Sib Folk News

Issue 16 December 2000

The Newsletter of the Family History Society The big news this quarter is that we have changed Contents our address. The Orkney Heritage Society has agreed that the can lease the From the Chairman 2 Strynd Community Room to us for two years and on a monthly basis thereafter. We moved in on No- From the Editor 3 vember 1st and were open for business almost immediately The flitting went smoothly thanks to From the OFHS Office 3 the enthusiastic volunteers too numerous to men- tion. We are also indebted to the Orkney Island The OFHS Dinner 4 Council for help received with the flitting and for drawing up the lease. The new office is situated Book Review 5 quite close to Broad Street. We miss the cupboard space of the old place and are in the meantime Correspondence & Queries 6 surrounded by cardboard boxes.

The Skaill Proof 10 To go with the new office we have a new secretary. Mrs. Gillian Mooney was appointed general secre- Unsuspected Ancestors 13 tary at the September monthly meeting just in time to be a signatory to the new lease. Gillian is not new SFN on the Internet 14 to the society as she has been an office volunteer along with her husband, Olaf, almost from day one. The William & Ann Harcus Story 15 We are grateful to her for taking on this extra duty. I hope you will enjoy reading her reports of the The Kirkyard Puzzle 23 monthly meetings.

On the 4th November I had the pleasure of repre- senting the Society at the Council Meeting of the Front Cover. Scottish Association of Family History Societies. It was held in the Prestonfield Room, John Mclntyre Centre, Pollock Halls, University of . It The photograph was taken by Roddy Simpson, one was a lovely bright day for November and Arthur of the Society's newest members and the author of Seat and the Salisbury Crags were looking their the article entitled 'Unsuspected Ancestors' in this best. The chairman, Mr. Peter Ruthven-Murray, issue. is said to be the most popular site gave a special welcome to the Caithness representa- for visitors to Orkney. It is certainly a must for any- tive and myself as our societies were represented for one visiting these islands. It is a Stone Age village the first time. The business took almost three hours. which until last century remained undiscovered be- Afterwards there were a lot of people one wanted to neath sand dunes until a great storm blew the sand compare notes with and I was sorry not to have away. Archaeologists have dated the village at arranged to stay longer. I would suggest that we about 3,200 B.C. endeavour to have a regular representative at these meetings, which occur twice a year.

I would like to thank all our members, for your From support through the year and to wish you a very happy time at Christmas. A good New Year's reso- the Chairman's Desk lution for us all could be, "Write an article for Sib Folk News". That would ensure a good year in 2001 Can it be twelve months since I wrote a report for the for the editor! last Christmas newsletter? It is said that time flies when one is enjoying oneself! Certainly time need Ttcut Scott not "hang heavy" when family history research needs doing.

2 From the Editor's Desk A Letter from the 'Office Volunteers' This, the 16th issue of SFN, completes four years since the start of publication. The Society has devel- The Orkney Family History Society has grown in oped and matured considerably during these four the last three years and each year we see more of our short years. The newsletter may not seem to have friends from overseas and mainland Britain. So developed in line with the Society but on the other many come for just a day or a couple of nights and hand the Society started from scratch whereas the go home disappointed that their holiday was so newsletter was modelled on ROOTS short. Very few arrive knowing what the landscape my own newsletter now in its 39th issue. is like and many come thinking it is barren, rocky and treeless. The first sight coming into Stromness The time may have come to make changes to the harbour or landing at airport changes these newsletter. Quotes have been received for printing ideas. Orkney is so different to the place many of rather than photocopying. Surprisingly the cost the young men and women left in the 19th. century. would appear to be cheaper. Certainly the quality Like most other places we have moved with the would be better. Most family history newsletters are times. A good description of Orkney in early June called 'journals' and are printed as A5 booklets. would be the Emerald Isles with 'forty shades of green.' As the summer progresses so do the colours I have always preferred the A4 size, as the font size and in August the countryside is a patchwork of can be larger. The A5 size uses smaller fonts and is colour. We are not exactly treeless as there are a therefore more difficult to read. Family trees are few plantations around and Kirkwall has a few tall also much more legible on A4 format. Nevertheless trees and not just the famous one in Albert Street. A5 has advantages, such as a more professional look, occupies less space, is easier for storage and is cheaper because less paper is used. (A 'Green' Make 2001 the year argument here, I guess)

The committee will be discussing this matter at their YOU December meeting and I await their decision. So, this may be the last issue of SFN in this format. visit Orkney There has been some discussion and communica- tion regarding a move to publish SFN on the web. Rome was not built in a day and neither can Orkney The Committee voted by a small majority to publish be seen in a day. Although these islands are mere but asked me to make the final decision. Mike dots on the world map, transport of some kind is Clouston has temporarily suspended publication needed to see all the sights. The islands are 'oozing' until he receives authority to proceed. Being some- history. Agriculture is the main industry and a what an amateur computer boffin I lean towards variety of Orkney produce finds its way to some of publication but have a slight gnawing feeling that the top London stores. we could lose members. It has been suggested that publication could have the reverse effect and publi- Most members want to find the birthplace of an cise our society. If we include some publicity mate- ancestor. Buildings have changed over the years but rial in the home page of Mike's website then readers there are still a number of old ones left in Kirkwall might be motivated to join our society and reap its and Stromness. Both places having extended out benefits. I have included Catriona Groat's discus- into the rural areas and not skywards. The isles and sion of the subject on page 14 of this issue. the rural areas have newer farm buildings which are more convenient with modem methods of farming but most have some old buildings being remnants of the old home and the old byres. Some of the smaller tyaxtui ^ettcUUl farms have been amalgamated into larger units and probably only a field name today, but in many cases members can tread the path an ancestor trod and admire the view. The outline of the hills hasn't Night' scheduled for January 11th, 2001 in the changed and there are no great forests of trees or Supper Room of Kirkwall Community Centre. high-rise buildings to mar the view It's so fine to sit awhile and close one's eyes and imagine the life Nan attended the Scottish Association of Family that was or to sit by the shore and hear the waves History Societies' Conference in Edinburgh re- and the birds, just as our ancestors did long ago. cently, while on holiday, and will tender a report at the next meeting. It takes time to see the islands and the Mainland areas and to speak to long lost relatives. When that We moved into our new premises in the Strynd on 'Grand Tour1 of Europe is being planned make sure November 2nd and George Gray reported on the Orkney has a special place and extra time. After all great interest shown, particularly in the history of 'What is this life if, full of care, we have no time to the building, after he placed a notice on stand and stare? No time to stand beneath the [email protected]. The houses were built in boughs and stare as long as sheep or cows:' Wm. 1703 and can boast of a most prestigious visitor in Henry Davies Prince William Henry who later became king. He was entertained by no other than Mrs Traill, an ancestor of George, George then asked for a round of applause for Nan for her work in acquiring the lease for the office.

Nan then said grace before we tucked into an excellent meal prepared by 1st and 2nd year pupils of Kirkwall Grammar School. The restaurant is open twice weekly and provides training for the pupils in all aspects of catering from the basics in the kitchen up to full silver service. The food was Orkney Family History Society delicious and the dessert called "Orkney Mist" was something not be missed. Overblikk Restaurant, Orkney College, Thanks to Mr and Mrs Alistair and Anne Cormack who provided us with a little bit of light after-dinner 11th November 2000 amusement by asking us to compose a limerick. Prizes were won by Mrs Susan Mooney, Mrs Janice The President, Brigadier S P Robertson, welcomed Sinclair and Mrs Helen Johnston. everyone to the Society's annual dinner held, this year, in the new Orkney College's Overblikk Res- Brigadier Robertson's guest, Sheriff Colin Scott taurant. Forty four members and guests attended MacKenzie, praised our stable and mature society and there were apologies from Mr Gavin , and spoke of the importance of genealogy, knowing Mrs Mimes Manson, Mr Frank Eunson, Mrs Eileen who we are and where we come from, and of the McGibbon and Mr and Mrs Ian and Betty Cameron great interest being shown also in and in his own islands, the . He compared life in Brigadier Robertson gave a special thanks to the the highlands and islands to that of big cities where Editor Gavin Rendall, the Treasurer Mr George one hardly knows one's neighbour and is often Gray and the Chair Mrs Nan Scott. He expressed his ignorant of one's roots. pride at being associated with all the hardworking, dedicated workers who gave so much of their time Mr Harvey Johnston, of the College's management voluntarily. team, and a popular Orcadian speaker, then related Nan took the opportunity to say to the society how an old story (which may or may not be true) from grateful we were to be able to benefit from Briga- his own area in the parish of dating back to dier Robertson's wise 'perspicacity'. There will be a committee meeting in December. the 8th century when the spread into Ork- The next open monthly meeting is a 'Members' ney and eventually did battle with the Picts in Har- ray. For our members in faraway places Harray is in

4 the middle of the main island of Orkney and is the than my encyclopaedia which has lasted a life- only parish which does not have the sea on any side. time! As I read at random 1 was again reminded of After the Pictish king had been captured an angel the enjoyment of my youth when I was allowed to appeared, in a dream, to the Viking chief making him take Peace's Almanacs off top shelf of the promise to let the Pictish king and his wife and two "press". These were annual publications that con- children go unharmed and to give him a piece of land. tained all that had happened in Orkney during the The place name 'Mirbister' may be a combination of year and who did it, why, where and when. the two languages with 'bister' meaning 'homestead' The 20th century book is a compilation of in Norse but there is no Norse equivalent for 'mir'. well-chosen items from the "Orcadian" newspa- Could it be a Pictish word? pers 1900-1999. Howard Hazell must have spent As Harvey pointed out time is a strange thing. many hours of careful research when choosing Apparently the Norse language was still attempted in what to include. The result is a valuable reference Harray in the 1700's and 1800's, which seems a long book for all Orcadians especially genealogists. As time ago, but our grannies could easily have known you read you come across helpful additions from people who used it. Howard. For example Jim Baikie made the news in Cyprus in 1963 when in the R A F and Howard Harvey's second story concerned a lady born on the can tell you he is now a cartoonist with interna- island of Wyre in 1647, a relative of his wife. This tional reputation. lady, Margaret Halcro, moved South when she was There are a great many black and white 19 years old and married a minister but she soon photographs. An interesting one on page 133 became ill and died. The undertaker noticed her shows the fourteen middle-aged members of the expensive jewellery and at night, after her funeral, Groat family from taken about 1980. and before filling in her grave properly, returned to There is one of the great American athlete Jessie remove her ring. I won't go into the details concern- Owens pictured with a Sanday wrestler. Like me ing the method he used but the pain must have awak- you may have heard of Jessie Owens but not of ened the lady from a trance and she subsequently Tom Ward! The book contains many interesting made a full recovery and her two sons, Ralph and things. There is a list of 45 Orcadians, "who made Ebenezer, founded the first Secession Church in their way in the world", but as you read the book Kirkwall you find the list doesn't stop there. A Roll of honour gives the 603 names of men who died in Nan thanked the evening's speakers, and asked the first world war as they appear on Orkney's Harvey to pass on our thanks to the restaurant staff. monuments. There are also lists and dates of Ba Brigadier Robertson wished everyone a happy jour- winners, Stromness Shopping Week queens and ney home after a very successful evening. many public figures. The book is published by, and can be or- The Orcadian Book dered from, The Orcadian, P O Box 18, Kirkwall, Orkney. KW15 1DW. The volume weighs 2 kg of the 20th Century but comes extremely well wrapped. One copy by Howard Hazell. costs £31 which includes P&P (U K only). Reviewed by Nan Scott. This time last year we were eagerly awaiting the appearance of "The Orcadian Book of the 20th Century" but it did not make it to the book shops in time for Christmas. Although it has now been on the Directory of Members shelves since February it is still a good buy for this Christmas. Names and Interests When I first saw the book it reminded me of Arthur Mee's Children's Encyclopaedia. It was big The OFHS office will be producing the next issue and blue in colour like each of the ten volumes of the of the Directory early in 2001 for distribution with encyclopaedia that I had continually dipped into in SFN 17. Ensure that your interests, postal address my childhood. On opening the book I soon realised and e-mail addresses are updated if necessary. the quality of the production was even more superior

5 (you've guessed it!) David Sinclair - my father. Correspondence Family "history" has it that my grandfather, before The Society does not accept responsibility for the his retirement in 1930, was offered the job of Chief views/opinions expressed in articles and letters Constable of Orkney, but declined because so published in SFN. many of his family were settled in Sussex and he did not want to leave them behind

From Jim Wilson (19) I would be interested to hear from anyone who has knowledge of any descendants of William and As well as being a member of the OFHS, I also Janet, especially any living relatives. (Three of my happen to be involved in the BBC-UCL Blood of aunts visited the area in the late 70s and made the Vikings Genetic survey (see SFN 15). One aim contact). Unfortunately, all have now died and the of this project is to ascertain the Scandinavian contacts lost, although a cousin has mentioned that heritage in each of about 25 locations in the British a contact was made at the Post Office at "Donna's Isles, one of which is Orkney. To this end, we Brae"(?)) require mouth swab samples from 100 unrelated I have details of some 120+ individual members of male volunteers whose paternal grandfathers were David & Donaldina's family. born in Orkney. If any readers are, like our editor, interested in participating, or you know of someone Yours hopefully who is, please write or e-mail to me at the address Colin Sinclair below. 2, OakleaRoad Scholes, jim. wilson @ucl.ac.uk Leeds, W. Yorks.

Galton Laboratory E-mail; [email protected] Department of Biology University College London Wolfson House 4 Stephenson Way From Bert Baikie, (369) Rnmba3569@aoLcom. London NW1 2HE Old Roads

Can anyone help me find the location of old roads From Colin Sinclair, Leeds running between and Kirkwall? By old roads I mean the earliest possible records of tracks My g-g-grandfather was William Sinclair who and roads particularly in the Birsay, Harray and married Janet Linnay. They resided in Holm and Firth parishes. Any help will be much appreciated. had four children -(dates in UK format d-m-y) Mary (b. 2.7.1832), William (b. 15.3.1834), David (b.25.5.1835), my g-grandfather and From Tom Harkness, Bathgate, West Lothian Jane (b.25.1.1844). [email protected]

David went on to marry Betsy Craigie in Holm While transcribing headstones in one of the Bath- Parish (Cof S) Church on 30.7.1868. I think they gate cemeteries I came across an Orkney stray - had four children, Margaret, Elizabeth, Henry and James Rossie. He was born in Stromness on 25/07/ David (b. 18.9.1869), my grandfather. 1863 and died in Edinburgh 2/02/1932. He had David left Holm to enlist in the Seaforth Highland- been a medical practitioner in Bathgate for 33 ers in the late 1880s and met and married Donald- years. If anyone claims Dr Rossie, I would be ina McLean (b. Inverness 12.9.1878). After his happy to obtain a literal transcription of the head- military service, David joined the East Sussex stone together with details of his wife and family. County Constabulary and they settled in East Sus- I could also take a digital photo of the headstone sex where they produced 12 children, ten of whom and put it on my website. survived into adulthood - the eleventh child was

6 From Fiona C. Pearson, (424) ble) older children were bom? Did some families Manor Farm Bam, Main Street, Bilbrough, not record births and marriages (as I can't find her York, Y023 3PH parents marriage recorded either)? Does this web site only have limited access? I did find out that e-mail: [email protected] Ann's father, Andrew, was bom at Dunrossness in Shetland, whereas before, I only knew him as com- Extracts from Fiona's letter to the Editor ing from Fair Isle.

At the moment I am becoming really hooked on this I'm very interested to know what life was like in family search, obsessive even! I find my their time: the occupations of the people, the fishing, g.grandmother, Ann(e) Williamson so intriguing. I types of boats, what they caught, who they traded hunger to know more about her, her family and her with, the emigrations, the hardships, general health descendants. By deduction and guesswork in re- and weather in Orkney in 1800's, the churches, the reading a photocopied page from the Westray & schooling, whether they had newspapers, how they 1871 Census which George Gray got news of the outside world What was happening kindly sent me a few months back, I think I have in the rest of at that time? So much! I'm found two other, possible older sisters and I'm hop- also very interested to find out what happened to ing the full census returns will shed some more light Ann's twin boys, Peter & Charles, who were bom on this. illegitimately at Kirkwall in 1890, and their descen- dants. Would you perchance have a copy of a 1901 From the ages of Ann's parents when she was 10 census return for Kirkwall? I have a photocopy of (in 1871) I rather suspected that they would have had the 1891. When and where she married David Ma- older children, besides Ann and her younger brother, cLeod, whether she had any more children? My John. George Gray did find out an older Agness, father, Charles Williamson, 1902 Glasgow - 1992 married to the 'informant' Peter Harcus, on Ann's never mentioned his grandmother that I recollect. mother's death certificate. So from this page of He had a stepmother called 'Ceena'- I don't know census returns Tve found a 'Barbara* (is it coinci- how that was spelt She was also an Orcadian that dence that this is the same name as Andrew's his widowed father met through some Orcadian mother), aged 22, living & working at the Logie society or church in Glasgow in the 1920-30's. My family grocers. I've also found an 'Anderina' (named mother, Alice Helen Cochrane, who died in May after her father perhaps?) aged 16. She was living this year, seemed to indicate that this had been a and working at Ness on the Seator family farm. marriage of convenience as opposed to a love match. Agness, then 19, was living and working at She deduced that William would have needed a Powdykes for the Paterson family. Totally fascinat- housekeeper and mother figure for bis three young ing to me! Tm convinced they are all related, be- children (but actually his daughter would have been 1 cause: They were all bom at Fair Isle;they have this in her early teens I think). 'Ceena (Have you ever neat 3-year gap between the births. If they axe re- heard that name before?) was completely deaf ap- lated, there maybe a missing member of the family parently and I don't think she had ever been married in the 13 year old slot but perhaps he/she was work- before. ing away from Westray (more likely a Tie' at so young an age) or an infantile death in those years. I am sorry to burden you with so many findings and Would there be a record of that? Perhaps Andrew deductions - you will now see how besotted I am was just away on a very long fishing trip!! about all this!! But if I don't ask as many people as I can, I'm not going to get much further. My idea is From the OFHS Members' Directory I have been that one of these names might stir within you or a writing and e-mailing quite a few folk interested in reader a memory or a contact. the same names. Caroline Shearer, from the U.S. told me about www.familysearch.org where I found Can you recommend any books pertaining to life in Andrew's christening date and his children, Ann and Orkney at that time, non-fictional or fictional? Both John's christening records but no more siblings title and publisher please. recorded. Would this perhaps be because Ann's parents were of a different religion when the (possi-

7 From the Editor: I have published this letter as He was christened soon after, on 13 November some member may like to correspond with Fiona. I 1774, in his family's "home town", Carstairs, Lan- can answer two of her questions. The 1901 census arkshire. His father died when James was eleven will not be available to the public until 2001 at the months old, and it appears that his mother took him earliest. The 100 year rule forbids census returns and his sister Elizabeth back to the Carstairs area. being published until the expiry of 100 years. We He studied at Glasgow University, and likely acted are all waiting in expectation for its publication. first as a schoolmaster, until he could obtain a post Fiona's second question regarding a source of in- in a church. One family story suggests that he formation on how Orkney people lived etc. can be taught in New Monkland (east of Glasgow) for a found in Alexander Fenton's THE NORTHERN while. ISLES: ORKNEY AND SHETLAND. Published by John Donald Publishers, Edinburgh, in 1978. It is unknown how he came to move to the Orkney ISBN 0 85976 019 7. I do not know whether it is Islands, but it may have involved political manoeu- still in print or if copies can be obtained from vering of the Honyman family. Sir William Hony- bookshops. The book contains all the subjects man of , Orkney (Lord Armadale) Fiona lists plus many more. The book is well illus- bought, in 1792, the estate of Dr. William Smellie trated with black and white photographs, graphs, an in Lanark. Although no connection between our index and bibliography. Readers may know of a family and Dr. Smellie has been proven, it is a good more recent book which they can recommend to possibility. The half-brother of Lord Armadale, Fiona. Robert Honyman, was elected in 1802 MP for Orkney & Shetland, the year that James Sinellie is I do not wish to crow about my own publication first known to be in Kirkwall. WESTRAY ROOTS but I would direct Fiona's attention to that publication which over the last 12 James was licensed to preach in the Church of years has covered many of the topics mentioned in Scotland parishes of St. Andrew's and Deemess on her letter and in particular, Westray, the island 19 August 1802, and ordained there on 2 May 1805. which fascinates her so. I have his original handwritten sermons for the first year, bound in hard cover. In 1830 was The OFHS publishes the WESTRAY census re- made a separate parish and he remained in charge turns, details of which are contained in this issue of of St. Andrew's until 1843, when he seceded to the Sib Folk news. Free Church and moved with most of the congrega- tion to a new church of the same name which they Finally the Orcadian pronunciation of'j' in Jean is built on a hill overlooking the old one. He then 'ch' hence 'jean' is pronounced 'Cheen* or remained in charge of that church until his death in 'Cheeno'. Maybe this is the 'Ceena' you mention. 1852, dying (as his memorial stone says) "in the 79th year of his age and 48th of his ministry". From Ken Harrison, Vancouver, (108) [email protected] The "Annals of the Free Church of Scotland" state that he signed the Act of Separation from the The following is a description of what I know about Church of Scotland. I have visited the headquarters my great-great-grandparents, one an "incomer" and of the Free Church in Edinburgh and viewed the the other a native daughter of Orkney. I would original document, but was unable to find his signa- appreciate any and all comments, advice or criti- ture. Neither does his name appear on the typed cism that any reader can offer. transcription of the signatures. Perhaps he signed a satellite document which was circulated to the out- lying parishes, and which is now lost. James Smeltie (1774-1852) St. Andrew's parish covers most of the island of James was born on 1 November 1774 in Anstruther Pomona (Mainland Orkney) east of Kirkwall, an Easter, a small coastal town in Fifeshire across the area which includes the estate of . The Firth of Forth from Edinburgh, the second and last graveyard is adjacent to the Hall of Tankerness and child of Archibald Smellie and Giizal McCallay. the ruined Church of Scotland manse is a quarter mile away, with the Church another quarter mile Advert away. The Free Church and its manse are about another half mile away, all four sites within eye- SCOTTISH sight of each other. James died in his sleep on 22 December 1852, CENSUS RECORDS presumably at the Free Church manse. He appar- ently suffered from palsy for a short period prior to his death, and was paralyzed (possibly from a Transcripts of, and indexes to the census records of ORK- NEY now available or microfiche, transcribed and edited by stroke) in his final days. No official record of his David Armstrong, (Member of the Western Australian and death has been located. A stone in his memory Ontario Genealogical Societies, and the Orkney Family His- stands at the eastern side of the St. Andrews parish tory Society). graveyard, but it is uncertain whether this marks his grave. Parishes: 1821 Census: Deerness, , St Andrews, Sandwick, and , Stromness. At his death, only six of his eighteen children were alive. He had himself given them all a liberal and 1851 Census: Birsay, Deemess, & Pharay, Evie and classical education, three sons becoming Free Rendall, Firth and , Hairay, Holm & Paplay, Church ministers, one son a medical doctor and and Graemsay, Kirkwall & North Ronaldshay, Orphir, & Egilshay, St Andrew's, Sandwick, San- one son a businessman in Ontario. His obituary in day, Shapinshay, South Ronaldsay and Burray *, Strom- the "Edinburgh Witness" in 1853 said "He de- ness *, , Walls and . tested all guile and deceit. His opinions were avowed with openness and unshrinking manliness; Price: AS4.00 each or * AS4.50, # AS5.00 (incl. p & p). for plain honesty and fearless uprightness were Discounts 10% on 5-9 sets, 20% on 10-24 sets. Agents: Aberdeen and North East Scotland Family History striking features of his character." Society, Ontario Genealogical Society. Email: [email protected] James was married twice, his second wife being Helen Spence, the widow of Capt William Irvine Please make payment to> and eldest daughter of James Spence of Pow, near D.S. Armstrong, P.O.Box 136, Stromness. They were married 3 May 1831, and Maylands, had no children, although she would have been in Western 6931. charge of caring for the surviving 12 children from his first marriage, who at the time of her marriage ranged in age from 3 years to 25 years of age. She died two years after him, on 1E February 1855. SFN Publishing Dates He was first married, on 5 November 1805 in Kirkwall, to 2001

Margaret Spence (1787-1829) Last date Target for for receipt of Publishing Margaret was the eldest child of David Spence and articles Lucia Traill. She was bom in Kirkwall on 29 April 1787 and was baptized there on 3 May 1787. In her 23 years of married life at the old St An- SFN 17 Feb 5 Feb 28 drew's manse, she gave birth to 18 children (no twins). Margaret died on 4 July 1829 at the old St. SFN 18 May 7 May 31 Andrew's manse, possibly in childbirth to a nine- teenth child who also did not survive the birth. SFN 19 Aug 6 Aug 31 Some records have incorrectly given her death date a year earlier, on 14 July 1828, at the birth of SFN 20 Nov 5 Nov 30 her eighteenth child, John.

9 Dennison, Margaret, bom Noltand, husband Genealogical Information George Traill. Father Jerome Dennison. Drever, William, bom at Ness, Papa Westray, from the first husband of Jean Smith, resides Ness. "Skaill Proof 1843" Fraser, Robert, age 76, bom 1768, resides Shet- land. This listing has been supplied by Tom Scott of Yapton, West Sussex (31). Tom was bom at Skaill in Gray, Louisa, age 61, bom 1782, at Touquay. Westray and is the brother of our Chairman's First husband Mr Linay's mother Janet Stevenson husband, Jack Scott. The listing will prove of interest died 1821 aged 75. Louisa resides at Skaill. to readers researching relatives from Westray or in the case of the Traill family and others, from wider Groat, Elspeth, age 69, bom 1775, father Wil- afield. The Editor. liam Groat, mother Jean Traill. G.father David Traill of Skaill. G.mother Jean Jacobson from The Skaill Proof, 1843 Shetland. Elspeth resides P. Westray.

This book recorded information from witnesses re- Groat, Thomas, father William Groat, mother garding a petition presented to the Lords of Council Jean Smith. G.father David Traill of Skaill. Tho- and Sessions at the instance of Mrs. Jane Traill or mas resides Lightcost Forster residing at Low Felling, County of Durham and Hudson Blackburn Blackett, mariner in Newcas- Harcus, Walter, age 89, bom 1763, at Wantis, tle on Tyne against Thomas Traill Esq. of Holland Westray. Resides Southvia P.Westray. and Miss Robina Sinclair residing in Kirkwall involv- ing the legitimate ownership of Skaill, Westray, fol- Harcus, Elizabeth, age 69, bom 1774, at Sken- lowing the death of Dr. George Traill, the third laird nes, P.Westray. Father Benjamine Harcus, of Skaill. The following list records genealogical mother Betty Pottinger. Elizabeth resides information given by the witnesses during their state- Southill, P.Westray. ments. Hewison, Margaret, age 84, bom 1759, Wes- Anderson, J. Rev., in the Orphir Manse, Synod clerk tray, husband George Balfour whose father for Orkney, provided two Books of Births for Ork- David was tenant of Skaill, then Bu and later ney. No records for Westray before 1733. Brough. Margaret resides Gateside. Angel, William, age 45, born 1798, wife Mary Ren- Hewison, Janet, age 65, bom 1779, resides dall, residing at Leaguoy on Skaill estate. P.Westray. Balfour, George, age 80, born 1763, wife Margaret Jameson, Elizabeth, age 79, bom 1765, resides Hewison, father David Balfour, residing at Gateside, . Widow of Robert Winwick farmer of Westray. Uyeusound, Shetland.

Beattoo, Barbara age 67, born 1776, at Uffts, Tren- Kelday, Barbara, age 74, bom 1769, bom Rack- aby, husband John Gray. Her father David Beatton wick, resides at Pow, Westray. and maternal grand father John Logie who had a son John. Lamb, William, age 90, bom 1754, Unst, resides Unst, Shetland. Cooper, Jerome, age 49, bora 1794, on Noltland Estate, farmer at Beltowers on Skaill. Laurenson, Robert, age 84, bom 1760, Unst, resides Unst, Shetland. Couper, Mary, age 83, bom 1758, Aikerness, hus- band James Meil d.1839, resides Cold, Westray. Linnay, Margaret, age 66, born 1777, resides Hardbraes. G .mother Elspet Taylor from P.Westray. 10 Logie, George, age 30, born 1814, Pole. Father Reid, Ann, age 80, born Voldegar, Westray, resides Andrew Logie, resides Pole, Westray. Aberdeen. Reid, Janet, age 59, born 1784 Breck, Aikerness, Logie, Andrew, age 66, bora 1778, father of husband John Reid one time tenant of Skaill. George Logie, resides Pole, Westray. Reid, Margaret, age 46, born 1798, widow of Logie, George, age 93, born 1750, Rackwick, William Groat. Father Robert Reid tenant of Linean resides , Westray. for 50 years where he died aged 83.

Logie, Jane, age 85, bora 1758, Queenabreckan, Rendall, Marion, age 67, born 1776, mother Petrie father James Logie. She now resides atNorthhouse, Elspeth born at Breck, Aikemess. Marion resides at Pierowall, Westray. Ring, Westray.

Manson, David, an Elder in the Established Rendall, Mary, age 41, bom 1802, resides Church Westray in 1843. Leaquoy, Westray.

Meal, Elizabeth, age 79, bora 1765, on Skaill Rendall, John, age 27, born 1817. Father Sinclair estate, widow of James Tulloch, she had 5 older Rendall, mother Elizabeth Paplay. brothers and 4 sisters. Her father was Arthur Meal d. 1818; mother Jean Murray d. 1824. She resides Rendall, William, age 71, born 1772 Halloyce, atCottofHuan. resides Guild, Westray.

Meal, James, wife Mary Couper. He resided as Rendall, George, resides Breakaskaill, Westray. servant at Skaill many years. Scott Jerome, age 69, born 1772, Wantisse, resides Moncrief, Jane, age 69, born 1775. Widow of Lt Cleat. Father John Scott d. 1789, mother Margaret Robert Sinclair of O.&S. Fenciblesm. 9/6/1798. He Harcus died P.Westray 1830, aged 98 years. died 1/11/1806 at Lodge, . She resides in Kirkwall. Scott, Simon, age 76, born 1768, resides How, near U.F. Church. Father George Scott, mother Margaret Paplay, James, age 93, bora 1750, resides Veil, Reid. Westray. Seatter, Charles, age 72, born 1771, resides Bern- Paplay, Elizabeth, age 57, born 1787, husband dale, Westray. Sinclair Rendall. Father James Paplay bom Westside, Westray and died 1843 aged 93. Seatter, Ann, age 78, bom 1773, Noltland, resides 11 Richmond Street, Edinburgh. Husband was Paplay, Margaret, widow of William Rendall, James Shearer a tailor in Kirkwall. father James Paplay. She resides Veil, Westray. Seatter, John, age 61, born 1783. Westray Session Pottinger, Jane, age 66, bom 1775, resides at Clerk, resides Hellyea, Westray. Knugdale. Her uncle-in-law James Meil was born at Skaill. He died in 1839 aged 91. Sinclair, Robert, bom in Bull, Rapness.Lt. in the Fencibles. Married Jane Moncrief 9/6/1798, died Pottinger, Kirsty, age 53, born 1790. Husband ? 1/11/1806. Children William d. infant; Robina Tulloch, her mother Mary Couper of Cowald. b. 21/10/ 1804.

Pottinger, William, age 62, bom 1781, resides Sinclair, William, resides Bull, Rapness. Father Muckensey, Westray. Thomas Sinclair, mother Barbara Traill. Barbara was daughter of Traill, Holland and Mary Graham. Reid, age 78, bom 1765 Voldegar, Wes- Thomas, Barbara was a sister of George Traill, 1st. laird of tray; resides Aberdeen. Skaill. 1 Smith, Izatt, age 50, born 1793, Piggar, resides Traill, Margaret, age 72 born Holland P. Westray, Robertson Street, Glasgow. husband Rev. John Simpson resides Manse, Stronsay, father Thomas Traill. Husband one time Smith, Elizabeth, age 63, born 1780, resides minister in Delting, Shetland. Newark, Westray; widow of William Corse. Her mother Jane Stevenson d. 1822 aged 74. Traill, David, resides Skaill in later years. Father George Traill. Mother possibly Margaret Deran, Spence, Marjory, age 79, born 1765, widow of P. Westray. Andrew Traill, son of Thomas Traill and grandson of David Traill of Skaill, Westray. Traill, George, born Skaill, resided Skaill. Father George Traill, mother Elizabeth Kirkness. George Taylor, William, age 84, born 1759, Bucklesberry, (2nd. Laird of Skaill) at 60 years married Margaret resides at Bucklesberry, Westray. Dennison of Noltland, they had children George and Betty. Taylor, Mary, age 40, born 1803, resides Buckles- berry, Westray; husband Thomas Rendall. Traill, William, born Skaill, resided and farmed Breck of Aikemess. Father George Traill, mother Thompson, James, age 55, born 1788 P.Westray, Elizabeth Kirkness. resides Tower of Brough, Westray. Traill, George, bom Skaill, resided Scotland. Traill, George, wife Elizabeth Kirkness. Father a FatherGeorge Traill, mother Margaret Dennison. Traill of Holland, mother Mary Graham. George (3rd. laird of Skaill), Trained as a doctor, rarely visited SkaiU and died in Crieff, Scotland. Traill, Jean, bom Shetland, father David Traill, mother Janet Jacobson. Jean died P. Westray 1804/5 * Twatt, Rob in a, age 63, bom Hookin and resides Children Jean by Peter Smith; husband William Hookin, P. Westray, husband George Kelday Groat and children George, David, Elspit and Ann. tenant of Hookin from Thomas Traill of Holland. * Jean could not be a witness as she was dead. Perhaps it was her mother who died in 1804/5! ORKNEY ANTIQUITIES RAISE FUNDS FOR RESCUE ARCHAEOLOGY

The Friends of Orkney Archaeological Trust are offering the following items for sale. The profits will go towards funding rescue archaeology in Orkney The first item is a facsimile of a paper printed by The Kirkwall Press in 1936 as the written record of a paper read on 8 October 1903 in . This paper, by George Marwick, is titled The Old Roman Plough However, speaking in 1903, George Marwick describes it as the plough used by "our grandfathers and great-grandfathers" and was also known as the Side Plough and Stilltie. According to the introduction, the paper covers (a) Names of Parts (b) Methods of Construction and Proportion of Parts (b) Various Legends and Notions of the Olden Times in connection therewith. The booklet is a fascinating mixture of fact, folklore and an insight into life in nineteenth century Orkney. It is now available in a limited edition of 500. Care has been take to match the colours of the original as closely as possible. The first 100 copies have been reserved for members of FOAT Also available are two facsimile maps. The first is of the Parish of Orphir compiled by A W Johnston in 1813 and covering Clestron, Petertown, , Midland, Orphir, Swanbuster, Smoogro, Greenigoe and Groundwater. It shows the "supposed track of Swein's flight to Dam say", "the great stone, with thumbmark thrown from Hoy", together with many other historic and legendary sites. The second map is of the Tun of Orphir by James Johnston of Coubister and drawn about 1820. It provides a more detailed picture of the area around Oiphir Bay, the kirk, Gyre and the old commonty. The maps are printed on vellum type paper, \6V2 x 1VA in (42 x 30 cm) and arrive rolled in a tube. They are suitable for reference or for framing.

Both the booklet and the maps make interesting gifts and are easy to post Copies of The Old Roman Plough (£5 + 5 Op p&p), the map of the Parish of Orphir (£3.50 + 25p p&p) and the map of the Tun of Orphir (£3.50 + 25p p&p) can be ob- tained from Liz Gilmour, Brough View, Birsay, Orkney, KW17 2LT.

Please make cheques payable to Friends of Orkney Archaeological Trust.

12 UNEXPECTED ANCESTORS By Roddy Simpson 2 Clarendon Crescent, Linlithgow, West Lothian, EH49 6AW. E-mail: [email protected]

I have been visiting Orkney reguJarly for holidays for It had turned out to be a frantic evening and the about thirty years without ever thinking that 1 might significance didn't really sink in. When I had the have Orkney ancestors. chance to reflect I just found it uncanny that I had been attracted to Orkney for all these years and now It was the writing of that first found there was a family link. attracted me to Orkney in 1971. The impression from that visit brought me back and I now feel Over the next few months I was able to visit New deprived if I don't have my two weeks in Orkney Register House on a couple of occasions to do some each summer. more research. There are many Moars in Sandwick and I found the censuses particularly useful as they I had thought that I knew a reasonable amount about gave a fuller picture of this family name. I was also my family history but to pursue the interest more able to go further back. From the OPR I found Mary thoroughly, and because I no longer had my parents Moar's father, George Moar, was baptised on 27 to ask, I enrolled on a Scottish family history evening August 1809 and his father was also George Moar class at Edinburgh University in the autumn of 1999. and his mother Jannet Brass. They resided at Quoy- The class was very useful in making me aware of the loo. methods of research and the sources of information. It also included a visit to New Register House to My great, great grandfather George does not appear demonstrate how to use the statutory registers. This on the 1841 census but his wife Betty Moar, a straw was when 1 found out that my great-grandmother was platter, and daughter Mary are shown at Scarwell. bom in Sandwick. In the 1851 census George is living at Esco. His family has grown and in addition to his wife, now For the evening visit to New Register House I de- described as Betsy, and his daughter Mary, there is cided to try and get information about my father's another daughter Anne, aged nine, and a son mother, Agnes Duff. She had died in 1913 when my George, one year old. In this 1851 census George is father was an infant and my grandfather had remar- described as a seaman while in later censuses, 1861 ried. My father had told me that her family was from and 1871, he is the farmer at Quean, Sandwick. I do Aberdeenshire but contact had been lost after her not think this unusual for Orkney but it revealed death. another coincidence. Both my father, Robert Roy Simpson, and his elder brother, James Duff Simp- I found the birth certificate of Agnes Duff. She was son, were master mariners although, there was no bom on 26 January 1876 at Rhyme, Aberdeenshire. previously known family link with the sea. Also, It also showed that her parents, James Duff and Mary during the Second World War my father served for Moar, were married in Sandwick. This was totally a time on a hospital ship in . It is strange unexpected. I was excited to find out more and, with to think that he had no awareness of his close family the help of my tutor, I made good progress on that ties to the area. first night. James DufFand Mary Moar were married at Sandwick Manse by the Rev Charles Clouston on My holiday in Orkney during the summer of 2000 27 April 1865. James Duff, 21, was a farmer at took on a new perspective as it was an opportunity Yeldidee and Mary Moar, 25, was a domestic servant to pursue some family research. Visits to the Family there. From the OPRI found that Mary was baptised History Society and the Archives proved very useful on 17 August 1839 and that her father was George and with the help and advice I got there I was able Moar and mother Elisabeth Harvey. The OPR to add to my information. However, visiting the showed that they had been married in Sandwick on 9 places associated with my ancestors was the most January 1838. fulfilling. Yeldidee, although a ruin, was very

13 atmospheric. I had found from the Orkney Ar- Discussion generated by Catriona Groat chives that my great, great grandfather Robert Duff, the father of James, was the tenant from 1863 - 69. (320) on the merits of publishing SFN on He had possibly been brought to Orkney from the Internet Aberdeenshire by the Laird of Skaill, William G Watt, as part of the agricultural improvements of I have recently had a discussion with Mike that time. There are no Duffs in the 1871 census so Clouston about the merits of the SFN being on- Robert appears to have returned to Aberdeenshire, line. The following is my view on the subject. taking James and Mary with him. Mary does not seem to have returned to Orkney, dying at Rhyme, Mike, as an OFHS member (of some two years or Aberdeenshire on 12 February 1923 and James more) and a user of this forum, I think what you Duff predeceasing her on 22 June 1904. have done is excellent and agree that to some existing members, the benefits of membership The churchyard overlooking the Bay of Skaill was may not be perceived as worth paying for when a very special experience. I don't think I have ever SFN is freely available on-line. However these visited Orkney without spending time on the beach members must surely be those who see the Sib or visiting Skara Brae. I little realised that I had Folk News as the only resource available through ancestors in the nearby graveyard. I was delighted membership!! at the gravestones I found. There was my great, great grandfather George Moar who died on 14 I would support the delay in on-line publishing March 1878. The gravestone was erected by his for three months, which you propose. Perhaps second wife, Ann Brass. There was the gravestone this would show folk what they are missing by not of his son, George, who had taken over Quean, taking out membership. The index of the issue Newgarth, who died on 15 March 1910 age 60 currently available by snail mail, but not on-line, years and another stone listing several of his sons: would whet their appetites until it was made William K Moar who died on 2 March 1942 aged available. Publishing only the main article and 56, David Moar who died I August 1967 aged 83 contact details, in my opinion, would be a poor and George P Moar who died 30 September 1978 reflection of the value of SFN or OFHS member- aged 85 years. There were also other Moars but I ship. will need to do further research to find out their significance. 1 didn't visit Quean as there did not appear to be any of the old buildings there. All I To attract more members (and therefore income! ) could see from the road was a modern house. it is vital to show the variety of areas in which the Society is involved and how the Society can help. Making a list of resources and the newsletter I would like to find out about great, great grandfa- available as publicity material, will help to ther George Moar's seafaring activities because of achieve this. I presume, like other Family History my father and uncle's careers at sea. This will be Societies, the OFHS lodges a copy of its newslet- something to pursue. By chance I came upon an ter in the local library - this is then freely available interesting detail in the Stromness Museum. On the to non-members, albeit on a smaller more local wall is displayed a ship's agreement from the scale. To attract members from further afield whaler "Neptune" which lists the crew who boarded (where so many Orcadians seemed keen to go!) at Stromness on 19 April 1831 and one of these is the OFHS must engage in more widespread pub- James Moar. It may have no relevance but there licity and the newsletter on-line is a very effective could be a family link to George Moar. way of doing this in today's computer-oriented age. There are many amateur genealogists around There is a lot of research still to be done but I plan the world for whom the Internet is the first way of to do bits and pieces over the coming years and doing research. Taking the OFHS to them via an build up a fuller picture and family tree. There is on-line Sib-Folk News is eminently sensible! no doubt that this family link has enhanced and added a different dimension to my holidays in Ork- Continued on page 22 ney.

14 William Harcus and Ann Sinclair A teaching double act which equipped many Westray boys and girls for life beyond Westray*s shores From the diary of their Daughter Ann Harcus By kind permission of Nigel Fairley First published in WESTRAY ROOTS 23, in August 1994

My mother's father was Robert Sinclair, a sailor. I French, he helped in the taking of a French man-o- never heard much of his father and mother, but they war and got the offer of prize money or his liberty. belonged to a set or clan of Sinclairs, Balfours, As he was eager to get home to be married, he took Smiths and Hewi sons who kept themselves sepa- his liberty and came home. rate, intermarried and went in for more education and perhaps culture than the rest of the islanders, in After the marriage he sailed as captain of a schoo- so far that they were nicknamed the "North Shore ner. Four children were born in the house at Pierow- Dons". Some said that there was Spanish Armada all, Westray. Robert, Hannah, Ann and William. blood but mother would not have that. She said the Then his young wife died when William was a Sinclairs came from Caithness. baby. Their Auntie Annie, Captain Sinclair's sister came to look after them. He continued sailing but A grand uncle of mother sent his three daughters to he was killed by falling down the hold of his ship at London for their education. That meant something Newcastle when William was four years old. He in those days. was buried there and no William and Ann's parents & family friends saw his grave until his There is a story of a man who grandson, William Harcus, lived at the farm of Noup who Robert m Betsy Thomas m Marrion discovered it in the Sailors' had twelve daughters. These Sinclair Smith Harcus Harcus Burying Ground, when he and daughters named Rendall, his wife were on their honey- 1 married into the clan and it is \ i i 1 moon. There was part of a Robert Hannah William John Nellie Thomas said that each of them, when stone left with the inscription she got married, was given a erected by the Master Mari- quaich full of gold by her fa- Ann m William ners of Newcastle "to the ther. Where the gold origi- Sinclair I Harcus memory of Captain Robert nally came from I never heard, i 1 1 ' 1 1 1 Sinclair," Robert Sinclair's Betsy John William Margaret Ann Robert but the marriages were traced two grandsons and a great by a descendant, David Bal- grandson, combined and put four, who was in a lawyer's office in Edinburgh, up a new stone, leaving the old stone beside it. when he wrote the family tree. David Balfour went There could not have been much money left, as to Jamaica, and became a judge and died there. His grandfather came out of the Navy with none, and widow, who still lives in Jamaica, may have the there hadn't been much time to gather since, so that document I remember seeing it and our family's Auntie Anne must have had a tough time bringing connection with one of the Rendall ladies set down up the four children. Robert, the eldest, left for in it, but there was no trace of the gold in our day. Leith when he was thirteen and never came back to Westray again, but his house, when he got married My grandfather Robert Sinclair, was about to be and lived in Edinburgh, was home from home for married to Betsy Smith. His house was built and many branches of the family who found their way ready, when he was taken by the Press Gang and put south in later years. Hannah and Ann, mother's in a man-o-war. It was in the Bonaparte wartime, sisters, started dressmaking in the house, and got on and sailors were liable to be taken forcibly. I don't well. William went to sea as soon as he was old know how long he served, but in the battle with the enough.

15 Now we come to where mother, Ann, starts her stack, and when the boat sailed away with the distinctive life. The secession preachers had been Press Gang he got across the Westray Firth. He coming to Westray and gathering a nucleus of a crossed to Caithness and walked from there to congregation, especially among the young people. Burntisland where his brother Alexander lived. Mother was one of them. Mr. Re id, the first minis- Sadly he caught cold on the journey and died. ter of the new congregation, was a pioneer reformer. Another brother, Pollerfen, was drowned off the He wanted to start a school, and looking out for coast of Africa. teachers, fixed on mother for one. She didn't want to be a schoolmistress, but he persevered until he got My father had two brothers and one sister. John, her started with little girls, and she kept at it for 53 the eldest, died a young man. He was married and years. There wasn't any work for women except his widow, our Auntie Nellie, was a great favourite farm work and Mr. Reid wanted to start some work with us. Uncle Thomas and Auntie Marion were for the winter evenings to give them a chance to staying at home people, never out of Westray, but earn some they took an inter- money. He sent est in the outside mother to Edin- world, and were burgh to learn the interesting people Ayrshire needle- themselves. work, now called "Broderie The secession re- Anglaise" At the vival had been the school in Edin- stirring point in burgh, an exami- their young lives. nation was held Their father had when she had joined the new been there a fort- congregation night. She got the The New Kirk - silver medal in- but his laird was scribed "Pre- from the Old sented to Ann Kirk, so he was Sinclair for Profi- turned out of his ciency in Needle- good farm and work" had to set to and make a living out An agency was of poor hill formed with a ground. My father Glasgow firm for used to tell of the the work, and 41st Psalm being mother taught the women to do it. Her school be- sung at worship the night before they left their came a centre for other islands as well as Westray, house. and women and girls took lodgings in the village. Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the She taught all sorts of needlework. Women all over Lord delivers him in times of trouble. the islands remember their schoolmistress yet, and thank her for not only teaching, but for the influence Father went to sea when he was a lad. He was at she had on their young lives. the Greenland whale fishing when he was eight- een. He measured 6' 2" in his stocking soles then. My father, William Harcus, was born in Skelwick, He sailed for some time on coasting vessels but Westray. His father, Thomas Harcus, was a farmer Mr. Reid, the minister, had been keeping his eye and had six brothers and three sisters, most of who on him. I expect in the winter when he wasn't lived beyond 80. Two brothers were sailors. One, sailing, he would be one of the young men attend- Matthew, when home on leave was in danger of the ing some of his classes. 1 knew he wanted to send Press Gang, but my grandfather hid him in the corn him south to be trained as a doctor. Mr. Reid had

16 influential friends that he could draw upon for She told me that when we were wee, she wakened at funds, but father didn't want to be so dependent, so 4 a.m., sat up in bed and made bonnets before the he got him to be a teacher. He must have first stayed rest wakened. Then there were the babies: at home as I find a book here dated 1833 with William Harcus, teacher, Skelwick, written upon it. Betsy was bom on Dec 22,1840, His school was at the New Kirk, a site for which had John on Sept 27, 1842, been given by Mr. Traill, the Laird of Papa Westray William, Feb 7, 1845, and part of Westray. This was a good distance from Margaret, March 12, 1847, father's house so he came to live in Pierowall, a Anne Catherine, July 16,1850, bachelor's life in a house near Hewison's shop. Mr. Robert Sinclair, May 7, 1853. Reid had classes in his own house for his teachers; and there my father and mother must have met. They Margaret died before I was bom. That was one of were married in 1839 1 think, but I do not know the the bad times in mother's life. She never forgot it exact date. My mother was the first one to marry out Margaret took scarlet fever and died. Father, Betsy of the clan. She was one of the wee Sinclair Dons. and John also took it. They were very ill, father He was a big man from the farm, an Uitlander in especially. Mother nursed them. She had a good fact, but 1 think, we, the descendants have to be maid who took charge of William in the kitchen. He thankful for the combination. She was smart with escaped the fever, and learned to read while isolated brains, tongue, hands and feet. He was the slow from the others. The neighbours were frightened of philosopher, except when the berserk mood was on, the fever and wouldn't come near, except one old but a bom teacher. He had only a few months at a man who brought the provisions we needed. Mr. time tuition, partly with the Rev Mr. Buchan of Reid, the minister, also helped. It was a hard time for Holm who was a Latin scholar, and a time at Madras mother but she was thorough and her patients recov- College in St Andrews The rest was self-taught, but ered. his scholars could go out into the world and keep their place with anyone. One of my recollections was of Robert, the baby, having rheumatic fever and going to hide to escape Well, the household was set going, but there wasn't his cries when father lifted him. He must have had much of the filthy lucre to keep it going. A small infantile paralysis in one leg. Though he got over it, salary from the Brough- there was a weakness in ton Place Church, Edin- one side, which handi- burgh, for father and fees capped him all his life. mostly paid in kind, rigs of potatoes, oatmeal, and The next memory I have butter sometimes. In is of being wakened early some cases, whole fami- in the morning by John lies were taught and paid who was leaving for nothing Had it not been Leith. Then I see a picture for mother's wonderful of the sands at Pierowall pluck and cleverness with Bay, a boat going off to her hands, the family the Mary Traill schooner could not have been with father and John on brought up so well as they board, mother and Betsy were. Bigger girls came standing crying at the first to leam all kinds of nee- break in the family, and dlework so they might get this at four o'clock on a work to earn money. lovely summer morning. There were eighty in the John would be fifteen or house when I was a baby. . sixteen, and was going to Between times she did a situation in the General dressmaking and millinery. Steam Shipping Company's office in Edinburgh, and to live with mother's eldest brother, Uncle Rob-

17 ert and his wife, who had offered to take the boys this I think Ann meant passenger) This was Bob when they were ready for situations. who was still lame as a result of his illness. William lifted him up and Mr. Reid rode up the brae to the One of my pictures is of William, a red headed boy, church. coming in excited with the news that Sebastopol had fallen. I had been put to bed in the kitchen owing to But the time came for William to go too. When he my usual ailments and father and mother were sit- was fifteen he left for Edinburgh, Uncle and Aunt ting by the fire. taking him in William Marcus Junior's family, left to right, from the back. charge. He John and Wil- got a situa- liam were kept Robert Harcus Andrew Drummond Harcus William Harcus,junr. tion in Gird- at school until wood's they were old Jeannie Margaret Harcus Jane Drummond William Sinclair Harcus office, Wool enough to go (wife of William jnr) Brokers, in south. In their Tanfield harvest holi- Hall, Gold- days they went fishing or went to Skelwick and enacre Road. It was handwriting that got him the helped Uncle Thomas work his harvest. He was chance at first and he remained in that office, married but had no family, and the boys were great latterly as cashier, until he left to study for the favourites of his. William was a great reader. He degree of M.A. at the University, thence to the laid up stories which helped him in his later career. United Presbyterian College and from there to His difficulty was to get a quiet place to himself for Westminster College, London. reading, as our house was so filled with women and girls coming to be taught by mother. I remember The family at home was dwindling. I remember one time mother wanting him for something, and he mother saying she was sorry to see Bob growing so was discovered hidden behind some barrels in a loft, fast. He would soon have to go and at fifteen his his red hair betraying him as he was seen peeping turn came. John and William, who were now in out Mr. Reid was a friend of the boys. William used lodgings in Cumberland Street, Edinburgh, sent for to help him with his pony. He rode to church on him and he got a position in the General Steam Sundays. After William had seen him settled in the Navigation office, Waterloo Place, where John had saddle he would ask him for his supplement. (Ed. by been since he came to Edinburgh. Betsy and I were

18 left at home until she got a situation as a teacher in mended. Then she went to Moray House and got her Tankerness five miles from Kirkwall. Mr. Bookie, certificate as a teacher. Her first situation as a Laird of Tankerness, had heard of her through work boarding school teacher was in Bathgate. The next that mother and she had done for a presentation to in Hawick. She left there to be headmistress in a the Countess of Zetland (embroidered collars). Mr. girls' school in Hull. After a successful period there Baikie wished her to start a school for the benefit of she left to be married to James Logie, a widower the boys and girls on his estate and he gave her the from Westray. She returned to Westray and pr<£ post as teacher. She was there for some time and vided a happy rendezvous in Beach House for those proved a success but she had had a breakdown with of us who were out in the world to meet at holiday housemaid's knee before she left home. After some times and renew family ties. time there it was threatening to come back so she took me back But I have with her after her been travel- autumn holidays. ling too fast. I I was fifteen then must come and this was my back to the start out in life. life at home Betsy managed to when the hold out for the three brothers winter but in and one sister spring she had to had gone be taken into away, and I Kirkwall for was the only medical atten- girl left be- tion. She was hind. Father there in a cousin's and mother house for some continued time. I kept the their teaching school going for for fifty her but it was an years. Father ordeal. When she taught lads had to be taken home to Left to right., back row. and girls from the Westray, I can see the Jane Drummond, William jnr's wife, Ann Harcus snr, village and surround- picture now of her be- Ann Harcus jnr. ing districts. Some of ing carried down the the lads went to Kirkwall Street on a Front row. situations in Edin- Sunday night by the William Harcus, snr, William Harcus, jnr, Betsy Harcus. burgh or Glasgow. I men from the Oread i a. remember six bright The steamer was sailing straight to Westray that young fellows coming in one evening to say good- night and it was thought to be a good chance. I bye to him and father fainting after they went out I walked alongside feeling rather forlorn and on Mon- think I lost interest in the school after they went day morning faced the school with a new sense of There was no one to compete with. Father was responsibility and loneliness. I managed to keep the disappointed when I left. In the winter, sailors who school going up to the holidays and came home to were at home came to learn navigation and father find my sister better. She went back and took up the evidently was a good teacher of it, because different school again. I stayed at home. I had had enough of sets came most winters, and they must have passed teaching and someone had to stay with father and their examinations after. mother. Betsy went from Tankerness to a school on the Cotachy Estate, kept up by the then Countess of William Harcus was reported in the Orcadian of Airlie. The housemaid's knee began to trouble her 29th March 1858 as having calculated the position again and my brothers took her to Edinburgh. She of a ship from which a bottle had been thrown. See stayed with our cousin. Mrs. Archer, until it WR 21, page 12.

19 Mother kept her school for little girls, and young give an account of the work in Edinburgh. William women came from Eday and Papa Westray as well sang two or three of the Sankey hymns, "There were as our own island to be taught all sorts of needle- ninety and nine," "Yet there is room," "There are work. Our house was the centre for the village. angels hovering around". These were all new to us After the school hours, the girls who were at leisure then and his beautiful voice ringing them out would gather in our bedroom and get the schoolmis- through the full church on a fine Sabbath evening tress to tell old stories. I have often wished I had was something to be remembered, and was spoken taken notes, or had her gifts. I might have made a of by the people who were there, for many a day mark in the world, for she could make things live in the telling. Ann Harcus continues her story for another eleven A4 pages of her memoirs describing her Along with the schools and the teaching, the Kirk journeys to Edinburgh, her work there, her brothers' filled a big place in our lives. Father was an elder, marriages and all that happened when her mother session clerk and treasurer, first in the Secession, and father left Westray to live in Edinburgh. The then the United Presbyterian Church, for as long as following are extracts relevant to Westray. Anne I can remember. Until we left Westray to come to recounts the time when she began work. Edinburgh the interest and welfare of the congrega- tion lay very near his heart. He worried more over I returned from Edinburgh where I had been on its affairs, if things weren't going very well, than he holiday with my brothers. It was spring and I found did over his own. Mother did her bit too. She was my chums waiting to get me to make their summer interested in missions and all kinds of church activi- dresses. They were going to Kirkwall for some ties. They had come to be, in the life of the village, special function and I had to sit up one whole night the counsellors and helpers in times of trouble. They in that first week to get the dresses finished (over were called for night and day where there was a buttons I fell asleep and sewed them on in green). death or sore sickness, and I have been struck some times, when I was with them, to see how calm and Thus I began my career as a dressmaker. I was strong they were in comforting and helping. eighteen then and except for a few weeks, I kept on until I retired at seventy three. I had now settled John came home for his first holiday visit in seven down at home and the life in the village, though years. That was a great event in our lives. He and quiet, had its own interests. Our U P. Church was William had stayed with their uncle and aunt while fiill of life at that time. Mr. Cruickshanks was min- serving their apprenticeships, and repaid after, what ister, and he, and his newly married wife had a it had cost to keep them. That meant no holidays for wonderful influence over the island, especially some time. among the young people. His bible class was worth attending. Mrs. Cruickshanks inspired the young William, after he had been some time at Gird- women to new ideas of life. I used to stay at the wood's, was sent to Orkney in spring as traveller to manse for a whole week or a fortnight helping her the farmers for the wool from their sheep, and was with sewing and enjoying the life there for there was allowed a ten-day holiday with us before he re- never dullness where Mr. Cruickshanks was. He turned to Edinburgh. I remember the walks to Skel- was full of life and fun and would spend himself wick to visit our Uncle Thomas, and the talks on the night and day for the good of others. He and his wife way home when uncle gave us a Scottish convoy. spent many a happy evening at our fireside. One of (Ed. See notes) John and William were favourites of his amusements was to get his big dog "Towser" to his and he did enjoy hearing of their life and work try and take a pancake from father's outstretched in Edinburgh. I got the benefit too. The brothers hand. Father's arms measured six feet across and were very good in sending papers and books to us, Towser couldn't manage it. Father enjoyed working so we kept in touch with all that was going on in the with Mr. Cruickshanks in the interests of the con- world. gregation, and it was a grief to all when he left to go to Glasgow. But his friendship lasted, and their One of William's visits home was at the close of house in Glasgow was a second home to us until he Moodie and Sankey's first campaign, and Mr. died two years ago. Cruickshanks, who was minister then, asked him to

20 After Mr. Cruickshanks left Westray, father had tress were going away until they upset the two of charge of affairs in the church, looking after proba- them. When it came to the Wednesday - we were to tioners etc. This and his own work in the school and leave on the following Monday -1 was at my wits his garden kept him busy. Mother and I were full of end how I was going to manage, when the door work, she in her school, and I with my dressmaking. opened and Bob walked in. William and he had That, in the summer time, meant working from talked it over on Monday evening and thought it morning to night, but 1 could take my work outside would be too much for me. Bob got passes on the at times and enjoy the fresh air and the sunshine. steamer and came right away on Tuesday morning. Then in the late summer, the visitors came The The whole load fell off me when I saw him and the brothers when they could get and Betsy in her vaca- two of us worked away that week and brought tion. I enjoyed the holiday along with them one father and mother away from the lamenting crowd summer. William and Robert came together. This that followed them to the steamer. That was the was a very happy time, the talks at meal times, the finish of their fifty years' work in and for Westray. walks to Skelwick and the picnics It was a beautiful But the results are not to be tabled here They are summer and dry. William got a cart and went away evident in the colonies and places where scholars to the hills to fetch water from a spring as we could have gone to live out the lessons taught by them. hardly get enough from the well to make good. Jane Friends in Westray got up a subscription and pre- Gunn was with us at that time too. When we had sented father with a purse of sovereigns and mother visitors there were lots of presents for mother - with a silver tea service fowls, eggs, butter, homemade cheese etc. She was the general adviser and helper of everybody and they (The Harcuses settled in Edinburgh for a while and repaid her in kind Our village and island later moved to be with Ann in Dunfermline. Wil- had lots of visitors in the summer as nearly every liam died there and his wife some years later.) household had someone out in the world, either in the Colonies, in Edinburgh, Leith or Glasgow, or Back in Westray, Betsy was doing her part in the perhaps sailing the seas somewhere. That kept us in life of the islands and her own household, bringing touch with the outside world. Steamer days were the up her stepson, Tom Logie, who is now in Vancou- events of the week. I remember how mother kept ver, and her own son, Willie, now a farmer in looking out from our east window until she got the Saskatchewan, married to Winifred Pride. Besides first glimpse of the Orcadia crossing from Papa. her work at home she took a great interest in the Then came the wait until father went to the post work of the U P. Church. Rev Donald Reas, who office and came back with the letters. Sometimes it was minister there for seven years, called her his was a blank and father would come in and say "No 'female elder'. There were many happy family letters the day, the mail boat couldn't cross." Then gatherings in Beach House, in the holiday times, another wait for three days or more where James Logie, her husband, joined with her in giving us a good time. Willie was in their own shop Things were happening in politics which had an for some time after he left school but wanted to effect on Westray The Education Act of 1870 had learn a trade and came to Dunfermline where he been passed. Mr. Smith, the parish school teacher, served his apprenticeship and stayed with me. Then had been appointed by the School Board as the he went to , where he has remained and teacher. I have a letter, written by father, complying prospered by dint of hard work and grit, combined with business skills with a request of the School Board to tell all the scholars over eight years of age to leave. This was a heartbreak to father and to the senior scholars but the When James Logie died, my sister was left alone, law had to be obeyed, so William and Robert so it was thought better for her to come and stay thought it better for father and mother to be removed with me in Dunfermline she died in 1915 in the from the difficulties and disappointments. They took middle of the 14/18 war. a flat at 282 Leith Walk, Edinburgh and we set to clear things up and go south. I bad my business to wind up. Work came flowing in when people knew that I was leaving. Friends came mourning and la- menting that the schoolmaster and the schoolmis-

21 The Orkney Census Returns Published by The Orkney Family History Society.

The following census returns are currently available from the Society's Office. The costs are variable according to the size of the parish. There are six census returns for each parish. All census returns are bound and contain an index of names for easy reference. The census returns are for the years 1841, 1851, 1861, 1871,1881, 1891. In addition the following parishes have a census return for 1821. Deerness, Orphir, Saint Andrews, Sandwick, South Ronaldsay and Bur- rey, Stromness. Ann Harcus Postage is extra on these prices. Please re- Ann survived all her brothers and sisters and she wrote quest an order form from the office. these memoirs at the age of 79 in 1929. She con- cluded with a verse from Psalm 23. Census returns at £2.00 for members and £3.00 for non-members. Surely goodness and mercy have followed me Deemess, Harray, Hoy & Graemsay, all the days of my life. .

Census returns at £2.50 for members SFN on the Net continued from page 14. and£3.75 for non-members. Eday & Pharay, Evie & Rendall & Gairsay, Firth & Stenness, Holm & As long as the appropriate search engines pick it up, it Paplay, Orphir, Rousay, & & will be an excellent vehicle for the Society to publicise Wyre, Saint Andrews, Sandwick, and market itself. I am constantly amazed by the num- Shapinsay, Stronsay. ber of people in both this country and abroad who have Census returns at £3.00 for members and never heard of the OFHS, yet are researching their £4.50 for non-members. family roots in Orkney. I have directed several in the last three months alone. In fact the Chairman's report in Birsay, Walls & Flotta. SFN Issue 15 highlights this very phenomenon on the Census returns at £3.50 for members and home patch! Perhaps if the SFN was seen to have £5.25 for non-members. another role as a publicity tool, members could recon- Sandy. cile their problems with on-line publishing. If only one Census returns at £4.00 for members and relative / member is found through on-line browsing £6.00 for non-members. that would surely support the aims of the OFHS. I feel Stromness, Westray & Papa Westray. certain that not one, but many new members will come Census returns at £4.50 for members and through this, especially as they realize that Sib Folk £6.75 for non-members. News is only the tip of the iceberg as far as OFHS South Ronaldsay & Burray. membership resources and benefits are concerned. I Census returns at £7.00 for members and wonder if perhaps this discussion is highlighting the £10.50 for non-members. need for the OFHS to have a 'defined policy' on its Kirkwall & St Ola. Internet presence - a fact of our modern communica- tions technology!

22 The Stromness Kirkyard Puzzle

Further observations by Peter Groundwater Russell (161)

The correspondence relating to the tombstones in Strom- quite common in Orkney for several generations of the ness Kirkyard [see SFN 13, page 6] also captured my same family to be buried in close proximity to each other. imagination and I would like to share the findings of my Do any of the headstones lying in a north-easterly direc- research into this interesting little conundrum. Although tion bear the surname lsbister, Robertson or Sabiston? If Alan Watts' 'solution' seems plausible enough and in- so, at what distance are they from A26? deed may well prove to be the right one [see SFN 15, page 15], 1 was not entirely convinced with the 'fall' To my mind, an equally intriguing question is, why was theory, which persuaded me to look for an alternative it deemed necessary to bury James and Tomima in an- explanation. other part of the cemetery when apparently there was sufficient room in A26 to accommodate two more 'resi- According to the Scots Dictionary, the abbreviation for dents' - Thomas, junior, and his mother, Margaret Mur- the word 'fall' is 'Fa', not 'Fl' or 'FL', and, consequently, ray? it is hard to see how it could have been confused with 'Ft' or 'FT', meaning 'foot'. Also, the first correspondent The mystery deepens still further when we learn that stated that "A218 is a heart shaped stone lying on the Tomima Margaret [baptised 28 October 1832] tnay not ground and quite apart from any other stones." Can we have been Thomas' daughter after all! If the IGI is to be be absolutely sure that it marks the actual spot where the believed her parents were his brother, James Robertson, "Dear Children" were buried? and Isabella Sabiston.

This uncertainty and the strange reference to 'both of his Finally, what did I discover about this unfortunate fam- three children' prompted me to obtain the full inscription ily? And will it help to solve the puzzle? Thomas on stone A26, which Ethel Young was kind enough to Robertson, senior, was baptised on 1 August 1803, the provide. It reads: youngest of three sons of James Robertson and Margaret Isbister, He married Margaret Moar Murray [possibly in "In memory of Thomas Robertson, late merchant, Edinburgh on 24 April 1826] by whom he had three Stromness, d 9th December, 1830, aged 27. Three of his children - John Spence [bapt 20 March 1827]; James children, James d 19th February 1836, aged 7; Tomima [bapt 18 October 1828] and Thomas [bapt 31 January Margaret, d 20th January, 1837, aged 5 (both interred 3 1830], all born in Stromness parish. Mary Moar Murray ft N.E. by N. of this stone). John Spence, d Edinburgh, was baptised in Eday on 9 August 1801, daughter of 25 th November, 1838, interred in Grey friars Burying David Murray and Mary Ann Spence [probably from Ground, aged 11. Thomas, their youngest son, d 10th Kirkwall], and would have been 60, not 65, at the time of April 1843, aged 13. Margaret Murray, relict of the said her death. However, one would need to visit the Strom- Thomas, above, d 11th February, 1862, aged 65". ness Kirkyard and study the old parish registers, census returns for 1821-1861, civil registration, valuation rolls, The first thing 1 noticed is that this stone was clearly wills, court records, etc., to verify this information. erected some 25 years after the death of young Tomima. It is, therefore, not unreasonable to assume that the 1 realise that I have raised many more questions than I present inscription would have replaced an earlier ver- have answered but feel that until such time as new sion and this, I believe, accounts for why some of the evidence comes to light we cannot be absolutely sure that information appears to be less accurate than it otherwise the heart-shaped stone was dedicated to James and To- might have been. Did the stonemason, or a relative of mima Robertson. As far as I am concerned this is yet the deceased, misread an '8' for a '3'? Perhaps the number another genealogical puzzle waiting to be solved, which T was inadvertently omitted? Should it read '8 ft' or '13 is one of the reasons why 1 find family history such an ft N.E. by N. of this stone'? We may never know. absorbing and fascinating pastime!

On the other, of course, the inscription could well be correct as there appears to be no firm evidence to prove that these particular children were not interred 3ft NE by N of stone A26, that is, in someone else's tomb, as it was

23 The Orkney Family History Society Membership. Subscriptions, etc.

Membership of the Society runs from [ March to 2X; 2eJ February and subscriptions should be renewed during the month of Mil rc!)

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The Bank of Scotland has now agreed not to charge us any commission for exchanging foreign currency/cheques as we are a registered charity Overseas members should pay their fees in sterling or its equivalent If it is not possible to send pounds sterling, please check exchange rate. Receipts will be issued with the next magazine Members residing in the United King- dom may pay their subscriptions by Bankers Order and may also take out a Deed ofCovenant (Forms will be sent on request) All subscriptions should be sent to the Membership Secretary

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