SIB FOLK NEWS NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Issue No 78 June 2016
There's always something interesting in Sib Folk News
I’M ON PAGE 3 If you Sheryl’s would like JACKIESee 10 & 11 BROWN flying to to know remembers why the ORKNEY some of the Archbishop of for the first time Canterbury from Australia well-kent turned up in June and she’s Stromness on Betty’s pretty excited ! computer worthies you can find out on page 7 Information wanted WANTED on William Iverach Fea. ANY INFORMATION I’ve been on the case on JOHN HUNTER now for 27 years CUMMING SWAN Read my latest case notes on pages 4, 5 & 6 Contact details on Page 15
GRegor LAMB WONDERS SEE PAGES IF STYMILDERS COULD BE 20 & 21 HAUNTED WILL THIS HELP Pages 8 & 9 GET ROBERt’s name on an orkney Battle of Jutland LEARN war memorial and the loss of THE OWLD June’s HMS Hampshire SANDAY Page 16 Grandad remembered L!NGO would Your first lesson is on page 19 have Orphir man At last the truth been so about the loss of Page 18 proud makes£sd Robert Flett Yule SEE John Muir reminisces, PAGES at HBC on page 22, about his 12,13 & 14 about £500,000 Page 17 at today’s values good friend Alfie Flett Graphics John Sinclair 2 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Issue No 78 June 2016
ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY NEWSLETTER No 78 JUNE 2016 COVER SIB HIGHLIGHTS
PAGE 2 From the Chair
PAGE 3, Sheryl is coming to Orkney
Pages 4, 5 & 6 My search for William Iverach Fea From
Page 7 Bishops, Boats and the Chair Crows in Betty's Computer Welcome to our June edition of the Sib Folk News, we hope you PAGES 8 & 9 enjoy the articles and are inspired to send on one of your own. Stymilders. Is it in Orkney is already a hive of activity with WW1 commemorations the Firth or Stenness? first of which being the Battle of Jutland on the 31st May and then the PAGES, 10 & 11 sinking of the HMS Hampshire on the 5th June. We are also delighted Jackie Brown and his to be the first town in Scotland to host the PoppiesWeeping Window time in the Union Bank installation on the St Magnus Cathedral the poppies cascade down Stromness from a window on the west side of the door and on to the steps. PAGES 12, 13 & 14 We held an open night in March where members of the public could James Tait and the come and have a taster session on what facilities and information Hudson's Bay Company they could access being a member of the Society, then in April PAGE 15 Spencer Rosie gave us a very interesting talk on the research he Does Hunter Cumming has done on the memorials within the Cathedral, and you can find Swan mean anything information in his book to you? that was published at the PAGE 16 end of 2015 called ‘Saints Battle of Jutland and Sinners’ and HMS Hampshire The committee decided to Commemorative Events present a full set of back copies of the Sib Folk PAGE 17 News to the Stromness The loss of the Library which now can SS Warren Grove be seen in the George PAGE 18 Mackay Brown room, if Grandfather's Australian find an issue in there that Dynasty you would like a copy of
PAGE 19 they are for sale in our office for £1 each. Learn the old Sanday lingo
PAGES 20 & 21 Pilot Sergeant Mainland
PAGES 22 & 23 Anne Rendall Remembering Alfie Flett
PAGE 24 Membership Detail etc Issue No 78 June 2016 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY 3
By Sheryl Drew, nee Spence, Member No 2378 I will be in Orkney from the 1st to the 12th June and then sad! I could continue but I’ll leave it at that for the mo- for a few days in Scotand, returning to Australia on the ment. What I would love to know:- 18th of the month. I am wondering if there are relatives 1. What became of Thomas Franck Spence my grandfa- out there who may be interested ther‚‘s twin brother? The last in making contact with me. Here official record I have of him is is a brief overview of some of my I’ve waited a lifetime to be able to 1891 Scotland Census where family connections with the Ork- say that; to think that I will be able to he was residing in Leith, ney Islands:- My grandfather was walk the same streets and see many of county Midlothian with sib- Joseph Franck Spence b1864 the sights that were familiar to my for- lings James and Fanny. I have in Kirkwall. He was a twin, his bears—the whole idea gives me goose- a copy of a letter written in brother being Thomas Franck bumps. 1925 saying he went abroad Spence. Their parents were You can read here what I know about and was last heard of in New James Scarth Spence b1819 my kin and if anyone in Orkney can add Zealand but that none of his Kirkwall (banker) and Frances anything to it that would be, as they say, relatives had heard from him Pugh Franck. I have included a the icing on the cake. in 30 years! photo of the family probably taken There might even be the chance of meet- 2. Joseph Franck Spence, my around 1871 after James Scarth ing a cousin and I don’t care how many grandfather, was recorded on Spence had died in 1869 and the times removed! his marriage certificate from twins are seen seated at the front. Now I am getting carried away .....but NSW, Australia to my grand- Your guess would be as good as you never know. Our editor tells me that mother as being a widower, mine as to which one is my grand- stranger things have happened. this took place in Sydney Aus- father. They were obviously told You can be sure that I will be checking tralia in 1898. I have not had not to smile! There were 12 chil- my email every day I am in Orkney. I any success in tracking down dren from this marriage: James will be at [email protected] his first wife. b1847 Caroline Ann b1849 Rob- Just a couple more points ert Franck b1850 Alexander of interest: James Spence Logie b1851 Fanny b1853 William Logie b1855. b1786, father of James Scarth Spence wrote a journal in Above children were born in Madras India and then the 1803 of which I have a copy. I will be bringing it with me family returned to Kirkwall and hoping it will be of inter- where the following children est. James Spence was Prov- were born:- Charles Franck ost of Kirkwall 1850-1862. b1857 Margaret Elizabeth In 1826 The Commercial b1858 Agnes b1862 Henry Mc- Bank came to Kirkwall and Cabe b1863 Joseph Franck the bank appointed James b1864 twin Thomas Franck Spence as their agent. As b1864 twin. Their mother the plans for our trip were Frances Pugh Spence died very spontaneous unfortu- giving birth to the twins and nately this article will not in 1866 James Scarth Spence be published until the June married for a second time to edition but if by any chance Alexina Isabella Logie in you are to read this and it Daisybank, Kirkwall. There is of any interest to you and were 3 children from this mar- we are still there please con- riage, Helen Elizabeth b.1866 tact me asap or we can still Alexina Isabella b.1868 Har- communicate when we have riet Spence b.1869, d.1869, at returned home. Email me at: one day James Scarth Spence [email protected] I will died also in 1869 just a month I cannot believe they were as glum as this. They were probably toid by the have access to my emails before Harriet was born, very photograher to stand very still and not smile. while away. L 4 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Issue No.78 June 2016
By Thomas W. Fea. Member No 1757 Dear Members and Friends at the June 23, 1868, the schooner Au Revoir arrives Sydney, New South Wales with crewmember William Fea of Orkney Family History Society. Kirkwall: Cook and Steward.5 When my sister (Lori Fea Gilmore) and I started in- Then, on or before June 22, 1869, the barque Francis A. vestigating our Genealogy in 1989, one of our early finds Palmer came to moor in San Francisco, California with was a William J. Fea in the California U.S. censuses for crewmember William Fea. The Daily Evening Bulletin the years 1880 – 1920, residing in state hospitals. Even of that date notes that it had travelled from Hong Kong though I live in California I didn’t rush to investigate and was waiting to discharge cargo. However, the article him since our family given names were John, James, also stated that the crew threatened to unload the cargo Joseph, Thomas, Alexander, David and Simon, over and onto the dock if those who had ordered it did not come over again. William didn’t immediately ring a bell. forth to claim it. A few years later, when we did try to locate records, It was the last voyage of the Francis Palmer under I found that the medical bureaucracy of our State hos- that management. William Fea and other crewmembers pitals, one of them being where he died, would not tell had to sue the owners for wages6 and while awaiting the us anything. At the height of my frustration, one very settlement The San Francisco City Directory for 1869 kind clerk whispered to me that I should order his death shows a one-year listing for William Fea, ships cook, at certificate as it will have almost all his information on it. 26 Steuart Street, an address near the present day Ferry That certificate indicated that he was indeed a Scots- Building. On August 25, 1870 the Court ordered the sale man and gave him an age that seemed to match William of said vessel and that the cargo to be disposed of at a Iverach Fea, originally of Kirkwall. While his middle public auction of that date.7 initial is shown as J in all the records, a cursive upper- The last of the Australian ship’s log entries concerning case “I”, then taught in schools, strongly resembles what William was one of January 9, 1873, when the barque is now written as J. I believe that he is indeed, William Elm Grove arrived at Sydney from Adelaide, New South Iverach Fea. Wales. William was originally listed as cook/steward for If you should have additional data, photos etc., please that voyage but his name was lined out. The transcriber contact us. Here is what we have uncovered to date: thus inferred that he was a passenger.8 While the Aus- tralian ship logs do not list William again, the Sydney William Iverach Fea Morning Herald of July 18, 1873 had his eldest brother, William Iverach FeaA was born in 1846, the tenth and Captain Peter Fea, of the Lady Dufferin arriving, along last child of Peter Fea and Christina Hepburn of with his and William’s brother, 2nd Mate John G. Fea. Kirkwall, Orkney, Scotland. William’s three older broth- Subsequently, on December 21, 1873, the San Francisco ers all went to sea at one time or another with the eld- Chronicle announced that the Lady Dufferin and Cap- est, Peter, becoming the Captain and part owner of the tian Fea had arrived there. “Lady Dufferin.” Brothers James and John Garriock I break William’s account here, to say that it took years Fea also had successful seafaring careers.B Our earliest to ferret out most of the above information and during citation for William was a listing in the Scottish Census that time, I worried that William had lived hospitalized of Orkney as a “scholar” (attending school) until sometime in the United States without any knowledge by his fam- after 1861. We contend after that he too went to sea. The ily. It wasn’t until 2014 that more of his story was re- following is a partial listing of ships from the webpages of vealed: “Mariners and Ships in Australian Waters” on which he William reappears in the San Francisco City Direc- served. The age and home port of the seaman listed agrees tory in 1876,9 listed as a seaman, at the address of 104 with that of William Iverach. Steuart Street, also near the Piers. He is shown as living January 8, 1866 the barque Atrevida arrives Sydney, at the same address as John G. [Garriock] Fea, Sea- New South Wales from San Francisco, California man. The following year the Annual Directory of the City with crewmember William Fea of Kirkwall: Steward.3 and County of San Francisco, 1877, again lists both Feas: January 28, 1868 the schooner Au Revoir arrives “Fea, John Garrick [sic], mate, schooner Fannie Sydney, New South Wales with crewmember William Hare, r. 32 Steuart Street
Fea: Cook.4 Fea, Wm., master [sic] mariner, r. 32 Steuart Street”10 A Issue No 78 June 2016 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY 5
Voter registration rolls also show that John Garrick of work since. He promised the hospital surgeon that he [sic] Fea became a U.S. citizen on August 31, 1877 and would not again make an attempt on his life.”13 his address having returned to 26 Steuart Street (prob- Two days later in the San Jose Mercury News: ably a mariner hotel).11 “Escaped Lunatic [sic] Captured” Then an article in the Evening Bulletin of November “San Francisco, Aug 14 – Found wandering on the wa- 11, 1877, stated that William Fea was to be committed ter front near the Howard street wharf by the police and to what became Napa State Hospital, for attempting su- taken to the Harbor Hospital, an old man apparently de- icide.12 After a lengthy process owing to present day pri- mented has been identified as William Fea, an escaped vacy laws, the following was provided by the California patient from the State Hospital at Stockton. State Archives on April 28, 2014: He tells an interesting story of having escaped from William J. Fea Original No. 935 that institution shortly after his transfer there from Ag- “Committed from San Francisco Ca. By the Hon. Ste- new’s in April 1906. He lived for a time in Sacramento phen J. Nye, Nov. 21, 1877. Witnesses John G. Fea [Cum- and was treated in a public hospital there for a broken berland, Dundee, Scotland] and others. leg, without betraying his mental condition. Examining Physicians, Dr’s. Bates and Henry. He later came here [San Francisco] and lived at 42 Age, thirty years. Nativity, Scotland; Single; Sailor Sacramento street until taken to the detention hospital Cook and Steward. where Deputy Sheriff Thomas Whelan identified him. He Evidence of insanity: Imagines he sees his friends on will be returned to Stockton today.”14 the wall. Think he is Christ come to save sinners. Has Almost 23 years later, on January 12, 1929 at 11:05 attempted suicide by jumping from the window, also by pm, after 51 years15 of confined hospitalization, William cutting himself in the arm. This is his second attack. passed away at the Stockton State Hospital from arte- Cause of Insanity: Unknown. Class. Suicidal Mania. riosclerosis with contribution by dementia praecox. He Admitted: Nov. 21, 1877. Has no property.” was cremated16 and is interred in a mass grave some- Below the above is a later note stating: Transferred where in Stockton, California. from the Napa Asylum Oct 30, 1888 [to Agnew State * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Hospital]. When Lori and I started looking at William, we did it It is not clear when William’s brother John left San to help other Fea’s of Orkney fill gaps in their records. Francisco but Mike Rendall’s Northern-Skies site shows In 2010, I was contacted by Jim Wilson of the Univer- that John married Margaret Gilbertson in Edinburgh on sity of Edinburgh, requesting that I participate in a pa- December 14, 1881. It also states that William’s elder ternal DNA study that included the Fea Family. The brother, Captain Peter Fea died in 1892. John Garri- idea being to determine whether Feas are genetically ock Fea’s death notice appears in the May 5, 1898 issue Norse or Pic. I agreed and mentioned to him that there of Edinburgh Evening News: “FEA – at hospital, Edin- was also a Fea male on mainland Scotland, descended burgh, on the inst., John Garriock Fea (late of Kirkwall), from Orkney roots, but I didn’t know his lineage. In beloved husband of Margaret Gilbertson. Funer- July 2011, Jim got back to me. He said he had contact- al from 3 Union Street, Leith to Seafield Cemetery, on ed Alexander (Sandy) Fea. [Sandy is descended from Friday, 6th, at 2 o’clock. Friends please accept this (the James Fea and Jane/Jean Cooper, son of Mitchell only) invitation.” Fea and Nancy Wards.] The DNA results showed that William remained at Agnew State Hospital into the Sandy’s and my paternal DNA are exactly the same! early 1900’s when he became one of the few Orcadians Such results mean that we have a very, very close ances- to experience California’s famous San Francisco Earth- tor! This fits with my thought that Lori’s and my line quake of April 18, 1906. The Agnew State Hospital in (based upon names and birth dates) is tied to Mitchell San Jose was heavily damaged, thus, many of the pa- Fea, Stronsay, who married 1) Margaret Brodie and 2) tients that weren’t injured during the temblor were Nancy Wards. Michael Rendall, our Northern-Skies transferred to the State Hospital for the Insane in Stock- originator, has at times hypothesized that James Fea, ton, California. Sometime during or shortly after the husband of Jane/Jean Cooper could be a progeny of the transfer, William walked away from his captivity and same Mitchell Fea, but no written records exist to prove approximately 17 months later, the following article ap- it. The DNA results do connect James as Mitchell’s son peared in the Oakland Tribune: and links Sandy, Lori, myself and William Iverach all to “Loses His Job and Jumps Into the Bay” a common ancestor. Perhaps you too? “San Francisco, Aug. 12, 1907 – William Fea, a bed maker, Now for the bad news, Jim Wilson’s data does not formerly employed at the Arcade house, made an ineffectual show the Fea Family genetics as either Norse or Pic. Jim attempt to commit suicide by jumping into the bay from the stated that it is more common to people of Iberian roots. Howard street dock at 7:15 a.m. this morning. Just what we all need at our ages, an Identity Crisis! The watchman on the dock noticed Fea acting suspi- ciously, and kept his eyes on him. When he saw the man Sincerely yours, Tom jump into the water, he was on hand with ropes to pull P.S. The final note on DNA in the last sentences may him out. When Fea was taken to the Harbor hospital, he be a little out of date. Dr. Jim Wilson has recently stated to the attendants that he had no money and no suggested that I get additional testing done on my DNA friends and would be better dead. as the science has evolved since his work was completed The man became despondent on account of losing his and it might be able to be better refined now. I am con- position at the Arcade house last Monday and being out sidering doing that. More overleaf A 6 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Issue No.78 June 2016
Endnotes for the William Iverach Fea article and Christian Oliver against the American Barque, “Frances Palmer,” A. William’s middle initial has later been reported at J. As of this her tackle, apparel and furniture, and against the fright money now writing, it is thought that this was caused sometime during his life by due to the said Barque and owners. the cursive capital “I” being mistaken for a J. Now, therefore, in pursuance of the notion, and under the seal of B http://genealogy.northern-skies.net/genealogy.php?number=57- the Court, to me directed and delivered I do hereby give public notice Peter Fea and Christina Hepburn to all persons claiming the said Barque, or in any manner interested Peter Fea was the second son of James & Jane, born in 1800 therein, that they be and appear before the said District Court to be at Stronsay. He was baptized in the Kirkwall Parish. Peter married held at the City of San Francisco on Tuesday the sixteenth day of Christina Hepburn on 15th April 1824, at Shapinsay. The service was August, 1879, at 11 o’clock in the forenoon of that day, provided the conducted by the Rev. Mr. Barry, and witnesses were John Irwin and same shall be a day of jurisdiction thereafter, then I here to interpose Malcolm Heddle. Christina’s parents were Peter & Christina Hepburn their claims and to make their allegation in that behalf. (nee COOPER) according to her death certificate, but may have been Dated the 3rd day of August A. D. 1870 William & Margaret (nee BROCK). Her birth date was therefore either W. M. Gouverneur Morris, U. S. Marshal and Sullivan and 1803 in Shapinsay or 11th June 1801 in Shapinsay. Ellsworth, proctor of Libellance. They lived at 28 Broad Street, Kirkwall. The house had 2 rooms with 1 or more windows (1861 census) His occupation was Boot, 7 San Francisco Daily Evening Bulletin August 25, Shoemaker, Slater (1851), Boot & Shoemaker employing 1 man 1870, Page 4 (1861). Margaret was a Boot and Shoe Binder in 1851 United States Marshal’s Sale ____”Francis Palmer” – United Peter died 10th December 1882 at 0900 hours, aged 82 years, States of America, District of California, as –by virtue of the writt of at his home in Broad Street, Kirkwall. He had been unwell for some rendition (?) expenses, to me directed, issued from the District Court time and is listed in the 1881 census as ‘Retired Slater (Imbecile)’. of the United States for the District of California at the suit of Henry Christina died 20th January 1896 at 1100 a.m, aged 94 years. They Dreyer, et als, against the Bark “Francis Palmer,” her tackle, apparel, are buried in the St. Magnus Church Yard (see headstone). furniture and freight, I am commanded to sell the above named vessel Their children were: in accordance with the decree dated the 18th day of August, A. D. A Peter (1825 - 1892). Peter became a sailor, lived at Liverpool and 1879, pronounced in said Court. was master and part owner of a sailing ship. He never married. I hereby give public notice that on Friday the 25th day of August, B Margaret Davidson (1827 - 1911). Margaret was a dressmaker A.D. 1870 at 1 o’clock in front of Merchant Exchange, California employing 3 apprentices in 1851. She married Robert Miller in 1851 Street, in the city of San Francisco. I will sell the above-named Bark at Kirkwall and they migrated to Australia soon after. “Francis Palmer” to the highest bidder, for cash, payable at the time C Annie Hepburn (1829 - 1864). Annie married William Hepburn of of the sale. Orkney, at Edinburgh in 1851. They returned and lived in Orkney. WM Gouverneur Morris, U.S. Marshall. DJean Cooper (1832 - 1918). Never married. Stayed at home and looked after aging parents. (occupation: ‘Attending parents’ in 1881 8 http://mariners.records.nsw.gov.au/1873/01/029elm. census) htm. E. Mary (1835 - 1836) died as infant. 9 Langley’s San Francisco Directory (San Francisco: F James (1837 - ). James was born 16th Jan 1837 and was a Directory Publishing Co.: various) scholar living at home in 1851. There has been no further trace of 10 D. M. Bishop and Son, Annual Directory of the City him except for a reference to him by his nephew, William Linklater, as and County of San Francisco (1877), San Francisco: B. Mate on the Lady Dufferin with his elder brother, Peter as Master. J. C. Vandall. Fea is listed in Lloyd’s Register as Master of the Lady Dufferin from 11 Seventh Ward Register, of the City and County of 1881 to 1883. San Franciso, page 13. G Isabella Baikie (1839 - ). Isabella was b. 29th January, 1839 12 Evening Bulletin, San Francisco, CA, Nov. 11, 1877, at Kirkwall. She was an errand girl in 1851 and there is no further Insane Commitments. information. 13The Oakland Tribune, CA, August 12, 1907 H Eleanor Weymms (1841 - 1908). Eleanor married William Robert- The San Jose Mercury News, CA, August 14, 1907. son Linklater in Kirkwall and they migrated to Australia in 1866. 15U.S. Federal Census, California, 1880, 1900, 1910 I John Garriock (1843 - 1898) John was a Druggist apprentice in and 1920. 1861, but later became a merchant seaman. He moved to Edinburgh 16County of San Joaquin, Department of Pub- and married Margaret Gilbertson in 1881. lic Health, Standard Certificate of Death, No. 109, J William Iverach (1846 - ). William was a scholar in 1851 and 1/12/1029. 1861, but no further record has been found of him. 3 http://mariners.records.nsw.gov.au/1866/01/033atr.htm. 4http://mariners.records.nsw.gov.au/1868/01/086aur.htm see scan of the written log, not the transcription on webpage. 5http://mariners.records.nsw.gov.au/1868/06/057aur.htm. If you have any additional informa- 6 San Francisco Daily Evening Bulletin, August 12, 1870 Page 4 tion or photographs to add to this United States of America – District of California ___ Whereas a article, you can email the author libel has been filed in the District Court of the United States, for the Thomas W. Fea at District of California, on the 3rd day of August A. D. 1970, by Henry [email protected] Dreyer, William Fea, Kenneth McKenzie, Frederick Harinster, William Gomer, Edward Collard, John Johnson, John Wabiman, T.M. Rogers Issue No 78 June 2016 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY 7
By Ian Cameron, Member No. 10 Having been born and brought up in Glasgow my late erator of The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland wife, Elizabeth (Betty) Miller Cameron, nee Wilson, in 1893. Having seen the census page listing the Lang thought she would like to know a bit more about her an- family I noticed a name that jumped out at me right away, cestors so she started researching her family history on Cosmo Lang*. With a little help from Google I found her father’s side as she knew he, James Henry Wilson, that Cosmo Lang had been the Archbishop of York and had been born in Frasers Close in Kirkwall, Orkney. Archbishop of Canterbury. But this was not all. There Some research in the old library in Kirkwall, and lat- was a brother of Cosmo’s, Marshall B. Lang who was er in the Orkney Family History Society’s office in the the Moderator of the Church Of Scotland in 1935. What a new library, got her well back in time. Having now got family. Wow. Could Betty’s great aunt have potty trained the bug she started researching her mother’s side, Mar- someone who became an Archbishop twice and also his garet Simpson Crow. This wasn’t so easy, the Crow, brother who became a Moderator of the Church of Scot- Crowe and early on Craw family were from Central land? Scotland. There weren’t many people left she could ask To go back to Betty’s aunt who was housekeeper to as some of her ancestors had gone to Australia and in the elderly couple in Glasgow. They were Mr. & Mrs. the days before emails it wasn’t easy to get in touch with John Rennie Barnett. The name Barnett may be well people down under. She knew her mother had taken her known to older seafarers as John Rennie Barnett was as a young girl to visit an aunt who was housekeeper senior partner in the firm G.L.Watson &Co. Boat and to an elderly couple living in the south side of Glasgow yacht builders. In 1923 Mr. Barnett designed the 60ft. (more of her later) and there was a family story that a lifeboat – the first twin engined, twin screw RNLI life- great aunt had been in service to a minister’s family in boat with many features which were to become stand- Glasgow. I got involved at this stage and between us we ard on future lifeboats. There were several Barnett found in the census of 1881 a Margaret Simpson Crow class lifeboats built. So there we have Betty’s great ( same name as Betty’s mother and an age that fitted) was aunt working for a family that saved souls and her aunt a nurse with the family of the Rev. John Marshall Lang working for a family that saved lives. Not bad going! D.D. a minister in the Barony Parish of Glasgow and Mod- Ian Cameron. May 2016 L
*Editors Note The Cosmo Lang connection is quite fascinating. Al- of the House of Windsor. He was already married to though his name is now generally forgotten at one time Lady Elizabeth Bowes Lyon and they had two daugh- it was on everyone’s lips for Cosmo Lang was Archbishop ters, Margaret and her elder sister Elizabeth, the present of Canterbury during Britain’s abdication. Lang was Queen. vehemently opposed to Edward VIII marrying Wallis Many people at the time thought that Lang’s behaviour Simpson, an American who had divorced her first hus- could be excused as that of a man trying to do the best band and was about to do likewise to her second. for his country. History shows that Lang went to great lengths to ensure If he had had the sense to keep his mouth shut he could that Edward would never be crowned King and retain have walked away from the situation practically un- the throne if he married Mrs Simpson. scathed. In a letter to The Times newspaper, purporting to come He made the mistake, however, of broadcasting a speech from his chaplain, Lang suggested that the King was in which he criticised the former King and alluded to the mentally ill, bordering insanity and an alcoholic. new King’s stammer. The official version at the time used Prime Minister The speech was condemned for its lack of charity to- Baldwin and The Times editor Geoffrey Dawson as wards Edward and smacked of ‘kicking a man when he the prime movers in Edward’s exit but it has now been is down’. shown that Cosmo Lang, through a series of underhand And the reaction of the new Queen (the late Queen Moth- methods, engineered Edward’s abdication. er) to all this? She invited Lang to tea at the Palace. His brother Albert, who would take the name of George, And there you have it—trebles all round. now ascended the throne and became the third monarch 8 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Issue No.78 June 2016
By Gregor Lamb, Member No 1620 When I was collecting Orkney words in the 1980s my interpret but for the fact that, to the west of the Swan- brother gave me the word ‘grinkan’ and he told me ex- nay Loch in Birsay, is the ruins of an old house known actly how he had heard it used. He had gone to see our as Steeny Milders. ‘Steeny’ here is ‘stony’ and ‘milders’ is neighbour, an elderly lady, and though he couldn’t see related to English ‘moulder’ to decay or crumble to dust her, decided that she was in an hence the house takes its name oothoose where he could hear her from the type of land on which it struggling with something. The larger section of the above is situated– broken stone. ‘Hello Lizzie,’he called. map of Stymilders in 1882 Stymilders isn’t an old house ‘Wharivver thoo are,’ she re- shows the boundary of Firth it dates from the middle of the plied, ‘does thoo hear me grin- and Stenness parishes passing 19th century when, to save mon- kan?’ diagonally through the garden. ey, a substantial school was built ‘Yaas’. The old road is clearly visible as on the boundary of the parishes ‘Weel come an help me than.’ of Firth and Stenness to serve as ‘Grinkan’ means ‘to make a are the quarry for road stone and a school for both parishes. The noise in the throat while strug- the contentious field. first, perhaps the only teacher gling’, a word akin to ‘grunting’ was Catherine Leavock Levack and the Lizzie in the tale is Lizzie from Lin-gue (later Langie) in Anderson, an Anderson from Moa in Stenness and better Clestrain, Orphir who came here to teach after her hus- known as Lizzie o Stymilders. band, a Caithness man from Halkirk, who farmed Langie Lizzie was a member of the Good Templars, an in- died. As a school, Stymilders had a short life. It was a cra- ternational association vehemently opposed to the con- zy place to build a school. Although it served the Stenness sumption of alcohol. This association which was run on district of Germiston well, the nearest Firth pupil lived Masonic lines was very strong in Orkney at the begin- more than a mile away. The only advantage of building it ning of the 20th century and Lizzie was Deputy of the there was that it was on what was at that time the main Maeshowe Lodge. She had strong views, not only on al- road between Kirkwall and Stromness. It wasn’t much cohol but also, as my mother discovered, on smoking. I of a road, deeply rutted by cart wheels and nominally distinctly remember her severely upbraiding my moth- maintained by local men who were obliged by statute to er for allowing my brother, aged sixteen at the time, to spend six days a year keeping it in good repair by us- smoke a cigarette in the house! My mother (a non smok- ing stones from quarries along its length. The Roads Act er) accepted the admonition though she might have told of 1857 was quickly implemented in Orkney and a new Lizzie that Dr. Petrie (an otherwise excellent doctor) had road (the present road) was built, by-passing Stymilders advised her to smoke ‘Craven A’ for a sore throat! and opening in 1860. This in turn led to the opening of a Stymilders is a house new school serving the which lies about half a parish of Stenness only mile south of the junc- just off the Ireland road tion of the Stromness at Madras, now Hey- to Kirkwall road and dal, in 1868. The heri- the road to Harray. It tors or landholders who is an interesting house paid for the Stymilders in many ways. Firstly, school and the sala- its pronunciation. It is ry of the teacher must pronounced Steem-il- have rued the day they ders with emphasis made the penny-pinch- on the ‘ild’. What a pe- ing decision to place the culiar name it is and school on the bounda- it could have been a ry. Catherine Levack very difficult name to Stymilders today is home to two families moved to the new A Issue No 78 June 2016 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY 9
F school and was followed there by one of Orkney’s most heard of anything sinister happening there and I heard famous head teachers, Magnus Spence from Birsay. nothing more of the visitations! I had the privilege of being shown the old Stymild- When I was young, immediately to the north of Sty- ers schoolroom in the late 1940s by Lizzie herself. I was milders, at the other side of what was the old public road, amazed at how big and substantial the room was and I was a lovely green field. It lay on the land of Upper Hob- have a vague recollection of seeing a desk there but that bister. Our family often wondered why this field, which may now be a figment of my imagination. lay at the extreme end of the land of Upper Hobbister The house of Stymilders had a beautiful walled garden had been cultivated and none of the intervening land with an incredible variety of flowers and plants and Liz- (which was heather covered brecks at that time) had zie generously gave my mother many cuttings from these been touched. No one seemed to know the answer. By when we built our house nearby. I remember that in the chance, when looking through old Sheriff Court Records, corner of the garden stood an old crumbling beehive―the I came across the answer. first beehive I had ever seen. Behind this beehive lies a At the beginning of the 1900s Stymilders was occupied story. Lizzie had two very able brothers, one of whom was by widow Isabella Smith and her family. She is described in Charles, a veritable polymath, an expert in mineralogy the 1901 Census as a farmer. She apparently took it upon and palaeontology who became Director of the Australian herself to break out this land, presumably in the hope that Museum in Sydney. The other brother was John, Lectur- Charles Robertson of Upper Hobbister would never notice― er in Beekeeping at the North of Scotland College of Ag- and if he did, would not make a fuss. Her plan failed―he riculture in Aberdeen and an internationally recognised took her to court, he won his case and she had to pay the authority on bees. He is credited with the discovery of how court’s expenses. All her hard work, presumably with one bees ‘breathe’ and on the perfection of the beehive so we horse and a simple plough had been to no avail. There were can safely assume that this beehive was one of his early plenty of examples of land grabbing in 19th century Ork- prototypes. Lizzie gave my mother a small booklet on bee- ney; I wonder whether this was the last example of land keeping written by her brother but, sadly it seems to have grabbing in the islands to end up in court. gone to that great depository of old books in the sky! In the early 1950s Lizzie passed away and I read in There is a spooky tale associated with Stymilders. In The Orcadian that a ‘displenish sale’ was to be held at the 1970s an English family moved here and their child Stymilders. With a shilling in my pocket I went up the was admitted to Stenness Primary School where at that track to see the last of Lizzie’s effects being scattered to time I was head teacher. Shortly after their arrival I was the four winds. I bought an old wooden box with a han- asked by the Education Department to go and see the dle; inside were some brushes and ancient tins of boot parents. They were intrigued to know that, as a child, I polish. The box was used for many years in our family had lived close by and this led the child’s mother to ask until it went the same way as the book on bee-keeping. me if Stymilders was haunted. I was quite surprised by In some Orkney parishes, attempts are being made to the question and asked her why she thought this was make a photographic record of farms, houses and their the case. She said that from time to time she could hear inhabitants and a snapshot in time is excellent idea. the sound of children’s voices ringing around the house A little information on the history of the house, where though her own child wasn’t there at the time. When known, would also be valuable and I am happy to put I told her that the house had been built originally as Stymilders on record as a simple example of what could a school she was very surprised. I certainly had never be done. Gregor Lamb, March 2016 L
POSITIVELY THE LAST APPEARANCE I have never had so much interest in a photograph or so many people claiming to identfy the people. Trouble is no one Renewing your Membership? can agree. John Craigie, Member No 2413, ‘after extensive research’ has stuck his neck out and claims this is the defini- and we cetainly hope you will be tive list. Even if it isn’t I think that I have had enough!! Ed We would be so grateful if you would use our website. We often have trouble with dollar checks, with banks being so pernickity about small details – exactly matching payees name, account name etc. With foreign cheques we have a lot of form filling to present with the cheque and even then it will take at least two weeks to clear. If you use our website you can use either a credit or debit card and the transaction is almost instant. To make a payment, go to
South from the draper shop, separated by Manse Lane, stood a Account Ledger, the making of passbooks, copying letters in a large square building built of red sandstone, the Union Bank of massive letter press and any other menial task required. My “sal- Scotland. On 4th August 1931 I entered the portals as a young ary” started at £30 per annum with annual increases to £40, £50, bank clerk, not yet 17 years old, and in possession of the Higher £75, £100 which was augmented to £125 when one had complet- Leaving Certificate which would have entitled ed the examinations of the Institute of Bankers in Scotland. This me to enter University. This would have been took four years to achieve. By this time I had a hardship on the family finances as my old- In part three John been transferred to the Kirkwall branch and er sister Ruby was at that time in Aberdeen, (Jackie) Brown rem- “passing rich” on £125 per annum and now training to be a school teacher and no grants iniscences about his able to indulge in a couple of pints of beer, were then available. I, along with two oth- then sixpence a pint, when the need arose. ers, sat an examination consisting of English time in the Stromness Banking was not much of a hassle in those and Mathematics. Norman Mays eventually Branch of the Union days. Very few people had a Current Ac- became a school headmaster and Jim Kemp Bank of Scotland count. They were mainly used by merchants the manager of the Aberdeen Savings Bank in and other business people. Agriculture was Kirkwall. Jim Kemp was a cousin of the eccen- the main industry and, in those days, the tric Duggie Johnston previously mentioned and, when the result farmers mostly dealt in cash, selling cattle to itinerant cattle came through, Duggie called me into his shop. “I knew Jim Kemp dealers. A cheque book for most people was not necessary. One wouldn’t get the job with a red face like that. He looks more like incident which occurred in my third year related to one a farmer,” he said with a large chuckle. of those cattle dealers. On a Wednesday, the mar- I learned later that the other two as- ket day,when cattle were bought and sold at pirants had received a letter advising Stromness Auction Mart, we were £10 over that another applicant had put in “a in the cash when balancing at the end of the better appearance”.The manager was day. The farmer had drawn out a considerable a Stromness man, John S Marwick, amount of cash that day. After scrutinising all a rather handsome Edwardian gentle- the vouchers the manager, John W Towers, man,invariably dressed in tweed “plus who had succeeded Mr Marwick, thought it fours” in vogue at that time. He was the could only be the cattle dealer. Why I was brother of “Dodo” Marwick, the town appointed to speak to the dealer I do not provost, who was a bespoke tailor in know to this day. But I was and approached his little shop further south in Graham the matter with some apprehension. How- “Dodo’ Marwick Place. Both gentlemen were reputed to ever, he took out his little book, calculated be “canny” men and this was a frequent his outgoings and the cash in his wallet and said he appeared to subject of conversation. When I entered the bank, Mr Marwick be £10 short. I had not told him what the discrepancy was and it had only two years to go before retirement and was in the pro- looked as if this was the answer. I reported back and was author- cess of building a new house in an acre of land up Hillside Road. ised to hand over the £10, which today could be in the region of The house was built by “Pia” Anderson – of mass concrete. This £300 or even more. One year later a woman from the island of was something quite new in Orkney. But “Pia” had already ac- Graemsay came to the bank. quired a reputation in this respect. He had built the substantial Her Deposit Account passbook showed £10 more than in our lighthouse at Eshaness in Shetland. The house is now owned by ledger. We discovered that this was on the very day of the dis- my elder son, Dr John Flett Brown, bought before he retired crepancy. Obviously the £10 had been entered in her passbook from the oil business in Libya where he worked for eight years. and the relative pay-in slip had either not been written or had In 1931 the Union Bank (amalgamated with the Bank of Scotland been mislaid. When Mr Towers approached the dealer who said in 1955) was a quiet place to work with a staff of only three - a he remembered the incident clearly and confirmed that his cash manager, accountant and clerk. As a clerk my first task was the had been all right. The matter was not pressed any further. Mr “onerous” job of maintaining and balancing the Postage Book, Towers agreed to rectify the matter out of his own pocket. daily exchanging the notes of the other two banks, the Commer- Johnny Towers was like a breath of fresh air af- cial Bank and the National Bank, sending away by post cheques ter the Edwardian rigidity of John S Marwick. A of other banks, renewing Deposit Receipts, writing up the Current He regaled us with stories of the Western Front Issue No 78 June 2016 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY 11
Fwhere he had served in the First World War, and sometime they tailor invariably referred to as “Dodo” Marwick, brother of my were told in colourful language. Johnny was small and corpulent. first boss in the Bank, John S Marwick. Like his brother, Dodo He had survived the rigours of the 1914/18 War, but succumbed to was a good looking man; he spoke with a slight lisp. Apart from a heart attack in his early fifties, exercising with the Home Guard his tailoring business he was the local reporter for The Orcadi- during World War II. an, one of the two weekly newspapers; the oth- e r Immediately south of the Bank lived a widowed woman who was The Orkney Herald, now defunct. He be- possessed the colourful name of “Ginger Beery Babbie”. I never came well known over the islands for the Nature knew her surname. Like many a widow in the town she “eked out” Notes which were interesting and informative. her livelihood keeping a small shop where, obviously, He would describe his walks over the hills she had made and sold ginger beer. So it was conven- and along the cliffs. One I can remember ient for me to pop in for a bar of chocolate or a small well was his encounter with a belligerent bottle of lemonade; she no longer made ginger ale. She ram he met on one of his walks. The ram was the aunt of the infamous James Leask, the bellman, made several charges so Dodo decided to universally known as “Puffer”, who lived further along get on all fours and crawl all the way to the street up one of the many closes. Although five or the boundary fence. He was successful in his six families lived up the close it was called stratagem and told his story in detail and with much relish. Dodo ‘Puffer’s Close’. Puffer was slightly lame was also canny. On the bench in the shop stood a gigantic roll of and had to use a stick. As he walked along the string standing about two feet in diameter which never got any street he would puff and blow quite audibly. smaller. He would use his Nature Notes in a competitive way and As youngsters we were always to his advantage. He would mention that Mr John Scott somewhat afraid of him. If he was standing from Innertown had brought him a large turnip weighing so many on a corner he would attempt to trip us up pounds and could anyone beat that. Of course they could, and with his stick as we ran along so we would Dodo would be well supplied during the weeks ahead. Later in avoid him. Looking back, I think it was all the year a large onion or a large cabbage would be mentioned. My part of a game with no evil intent. However, father and Dodo were great friends as they both had an interest in there was a cruel streak in his nature. When The Orkney Natural History Society and the Stromness Museum, Puffer’s mother died his aunt Ginger Beery a very interesting and comprehensive Museum at the south end of Babbie attended the funeral in the house up the town. My father was particularly interested in coins and had the close. Apparently his aunt was keening quite a large collection from all over the world. A large number of loudly during the service when Puffer was Stromness men went to sea and sailed to exotic places. They knew heard to say in a loud whisper “Will some- of his interest and in that way his coin collection expanded over one not give her a kick in the shins”. He had the years. When I returned from Aberdeen in 1954 as manager of spent some time in jail in Kirkwall. When he the Union Bank of Scotland, Dodo Marwick was an old man and was sent to weed the garden he pulled out the James Leask, one day he asked me to call along the shop. He wanted to discuss flowers and left the weeds. He sent a pathetic ‘Puffer’ with me a problem he was facing, namely that of the intricacy note to his mother to send him five shillings Stromness Town Crier of the Pay As You Earn system relating to Income Tax. He had a and The Christian Herald and not to forget housekeeper, a single woman who had a Canadian pension which, The Christian Herald. Puffer also had a sense of humour. When together with her wages from him, made her liable to pay income George V was lying on his deathbed, James Leask was also ill. tax. His old friend William Duncan Shearer had died and it Everyone was concerned about the king and daily bulletins on his was he who had, on a monthly basis, helped with this P.A.Y.E. progress appeared in Dodo problem. There was nothing Marwick’s shop window in very problematic about this, Graham Place. At the same but to Dodo, at his age,it was time, up Puffer’s Close, a mountain to climb each daily bulletins appeared on month. After I had worked it his door “Temperature 99°, out, which only took a cou- pulse maintained; did not ple of minutes, the amount sleep well” or, “Position sta- of tax was deducted from his ble, temperature down, had a housekeeper’s wage and put better night”. On our way to in a little tin box. At the end school our first dash was up of three months the box was the close to see how Puffer emptied and taken to the Post was progressing. Sometimes Office where a money order, the notices were couched payable to the Inland Reve- in blatant and vulgar terms. nue, could be purchased, free We thought it quite hilari- of charge. Dodo would not ous, or was it anarchistic? wish to make a mistake, es- In Graham Place stood the The boy in the photograph with one foot up on the pavement is probably imitating the gait pecially with regard to the house and shop of the Prov- of poor old ‘Puffer” (with the walking stick) as he hobbles along Victoria Street in Strom- Inland Revenue. If a mistake ost of Stromness, George ness. The boy is Jackie Brown and the big doorway is the entrance to the Union Bank of had been made the responsibil- W Marwick, a bespoke Scotland where one day Jackie Brown would become manager. ity would not have been his. L 12 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Issue No78 June 2016 Issue No 78 June 2016 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY 13
By Colin Isbister Tait – Member No 1231 James Tait, the oldest of the 8 children of Thomas Tait and Kath- so young Orcadian men to be HBC employees. As it turned out, there again managed the post during the winter of 1792-1793, when Tom- who required to abandon his native family. Later, there was a place arine Sinclair, was baptised on the 12 April 1758 in the Parish of was a ready supply of Orkneymen, as the HBC referred to them. At ison moved up the North Saskatchewan River to supervise the build- for the HBC men to retire, remaining in America keeping their family Orphir. At the time of his birth his parents lived at Upphouse in the the time, farming in Orkney was little more than subsistence farming ing of another post, Buckingham House, at Moose Hills. with them. Many of them chose to do this. District of Petertown. It is likely that his parents soon moved to the and farming land was scarce, so it was common for young men to go James takes a ‘ country wife’ All parties seemed to gain from these unions or relationships be- small farm of Orakirk, also in Petertown, where he was brought up. off the islands to seek employment - on the whalers or in the armed The Hudson’s Bay Company had many rules and regulations for tween the fur traders and the native women. The trader gained per- In 1778, as a young man of twenty, he joined the service of the forces, for example. As a rule the Orkneymen had a reasonable basic their officers and servants to follow. One such rule was that the em- sonal protection, security, and loyalty in trading from his wife’s ex- Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC). education and proved to be good employees in Rupert’s Land. So ployees were not to have any relationships or associations with the tended family. As she had been taught by her mother, his partner or Establishment of the HBC successful was this system that by 1800, 80% of all (524) HBC em- Indian women. Needless to say, this was one rule that was not ad- wife would work and care for him, looking after his personal, sexual The HBC was es- ployees were Orkneymen! hered to. During a trade exchange the Indians, as part of their way in and many physical needs. The women gained riches in the form of tablished in 1670 as a Contracts with the HBC were for 5 years. An unskilled worker was showing their hospitality, would offer to the trader one of their wives bright cloth, beads, new and improved cooking utensils and imple- fur-trading company appointed as a labourer and earned about £6 a year. Skilled men, such or a daughter for the night. If the man refused the offer, there was ments. This made many of her laborious tasks easier and quicker to and incorporated by an as carpenters, blacksmiths, cooks, boat-builders and coopers would likely no further trading with that particular band or group of Indi- accomplish. With the HBC providing many of their needs she also English royal charter. earn about £20. Promotion was possible, either into skilled work or ans. Many of the Indian men, as was their custom, practised polyga- gained security. She often served as an interpreter in many of the It was given trading into work associated with canoes or York boats and bonuses could my, and they sometimes had a slave wife which they kept mainly for trading transactions, her social position among her own people was rights in all land drain- be earned, for example by working inland or signing on for anoth- lending purposes. This seemed to be an agreeable arrangement with elevated and often she attained a position of great influence, thus ing into Hudson Bay, an er 3 or 5 years. In the York boats the crew were labourers; the first the Indian women as by having more women around their labouring promoting cultural change. The girl’s family also gained security as area covering about one step of promotion was to ‘steersman’ who navigated the boat and chores could be shared among them and of course the Indian man was often the HBC ended up providing for her family as well. The HBC third of the area of Can- was in charge of the crew. Literate and numerate men were taken on happy as his needs were satisfied and he was well cared for. benefited with the increase in the number of furs they were able to ada plus an area extend- as ‘writers’ to keep records of trade and they were likely to receive The HBC men very quickly realized they could not travel any dis- send back to England each year.”1 ing into what would be- promotion. tance or spend any length of time in America without the assistance The HBC ruling against taking families home makes sense in that the come the USA (see map James Tait joins the Hudson’s Bay Company of an Indian or half-breed woman at their side. The men also knew families would find the culture shock very hard to come to terms with. 1). This land was called Returning now to James Tait, he sailed to Canada from Stromness they could not form dependable trading relationships with a tribe if On the other hand it may have simply been racial discrimination. Rupert’s Land in honour of the first governor of the HBC, Prince in the “King George II”, a frigate, on 23 June 1778. On joining the they did not gain their trust. In the daily journals and records kept by James would appear to have taken his country wife round about Rupert, who was a cousin of King Charles II. The HBC established HBC, his surname is recorded as ‘Tate’ and he used this form from the HBC men for the Company’s records back in England, you find 1790, when he was based at Manchester House, as his first child, 6 ‘factories’ on the perimeter of Hudson Bay – they were called fac- then on and I shall refer to him as James Tate or simply James from little or no mention of these relationships. Many of the HBC men did William, was born around 1792. Sarah, as she was called, was either tories because the factors, or mercantile traders, operated from them. now on. HBC records show that James worked as a labourer at York make good and even lasting relationships with the Indian women. an Indian, probably a Cree, or a half-breed. Other children in the Eventually York Factory became the main one because of its conven- Factory (inland) for 10 years. This probably means that he crewed in These unions were referred to as “marriage à la façon du pays”. This family were Jean, born around 1795, Margaret, born around 1806 ient access to the vast interior waterway systems of the Saskatchewan a canoe as the heavier York boats had not yet been developed. From meant, marriage in the fashion of the country or without the benefit and James, born around 1810. Father James seems to have spent time and Red rivers. Access to the interior was by water – rivers and lakes 1788 to 1792 he worked as a steersman, based at Manchester House. of a clergyman. This was often not a romantic affair, but usually the trying to educate William, as he was able to sign his own name on – initially by canoe. Later a special type of boat was developed – the A steersman would earn between £16 and £30 per annum. From 1792 parents or a close relative arranged the marriage. There was no cer- documents. The other children signed with an X. York boat, based on the Orkney yole. to 1794 he was a steersman and master at Manchester House. A mas- emony but was more of a contract between two groups of people. Sarah “would teach James her native language, the customs of her The HBC established a number of trading posts ‘inland’, which ter was the person in charge of a trading post, so James had been Once the parents’ consent was given, the bargain was sealed with people, and how to live and survive in the country. This made it eas- meant that they were a considerable distance from Hudson Bay. given considerable promotion. From 1794 to 1812 he was master the trader’s payment of goods. The white man followed the tribal ier for him to cope and to carry out his duties as an employee of the These were called Houses, for example Manchester House in Sas- and trader at Upper House, a post further up the North Saskatchewan customs, with the usual gift giving between the man and the father Hudson’s Bay.”1 katchewan where James Tait was employed for a time. The main River. A trader was responsible for all dealings with the natives at a of the bride. This was known as the bride’s price, which was usually Having nothing to spend his earnings on, James invested his earn- trade was with the natives for beaver pelts, which were highly valued given post. As a master or trader, James would earn between £25 and a horse, rum, blankets, guns, kettles or beads. Sometimes these girls ings in stocks through the HBC and by 1798 had a total of £468 of in Britain and France, mainly in the making of fashionable hats, but £50 per annum. were as young as nine or ten years old. If the relationship didn’t work, stocks, worth about £500,000 today. He would no doubt continue to other furs were traded too, for example fox, marten, otter and deer. In The William Tomison Connection they separated as easily as they came together and the girl, along with invest his considerable income as an occasional master and trader exchange for furs the natives could have British and European manu- By 1786 William Tomison (of South Ronaldsay) had been ap- her mixed blood children, would return to and were welcomed by her until he left the HBC. factured knives, axes, guns, powder, shot, kettles, tobacco, jewellery pointed senior officer in charge of York Inland District. He had own tribe. The children would then be raised in the Indian culture. The Selkirk Settlement and blankets. worked his way up from joining the HBC as a labourer in 1760 at For many years the HBC forbade its servants to take these wives This was a colonization project set up in 1811 by Thomas Doug- Eventually 80 % of HBC employees were Orkneymen the age of 20, and was keen to encourage young men of similar back- to their home land, and on retirement up until about 1812, the men las, 5th Earl of Selkirk, on 300,000 square kilometres of land. This To begin with, the HBC employed young men from London to go ground who sought to improve themselves. No doubt Tomison had could not remain and live in Rupert’s Land. Over the years of their land, called Assiniboia, was granted to him by the HBC (see map 2). out to Rupert’s Land, but they proved unsuitable to a country life in a hand in James’s promotion. In fact James was the writer of the service to the HBC some of the men had more than one partner. Oth- The name is based on that of the Assiniboine Indian tribe which had a harsh conditions. They then turned to young men from the highlands Manchester House journals from May to September 1788 and also ers, when they returned to Europe, would just leave their partner and reservation in the area. The Earl established the Settlement hoping to and islands of Scotland and they were better able to adjust to the from May 1792 to May 1793. James and William Walker shared family, or sometimes they would pay other employees of the HBC to give Scottish families somewhere to go during The Highland Clear- conditions. Because the HBC ships, having set off from London and the management of Manchester House while Tomison, who was in take over their family. This custom was referred to as “turning off”, ances, which continued into the early 1800s. Assiniboia included the travelled up the east coast of Britain, called in at Stromness to take on charge, returned to England in the winter of 1790. Tomison returned and meant that a relatively low paid HBC servant was paid to take Red River basin. The directors of the HBC arranged for retired serv- water and other stores, it was found convenient to pick up a dozen or and superintended the trade during the winter of 1791-1792. James over the responsibility of the country wife and family of an officer ants and their mixed-blood families to settle in the colony, should A 14 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Issue No.78 June 2016
Fthey wish to do father’s house and the park in Innertown, while William inherited so. Many groups the residue of the estate, presumably of greater value. James also decided to settle and left two amounts of £100 in stocks to be used for the improve- the Orkneymen, in ment of education in Petertown and in Stromness. He obviously particular, decided felt that he had benefitted from his own education and wanted to to settle beside the pay something back. Suzanne Rigg in her very interesting Red River, below book2 indicates that in the first case “the sum of money was lent the forks. on landed security and a new school was instituted in 1839, while Home to Orkney the teacher received the interest as a salary”. If £100 invested for James Tate re- 5 years can be used to create a school and the interest to pay for a tired from the HBC teacher, perhaps I should revise upwards the present day value of in 1812, aged 54, James’ stocks! James was buried in Warbeth cemetery. and sailed back to James Tate was my 4th great grand uncle. The relationship Orkney. His brother chart shows this. I discovered a little about James when research- William, who had ing my family tree. I was intrigued about his link to the HBC3 and joined the HBC in this article is the result of further research. 1789 retired at the same time and sailed back in the same ship. William had not made Relationship Chart the same progress as James; he did not progress beyond being a FIFTH GREAT GRANDPARENT KATHERINE SINCLAIR steersman. It is possible that James’ son William was on the same b.1727 b. About 1734 ship; James may have wanted to improve William’s education and d. ? d .? give him experience of Orkney. The brothers settled in Stromness. We know that son William was an apprentice of the HBC, based in FOURTH GREAT GRANDFATHER FOURTH GREAT UNCLE Winnipeg District from 1806 to 1812. We know too that he returned THOMAS TAIT JAMES TAIT b.1762 d. ? b. 1758. d. 2 Jan 1834 Stromness to Rupert’s Land in 1815, having signed a contract in Stromness. We do not know what arrangements James made for Sarah and THIRD GREAT GRANDFATHER the rest of his family, but we do know that they settled in the Red PETER TAIT River colony. This resulted in a branch of the Tate/Tait family in b. Sep 1790 d. 1848 Canada and the United States. James would have been a relatively wealthy man. He invest- SECOND GREAT GRANDFATHER THOMAS TAIT ed in property in Stromness; he ended up owning 4 houses. The b. 1819. d. 1880 house he occupied was on Dundas Street, near the old library; GREAT GRANDFATHER WILLIAM IRVINE TAIT This chart shows the re- B 6 June 1839 Kirbister lationship of the author, d. 27 Aug 1913 Cannigall, St OIa Colin Isbister Tait, to PATERNAL GRANDFATHER James Tait. James Tait JOHN ANDREW TAIT is the fourth great uncle B. 20 Nov 1874 Lingoe, Clestrain, Orphir. of Colin. d. 7 Apr 1944 2 Nicholson St. Kirkwall. If any member has any comments or informa- FATHER ANDREW TAIT tion to add to this article b. 11 Mar 1902 Lingoe, Clestrain, Orphir. Colin would be delight- D. 7 Apr 1985 Kirkwall .Orkney ed if they will get in A recent sketch of Melvin Place, Stromness. James Tate’s house is the one on touch. the right. Reproduced with the kind permission of the artist – Lorraine Bruce. SELF He can be emailed at: COLIN ISBISTER TAIT B. 27 May 1944 Cannola, Kirkwall. the others went back up the hill - the first 3 were adjoined and d. [email protected] the fourth was detached. The close beside the houses was called Tate’s Close, apparently. James also purchased a piece of land - References : 1.Tate/Tait Family History : From the Orkney’s to Canada 1696-2002 by North West Park of Midgarth in Innertown. Jackie Hobbs. James’s Will I have relied heavily on the content of Jackie’s book in writing about James wrote a will in 1830, with further amendments in 1833. James. I have tried to contact her by e-mail to ask her permission to quote In it he refers to William as his ‘natural’ son and Jean as his ‘nat- from her History in my article, but haven’t received a reply. This is concerning as I was in touch with her a couple of years ago. Had she received my e-mail ural’ daughter and leaves them considerably more than their sib- I’m sure she would have agreed. lings Margaret and James. There is a mystery here! There is a copy of her History in the Orkney Family History Society section When James died on 2 January 1834, he had stocks to the value of Orkney Library. It is also available online at of around £1,700 at 3% - maybe around £1.5 million in today’s https://dcms.lds.org/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE71713 terms. He left sums of money in the form of stocks to his broth- 2.Men of Spirit and Enterprise : Scots and Orkneymen in the Hudson’s Bay Company, 1780-1821 by Suzanne Rigg ers and sisters or, if deceased, to be shared among their children. 3 HBC online records In the Red River colony, Margaret Tate and James Tait each 4.Various articles about the HBC on Wikipedia. I have copied the maps inherited £100 of stocks, while Jean inherited £150 of stocks, her from Wikipedia articles. L Issue No 78 June 2016 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY 15
Photograph taken at Kirbister School. Orphir, Christmas 1937 By David Swan, Member No 11 The photograph is of my eldest brother. John Herbert history, whenever I mentioned Thomas Sclater I came Cumming Swan 1931 to 2015. He is on the front row across a distinct wall of silence even from known rela- far right. As you can see it was taken at Kirbister School tives! However. I believe my brother John must have Orphir. John (JHC to his family) was born in Notting- gone to Orkney to live with his grandmother Jessie. He ham, the eldest son of my father, David Irvine Swan, recalls living in a large house with paintings on the who was born in Kirkwall in 1911. His father was John walls along with stags heads and a large grandfather Swan, a plumber, born in Bathgate in 1886. He went to clock. Please bear in mind that to a youngster things Orkney to install plumbing in the larger houses. Whilst can appear to be much larger than they actually are. He there he met Jessie Sinclair from Stove, Sanday, and also described flying in an aeroplane. I believe, from my they married in February 1911 at Cross Parish just a research, the house was called The Ninth. few days before my father was born. John went to Can- There is a very large age gap between my brother John ada to join two of his other brothers leaving Jessie and and I so we were not very close when I was young. Jes- my wee father on Orkney with the intention of sending sie later came down to live in Nottingham. I remember for them once he got settled. visiting her as a schoolboy. Sadly she was always the Jessie’s parents were William Sinclair and Mary worse for drink. Old photos I have certainly portray Anne Irvine from Sanday. John could never afford to her as once being a fairly well off lady. Thomas died in send for Jessie and my wee father. On the outbreak of Edinburgh in 1934. Jessie died in Nottingham penniless WW1 John enlisted along with both of his Canadian in 1963. brothers as a means of getting back to Britain. They Jessie had brothers and sisters. I met John Sinclair , met, for just one day, when his troopship arrived in Liv- one of her brothers who also lived in Nottingham sever- erpool. John then went to the south of England for al times. He too served in WW1 and lived to a great age. training. He served in France as a Canadian and died of I remember reading about him in the national news- wounds a prisoner of war in 1917. Johns name is on the papers as one of the few remaining living survivors of Sanday war memorial and also the one in The Memorial WW1. I believe he made it to 100 and died in a nursing Hospital, Mission, British Columbia. I have visited both. home in Nottingham. This part of my research is ongo- When I visited the National War Memorial at Edinburgh ing. Perhaps someone can add some detail to the photo Castle I discovered he was not listed. This has now been of my brother. corrected. Jessie remarried in Edinburgh in 1933 to I do hope too that some of Thomas Sclaters family will Thomas Cumming Sclater, hence the Cumming in my provide me with more information on him either in print late brothers name; his occupation was given as barman. or by private email to [email protected] Many Many years ago, in the early stages of my family thanks, David Swan. L
I never expected to be able to name the Fair Isle fishermen who featured in Carol Tweedie’s article on page 15 of our March newsletter but Jim Wilson, a Reader in Population and Disease Genetics at Edin- burgh University emailed me to say that the photograph was taken at Laestit in 1898. What is remarkable, however, is that two of his great grandfathers, two of his great great grandfathers and a brother of his great great grandmother are among the men. The names are:- George Stout, Lower Stoneybrake. Jerome Wilson, Springfield. Stewart Wilson, Springfield. George Stout, South Busta. William Stout, Taft (behind) William Eunson, North Busta (sitting) and Andrew Eunson, North Busta. 16 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Issue No.78 June 2016
major highlight in the Orkney 2016 calendar n the evening of 5th June an- is the hosting of the National Commemoration other commemorative event will Aof the Battle of Jutland. Various events will be Oalso take place which has par- marked by the attendance of the Duke of Edinburgh ticular significance for the people of (Royal Navy Lord High Admiral), the Princess Royal Orkney. This will be held at the Kitch- (Honorary Rear Admiral), and her husband, Vice Admi- ener Memorial at Marwick Head where ral Sir Tim Laurence (President of the Commonwealth HMS Hampshire was lost on the 5th War Graves Commission). These include a service in St June 1916 while taking Earl Kitchen- Magnus Cathedral and a visit to the Lyness Royal Navy er and his staff on a mission to Russia. Cemetery where over 400 Commonwealth Servicemen Work has been ongoing to restore and and German sailors are buried, some as young as 16. A enhance the memorial raised by public Lord Kitchenber striking feature of the occasion is the Weeping Window subscription by the people of Orkney ‘in – a cascade of poppies seen pouring from a window high memory of Field Marshall Earl in the front of the cathedral. The ceramic poppies used Kitchener of Khartoum on that in the installation were some of the 888,246 displayed at corner of his country which he the Tower of London to honour every death in the British had served so faithfully, nearest and colonial forces of WW1. Jutland was the only major to the place where he died on naval engagement of WW1 and involved some 250 ships duty’. The memorial was un- and 100.000 men. From 1914 –1918 there was a pro- veiled with much pomp and cer- longed British naval blockade preventing the supply of emony on the 26th June 1926. goods by sea to Germany, Austria-Hun- Many Orcadians must have gary and Turkey. Reinhard Scheer, viewed the strong naval pres- Commander of the German High Seas The unveiling in 1926. Part of a ence with a degree of scepticism Tom Kent photograph Fleet, planned to lure the blockading for it is well documented that British Battle Cruiser Fleet, under locals, with an intimate knowledge of the area, were pre- the command of Vice Admiral Sir Da- vented, in some instances at gunpoint, from participat- vid Beattie, into a position where he ing in the rescue. The could destroy them and so relieve the offer of assistance from pressure on the German ports. What he the Stromness lifeboat Reinhard Scheer did not know was that was also refused and the British had broken the German na- the secretary and his val codes and that Beattie planned to crew were threatened lure him into range of the guns of the by a naval officer with British Grand Fleet, commanded by a charge of mutiny if Admiral Sir John Jellicoe. This was to they ‘interfered’. become known as the Battle of Jutland Why all the secrecy? with both sides claiming That is the question victory. While it lasted that remains, for the Sir David Beattie for only two days– the answer is still kept se- 31st May and 1st June 1916, losses on cret by the admiralty. both sides were high. British casualties Surely now, after 100 were 5,914 of which 5672 were killed in years, it is time to re- action, 80 wounded and 177 taken pris- veal the truth. Ed. oner. The Germans lost 2195 men, 2115 The cascade of poppies at St being killed and 80 wounded. The out- Magnus Cathedrai. Sadly black Sir John Jellicoe come ended any future threat from the and white can not do them German Fleet in the North Sea. Ed. justice. Issue No 78 June 2016 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY 17
By Alexander Stewart, Member No 2749 Robert Flett Yule born 14th October 1920 at 27 Fin- stock the lifeboats with provisions and supplies prior to stown, Firth is my great uncle. He was a bit of a mys- abandoning ship. At approximately 2200 the order was tery to the family. There had been many stories about given to abandon ship. While lowering the starboard life- his career and how he had died. The version I was told boat, the vessel rose due to the swell and collided with was that he was a diver with the Royal Navy and had the lifeboat and tipped the occupants into the sea. Three died on duty in the 1950’s. Af- members of the crew made ter speaking to my cousin, it back on board the War- Tommy Yule (Member 1641) ren Grove, six of the seven who had been told a different other members of the crew version of events, he had actu- were seen clinging to the up- ally managed to discover the turned lifeboat. Three of the truth about Robert and his un- six made it to a lifeboat and timely death. He was actually were cut loose. The three sur- a Second Engineer in the Mer- vivors on the Warren Grove chant Navy and had died at sea attempted to launch the jolly when his vessel the S.S Warren boat but this also capsized. Grove sank in heavy seas in They made it back onto the 1948. ship and launched the port lifeboat. At about 2300 the The Sinking of lifeboat was thrown clear of the Warren Grove the Warren Grove and over The following information turned. A few minutes later was taken from the Formal the Warren Grove sank off Investigation into the sinking the coast of Arbroath. The of the Warren Grove held in three men managed to right Hartlepool, between the 25th the lifeboat and were rescued and 28th July 1949. about 1130 on the 10th No- The Warren Grove depart- vember by the S.S El Ciervo ed Hartlepool on the 8th No- about three miles from where vember for Buckie carrying the Warren Grove sank. A sea a cargo of 249 tons of coal. At and air search followed and a approximately 0830 am on the lifeboat with three bodies was 9th November near the mouth found. The other four crew of the Firth of Forth in a force members, including Uncle 8 – 9 gale she began to list to Robert were never found. starboard after a sudden lurch. My great uncle Robert Flett Yule The crew of the Warren Grove were:- The high seas had caused the Captain D S Miller – Lost at sea coal to shift and the vessel began to list. The list allowed Chief Engineer J Place – Lost at sea water to enter the vessel through doors which caused the Second Engineer Robert Flett Yule – Lost at sea list to worsen. The crew endeavoured to make the doors William Hogan – Lost at sea water tight but succeeded only in reducing the flow. The Charles F Hopkinson – Died in lifeboat crew tried to correct the list by pumping out water and John S Miller – Died in lifeboat moving the coal but the task was hopeless. Between 1800 Bertie S Firman – Died in lifeboat and 1930 the crew’s efforts to correct the list had failed F W Robertson – Survivor and emergency rockets and flares were fired. No coast George Mair – Survivor guard station or vessel saw the flares. One member of W Reid – Survivor the public did see the flares but failed to report it. At the time of his death Robert resided at Naversdale, At approximately 2100 preparations were made to Orphir. L 18 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Issue No.78 June 2016
Grandfather would have been so proud
this I feel prompts our interest in places and an- cestors, distant in some foggy memory. When I read stories of members’ ancestors, some very inspiring, in the SIB Folk News, I find it almost a connec- tion in experiences of courage and determination. So many other members had families who left Orkney for far off lands never to return. I wonder By June Lemmon about the family life mine had in Orkney now so Member No 1716 far apart and unknown from what we now have. Is it because we don’t have that larger extended My Nanna (Emma Crumbley nee Arthur), Gran- family of heritage that goes back no further than dad (John Crumbley), Mum (Frances Dawson nee my 1 generation of Australians that I am so inquisitive? Crumbley) and Uncle Alf (Alfred Crumbley) em- A need in us all to know, ‘where did we come from?’ Is igrated from Kirkwall to Australia December 1920. that why the SIB Folk News is opened up with such They arrived in Australia when the Great Depression anticipation when I see it in my letterbox? ls there a had started, 4 more children were born (Andrew, Dor- need in us all to feel connected to our families home- othy, James and John). Grandad was able to obtain land? My Grandparents now have children ( my Mum work but was struck down with a lung disease that 97 years old and Uncle Jack (John ) still living, grand ceased his ability for full time work at an early age. children and great, great, great grandchildren, among He grew flowers. My Mum left school at 11 years old to whom are Medical Dr., Headmistress, Teachers, Drs. help Grandad sell them at the Sydney Markets. They Of Commerce, Textile & Design, l.T. Specialists, farm survived hardships of the time without help and Mum managers, electricians, stage managers, air force and ex often talked about the large, noisy, happy home they army special forces—they would have to marvel at the had. How brave was my Nanna and Grandad to get diversity. I am sure they would be happy to see the end on a boat, so small in today’s standards, and travel result of their courage and the start of a new generation half way across the world. They never saw their fam- of Australians, albeit all still proud to say our heritage ilies again. In turn, their brothers and sisters ended is Orkney. What a shame I didn’t ask enough ques- up scattered all over the world. I suspect, like myself, tions when I was younger. Does that sound familiar? a lot of people wish we knew more about Orkney and June Lemmon, May 2016 L
Sorry to say Here is what I require Articles can be less than a page or longer and can be that I am spread over more than one issue if necessary. A rough guide is 900 words for the first page and this will allow for a graphic which I will produce. If a photograph is running out of included), less words are required. Subsequent pages will require about 1100 words, articles again which would allow for the inclusion of a photograph. Articles should be produced in plain text, single spaced My December appeal did bring in more than and not formatted. A word doc is fine. usual and I did not have to struggle for the Photos should be scanned at 300dpi and at least 50% March and June editions. Twenty-four pages per issue, larger than you envisage them in the final article. They however, fairly eats up the material and I am afraid the should be attached to your emaiil as jpgs and sent, cupboard is pretty bare again. with your story, to me at [email protected] We have a great newsletter but it will only remain so if you If any of the above proves difficult or you do not have all support it. I am not looking for award winning writing; access to a computer or scanner you can send the just tell it as it is and we will all enjoy it. material to me and I will sort it out for you. Mail to- The information in the adjacent panel may be helpful when John Sinclair, 21 Burnside, Kirkwall, Orkney. KW15 1TF. compiling your article. For safety, send copies and not original photographs. Issue No 78 June 2016 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY 19
By Anne Cormack, Member No 73 Every time I am up in Kirkwall, I make a point of going into St the height o’hid.” “I have a peedie great-grandson, called Arthur Magnus Cathedral Kirkyard to visit the grave of my great-great- Hallstein,” I tell him. “ A great-grandson? We would say eri-oy,” grandparents, Thomas Sandison and Barbara Wood. Thomas was he informs me. “Is hid no grand tae coont kin – fae the past and born in Papa Westray in 1792 and died in Kirkwall in 1860. It would into the future?” appear he had eleven children from his two marriages, my great- With his wise words I will leave Thomas Sandison to rest in grandmother Barbara, who married Robert Nicolson Greig, being peace, but I’m sure to ‘visit’ him when I am next in Orkney! one of the daughters from his second marriage to Barbara Wood. How many of Thomas’s owld words did you ken? Like all family history fanatics, I would love to have been able to Here’s a glossary to help readers who are still talk to Thomas and find out about his daily life, but I wonder would flummoxed. I be able to understand his North Isles speech of two centuries ago? Fellow OFHS member, Brian Tulloch, a Sanday man, has done ABIR A sheaf thrashed for horses. a fantastic amount of research on innumerable aspects of that ATEIL A pochard, wigeon. island’s history, including old Sanday dialect words, and I am BANKSING Composting seaweed for manure. grateful to him for sharing the fruits of his research with me. BANSTER Person who binds sheaves. Assuming that some of these old Sanday words were also used by BEEN-HOOK Cottar duty bound to help farmer at the folk on Papay, my conversations with Thomas might have gone harvest. something like this. BEETING Repairing a boat. “Tell me about life on the land in the North Isles in the 1800s.” BENT LINKS Sandy ground with bent grass. “Weel, lass, hid wis some differ thanadays. On been-hook days, BLISS UP To get angry. the been-hooks wid be helping the big fermers tae reap at hairst BOGGLAN Bellowing. time, and then the bansters wid get busy with their wark. An’ the BRAMMO A mess of oatmeal and water. dried hay had to be pitten ap in coaks. Feth, hid wis a grand day BROOKE A pile of rotting seaweed. when we had inn’d the last o’ the otts. We aalwis hid tae wait fir CALLOWIT Calved. greater drought tae feenish the stacks, thoo sees. There wis the CLAIKGOOSE Barnacle goose. thrashing teu. We hid tae git abirs tae maet the staigs and the ither COAK Haystack. horse, and we hid the makkan o’ winlens forbye. An’there wis the DELPHING Digging up. baests. The big ferms had normous o’ nolt – I can still hear them DUNTER GOOSE Eider. bogglan, specially the new callowit coos. Maist o’the ferms had EGGACOURIE Dish of eggs and milk boiled together. grise teu. An’ thir wir nae fancy fertilisers thanadays. I mind seean FANTAN Starving. as mony as fifteen horse banksing ware at the bent links. They wid FEALS Turf. look fir a guid brooke o’ ware. Doon at the banks ye might see FLACKIE Woven straw mat. someen beeting their bott teu. Back on the land betimes ye wid see FOLE A small bannock. folk delphing feals. Aabody grew keall, and I mind when a puir GRISE ` Suckling pigs. owld fantan body wis punished fir takkan keall oot o’ her maisters INN’D Brought in. yard. Hid wisna ane o’ wir sib folk, mind on! But the maister was KEALL Kale. some blissed up – he wis aye a tirran body. When I hid time, I KEILLING HADDOCK Cod. liked tae watch aa the birds – ateils, claickgeese, dunter geese, LYER Manx shearwater. solengeese, toists, whapes and lyers.” NOLT Cattle. “What did you eat mostly?” I asked him. “Weel, brammo fir a POOTY Small cod. start. Ah mind me mither makkan eggalourie, an’ cookeen foles, QUITH One year old coalfish. keilling haddock, quiths and pooties. I also mind me fither makkan SOLENGOOSE Gannet. flackies tae keep oot the draughts fae the door or the lum.” STAIG Young unbroken horse. “You are my great-great-grandfather,” I said. “What further back TIRRAN Ill natured. relations do you remember?” “Weel there wis my guidmother, TOIST Black guillemot. that’s me wife Barbara’s mither, Barbara Garrioch, an’ me guid- WHAPE A curlew. dame, that’s me fither’s mither, Christian Logie, an’ me guidser, WINLENS Armful of hay or straw tied with its that’s me fither’s fither, another Thomas Sandison, an’ that’s aboot own ends. 20 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Issue No.78 June 2016
At this time when we are commemorating the events of Essaquoy along with his wife and their son, Robert. of World I and remembering those who paid the ultimate It is believed the family moved to Wiltshire, England sacrifice while defending our freedom, this is the tale of a about 1920. Robert and Jessie Mainland would have two man born in Kirkwall in 1916 and who lost his life while daughters, Margaret and Mary but there is no record flying on operational duties with the Royal Air Force of either being born in Orkney. Again, records suggest over Caithness in 1940 and who is not remembered on a both girls married, Margaret to a Len White and Mary War Memorial in Orkney. to Fredrick Williams. The family history that I am aware of relating to Rob- From 1930 to 1933, Robert M Mainland was educat- ert M Mainland commences way back on 27 November ed at George He- 1868, when John Mainland (b c1839) married Marga- riot’s School, Ed- ret Mainland (b c1847) in Rousay, Orkney. By the time inburgh and he of the 1871 census the couple were residing at Onziebust, then joined the Egilsay, and by 1881 John and Margaret were farming at Royal Air Force. the 65 acre farm of Hallbrake with his father James, While serving a widower, residing with them. A daughter, Annabel- in Egypt, he dis- la* was born about 1869 followed by William (1871), tinguished him- Janet* (1872), John* (1874), James* (1876), Mag- self by executing nus* (1878), Margaret (1880 – d1884), David* (1883), emergency engi- Hugh* (1885) and Mary (1877). The family then moved neering repairs on to Dalespot, St. Ola where, on 15 April 1890, a further a crashed aircraft son Robert Mainland, was born. Prior to the 1901 cen- which enabled it sus, the family had moved to Summerfield, St.Ola, and to be flown back by 1911, John then a 72 year old widower had returned to base from an to Rousay where he was residing at Essaquoy along with apparently hope- daughters Janet and Mary and son Robert. The mem- less situation. As bers of the Mainland family marked ‘*’ left Orkney and a consequence of settled in the USA and Canada leaving only Mary and these actions, he Robert in the U.K. Regarding William Mainland, I have was selected for no knowledge of what became of him and I can find no training as a pilot. record of his death in Scotland. On completion of Another Rousay connection with Robert M Mainland this training in was Robert Marwick (b c1846), a farmer at Scockness, November 1939, Pilot Sergeant 566410 Robert Marwick Mainland R.A.F. Rousay who was married to an Ann Hourston (b c1843). Robert was posted They had a son Robert (b c1875) and daughters Isabel- as a Sergeant Pilot to 605 Squadron, Royal Air Force then la, Mary, Jemima, Margaret, Elizabeth and Jessie stationed at Tangmere before moving to Wick, Caithness Marwick who was born c1883. in February 1940. Records indicate that Robert Main- On 22 December 1915 at 31 Albert St. Kirkwall Rob- land flew with the Squadron in one of the famous Hawk- ert Mainland married Jessie Marwick and at that time er Hurricane fighter aircraft. Shortly after arriving at Robert was serving as a ‘First-Air Mechanic’ with the the unit Robert Mainland took the opportunity to fly “Royal Naval Air Service” at Rockhampton, London. On over Rousay where he ‘saluted’ his relatives’ homes. The 9 September, 1916 at 11 Broad Street, Kirkwall their son young Robert Mainland had spent many happy holidays Robert Marwick Mainland was born. At that time on Rousay with his relatives and he had many friends his father, Robert Mainland, was still in the Services on the Island and they had followed his progress with a and his occupation was shown as both “Police Constable” great deal of interest. and “Mechanic Royal Naval Air Service”. Following his Robert Mainland flew with his Squadron on most days service in World War I, it appears that Robert Mainland but 10 April was to prove to be quite exceptional. Re- returned to Rousay where he resided at the family home cords indicate that on two separate occasions during A Issue No 78 June 2016 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY 21
Fthe afternoon enemy aircraft were sighted and engaged although he was raised in Rousay for the first five or six by 605 Squadron with one German aircraft being shot years of his life and having retained close links with his down - two crew members parachuting to the ground. friends and relatives thereon, his name does not appear However, it was with the approach of darkness that the on the Rousay War Memorial either. In his obituary most action occurred when the Luftwaffe mounted sus- which appeared in The Orcadian it states ‘For several tained attacks on Scapa Flow. Again Robert Marwick months past he (Robert Mainland) probably saw his na- and his fellow pilots engaged the enemy aircraft. tive county every day’ and in another quote is says ‘So The 25th April 1940 was a day when visibility in the far as is known, he is the first Rousay native to make the north of Scotland was very poor with Orkney fog bound. supreme sacrifice in the Second European War’. The ab- Despite the poor visibility and marginal flying conditions, sence of his name on either War Memorial appears to be 605 Squadron was airborne. One report suggests they a most unfortunate omission. were scrambled to investigate tracks of an unidentified Regarding Jessie Marwick’s siblings, Isabella and Rob- aircraft which were observed in the sky in proximity to ert died while young and Jemima went to Australia. Re- Scapa Flow, the Home Base of the Royal Navy but the of- cords suggest that Mary had a son, William Marwick, ficial line is that they were engaged on a training flight. who also went to Australia and Margaret had a son, From official information it appears that while flying Robert Marwick, who became a civil engineer. Mary, in formation the aeroplane piloted by Robert Mainland Margaret and Elizabeth Marwick would all marry and was, regrettably, involved in a mid air collision with an- have families. It is recorded that Mary married Hugh other aircraft which caused Mainland’s aircraft to crash Robertson and they had two sons, neither had any fam- to the ground. At about 500 feet above ground level, ily, and a daughter Annie who married an Armit Sin- Robert Mainland bailed-out of his damaged aircraft but, clair. This couple resided in the Swannay district of tragically, his parachute failed to deploy properly and his Birsay and had two sons and two daughters. It appears impact with the ground proved to be fatal. The other air- that Margaret married a Hugh Craigie and Elizabeth craft, although damaged, landed safely. Pilot Sergeant a J. MacLennan and that all their children left Orkney Robert M Mainland was buried with full military hon- It is not known if the name of Sergeant Pilot Robert M ours on 30 April 1940 in Grave 411, Section O of Wick Mainland appears on any other War Memorial in Britain. Cemetery, Caithness. His father, a sergeant with a Bal- While it is acknowledged that there is a case for Robert loon Barrage Division, attended the service. M Mainland to be remembered on a War Memorial in It is believed that Robert M Mainland was the only Orkney, the preferred option is for such a request to orig- Orkney born fighter pilot to be killed while engaged on inate from the family. If any close relative of Robert M flying duties during World War II and was almost cer- Mainland considers that it would be appropriate for his tainly the only Orkney born pilot to have been actively name to be added to either the War Memorial on Broad involved in the air battles to defend Scapa Flow during Street, Kirkwall or to the one on Rousay, they should the Luftwaffe’s formidable attack on the 10th of April, make their views known so that this can then be pro- when waves of enemy bombers mounted their heaviest gressed. Any approach should initially be made to the attack of the War on Scapa Flow and Orkney. It is re- Chairman, Royal British Legion Scotland, Kirk- ported that a combination of Anti Aircraft guns and the wall or to me at [email protected] and I will bring attacks by RAF fighter aircraft accounted for seven ene- it to the attention of the appropriate officials within the my aircraft that night. Kirkwall Branch of the Legion. If no family approach Although the house in Broad Street, Kirkwall, Ork- is made, this omission could still be considered by the ney, where Robert M Mainland was born virtually over- Legion in discussions with both Community Councils.L looks the Kirkwall and St. Ola War Memorial, his name Norman J. Logie. does not appear on the Memorial. Equally strangely, April 2016
Football Photo from All things considered I am going to plump for the presentation of the Parish Cup which in those days took place on the evening of the County Show and this March Sib News would explain the absence of rosettes. This proved to be very popular with The date is certainly before the autumn of 1956 – that is when I departed members and much time has been wast- my native heath to start my National service. Furthermore, the year I returned ed, pleasurably I hope, spotting well-kent to ‘civvy street’, 1958, I was immediately transferred to the Thurso bank as faces. Dounreay was being built. I would say that the date therefore would be the Joey Tait, member No 29, was first off the mark to say that she was sure early fifties”. the date was nearer 1955 and not 65 as originally thought. This was echoed A Shetland link comes from John Durham, who edits the Journal of the by a number of readers and Lex Craigie emailed me from Cyprus with the Highland History Society. He Is sure that he has spotted a member of the then following:- Scalloway Ladies Football Team, Alma Williamson and he has sent me her pic- “My initial thoughts about ‘the gathering’ were that it was an inter-coun- ture on the left and I have included the girl ty match although I am surprised at the complete lack of rosettes of either from the group on the right. Shetland, Orkney or Caithness. Another possibility was when an Orkney County Finally, Bill Wilson thinks that the pho- Team played Aberdeen F.C. who were on tour. On that occasion I was in the to was taken by Jimmy Sinclair. Little did company of the Fletts of Beach View in Birsay and cannot believe that I was Jim think at the time that some sixty years so far removed from the late Leslie Flett whom I see standing near the back. later it would give so much pleasure. Ed. 22 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Issue No 78 June 2016 Goodbye old friend John Muir looks back on a life-long friendship with the late Alfie Flett
Friends together. Marion Flett, Nan Scott, Sheena Muir, John Muir and Alfie Flett at an OFHS Dinner It was with great sadness that the Society heard of the sudden passing of Alfie Flett on 23rd January this year. Both he and his uncle Peem’s boat in the regatta before he owned a Snipe. And of friend John Muir pictured above at an OFHS dinner along with course his great love of boats and the sea continued till the day he their wives had been faithful attendees at meetings and social oc- died. He studied the tides and weather day and daily and when he casions over the years. We were sorry to lose John’s wife Sheena mastered new technology he regularly consulted the web for ever in 2011. more accurate forecasts John and Alfie have long been notable figures in the Parish of But even before that I have memories of the time when the Holm as well as further afield. John having been associated with Holm Youth Club met in what had been during the war the Church the Italian Chapel and Alfie was Chairman of the Friends of St of Scotland Canteen for the forces which was a wooden hut on the Nicholas Church at his death. They both have presented interest- corner across the road from The Inn. Being three years younger ing talks at meetings of the OFHS and Marion served for a time than Alfie and my brother Gordon, who were lifelong friends, I as a weekly volunteer. was considered to be too young to be included in their after club John has kindly given us this tribute that he gave at the AGM activities which I have no doubt annoyed me greatly at the time of the Friends of St Nicholas on the 10th March which we share but even then I know Alfie took an active role in that club and with you here. served in some capacity on the Committee. And membership of Nan Scott. that club ranged from teenage to folk well up in their twenties. It is true to say that when someone dies - no matter what posi- Alfie stayed on at the Kirkwall School to take what was then tion they might hold in society – life goes on. It’s just that some the Higher Leaving Certificate and that was no mean achievement folk are more difficult to replace than others and that is certainly because you had to pass in, I think, five subjects all at the one sit- true of Alfie. ting. If you failed in one subject you had to repeat the whole year Alfie has been very much a part of Holm for as long as most of and then sit the whole exam again. When he left school both Alfie us can remember and that is certainly the case for me and that is and Gordon were called up at the same time to do their two years because, although he was just three years older than me, we have of National Service. After basic training Alfie spent 18 months in worked together over many years in many organisations. Germany and Gordon spent his 18 months at the camp at Hatston. One aspect of Alfie’s life where I did not share his enthusiasm Because Alfie was the only National Serviceman in his group with to any great extent was his great love of boats and the sea. He was a driving licence he was allocated a jeep and I believe that same one of the founder members of the Holm Sailing Club which was jeep did regular unauthorised journeys exploring the German established in 1948 by Jock Simpson, a Flotta man and brother countryside. to Peggy Gorn from Flaws, and a Mr J King who was Superin- After his National Service Alfie (known to one and all as young tendent Civil Engineer at Rockworks. When Mr King left Orkney Alfie) then took up his apprenticeship as a joiner in preparation for Alfie purchased his Snipe, he renamed the boat Viking which had eventually taking over from his father (known as old Alfie) to head H2 on its sail. But I think Alfie was well and truly smitten with up the family business. And it was then that he took a keen interest everything associated with the sea because I think he sailed his in all things associated with Holm. A Issue No 78 June 2016 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY 23
F The Community Centre was a thriving place with club nights on both Tuesday and Saturday evenings. All ages met there to play euchre, there were two snooker tables and badminton in what is Can you help Patricia Earle, Member 2861 now known as the games room. The numerous improvements and extensions were all undertaken bearing in mind the advice Alfie My 3x grandfather was Thomas Craigie son of Balfour Crai- could provide on what was feasible and achievable at the time. gie and Marjory Petersen and I am still trying to find out more The earlier improvements involved the erection of what is now information about Thomas’ parents and his siblings. Thomas the main hall and the forming of a corridor to join the cottage to left Kirkwall in 1815 and the only sibling that I am aware of in the hall to provide toilets etc. The Community Centre at that time – before the days of TV- was a very busy place with weddings, the 1841 census was Frances who married William Rendall. country dances, film shows and so on. Balfour Craigie Alfie was a member of the Italian Chapel Preservation Commit- Balfour Craigie was born 7th October 1773 and baptised 22nd Oc tee longer than me and I did 30 years and here again I relied on him tober 1773 at Kirkwall and St. Ola, Orkney, son of Magnus Craigie for advice whenever any work on the building was required. He and Barbara Winwick. could suggest the appropriate course of action and he always en- 1773 Church Register sured that the work was undertaken by Robbie Rendall because he Craigie 7th October was born Balfour lawful son of Magnus was confident that the care he took when working in the Chapel was Craigie and Barbara Winwick and baptised 22nd by Mr. John Yale of the very highest standard and I’m pleased to say that after Robbie and witnesses George Slatten and William Marcus. died Craig Horne has continued to provide work of equal standard. Magnus Craigie married Barbara Winwick 18th February 1758 Alfie and Marion built the Commodore and again that proved Kirkwall and St. Ola, Orkney. to be a very popular meeting place. Holm had been ‘dry’ for many 1795 Church Register years and we had a ‘referendum’ to vote the place ‘wet’. I think Marriages 021/00/0040/0204 Kirkwall the vote in favour was substantial and in due course the Commo- Marriage dore proved to be a very popular establishment for a dram, food Balfour Craigie, private in Orkney & Shetland Fenci- or a party. It also provided employment in the parish and I know bles and Marjory Peterson of Westray contracted & after- both my own two girls worked as waitresses and looked forward wards married 13th June 1795 by Mr. Yule at Kirkwall & to their pay day. St. Ola, Orkney. Witnesses James Leadbeater and William Shield. It is thanks to the generosity of Alfie and Marion that we have in Children of Balfour Craigie and Marjory Peterson Holm a playing field, changing room etc. of a standard that is the envy Robert, 1796. Frances 1798. Thomas 1799. Balfour 1801. of probably every other parish in Orkney. The ground was donated to William Balfour 1809. Mary 1809 the Holm Community Association and many young folk and some 1796 not so young, have enjoyed the facilities available at Rockworks. Ini- Robert was born 28th March 1796 and baptised 2nd April Kirk- tially the Holm Footballers competed in the ‘A’ league; then they were wall and St. Ola, Orkney. relegated to the ‘B’ league and now I think they struggle to field a 1798 decent team but hopefully that will soon change and again youngsters Frances was born 29th January 1798 and baptised 3rd Feb. will come to the fore to fly the flag for Holm again. at Kirkwall and St. Ola, Orkney. Alfie was a member of the Board of Management of the Kirk 1799 and here again the recent improvements on that building were Thomas Craigie born 17th October 1799 was baptised 19th Octo- scaled back following comments mainly led by Alfie and I think ber at Kirkwall and St. Ola, Orkney. the outcome is proving very satisfactory. 1801 I visited Alfie regularly and spent a pleasant time with him over Balfour born 17th December 1801 was baptised 4th January a cup of tea and a blether the day before he died. Over the years 1802 at Kirkwall and St. Ola, Orkney. we have discussed many, many subjects from politics to mundane Church Register Entry 1809 matters such as the deliberations of the Orkney Island Council Craigie, Mary lawful daughter of Balfour Craigie, labourer & but one topic we did not bring up was ‘Friends of St Nicholas’. I Marjorie Petersen born 8th August, baptised 12th August 1809, was very aware that he was your Chairman and that he was very name of minister and witnesses given but very faint to make out. enthusiastic about the refurbishment work being undertaken and Next entry he knew that I was, shall we say, less enthusiastic so the subject Craigie, William Balfour lawful son of Balfour Craigie, labourer was not mentioned. A very diplomatic decision I think you will & Marjorie Petersen born 15th August baptised 10th Sept.1809, agree. However I’m really pleased to know that you have elected name of minister & witnesses given but very faint to make out. a new chairman and I certainly wish you well in what you plan to Can twins be born a week apart? do at St Nicolas. Death Both Alfie and Marion attended the Family History Meetings Apparently Balfour Craigie died 1810, information from Orkney regularly and it has been a source of great interest to them both. FHS member (on Ancestry.com) I have not confirmed it yet. Marion now has extended her family tree to include over 26,000 (cursiter .com site Number 325/1 Balfour Rendall informa names – more than the total population of Orkney – so it’s more tion from Orkney FHS member) than likely that the names of many of the members are included in 1821 the Flett archive. Marriage Alfie’s passing certainly leaves a big void but I think the best Frances Craigie married William Rendall 26th December 1821 at we can do in his memory is continue with all the good work Kirkwall and St. Ola, Orkney. that over the years he has instigated. He was a good friend to many and he will be sorely missed. L You can email Pat at: [email protected] THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY
rkney Family History Society was formed in 1997 NEW MEMBERS and is run by a committee of volunteers. Membership of the Society is through subscription and O It is similar to societies operating worldwide runs for a period of 12 months from date of application. where members share a mutual interest in family history Our magazine, ‘Sib Folk News’ is available to members and help each other with research and, from time to every 3 months unless they have agreed to ‘opt out’ (see time, assist in special projects concerning the countless new rate structure) as all issues are now available online. records and subjects available to us all in finding our Our ‘Members’ Directory’ can also be found online at roots. www.orkneyfhs.co.uk following links members page/ The main objectives are: Members’ Directory. This lists members’ contact details 1 To establish a local organisation for the study, and their research interests. collection, analysis and sharing of information about Members will receive a password to access the individuals and families in Orkney. members’ pages on the website, details of which are 2 To establish and maintain links with other family shown on the Home Page. history groups and genealogical societies throughout the A great deal of research can be achieved through UK and overseas. these resources at www.orkneyfhs.co.uk. 3. To establish and maintain a library and other reference facilities as an information resource for RATES FROM 1st SEPTEMBER 2013 members and approved subscribers. 1. All UK Membership and overseas members 4. To promote study projects and special interest opting out of receiving a printed copy of Sib Folk groups to pursue approved assignments. News (available on our website) £10.00 We are located on the upper floor of the Kirkwall Library next to the archives department and are open 2. OVERSEAS - Surface Mail £15.00 Mon–Fri 2pm–4.30pm and Sat 11am–4.30pm. 3. OVERSEAS - Air Mail £18.00 Our own library, though small at the moment, holds a variety of information including: NEW MEMBERS – DOWNLOAD THESE The IGI for Orkney on microfiche. and SEND WITH YOUR SUBSCRIPTION The Old Parish Records on microfilm. Visit www.orkneyfhs.co.uk/docs/mempack.pdf where The Census Returns on microfilm transcribed you will find a New Membership Application form and on to a computer database. a blank Family Tree. Please complete these, print and Family Trees. send with the appropriate subscription to The Treasurer Emigration and Debtors lists. at the address below. Letters, Articles and stories concerning Orkney EXISTING MEMBERS CAN RENEW ONLINE and its people. Existing members wanting to renew their subscription Hudson’s Bay Company information. can now do so online. Just Log In and use the link from Graveyard Surveys (long term project). My Details on the Member’s Page. You can, of course, This material is available to members for ‘in house’ still send your subscription to the Treasurer at OFHS. research by arrangement. Locally we have a Members’ Evening, most months, with CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATE a guest speaker. Overseas members, paying in their own currency, should We produce a booklet of members and interests to check the exchange rate to ensure the correct amount allow members with similar interests to correspond with is forwarded. Our bank will accept overseas cheques each other if they wish. without charging commission. We regret that foreign We also produce a newsletter 4 times a year and are Postal Orders are not acceptable in the UK. always looking for articles and photographs of interest. Members residing in the UK may pay their subscriptions A stamped addressed envelope should be included if by Bankers Order and if they wish can have their
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