile visit why not send our SFN editor your story.

PAGE 10 I found my The Society will not be promoting any special events during 2009, which is Tumbledown Scotland’s Year of Homecoming. With existing demands, we recognise that the

PAGES 12–16 best service we can provide for visitors is to ensure we can cope with the normal DNA in Genealogy users as well as those who will, throughout the homecoming year, wish to access the Society’s resources and pick the brains of our stalwart researchers and PAGE 17 In memory of volunteers. Walter Sinclair

PAGES 18 & 19 The Society will celebrate its first event of the programme, being the Annual HBC Blankets Dinner, in September. The series of monthly events is being planned and the PAGE 19 programme will appear as soon as possible on the OFHS website. The training News from events programmed for members in Orkney will take place over the autumn. Janette Thomson PAGES 20 & 21 May the autumn and the lead up to Christmas be a positive time for you all. The Abernethys of Stromness

PAGE 21 James Cambell Alan Clouston Bruce Inkster

PAGE 22 An encounter with Sept 2008 Moby Dick

PAGE 23 Can you identify the Photographs

PAGE 24 Membership etc Issue No. 47 September 2008 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY 3

By Alan Clouston - Member No 339 Overlooking the ‘Gateway to the New World’ and steeped in history, the Hall of Clestrain, although not quite tumble- down, is and has been uninhabited for 50 years. It is recog- nised by Historic Scotland and the Scottish Civic Trust as an ‘A’ listed building, a critical ‘at Risk’ building. The land of Clestrain was once part of the vast estates of the Honeyman family and the original house was ransacked in 1725 by the infamous Orkney pirate John Gow who was to end his days hanging from a rope at Execution Dock in London. The original building was replaced in 1768 by an entirely new Georgian building built by Patrick Honeyman, third Laird of . In 1813 John Rae was born at the Hall of Clestrain. Re- HALL OF CLESTRAIN 1821 1841 1851 1861 1871 1881 1891 1901 Name age age age age age age age age cently the BBC TV docu- John Rae (head) 40 rama ‘Passage’ related Margaret Rae (wife) 30 the stories of the endeav- James Rae (son) 15 ours of Rae, considered by Jess Rae (daughter) 10 Marion Rae (daughter) 10 many to be the greatest William Rae (son) 10 Arctic explorer of all time. Richard Rae (son) 5 The programme highlight- John Rae (son) 5 ed his service as a medical Thomas Rae 1 doctor to the Hudson’s Bay William Mackay (head) 30 42 53 62 Company, his charting of Fanney Mackay (nee Sinclair) 35 43 54 67 northern Canada, his dis- Jennet Mackay (daughter) 15 covery of the ‘North West George Mackay (son) 11 Passage’ and his uncover- James Mackay (son) 9 Isabella Mackay (daughter) 6 15 ing the fate of the Frank- William Mackay (son) 4 13 23 lyn expedition. This later Margaret Mackay (d’ter) 1 11 discovery was to deny Rae John Mackay (son) (head) 9 28 39 Betsy Mackay (daughter) 6 17 35 Dr John Rae his place in history as Vic- torian Society attempted Frances Mackay (daughter) 4 14 33 Richard Mackay (head) 36 to conceal the horrific truth of what actually happened to Christina Mackay (wife) 37 Sir John Franklyn’s illfated 1845 expedition. Richard Mackay (son) 7 The Hall was also highlighted in the BBC2 ‘Restoration’ John Mackay (son) 5 series in 2004, with hopes of it being restored into commu- Francis Mackay (son) 2 nity use as a heritage facility to tell the John Rae story and Jane Robina Mackay (d’ter) 5 wks within its grounds to erect a new Boat Hall and other facili- James Baillie (head) (ret’rd) 77 ties to house Orkney’s boat collection telling stories of ‘Ork- Margaret Baillie (wife) 69 ney and the Sea’. This project continues to be advanced and James Baillie (son) (head) 37 hopefully the Hall will not be left to ‘tumble down’ and will Jemina Baillie (wife) 29 John W Baillie (son) 6 be restored for the use of future generations. Jessie Baillie (daughter) 3 Are you perhaps related to the Rae family in some way? William B Baillie (son) (head) 43 Do you have any stories or inforemation about Rae’s sib- Mary Baillie (wife) 33 lings and their families? James S Baillie (son) 12 Frances M Baillie (daughter) 10 If so Alan Clouston would be delighted to hear from you. William D Baillie (son) 9 You can contact him at [email protected] or at the Isabella J Baillie (daughter) 7 Orkney Family History Society office. Eleanor M Baillie (daughter) 4 Alexina J Baillie (daughter) 2 Space does not allow for the inclusion of the census details of the servants Thomas L Baillie (son) 1 mth who worked at the Hall between 1821 and 1901. If these are of interest to you Peter Maxwell (head) 30 Alan will e-mail a copy on request. Ellen Fotheringham ( hlf sister) 41 4 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Issue No. 47 September 2008

Scottish Association of Family History Societies 19th Annual Conference Saturday 26th April 2008 in Motherwell Concert Hall.

Nan Scott reports

This year’s SAFHS Conference was hosted by Lanark- Postcard” stall that had a big bundle of Orkney postcards shire Family History Society in association with for sale. If anyone is interested I can pass on an address. and West of Scotland Family History Society. The Conference was opened by Gilbert Cox, Lord Lieu- On the Friday night, 25th April, North Lanarkshire tenant of Lanarkshire. He had been at the Civic Reception Council kindly put on a Civic Reception and Dinner which the night before and had expressed an interest in family was hosted by Provost Tom Curley. It was in the Civic history researches. The first speaker was Dr Irene O’Brien Centre, Motherwell. As I was the only OFHS member to whose subject was “Scottish Poor Law”. She is well known enrol for the Conference I was invited to represent Orkney all over the Scottish Archive scene and is a Senior Archi- Family History Society. When Mr Bob Stewart, chairman vist in Glasgow City Archives. She told us how the Poor of the Lanarkshire Family History Society, replied to the Law Act came into being in1845 and continued until 1948. welcome and presentation by Provost Tom Curley I got a She went on to tell us of the records that had to be kept to special welcome as the furthest travelled guest. A lovely comply with the law such as names, ages, birthplaces, de- meal was served by College students after which an enjoy- pendants, marital histories, other relations and addresses. able time was spent talking to old friends and meeting new She also told us where they could be found. It was very in- ones. The company began to break up at 9.30pm. teresting how several of the examples that she chose to use Then at 9.30am, the next morning, we congregated in came from Orkney. Later I discovered that she knew our the spacious Concert Hall for the History Fair and in the Alison Fraser and that the Orkney Archive had been very Civic Theatre for the lectures. After registration each helpful with her research. In conclusion she said the Poor delegate received a Visit Scotland carrier bag full of ge- Law had given us a very important source of information. nealogical goodies. Coffee and biscuits were also readily It recorded the lives of a particular level of population and available. On entering the hall we found that many of drew attention to the huge numbers of applications. Scotland’s family history societies and some other his- The second lecturer was Guthrie Hutton who worked tory groups were already fully prepared for visitors to with BBC Scotland for 32 years. He left in 1994 and has their stalls. There were twenty one family history socie- since written a number of local history books. Many of ties represented. The most northerly was Highland FHS. these have been about mining or canals. The subject of his Because of the size of the hall many other historical and talk was “Forth and Clyde Canals”. I found his talk very heritage groups had been encouraged to attend. Again interesting and before I knew it I had filled four pages in there were about twenty one of them. I bought a couple my notebook. I had recently read a book on life on a barge of books and I confess to have spent some time at an “Old and have had two holidays on the Caledonian Canal whenA

The Civic Reception Dinner was hosted by Provost Tom Curley of North Lanarkshire. On his left is Bob Stewart, Chairman of the Lanarkshire Family History Society and on his right is the Glasgow & West of Scotland FHS Chairman, Eddie Nairn and the Lord Lieutenant of Lanarkshire Mr Gilbert Cox MBE. JP. who opened the conference.. Issue No. 47 September 2008 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY 5

Fwe had to handle our own boat. I think we got a com- Drysdale, who was going to speak on the “Scottish Mining plete history of the building and then the closing of each Museum”, had suddenly taken ill and was in hospital for section. The talk was peppered with dates, names of the a few days. The fourth speaker, David Webster, was able places connected by the canal and names of the engineers to stand in using another talk that he happened to have involved. In 1995 a bid for Lottery Funding was made to handy. He was an eloquent speaker, had been in business help re-design the Forth & Clyde Canal as a Millenium in Sweden and was fluent in Swedish too. His scheduled Project. There was only the one “Orkney” interest in talk was entitled “Wine Bags and Mutton Eaters”. This this talk when we saw a slide of the trial run of a newly turned out to be the results of an amazing study of the launched canal “Princess” boat with Donald Dewer and Scottish Diaspora. He gave the many reasons why Scots Jim and Rosie aboard. Though the only Orcadian there would leave home and in his studies he has come on Scot- I doubt if I was the only one who knew who Jim and tish names in lights all over the world. He gave us a long Rosie were! list of powerful and notable positions that had been held by Scots in foreign countries over the years. While the last talk was going on stall attendants began clearing up and so the 19th SAFHS Conference closed at 4.30pm. I was pleased to have been able to go. As I have been more familiar with the east of Scotland in the past going west was a new experience. I met with a lot of kind- ness and friendliness both at the Conference and wherever I went over the week-end.

The Mutchs on the left. The Bishops on the right I missed the third scheduled talk as I had an exciting time introducing two couples who had the same Orkney connection. I had met the first couple, the Mutchs, who actually lived in Motherwell, two years ago when they were researching Scollays at the Bisgeos in . Shortly before that I had got to know the other couple, none other than the Bishops, at a SAFHS meeting in Jean Shirer in charge of the Aberdfeen & North East of Scotland FHS stall Edinburgh. Bruce Bishop is now deputy chairman of SAFHS and his wife Janet is editor of the SAFHS Bul- The 20th Annual Conference is to be in in 2009. letin. This is the kind of thing that makes genealogy Some details appear below. We will try to keep you up-to- worthwhile. date in the newsletter or our website. I do hope some of I later learned that the third speaker, Campbell you will be able to attend. I will certainly try to be there.

SCOTTISH ASSOCIATION OF FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETIES PROGAMME INCLUDES •Women in Family History •Digging deeper: NHS 20th ANNUAL CONFERENCE services to support

Saturday 25th April 2009 9.30am to 4.30pm Family History KING’S COLLEGE Conference Centre ABERDEEN •Hospital Records for Genealogist Enjoy A programme packed with interesting speakers covering a range of fascinating family history subjects. •Military History Conference Tickets £10. Lunch available at £12. Complimentary Civic Reception at the Beach Balllroom, Aberdeen. Friday 24th April, 7.30pm Plus stalls, raffles etc For Bookings and full Conference details contact ABERDEEN & NE SCOTLAND FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY 158 -164 KING STREET, ABERDEEN, AB24 5BD 6 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Issue No. 47 September 2008

WHAT’S IN A PLACE NAME ?

By Edna S. Panton. Member No 1094 Concentrated in its small geographical area, Orkney has ing. We are fortunate to have William Thomson’s recent a particularly rich and varied history of place names. In- book on the subject to fill the gap. terest in the subject increases with time as people try to Within living memory Orkney has had its fair share understand something of the meaning that place names of population upheaval during the Second World War convey about the lay of the land and who owned it, what and for the previous generation, the First World War. it was used for, how it was divided up and developed, The story which follows is a very small instance of how changes that took place over the centuries and all that a combination of people, circumstance and environment still goes on. can result in a place-name carrying a depth of history When family groups stayed a long time in one place, last- behind it. ing centuries in some cases, they became closely linked to Visualise a tiny triangular patch of land, wet and their environment to the extent that the family took the marshy, where buttercups grow, which is such poor ground name of the land; thus the old area of Delday in that it has never been cultivated. As such it has always gave the surname Delday; similarily the Skeaton district been known as the ‘Myrrin’ belonging to Grind in the in Deerness has its continuity in the surname Skea. Both south-end of Deerness. Then came the First World War; of these are good old Orcadian surnames to this day. a local man, James Sutherland, fought in the trenches in It may be that before populations increased and sur- France and suffered the effects of gas. He was sent to a names became essential, an older form of identification hospital in Leeds where he met a local girl, married and was used, and not only in Orkney. The first name of an brought her back to Deerness. In the 1920s he built a adult man was followed my his place-name, usually the small home on the ‘Myrrin’, and named it ‘Armlea Cot- portion of land where he lived, and the two names were tage’ after a district in Leeds, and everyone understood linked by o’ for short. So everyone would know where John the reason for the attractive namer. Several occupan- o’ Grind, Davie o’ Fea, Robbie o’ Holland all belonged to in cies later, Dr William Emslie bought the cottage for his a parish. When there was little movement of people from family’s use at weekends and in the summertime. Both outwith a parish, or indeed within it, there was no need he and his wife belonged to Aberdeen and they renamed for surnames. it ‘Persleyden’ which was and is a lovely area by the city Fast-track now to the late 20th century – the troubles and River Don. Once again a name had been taken from in Northern Ireland are in full swing and an Irishman the original area of the owners and one that they liked. brings his family safely to Orkney for security. In time he In the 1960s Agnes J. Petrie of Stonehall, Deerness, gets to know the County and some of its native people and retired from the farm after over 40 years of life there. expresses surprise to an Orcadian that so many Irish are She bought Persleyden for her retirement home and had living in Orkney. The Orcadian is equally surprised and 21 years in it. During that time she toyed with the idea asks how he has come to this conclusion. ‘Well’ says the of changing the name on the basis that it had no Orkney Iriishman,’there is John o’ Newark, Billy o’ Donesquoy, connections and that she, an Orcadian born and bred, Tam o’ Vestlebanks’. In the next few minutes of conversa- wished to have one with more local meaning. She was tion all the ‘resident Irish’ were changed irrefutably into supported in this by my late husband, Norman A Pan- indigenous Orcadians. ton, himself an Aberdonian, but who felt quite strongly It is also said that a touch of class distinction was prac- about it. The onus fell on me to come up with a suit- tised. If the head man of a family was both the occupier able name, one that would last, with hints of Old Norse and proprietor of his land, the the word ‘of’ was used in- if possible. The obvious was to call it ‘The Myrrin’, but stead of the abbreviation o’, hence Alfred of Braebister. on thinking on its interpretation, wet boggy and marshy While static populations gave rise to certain family, and ground, the answer was ‘No’. A natural spring would place names, the opposite is true. The largest early influx have given us the name ‘Keldur’, Old Norse for spring came with the Norse in the Viking Age with long-last- but that was rejected as a hard-sounding name. We also ing effects, effects that fascinate people to this day. Then considered Old Norse names surrounding the shoreline came the Scots and others, among them the mapmakers of ‘Stonehall’; ‘Taracliff’, ‘Myzgar’, ‘Mahon’s’ and Rattans who Scotticised / Anglicised wonderfully descriptive and Gates’. ‘Dingeshowie’ and the field name ‘Suli’ were also meaningful Old Norse names, leading us nowadays to possibles but the field of ‘Suli’ is in use to this day and have to delve into the past to appreciate their true mean- we could not have kye being sent to the cottage insteadA Issue No. 47 September 2008 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY 7

Fof the field. ‘Myzgar’, with a modern spelling, is still south shoreline of . One of those taking part was used in the parish and most of the others with the excep- a well-known Shetlander, Mrs Rhoda Boulter. She spoke tion of ‘Taracliff’ did not sound right. Well we took the of her sister playing on this shoreline and how they used prefix ‘Tara’ and my husband suggested adding ‘homn’ a ‘tara-heuk’. We both sat bolt upright and that evening which he heard meant haven in Old Norse. ‘Tarahomn’, we I wrote to Rhoda Butler c/o BBC Lerwick. In two weeks thought, had the right ring about it and for good measure came a letter of explanation. Sadly just two weeks later we even put up a stone with the name at the front of the Rhoda had died. cottage. In a few years, we thought, probably no more than Rhoda, however, told us that ‘tara’ being connected one hundred, people might be calling the cottage by its to ‘Taracliff’ meant ‘where the waters meet and swirl new name. around’. And that is how it is; ‘Taracliff’ faces southeast- But a little bit of the jigsaw remained a mystery. What wards and in a southeasterly gale the waters certainly is the Old Norse meaning of ‘Tara’? Several people, includ- meet and swirl with a vengeance. ing our own Rev. Harold Mooney, had tried to solve it but So there we had it at last. ‘Tarahomn’; the haven at the it proved elusive. Then out of the blue we heard the word meeting of the waters. It is a comfortable name, close to ‘Tara’ for the first and only time. We were watching a TV home, with Old Norse overtones, all rolled into one. documentary on ‘The Year of the Bear’ with filming on the There can be much to a place name. L

3 interesting items from Peter Leith James Coats Putting Orkney, FREE The Paisley South Africa, palaeography philanthropist on the map tutorial

Sir James Coats and fortune hunter who came to South Africa in 1862, the Stenness connection bought the Witkoppen farm situated on the banks of the Vaal River and began to mine gold on it. He regis- Eva Donald, member 1209, tered the farm as the Orkney Gold Mining Company. was seeking information in He and a fellow director A M Campbell kept the mine Sib News No 45 about the active until 1892 and extracted 1228 ounces of gold Paisley philanthropist from it. and especially his Orkney was to be proclaimed on 20 March 1940 on this generous gifts to very farm of Witkoppen where Leask and Campbell Stenness which had dug for gold. included ‘a thor- The leaflet goes on to state that “It can be accepted oughly equipped that the name Orkney was derived from the Orkney library’ reading Islands. ‘Orkn’ is the old Icelands for a sea lion and glasses for the ‘Ey’ is the old Norse for islands. This is why a sea lion p a r i s h i o n e r s who required was chosen as an emblem for the town. that aid and school-bags for the children. Now, thanks to Peter Leith member 65, we have a picture of one of the schoolbags and it seems in fairly pristine condition. Also Interested in reading old documents? in the picture is the register of the Stenness Coats Library. Peter tells me that if you are interested in reading From the size of the ledger the library appears to have old handwriting, a FREE interactive website with an been a well used facility. online palaeopgraphy tutorial is available at:- Putting Orkney, South Africa, on the map. www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/palaeography Peter Leith, member No 65 was interested in the article The National Archives is the national archive for Eng- ‘Putting Orkney on the World Map’ which appeared in land, Wales and the central UK government and it Sib News No 46, June 2008. contains 900 years of history, from the Domesday Book He points out, however that Item 6 referring to Orkney to the present, with records ranging from parchment South Africa is not strictly accurate and has sent the and scrolls through to recently created digital files and following information extracted from a leaflet that came archived websites. from Orkney, South Africa. Increasingly these records are being put online mak- This indicates that Thomas Smith Leask, an Orcadian ing them universally accessible. L 8 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Issue No. 47 September 2008

I FOUND MY

ANCESTRAL HOME By Peter Thorley. Member No 1124 ‘Newhouse’ on Brimms—My Ancestral Home Our second visit to Orkney in 2004 was a co-ordinated grated to the USA in the 1880’s all settling in Illinois. event in which my wife and her two sisters rendezvoused The seventh child Harriet joining them in the 1890`s. with two cousins from Chicago Illinois, all descendants of The American contingent of our visiting group, Bonnie Benjamin Stout, first coxswain of the Longhope Lifeboat. Johnson and her sister Lori Milam, are descendants of During our visit we were royally hosted by fellow cous- Benjamin’s daughter Isabella. ins/OFHS members Fred & Liz Johnston of Stromness The three youngest children stayed in the UK, James and Angus & Margaret Heddle of Longhope. Alick Stout lived and worked around Edinburgh & Fife During our trip we visited the ancestral home, New- and is believed to later house on Brims. Newhouse is situated on the hill over- have moved to Dorset looking Upper Salwick and the Longhope Lifeboat sta- in England; Mary Alice tion (now the Lifeboat museum) with spectacular views Stout stayed on Walls, over The Ayre, Aith Hope and the Pentland Firth. marrying John Taylor I believe that Newhouse was built by Benjamin follow- Norquay in 1907; Ben- ing his marriage to Harriet Taylor Robertson of Os- jamin Edward Stout mandswall in 1859 although the earlier census returns (my wife’s Grandfather) don’t name the dwelling, 1891 being the first census in moved to Methil in Fife which it is named. Having visited the site, considering where he worked as a the size of the dwelling and its lack of facilities, I was Customs Officer. amazed that Benjamin & Harriet were able to success- Harriet died in 1904 fully raise 10 children there (an eleventh child died in and Benjamin passed infancy). away at the age of 81 Census returns of Benjamin and family are as follows:- in 1911. Newhouse remained in the Stout 1861 1871 1881 1891 1901 The 3 Benjamins. Benjamin Edward (b.1878), family and was occupied, Name AGE AGE AGE AGE AGE his son (standing) Benjamin Stout (B. 1905), almost continuously, by Benjamin Stout 30 40 51 60 71 and grandson Benjamin (B. 1930) them except for a short time in the 1920s when a Johnston stayed there for a Harriet Stout 24 33 44 52 63 few years. The last Stout connection with Newhouse Sutherland Stout 1 11 21 - - was John Norquay, a son of Mary Alice Stout who lived Catherine Ann Stout 9 * - - there until the 1950s. After he left, the house remained unoccupied and eventually became uninhabitable. It is John Stout 8 18 - - evidently up for sale so hopefully may one day be rebuilt Isabella Stout 6 16 - - or restored as a family home. Finally, if anyone can add Wilhelmina Stout 3 13 - - to, improve the accuracy of the above or have any “Stout” family history information to share, I would be very Georgina Stout 1 11 - - pleased to hear from them at [email protected] Harriet Stout 9 19 - James Alick Stout 6 16 26 Mary Alice Stout 4 14 24 Benjamin Edward Stout 2 12 22 *Working at Hope Hotel, Benjamin’s occupation is recorded as Farmer/Fisher- man as were many of the residents of Brims at that time;he also retained a lifelong connection to the Long- hope Lifeboat. He was Coxswain of the Lifeboat for 26 years, retir- ing at the age of 70 in 1900. He was awarded the RNLI Silver medal in 1891 for his gallantry in connection with the rescue of crew from the S.S. ‘Victoria’ of Sunderland. Eleven of the rescued crew were Germans and the Em- The ‘Stout’ visitors with whom we made contact on our visit ion 2004. peror of Germany presented a gold watch to Benjamin Standing L-R Wilma Harford (nee Stout), Bonnie Johnson (nee Milam), Margaret and £24 to the crew of the lifeboat. Heddle, Lori Milam, Angus Heddle, Doreen Hoyle (nee Stout). The six oldest of Benjamin & Harriet’s offspring emi- Sitting is Carrie Thorley (nee Stout). Issue No. 47 September 2008 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY 9

By Peter Groundwater Russell Member No 161

“November’s sun with slanting ray, Who could have foretold what terrible tragedy was to Beam’d feebly on the wintry morn.” befall this happy band of pilgrims? George Bell, farm manager of Sound, gave a graphic account of what hap- y the autumn of 1822 more than a quarter of a cen- pened later that day, in a letter he wrote to the laird, tury had passed since worshippers from Captain William Balfour, who was staying in Edinburgh. Bfirst made the journey by sea from the village of Bell did not apportion blame but simply said it was “the Elwick (present-day Balfour) to Carness, a point on the provealing (sic) hand of Providence.” Orkney mainland about three miles or so north of Kirk- There was no disorder or confusion among the peaceful wall, to attend services at the Secession Church in the and well-disposed worshippers; no anticipation of danger town. or alarm as they clambered into their small boats for the The Secession Movement enjoyed immense popular ap- homeward journey. A favourable wind was blowing from peal in Orkney following a long period when evangelical the southwest, ideal for returning to Shapinsay, and in teaching had been virtually non-existent. Ministers of less than half-an-hour they would have expected to land the Established Church were proverbially indolent and safe and sound at the little harbour of Elwick. inefficient, remiss in their duties, and some of them not The boat concerned, very exemplary in their lives. Writing in 1795 George probably a North Isles Barry, the somewhat controversial cleric in Shapinsay, yole, was described as said “[that owing] to the extreme ignorance of the people, being sixteen feet in the communion had not been administered for fifty years length and carried six- and only once or twice in a hundred years.” There is little teen passengers, name- evidence to show that this deplorable situation noticeably ly: William Borwick; improved during Barry’s own incumbency (1793-1805) as four of his children, he seems to have been primarily pre-occupied with gath- Helen (only child of his ering material for his voluminous work, The History of first marriage to Helen the Orkney Islands, which was published in Edinburgh Hourston, from the (1805), the year of his demise at age 57. parish of Sandwick), It was against this background of spiritual degenera- Euphemia, Margaret tion that John Russell (or Rusland),1 a tailor in Kirkwall and William (children and eldest son of a Shapinsay farmer, inspired a group of by his second wife, fellow tradesmen to form the first Secession Congrega- Euphemia Laughton, tion there. from the parish of In August 1796, a meeting-house was opened for public Holm); Thomas, son worship and was filled to overflowing Sunday after Sun- of George Bell, above, day; one observer described it as having the appearance and Janet Currie; Tho- of “well-packed herring barrel.” At least three of John mas, son of Andrew Russell’s brothers were also members of the Secession Groat and Elizabeth Church, including this writer’s great-great-great-grand- Maxwell; Thomas, son father Arthur (born 1780) and Alexander, a tailor and of James Heddle and general merchant, who was ordained an elder on 16 Oc- A North Isles yole, similar to the vessel that Helen Nicolson; Mag- tober 1804. Another elder ordained that day was William foundered. Orkney Photographic Archive. nus and William Laisk Borwick, also a merchant in Kirkwall, who came origi- (or Leask); Elizabeth (wife of William Laisk), Peter and nally from the parish of . Sometime around 1820, William, children of Peter Peace and Elizabeth Tullock; Borwick had retired from business and taken the tenancy James, son of Thomas Shearer and Marion Hepburn; of a farm on the island of Shapinsay. Thomas, son of William Shearer and Margaret/Marabel There is nothing to suggest that the 3rd of November Shearer; and Mary Smith. 1822 was different from any other Communion Sunday and William Laisk, an experienced seaman, was steering we know that several boats filled with devout islanders left and Thomas Heddle was handling the foresail; the aft Shapinsay that morning “to worship at a distant fane.” sail was not unfurled. George Bell wrote, “No person inA 10 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Issue No. 47 September 2008

Fthe Boat, as far as I have been informed by them that an oar, which kept him afloat, and all three were rescued has survived, were in the least apprehensive of any dan- by the people in Russell’s boat. ger nor were it otherwise with those on land.” On reaching William Bell, another son of Balfour’s farm manager, the ‘String,’ that potentially treacherous stretch of fast- heard the commotion as the boats passed Cliffdale (incor- flowing water between Carness and Shapinsay, the boat porated into Balfour Castle in 1847). He had been at the capsized. old pier of Sound to fetch in some horses and witnessed William Borwick, that the unfortunate passengers were in the water a long Jnr, said one of the time before they received any assistance. Bell ran back passengers took ill to the pier, recruiting James Work, an old servant of the and William Laisk laird; an un-named “boy of James Work in Widewalls;” let go of the rudder and William Currie, brother of Mrs Bell, along the way (tiller) and stepped to help him launch a boat to rescue young William Bor- from his place. Per- wick, who throughout this time had been clinging to the haps he went to the stern sheets (wooden boards) of the stricken yole. aid of his wife, Eliz- The remaining twelve all drowned in the cold, dark abeth Peace, who waters of the String. is thought to have Peter Peace, Snr, was in another boat and, later, been carrying their when the rescued William was laid at his feet, he fer- Where the tragedy happened unborn child. How- vently exclaimed, “I thank God for one.” After all, he had ever, according to William Peace, “the boat was overtaken been bereaved of a son, a daughter and a son-in-law. Mrs by a sudden squall.” It has even been suggested that the Borwick had lost her husband, two daughters, a step- boat was upset by a killer whale, which, though possible, daughter and three servants. as large cetaceans have often been sighted in Orkney wa- Mary Smith’s body was found next morning on the ters, is highly improbable because if there had been the small island of , between the Reef and the slightest reason to suspect that this was the case then Bought. Euphemia (or Euphan) Borwick was discovered contemporary accounts would almost certainly have men- at Burness on 28 November. Her half-sister Helen’s body tioned the fact. was found on the south side of Shapinsay on Christmas Using modern data, the Hydrographic Office computes Eve, “a beautiful morning.” William Borwick, Snr, was high water at Kirkwall on 3 November 1822 as at 1242 found on 4 January at Headgoe and was identified by GMT and the age of the moon as 19 days, indicating al- his watch, spectacles and penknife. Thomas Bell’s body most neap tides, so the full strength of the ebb running was found the same day between Linton and the North west or even west-north-west through the String would Hill, “his Cloath all torn off except his shirt Band of his have been felt around 3.00 p.m., which is around the time Pantilouns, Galoses, Boots and Stockings.” Both Borwick the worshippers were making their return crossing. These and Bell’s bodies were quite whole with the “exception of tidal conditions when ruffled up by a strong wind from their heads being away.” Was it these gruesome discov- the southwest would almost certainly create turbulence, eries that gave rise to the ‘killer whale theory’? William making a “sudden squall” the most likely cause of this fa- Borwick was interred on the fourth but Thomas Bell not tal incident. until the next morning, although his body was “lodged Whatever the explanation, all sixteen passengers were in the Tomb all that night.” Headstones erected to the memory of the Borwicks and Bell can be seen close to the northwest corner of the roofless ruins of the Old Kirk. On the fifth of January 1823 the remains of Thomas Groat and Magnus Laisk were washed ashore on Shap- insay. Writing on 16 January, George Bell said, “There are none of the rests Bodys has yet been found and any hopes of their being found we having had a continued gale of Easterly wind for about twelve days the middle of thrown into the water but Thomas Bell, William Laisk, which the last Bodys Thomas Heddle, Peter and William Peace, and James were found.” and Thomas Shearer, managed to scramble onto the hull. The tragic disas- They remained there for some considerable time and ter of 1822 had a called to other boats for assistance. The boat then turned most profound effect completely over and again all seven managed to regain throughout the whole the hull. Apparently there was great panic and confusion of Orkney and did because the other boats were equally heavily laden and, more than anything understandably, were afraid to venture too close in fear of else to encourage the capsizing themselves. Shapinsay members It was fortunate therefore that Alexander Russell, of the Kirkwall Con- referred to above, an elder for the Shapinsay District,² gregation to press for Old Church and graveyard showed more courage and determination, although before a church of their own which, for one reason or another, he could reach the stricken boat it turned over yet again. would take another nine years before their prayers were This time only the two Shearer boys reached the safety of answered. the hull. Somehow, William Peace managed to get hold of But what became of the four survivors? A Issue No. 47 September 2008 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY 11

FWilliam Broadfoot Borwick (born 1808), named after the first Secession Church Minister in Kirkwall, was just 14 years of age in November 1822 and this harrowing incident turned his mind in the direction of the Chris- tian ministry. Having obtained his licence in the United Secession Church he was called to the parish of , then to City Road, Brechin, before finally accepting Over- gate in Dundee. Borwick retired to Newport-on-Tay, Fife, where he died on 15 June 1870. He is buried in the Western Cemetery, Perth Road, Dundee. His widowed mother re- turned to Kirkwall where she lived in Victoria Street until her death, age 75, in 1858. From the time of his near miraculous deliverance Wil- liam Balfour Peace (born 1805), named after the laird, be- gan to take an even more active interest in the affairs of the congregation and was ordained an elder for the Shapinsay District in 1839. He remained in office un- til he was evicted from Shapinsay The Barossa Valley as it is today for the honourable and courageous on 11 November 1851. James was the first Scots settler stand he made in the acrimonious at Black Springs, present-day Springton, in the fertile “New Kirk” Elders Affair (1847).³ Barossa Valley. He died 2 September 1883 and is buried The family moved to Laing Street, at South Rhine, Springton. Kirkwall, where William set up Thomas Shearer (born 1801), left Plymouth with wife in business as a builder and join- Janet Shearer (sister of James Shearer, above) and er and within five years he was three children just three days before his brother-in-law, ordained an elder of the United on the Adelaide, and settled near Truro, South Austral- Presbyterian (formerly Secession) ia. He died 28 March Congregation. William Peace died 1875 and is buried in in 1878 following a long and pain- Truro Cemetery. ful illness and was interred in the There is no doubt in grounds of St. Magnus Cathedral my mind that their where an impressive monument traumatic experience marks the spot. that November af- James Shearer (born 1799) was appointed one of the first ternoon gave all four four elders of the United Secession Congregation of Shap- survivors a greater insay, which was organised in 1831. Although he was still sense of purpose and in office during the afore-mentioned “New Kirk” Elders Af- determination than fair he escaped eviction from the island and subsequently might otherwise have been granted Photo Credit Carolyn Ruth them. L

Notes: 1. Rusland, or Russland, an old Orkney surname of lo- cal origin from the parish of Harray, was anglicised to ‘Russell’ in Kirkwall and Shapinsay around the turn of the 19th century. 2. Around 1830 Alexander Russell (born 1774) fell foul of his fellow elders of the Secession Church in Kirkwall and was dismissed from office – but that’s another tale waiting to be told! He died 21 May 1854 and was laid to rest in the grounds of St. Magnus Cathedral, where the headstone erected to his memory and that of his first wife, Margaret Work, can be seen today. Mr & Mrs James Shearer Photograph provided by OFHS member Gloria Cant 3. A full account of this lamentable incident can be found emigrated to South Australia of his own volition with his in The Laird The Factor and The Elders: Change and wife, Frances Liddle, and five children. They travelled on Stress in Shapinsay 1847 by Paul J. Sutherland, CSYS board the Caucasian, which sailed from Plymouth, Devon, History Dissertation, Kirkwall Grammar School, 1985. Stenness, Stromness and – a grand day’s outing! By Elaine Sinclair, Secretary, Member No 1211 Stromness graphic by John Sinclair The Orkney Family History Society Annual Outing was held paces to a lane off John Street. After climbing some steps at sues such as sewage disposal. ham family, while on Sunday, 15 June 2008, when a group of approximately 25 the top of the lane, we stood before an eighteenth century Containers (we would know them as skips nowadays) occupying rooms in members boarded a bus at the old bus station in Kirkwall merchant’s house known as Miller’s House, now operated were placed at six sites around the town, including one near one of the houses, and set off for the Stenness Community Centre via the Old as tourist accommodation (13 John Street), where Jim com- the water supply at Pumpwell Park and one opposite the owned and rented Road. mented on the construction of the house and the possible modern Royal Hotel. Residents were encouraged to place all rooms in around four George Gray was the first of several commentators who use of stones from an earlier construction within the fab- their wastewaste into these containers rather than throw- houses to tenants. entertained the group throughout the day, providing infor- ric of the building. A plaque on the house states “Miller’s ing waste onto the shore or in other dump sites and there The plaque on the mation about buildings on the route, as well as their oc- House. Earliest dateable house in Stromness belonging to was a plan to sell the waste to local farmers. Mr Fortescue of front of the house cupants, past and present, as the bus travelled through St the merchant family of Swanbister, Orphir, arranged to take these containers, but today reads “Alexan- Ola and Finstown to the end of the Harray Road. Adrianne Miller.” Written stone- he only collected them, by cart, every six months, with re- der Graham’s house Leask then took over commentator duties until we reached work on the façade of the sulting poor health conditions, as we would perceive them who led merchants our destination at the house includes a marriage today. Eventually, he arranged to send a schooner to collect Alexander Graham’s house at Graham Square Stenness Community entablature and joint coat the waste at one time. to oppose tax liability to the Royal Centre for morning tea of arms of John Miller and We then proceeded down a lane Burgh of Kirkwall” which, ulti- and coffee with short- M Nisbet dated 1716. A re- off Victoria Street to a building mately, led to the creation of the bread and scones. ligious statement (“God’s (now a house) where the remains Burgh of Stromness. After our morning providence is my inherit- of an archway could be seen in The discussion of housing con- break, we set off for ance”) is also written on Decorated stonework above door the modern arrangement of the tinued, as Jim explained the neces- Stromness, while Adri- stonework above the door- stone façade – Jim explained that sity for households to have small anne continued her way and it is this which possibly indicates the inclusion of this building had been the stables enclosures to grow vegetables or commentary through stonework from another property dating from an earlier and coach house associated with dispose of waste – dunghills. As Stenness. On reaching period. the merchant’s trading opera- we reached Dundas Street, Jim discussed one James Tait Stromness, we were met We then proceeded along Victoria Street, with stops outside tion which had existed at the site, of Orphir, who was a contemporary of William Tomison of Old Ferry Terminal Building by Jim Troup, retired 25 Victoria Street (Orcadia Cuts), opposite the site of what using the pier associated with South Ronaldsay (Hudson’s Bay Company and Tomison’s teacher and commentator on matters of historical interest is now the Pier Arts Centre; the Post Office; and the Royal that particular lane. Number 94 Robert Graham’s initials Academy) and was in charge of in Stromness. Jim started by introducing us to a building Hotel. Jim weaved a story of the operations of an eighteenth Victoria Street, when viewed from the street, appeared to posts over the winter seasons which was familiar to many of us as the Ferry Terminal century merchant woman called Mrs Christina Robertson Building at Stromness Harbour. This building houses office have only two levels – street level and attic level. However, for the Hudsons Bay Company. to reflect the when viewed from the pier down the lane at the back of the James constructed housing at space on the ground floor with flats above and contains the connections garage used by Brass’s Taxis. Jim explained that the build- property, it contained another storey at a lower level. The what is now numbers 57 to 61 between the merchant, Robert Graham of Breckness, had used the lower Dundas Street with a view to as- ing had been constructed in the eighteenth century by a lo- m e r c h a n t s cal businessman for the purpose of checking goods in order level at the rear of the property as a warehouse facility for sisting his pension in old age by of Strom- his operations. His initials renting out rooms. On his death, to collect taxes and dues pay- ness and the able on imported goods pass- “RG” were clear in the his will provided for the support Hudson’s Bay stone façade at the front of financially poor scholars from ing through Orkney during Company dur- time of war. However, in peace- of the property on Victoria Stromness and Orphir. ing that time. Street. We proceeded to a house called time, ships reverted to passage For example, through the English Channel We paused at the bottom The Haven in Alfred Street and Mrs Robert- rather than around the north of of Church Road while Jim Jim explained that this had been son operated a Scotland and the income from explained that the Par- constructed by David Geddes, who warehouse on taxes and dues diminished con- ish Kirk, situated to the became the first agent in Strom- Mrs Robertson’s pier, now Maritime College building a pier next to siderably. The cost of the con- left of the road, had been ness for the Hudson’s Bay Com- struction of the building had what is now the Maritime College Building (down the lane constructed in 1717 and a p a n y The Haven, Alfred Street been considerable for the time from Argos Bakery), supplying barrels of coal, gallon casks monthly market had been around 1791. Discussion then en- and the businessman, facing of whisky, supplies of sherry and even drams to local cus- Old Parish Kirk, now StromnessTown Hall held in Church Road, not- sued as to why the lands where bankruptcy, took passage to the tomers, whilst also supplying provisions to ships. She also withstanding the slope or “cant” of the road, which must the Company operated were Carolinas. The building, consid- operated whaling vessels sailing to the Greenland/North have made display of goods particularly difficult. known as the North West or Nor’ erable in terms of cost, was also American coasts. Our group proceeded to Graham Place, where we stopped Wast. Churchill, the most north- considerable in terms of size for Jim diverged, interestingly, into local sewage issues dur- outside the house of Alexander Graham, while Jim explained erly of the Company’s posts, was its time and location, being chal- ing the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, explaining that the space which we see today was, in Alexander Gra- on the same latitude as Melset- lenged in that regard only by the that Stromness became a burgh in 1817, but it wasn’t un- ham’s time, occupied by another two houses jutting out into ter House in Walls and was mar- Parish Kirk in Church Road. til the Police Acts of the mid-nineteenth century that the what we perceive today as the open street. Housing was an ginally south of Stromness. How- Jim then led us a few short Miller’s Close burgh was able to raise or attract budgets to deal with is- issue in the eighteenth century as it is today and the Gra- ever, the weather conditionsA 14 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Issue No. 47 September 2008

Fin North America at those latitudes are much colder trapped for months. When the men arrived home, than those experienced in Britain, which enjoys the they required medical attention and several hous- warming balm of the Gulf Stream. Ships would ar- es around the town were pressed into service for rive at the posts once a year and men would receive the nursing of the men, including Mrs Humphrey’s items from home and send items to their families or house. friends, including letters and requests for clothes or Our excursion through Stromness ended at the items which they knew could not be filled for a year. Museum, where we were collected by our bus and It was essential to have an agent in their home loca- returned to Stenness Community Centre for lunch. tion to handle their wages and mail. Thereafter, we proceeded through Stenness, enjoy- Jim then touched ing further commentary from Adrianne, to Orphir again on the opera- where Alan Clouston took over commentary duties. tions of Mrs Chris- We enjoyed a bus tour through Orphir, past , tina Robertson, who to the Orkneyinga Saga Centre and cemetery near required men to op- the shore. Continuing to the village of Orphir, we dou- Greenland Right Whale bled back and travelled over Scorrabrae, down onto erate her whaling boats in the Stenness/Orphir road again and back through the North Atlantic. The boats the village used by the men to pursue to the Ger- the whales tended to be twen- miston Road ty four foot long and required to the site of to be rowed in icy conditions. the Battle They pursued the Greenland of Summer- Right Whale, which tended dale, the to be slow moving and had last battle an extremely thick, blubbery on Orkney skin. soil. As we reached Southend, Our trip we arrived at a house with a c o n c l u d e d plaque which read as follows with our – “Mrs Humphreys House. return to Round Church – Orphir Temporary Hospital 1835 – Kirkwall and everyone agreed that it had been a 36. For scurvy ridden whale very enjoyable day. Thanks must go to Hazel Goar, men who had been trapped in Davina Brown, Alan Clouston, George Gray and the ice for months.” Jim ex- Adrianne Leask for the organisation of the event plained that, as weather pat- and the research put into the commentaries which terns in the early nineteenth were provided. century altered, areas of sea which had previously been Elaine Sinclair relatively free from ice froze Secretary over and some ships became Mrs Humphrey’s House Member No. 1211

Jim Troup weaves his tale of Stromnesss and the Hudson’s Bay Company Issue No. 47 September 2008 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY 15

Some helpful websites from Ray Millar No 1277 I have felt for some time that there are a number of interest is http://www. websites that have been created by members of the southronaldsay.net by OFHS that may not be generally known about. Lisa Conrad. This is a great pity because the research that has gone into producing these sites is enormous and I’m sure Marion Mcleod’s site that their authors would only be too pleased to make http://uk.geocities. them known to fellow researchers and hopefully help com/marionmcleoduk folk find their roots. If Dave Higgins, the webmaster would be prepared focuses on well known to add these websites onto the OFHS website’s Orkney names such “members’ useful links” page this would be one as Harcus, Paterson, suggestion and I’m sure the sites mentioned below Smith, Redland and will help members both old and new. There are Wishart and also sites that I have not mentioned which are equally contains some lovely as informative and these could be added Orkney scenes. periodically if their owners expressed a wish to have them known. Mike and other researchers have created Robert Marwick’s a website ( http:// excellent site www. genealogy.northern- rousayroots.com contains, skies.net/ ) covering as the name suggests, the Feas in both information from the parish of Rousay and of many Orkney and Shetland that emigrated abroad including census returns and and their descendents photos. from further afield. A related website on the Robert Whitton’s site Grays ( http://genealogy.northern-skies.net/gray. www.robertwhitton. php?number=1 ) covers those in the North Isles, eu will be of interest looking at connections between Westray, Papa to anyone researching Westray and as well as the Allan family from a family that has Westray. any connections Finally my own with Graemsay. His website http://www. records have extensive C raymillar.co.uk/ began coverage of all families from that island, many with research of my families and everyone called Ritch or Rich who Eday ancestors but has originated from Scotland. evolved to over 7000 individual names from Dave Annal’s site Orkney and beyond. http://homepage. It contains images and ntlworld.com/dave. inscriptions of all the annal researches the gravestones from both Kirkyards on Eday. It also lists Annal all the Eday Old Parish Records of Births, Baptisms name world wide and Marriages. There are lists of Baptism Ministers, but with a focus on Population Stats. and Land Rentals. South Ronaldsay. It The amount of detail and presentation on the above also contains a photo gallery of family gravestones “amateur” websites is a credit to all fellow members from various churchyards and cemeteries on South who have spent hundreds of hours producing them. Ronaldsay and other parishes on Orkney. Also, Hopefully the above sites will give people a taste of another South Ronaldsay and website of great what is out there in the world of Cyberspace! 16 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Issue No. 47 September 2008 A hero to his men A tyrant to his tenants

A ‘potted history’ of Lt. Gen. Frederick Traill Burroughs by John Sinclair No 588 rederick Traill Burroughs came into the world in 1831 at Fateh- garh military post on the banks of the Ganges in India. He was Fthe eldest of the five children born to General Frederick William Burroughs and Caroline de Peyron. In 1840 young Burroughs, aged 9, was to accompany his uncle George William Traill back to England. Traill had just retired from the Bengal Civil Service and it was he who arranged for his neph- ew’s education at Blackheath and in Switzerland. Gen. Burroughs. Orkney Library Photo Archive While in Switzerland, Burroughs learned of Traill’s He was recom- death and of his inheritance of the uncle’s estate on the mended for the VC by his men but due to internal mili- island of Rousay in Orkney. tary politics the medal was awarded to another officer. The following year, when he was 17, he joined the 93rd In 1864 he was promoted Sutherland Highlanders. to Lieutenent Colonel and He was short for his age; about 5ft and he never grew commanded the 93rd dur- much beyond that. Like many short men he may have suf- ing the bitter fighting in fered from the Napoleon syndrome. Conventional wisdom the North West Frontier. is that Napoleon overcompensated for his short height by He returned with the seeking power, war and conquest and Burroughs was to regiment to Britain in show similar tendencies. What he lacked in height he cer- 1870 and after a spell in tainly made up for in courage in his distinguished mili- command at Edinburgh tary career. Castle he retired from the army in 1873. Burroughs visited Rousay in 1870 along with his new wife Eliza (Lizzie) Doyly Geddes and they were well received by the islanders. For some time he was to enjoy an amiable relation- Lady Burroughs. Orkney Library Archive ship with the people of Rousay but it was not to last. Bur- roughs decided to increase his land holding by buying up other parcels of land. He also commissioned the architect Thin Red Line, painted by Robert Gibb 1881 showing the 93rd Sutherland Highland- David Bryce to design and build a Scottish baronial style ers with the Russian Cavalry at Balaclava. Picture source Wikimedia Commons.

In 1854 he was in the Crimea and fought with the 93rd at the Battle of Alma where an Anglo-French force de- feated General Menshikov’s Russian army which lost around 6000 men. On the 24th October he formed part of ‘The Thin Red Line’ who routed the Russian Cavalry charge at Balaclava. The regiment was also in the front line at Sebastopol and they were preparing to assault the town with, it is said, Burroughs leading the first wave of the Highland Brigade. They were to find, however, that the Russians had abandoned the town on the 11th Sep- tember, blowing up the defences and all shipping in the harbour. Captain Burroughs was also one of the first through House. Photographed 1972. Orkney Library Photo Archive the breached walls of the Residency garden at the be- mansion which, by the time it was finished and furnished sieged town of Lucknow in the 1857 Indian Mutiny. in 1876, cost £12,000. A Issue No. 47 September 2008 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY 17

FThe problem was that Burroughs was not a wealthy man Highlanders. In 1904 he was knighted by King Edward VII. and to increase his income he simply raised the crofters’ Despite the years of acrimony on Rousay, the local paper, The rents and if they could not pay he evicted them. Orcadian, reported that after his Royal investiture he was This was carrying on the tradition started by uncle welcomed back on Rousay by his tenants singing ‘He’s a jolly George William Traill who had evicted about one quar- good fellow.’ ter of the island’s population from his Westness estates Just before chairing a regimental dinner to mark the fifti- to make way for sheep rearing. While his was a policy eth anniversary of Balaclava he took ill but soon recovered being actively pursued in the Scottish Highands, the and by the end of the year he moved to London. He was soon clearances in Rousay were the only ones ever to take to suffer a relapse, however, and died on the 9th April 1905 at place in Orkney. the age of 75. Frederick Traill Burroughs was determined to clear Lieutenant General Frederick Traill Burroughs was buried all crofters off his land and speaking before the 1884 at Brompton Cemetery, London. One of the pall bearers was Napier Commission which was founded to investigate the Lord Lieutenant of Orkney and Shetland. The mourners the excesses of the Clearances he said included at least one Admiral and three Generals. ‘I think they (the people) have as much right to my A memorial service was held in Rousay and there is a commons as I have to their clothes; the land is mine, and plaque to his memory in St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall, the coats and Orkney. L hats theirs, and I cannot see how they can claim the pasture. It did never belong to them.’ Any tenant who gave evi- dence before the visiting Royal Commission was The life of the Orkney crofter. Crushing clods; the evicted. There is oxen, one probably borrowed from a neighbour, pull a little doubt that flagstone flagstone on which the ‘operator’ stands. he was deter- A Tom Kent photograph. Orkney Library Photo Archive. mined to clear every tenant from his estate and but for the passing of the Crofters’ Act of 1886 he would have succeeded. Burroughs is remembered in the islands as the worst of the Orkney lairds; some achievement when most of the lairds are remembered as notorious exploiters of the people. Perhaps Burroughs simply couldn’t handle the civilian situation. He had spent a lifetime in the army where his commands would have been instantly obeyed and then he came up against the stubbornness of the Orcadians. Despite this he is credited with a number of firsts on Rousay; the building of Trumland Pier; first ploughing match; first school picnic; opening of island schools; a steamship service; a Post Office; a resident doctor, etc. Outwith Orkney there were still honours to be had. He was appointed honorary colonel both of the War- wickshire Regiment and his own regiment which had now amalgamated to form the Argyll and Sutherland

If you have a tale to tell, why not tell it in our December issue. Send it to me (a Word doc would be appreciated to save me retyp- ing) at— [email protected]—by November 11th and I’ll do the rest. Photos welcome too. Good quality JPEGS are perfect. 18 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Issue No. 47 September 2008 The Strange End of John Fubbister By John Gottfred The true story of a most remarkable incident at Pembina River Post in !807

It was four days after Christmas side, the clerk put his shoulder to the in the year eighteen- hundred and rough panelled door and slammed it seven at the little fur post hud- against the freezing wind. dled next to the Pembina River in ‘Well man, speak up, what is it?’ southern Manitoba. Queried Henry to the trembling Hanging low in the winter’s sky, Orkneyman. the watery sun shone bleakly A knot of pain flashed across Fub- through the ice crystal fog, and the bister’s forehead, and he blurted out snow lay deep around the aspens ‘Please sir, I... I’m not well sir. Might standing lonely sentinel along the I warm meself by your fire sir?’ Un- frozen river. Only the occasional der Henry’s basilisk gaze, John’s crack of a tree bursting with the eyes fell to the floor. cold penetrated the silence. One of the clerks by the fire spoke up These were the darkest days of indignantly. ‘Mind your place Fub- winter, when the men were con- bister. You and your mates should fined by darkness and cold to be cozy enough in your quarters!’ their cramped shelters for more than sixteen hours a day. Henry motioned for the man to be silent. He could read Many a strange tale is told of the queer happenings upon what was in the minds of his clerks. After all, who such lonely days. Why did not David Thompson give up would want to abandon their place at the hearth to a the game of checkers after losing a game to the Devil in- man who might bring God-alone knew-what contagion carnate on such a long winter’s night? Yes, strange things into their midst? Henry recollected all he had feared indeed happened to the about John Fubbister. minds of men in such He had joined the ‘The Strange End of John Fubbister’ is just one of a series HBC two years previ- isolated and lonely of stories on people, places and events that has appeared in haunts. ous, hailing from the the Northwest Journal. The stories are presented in fictionalised Orkney Isles. Fub- Alexandre Henry [the form, and often contain commonly held beliefs about the events younger], the chief bister’s boss Hugh described, regardless of their accuracy. A short explanatory note Heney, had said that of the post, was wor- at the end of the article gives the known facts of the story. ried. Early that after- he had done good serv- This article is protected by Canadian copyright and is the ice although he was noon a breathless mes- property of the Northwest Journal ISSN 1206 - 4203. senger had straggled still a lad. Still it was It is included in our newsletter with all reproduction require- an unusual request. into the little outpost ments observed. with the news that the Perhaps it was the Sioux had attacked Christmas spirit still the Saulteurs at Grand Fourches, and had coursing through Henry’s veins, or perhaps it was a killed the company’s friend, the great chief sudden pity as another bout of pain wracked John’s Tabashaw. Such news boded ill for business, and might body, but regardless, he motioned John towards the also jeopardize the lives of his men. fire. ‘It’s all right. Sit down and warm yourself, man.’ Henry’s thoughts were interrupted by a tapping at the Avoiding the eyes of his clerks, Henry climbed up the door. Fearing more bad news, he motioned to one of his steep stairs to his warm room above, his thoughts once clerks to admit the messenger. The door opened, and an again returning to the responsibilities at the post. icy blast of air rushed into the little room. On the thresh- Sir! Mister Henry sir!’ Henry awoke with a start. He old stood John Fubbister, one of the men working for had dozed off, slumped over his tiny desk, pencil in Henry’s HBC rival, who had been visiting for the new hand. He leaned over to peer down the stair ladder Year festivities. Still barely a boy, the little Orkneyman’s at his clerk below. ‘What the Devil is it now?’ He que- eyebrows were covered with frost, his eyes were moist, ried. and he suppressed a shiver as his nose dripped. ‘Damn ‘Fubbister would speak with you if you would so favour your eyes man, shut the door!’ Henry bawled at the clerk. him.’ Grabbing Fubbister by the shoulder and hauling him in- Fearing that the worst might befall the man, Henry A Issue No. 47 September 2008 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY 19

Fstepped down into the common room, his mind already man, and obtained passage to the Northwest. She had forming some words of comfort for his stricken charge. successfully maintained her cover for nearly two years Fubbister was sprawled on the hearth. A keening sound before her condition revealed her true nature. escaped his lips. He cursed, and grimaced with pain, and Within the hour, Isabel was delivered of a fine, healthy tears coursed down his cheeks. Upon the sight of Henry baby boy, whom she named James. Both mother and son he reached out his hands, and begged for mercy. were in excellent health and soon recovered enough to Henry stopped in his tracks, exchanging glances with his travel, so they were packed off in Henry’s cariole that stern-faced clerks, standing over the stricken man. What very afternoon to Grandes Fourches, where she was reu- was to be made of this? ‘He’s done for, I reckon’ said one. nited with her lover. ‘Never seen such a display’, exclaimed the second. And so ended the career of John Fubbister, and likewise, Fubbister clutched at Henry’s trouser leg, his grip like the amazing true story of Isabel Gunn, the first Euro- steel. ‘Hear me sir,’ he begged through tears and clenched pean woman to give birth in the Northwest. teeth. ‘Take pity upon a poor, helpless, abandoned wretch! Treated cruel have I been sir! Oh God!’ He shuddered as Isabel Gunn was born in , Orkney in 1781. his body was wracked with another seizure. ‘I’m having a Her lover was John Scarth from the parish of Firth. To baby sir!’ avoid being separated, Isabel disguised herself as one John The men stood thunderstruck, staring at the figure on the Fubbister, and signed on with the HBC in June, 1806 at floor. Impossible! An Orkney girl? Here? Stromness, Orkney. The pair sailed to Albany on Hudson’s ‘He’s mad,’ said one of the clerks, slowly shaking his head. Bay aboard The Prince of Wales that summer. In 1807 she ‘The fever’s gone to his head, sir.’ was assigned to a brigade under the command of Hugh ‘‘I’m not mad, damn you!’ screamed the figure on the Heney and traveled to the Red River area, where she gave hearth. I’m a girl!’ And so saying, he reached up, and birth to her son, James. After the birth, she returned to tearing open his jacket, revealed a pair of round white Albany, took the name of Mary, and worked as a nurse and breasts. washerwoman until being sent home in 1809. She died a One can imagine the confusion of the next moments as pauper at Stromness, on November 7, 1861. these rough and bush-hardy veterans faced a situation that none of them had ever prepared for. Bears, hostile na- Bibliography tives, drownings and freezings were all a matter of course, Henry, Alexander (the Younger). The Journal of Alexan- but Orkney girls whelping on one’s hearth were quite be- der Henry The Younger 1799-1814. The Champlain Soci- yond the pale. ety, University of Toronto Press, 1988. ISBN 0-9693425- Damning his eyes for him, Henry sent one of his men to 0-0. Volume 1, pp. 299-300. fetch a midwife, while the other rushed to fetch a blanket Henry, Alexander (the Younger). New Light on the Ear- and boil water, or whatever it is that one does in such mo- ly History of the Northwest : The Manuscript Journals ments of crisis. Meanwhile, Henry knelt next to a person of Alexander Henry... Elliot Coues (ed.) Reprint-Ross & he had just recently known as John Fubbister, and heard Haines : Minneapolis, 1965. Originally published 1897. p. the amazing tale of Isabel Gunn. 426. She was born in the Orkneys, and as a young woman, she Van Kirk, Sylvia. Many Tender Ties : Women in Fur- had been debauched by one John Scarth, who had subse- Trade Society, 1670-1870. Watson & Dwyer : Winnipeg, quently decamped for Hudson’s Bay. This resourceful and 1980. ISBN 0-920486-06-1, pp. 175-177. amazing woman, learning that her lover was bound for Copyright 1994-2002 Northwest Journal the wilds of Canada, had signed on with the HBC as a ISSN 1206-4203 L Robert trawled up this gem from WWII

The “Isles” class trawlers were a class of trawler used by the Royal Navy and Canadian Navy during the Second World War. Length 164 feet , Beam 27.7 feet and Draught 8.6 feet with a speed of 12 Knots and a complement of 40. A total of 168 ships of this class were built and were mainly used on harbour defence duties and minesweeping. Twelve Isles class trawlers were lost during the war. As one might expect many of these ships had Orcadian names including:- HMS Eday, , Fara, , Hoy and my main interest HMS Graemsay (T291) built at Ardrossan Dockyard, launched 3rd August 1942. Robert Whitton, Member No 218 Edinburgh, Scotland 20 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Issue No. 47 September 2008

Know your way around West Register House and Register House Edinburgh

By Robert Whitton. Member 218 The General Register Office for Scotland commercial research, primarily using the made available the Modern Day Indexes up public registers and adoption records. to 2006 for births and deaths both in their West Register House office and on the Scotlands People website on West Register House is situated in Charlotte 23 January 2008. This now means that even Square, off the west end of Princes Street. though recent actual records are not avail- The search room here is known as the West able on line the indexes are and you can ther- Search Room, where you can consult court fore identify potential records to examine if and government records and maps and you should wish to visit, or have a researcher plans. The main classes of records available visit on your behalf. at West Register House are, Modern govern- The National Archives of Scotland are un- ment files: records of the Scottish Office and dergoing a renovation of their premises and Scottish Government; Court records: Court are working with the General Register Office of Session; High Court of Justiciary (after Did of Scotland and the Court of the Lord Lyon 1800); sheriff court records (excluding wills); you know to create a new family history centre. Full divorces (to 1983), Records of the former na- information of this exciting development can tionalised industries and transport: rail and be found at http://www.scotlandspeoplehub. canal systems, coal, gas, electricity and steel Interest in genealogy is gov.uk/ As access to the building is likely to industries; Business records and Maps and certainly growing but alter you should check in advance to ensure plans. despite this you will find that the records you need are available. that most people can go If you are new to researching material at Case Study no further back than their these locations you may find the following I wished to research a Light House Keeper grandparents and very few information helpful. called James Ritch who was born on Graem- beyond their great-grand- parents about whom they Don’t Go Un-Prepared say. Orkney on the 5th October 1854 (Articles know very little. (Fail to prepare – Prepare to Fail) about his wife Mary Mowat have previously In contrast many can give Accessing the records at National Archives of appeared in previous editions of SIB News). the detailed pedigree of Scotland can be a bit daunting and it is sug- I had located James, a brother of my Great their dogs for generations gested that if you intend to visit you obtain Grandfather, in the various census records back. one of the comprehensive guides available and had already located his birth, christen- on their web page http://www.nas.gov.uk/de- ing, marriage and death records. These gave fault.asp and also check out the indexes to a hint as to where he lived but I wished to save time when you arrive. Note that differ- know which Light Houses he had worked on. ent records can be held at 2 different locations The web page for the Bell Rock so it is important that you identify what you confirmed that he had been there, but I want- wish to search and find out what is available ed exact dates. I went to the Northern Light- together with the relative references before house Board Offices at 84 George Street, Ed- you travel. Note that the General Register inburgh and was given an information sheet House is at present separate from the Gen- that told me that their archives had been eral Registrar of Scotland Office where the placed with the National Archive of Scotland. Births deaths and marriage are located. Much information about the NLB can be ac- General Register House cessed at www.nld.org.uk General Register House can be found at the The main Northern Lighthouse Board records east end of Princes Street in Edinburgh’s city are held at West Register House where access centre. Two search rooms are housed there: can be given to the actual records but these the Historical Search Room and the Legal are held in a depositary on the west side of Search Room. The Historical Search Room Edinburgh so 2 days’ notice is required. The is used for researching family, local, national staff records are available on microfilm at and international history. The Legal Search the General Register House, Edinburgh. The Room is used for certain types of legal and building is being renovated but having A Issue No.47 September 2008 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY 21

Ffollowed the clear diversion signs I arrived at the reception. As this was a first visit I had to sign in and receive a visitor’s pass. I was then directed to the cloakroom (I didn’t have a cloak!) where coats etc have to be deposited Have you got along with mobile phones, bags etc. You will need a £1 coin (refundable) for the locker. Your notebook and pencils then need to be put in a clear plastic bag, which is supplied. NB connections in your although the GRoS allows pens, as the access to microfiche there has stopped and it’s on- family tree? screen access only, the NAS has very valuable documents and only allows pencils. You need Has any member come across the tale of a to walk up a stair though the Legal Search Manxwoman in their family? Mary Ann Room to the Historical Search Room where at Wareing, later Sutherland arrived in Orkney the Enquiry Desk you can obtain a Reader’s in 1840 or 41 and I am hoping that someone Ticket. (I then had to go back to the cloakroom from the OFHS can tell me more about her to collect my Photographic Identity e.g. Bus family. pass, Passport or Photo Drivers Licence and She was my grandmother’s grandmother and when I was a wee girl I was told that my proof of address e.g. Gas/Electricity Bill she was an Englishwoman from Liverpool or Bank Statement). I was then allowed to go who eloped with a seaman to the Orkney into the Historical Research Room and at their Islands. Alas for romance, I found Mary Ann Enquiry Desk I checked in and had a seat al- Wareing in the 1841 census, aged 12 and located. I then used a computer terminal to already living in Kirkwall. She did not marry order the document required. Luckily I had John Sutherland, also of Kirkwall, until researched this before (see notes below) and June 1851. I then lose track of the family had the reference number. My seat number until the marriage of their daughter Minnie ensured that the document was delivered to Alice Sutherland to William Gillespie in the correct place. When the box of microfilm 1877 in Edinburgh, when John Sutherland is described as an artist (deceased). He may Did arrived I exchanged it for my readers ticket of course have been a weekend painter and and was shown where the microfilm readers Minnie Alice was indulging in a spot of social you know were located in the Legal search room I had climbing. I have no idea when they moved originally walked through. Luckily I knew to Edinburgh despite checking the English On midsummer day in the how to work the machine but the one beside it censuses. Orkney Islands, the sun is Mary Ann Wareing was born in the Isle of above the horizon for 18 had a printing facility (need cash for that and 1/4 hours. mine was locked away in – yes you guessed it, Man, the daughter of James Wareing and the Cloakroom!). I found my James Ritch in Mary Ann Lawton. In 1841 she lived at the index at the beginning and fast-forwarded Bridge Wynd, Kirkwall together with a 25 to his page where I obtained the facts that: - year old woman called Mary Ann Houston, described as a merchant seaman’s wife, and a The NLB records show an Assistant Keep- 10 month old baby Sarah Houston, both born er who entered service 11th July 1860 at the in England. I suspected that the older Mary Bell Rock for 3 1/2 years then on 2-12-1863 Ann might have been the eloper, but not so. transferred to Girdleness, Aberdeen for 3 Mary Ann Slater, (daughter of Moses Slater years until his death. I also checked the pages and Sarah Wareing) married David Houston for Hoy High and Hoy Low and examined who in Liverpool in 1838. Their daughter Sarah else were Keepers there. When I returned the Wareing Houston was born there in 1840. Microfilm I was returned my reader’s ticket Through genesreunited I have been in touch and then retrieved my Jacket etc before sign- with a Houston descendant, and found that ing out. Next visit should be easier as all I David and Mary Ann had other children, then emigrated to Australia in 1849. need to do is to bring my ticket! A good days The tale was obviously much exaggerated work. in the telling, but I now know that I have The items I searched were: - a smidgen of Manx blood instead of real Records of Principal Keepers. Section 1, English blood. It’s still fascinating to think of little Mary Ann leaving home at 12 to look Assistant Keepers. Section 2, after a relative’s baby. List of Keepers in each Lighthouse Section 3. I’m still hopeful of filling in the gaps so if Ref No Year Joined anyone can remember any family tales of a NLC4/1/1 1837-1852 Manx great, great grandmother or auntie I NLC4/1/2 1822-1869 on same film would be glad to hear from them. NLC4/1/3 1869-1912 With many thanks. Madeleine Ulyett, 21 Esplanade, Hornsea, East Yorks. HU18 1NQ NLC4/1/4 1912-1921 or e-mail me at [email protected] NLC4/1/5 1922-1958 22 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Issue No. 47 September 2008

SERGEANT JAMES SUTHERLAND DFC By Stan Sutherland – Member No 225 ames was born on 31st January 1890 at Whanclett JFarm on the island of Flotta in Orkney. He was the eldest son of James Sutherland, a farmer’s son and ‘Liberty’ Patch of the 77th Margaret Sutherland (née Simpson). James junior grew American Infantry Division up on Flotta but at the age of twenty he left Flotta for Glasgow where, on the 1st April 1910, he boarded the 9.599 ton steamship Hesperian, bound for Boston, USA. 61st French Division. The French began to withdraw a month later and the 77th held a ‘quiet’ sector until 4th August. 77th Division relieved the 4th American Divi- sion on the 11th/12th August, in the Vesle Sector. This was a more active sector and, before it was relieved by the 8th Italian Division on 15th/16th Septem- Whanclett Farm, Flotta ber, 77th Division had advanced to cross the James Sutherland enlisted River Vesle and had in the American army in Il- reached the River Aisne. linois and was drafted into 77th Division was SUTHERLAND, JAMES the 305th Infantry Regiment, allocated an important Sergeant, U.S. Army part of the United States 77th opening role in Ameri- Company E,305th Division. It was New York’s ca’s greatest battle of Infantry Regiment National Army division (the World War 1, the Meuse- 77th Division A.E.F. American equivalent of a Brit- Argonne offensive, Date of Action ish New Army division), and which started on 26th October 3rd 1918 was organised at Camp Upton, September and contin- New York starting 25th August ued until the end of the 1917. The 77th Dision was the war. 77th Division at- Citation The Distinguished Service Cross first National Army division to tacked on the left of the is presented to arrive in France, between 13th American First Army, James Sutherland, Sergeant, April and 13th May 1918 with the 1st Cavalry U.S. Army, for extraordinary Division of the French heroism in action in the Forest Upon arrival in France Fourth Army on its left. of Argonne, France, most of the 77th Division Sadly, James Suther- October 3rd, 1918. trained with British units land was killed during Displaying exceptional devotion in Picardy and Artois, but the fierce fighting in the to duty and conspicuous cour- the artillery was sent to Argonne Forest which age, Sergeant Sutherland led Bordeaux to train with the made 77th Division his platoon up the steep slope French. On the 19th June famous, when a group of of a ravine, under murderous the 77th Division moved men from several of its machine-gun fire in an attack to the Baccarat sector in units was cut off for five on a series of strong enemy Lorraine, where it relieved days behind German machine-gun nests; and in so the 42nd American Divi- lines near Binarville doing was seriously wounded sion and sent units into and became known as the line to serve with the the ‘Lost Battalion’. Issue No. 47 September 2008 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY 23

The 77th Division’s Great War casualties 193206 totalled 1,992 dead and 8,505 wounded. It ad- vanced 71½ kilometres Gunner against resistance, more than any other James Taylor American division and served 66days in Sutherland active sectors, equal to the Regular Army 2nd Division and RFA exceeded only by the Sadly another young 1st and 3rd Divi- Sutherland was also to lose sions. Before James Sutherland The Orkney Herald his life in the killing fields of died in the Argonne fighting on 3rd October1918, aged France. 28, he had been promoted to Sergeant and awarded the Gunner James Sutherland, distinguished cross. a cousin and boyhood friend of Sergeant Sutherland, was James Sutherand is buried in Grave 19, Row 5, Plot born in St Mary’s, Holm, on 13th October 1890, the sec- F in the Meuse-Argonne Cemetery, which is the larg- ond son of John Sutherland, a tailor and journeyman, and est American military cemetery in Europe with 14,246 Maggie Sutherland (née) Taylor, who were both born and married on Flotta. Another son Daniel, and a daughter graves Maria, were born while the family was living in the old St Andrew’s schoolhouse. The family moved to Flotta before the 1901 census, when they were living at Whanclett. James completed his schooling on the island and then found employment there as a postman. An elder brother, John, had left the island and emigrated out to Australia. Gunner James Sutherland was a driver in 84th Bat- tery Royal Field Artillery and was the second Flotta soldier to die in the German Lys Offensive in April 1918. His battery, part of the independent 11th Army Brigade, was supporting the 154th French Division, which had just taken over part of the Lys front between Bailleul and Wytschaete from British troops before it was heavilly at- tacked there on the 25th April. James Sutherland was killed in action that day, aged 27. He is buried in Grave III.G.159 in Bailleul Communal Meusse-Argonne American Cemetery and Memorial Cemetery Extension, Nord, France DNA and the Westray Dons

Margaret Polack (nee Hewison), writes to say how interested she was in James Irvine’s artcle on DNA in Genealogy which appeared in the June issue of our newsletter. It brought to mind the research done some years ago into Orkney DNA and the Viking migration and she thought that similar investigations had also been undertaken on the Westray /Spanish connection. With a name like Hewison this is of especial interest to her and she wondered if it had been confirmed whether there was any truth in Dennison’s theory that Westray families, known as Dons, were descended from mixed marriages with sailors of the Spanish Armada whose ships had foundered as the made their way back to Spain round the North of Scotland. Does any reader recall the research and its outcome? If so Margaret would like to hear from you. You can contact her at [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 873166 extension 3029 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 SCO26205 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. subscriptions etc MEMBERSHIP