NEWSLETTER OFSIBTHE ORKNEY FAMIFOLKLY HISTORY SOCIETY NEWSISSUE 33 MARCH 2005

A bonny summer’s day in Albert Street, Kirkwall 2 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORYSOCIETY Issue No33 March 05

ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY NEWSLETTR Issue No 33 Planning a visit to March 2005 CONTENTS Orkney this year? FRONT PAGE Albert Street If family research is part of your

PAGE 2 plan some advance warning From the Chair. could be to your benefit. PAGE 3 Just a minute Hello Members, As you can see from our web-site we are Welcome to our first Sib Folk for 2005. We gathering quite a library of information PAGE 4 have had a very stormy spell of weather at from different sources, but we are always The Camerons the start of the year with quite a few homes looking for more.Anyone who hasn’t yet in retirement flooded by the very high tides, but at least submitted their family tree , please do so, we there were no lives lost which is some thing like nothing more than matching up cousin PAGE 5-7 to be thankful for. with cousin. Immigration to I have had some favourable comments on the The Society would also like to say how South Australia new layout of the magazine, which is nice to grateful they are to James Irvine for his very know, and hopefully will encourage our generous donations as a result of his book PAGE 8 & 9 Editor to continue the good work. On that Vedder Part 4 ‘The Orkney Poll Taxes of the 1690s’. note we would be very interested in any We have also decided that it is time we stories relating to the experiences members’ PAGE10-12 started advertising ourselves and have ancestors had when emigrating from Maltbarn placed an advert in the free newspaper ‘ The Orkney.I am sure that there must be some conclusion Islander’. We are also working on a leaflet great tales to tell. which can be distributed to all hotels, bed PAGE 13 The office volunteers are getting ready for and breakfasts and self catering Looking for the next influx of visitors from overseas this establishments. The main purpose of the Laurie’s Irvines summer. If anyone is planning a trip and leaflet is to recruit new members so we hope wants to do some research, or would like to that any of our members who run such PAGE 14 & 15 visit their ancestors old home please let us businesses will take a supply and make The Tullocks know in advance and we will try to have them available to their guests. in America some information ready for you when you arrive. Chairman PAGE 16 Anne Rendall The Leasks of Algath

PAGE 17 & 18 Calling the Brass Cecil Sinclair and Flett families Have you explored Readers would have noted the death PAGE 19 of Cecil Sinclair in the last issue. Two Another Aussie our web of his books, "Tracing your Scottish looking for Ancestry" and "Tracing Scottish Local Heddles pages yet? History" are very useful guides based PAGE 20 on his detailed knowledge of the Robbie’s night oot www.orkneyfhs.co.uk Scottish Record Office. Cecil had close Orkney roots, his PAGE 21 Our extensive website provides grand father was James Sinclair An Orkney much of interest including infor- ( banker ) and two of his grand uncles Wedding mation on resource material, were Dr George Sinclair ( Kirkwall ) and William Sinclair ( Post Master,St PAGE 22 census returns, monumental ins- Margaret's Hope ). His father was in Orkney’s sons criptions, events, links to useful fact a son of Banker Sinclair and not of Post Master Sinclair PAGE 23 sites, membership packs, etc. In Looking for addition members can log in and Irvings with a G access much in the way of useful REMEMBER CONTRIBUTIONS FOR OUR PAGE 24 research material. Membership NEXT ISSUE BY 18th APRIL PLEASE Issue No33 March 05 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORYSOCIETY 3 Just a minute Minutes of the Orkney Family History Society Open Meeting held on Thursday 13th January 2005 at 7.30pm in the Super Room of the Kirkwall & St Ola Town Hall hairperson, Anne Rendall, welcomed an office. The census records had been trans- audience of thirty-one to the meeting ferred to make them easier to work with Cwishing them all a Happy New year and from there one can search for an and noted that the advertisement in one of individual and then look in the relevant the local newspapers for the EGM in parish. A search can also be made for a February read 7.30 for 8 instead of 7.30 to 8. particular property. The meeting will be to discuss the revised The society can now produce booklets on constitution and will be followed by Dave a single surname in the whole of Orkney Higgins’ talk on his walk from Lands End to (from census records). There is an index of John o’ Groats. births and marriages transcribed from the Anne also mentioned the meeting next IGI and deaths have been recorded from week for anyone interested in the proposed OPRs. There is also a surname index taken re-union in Saskatchewan on 23rd and 24th from Family Trees.Birsay Kirk Session July. It should be of special interest to minutes we received from Christopher Flett relations of the Drevers. have now been transferred from the floppy George Gray then read a lot of queries for discs to the computer. Among other sources help for information from abroad and Gillian the office has passenger lists, court cases Mooney asked if anyone would let her know if referring to Orcadians (received from Did you they knew of any close relatives of Edwin and Shetland FHS), corrections/updates to the know Willa Muir. census,Testaments from James Irvine, Anne then introduced Dave Higgins the sailors in other ports and many books to do I noticed in the Sunday society’s web-master who gave a talk on the with Orkney. There are also journals from Herald of January 9th resources in the OFHS office.To begin with, other societies and the society also has the that three of Scotland’s he said, in 1997 the society only had some 1881 census for all of the British Isles on largest archives will join microfiche with the IGI but soon began to discs produced by the Mormons. together to create the amass information and it was decided to get The meeting closed with the usual tea or world’s first one-stop as much as possible on computer.Dave had coffee and biscuits, thanks again to Mags personal history centre brought a lap top to the meeting and was and Annie to meet the growing able to show on a big screen all the ways of interest in family trees. finding information on the computer in the Gillian At the beginning of the year the family records website Scotland’s People, the National Archives for Scotland Our Annual Dinner went down a treat and the Court of the Here’s a happy table at the annual dinner stimulated discussion during the meal. Lord Lyon began to join which was held in the Kirkwall Hotel. Forty There were several raffles with prizes being millions of records into five people enjoyed the get-together with good donated by James Irvine. At the end of the one archive. food and wine in the comfortable surr- evening Anne thanked Hazel Goar for A new walk-in campus oundings. Chairperson, Anne Rendall, wel- organising the meal and Brigadier S P is planned for 2006 to comed everyone and asked Frank Eunson to Robertson expressed his appreciation for a be located around the say grace. Quiz sheets amused us and very successful evening. Gillian. General Register house and New Register House buildings in Edinburgh where the services of specialist advisers will be available. Although many searches will have to be paid for, information such as surname searches will, I understand, be free. Ed 4 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Issue No33 March 05

The Camerons in retirement By Nan Scott, Member No 8

inaugurated Orkney Family History Society. They quickly settled down in Orkney. Ian is a very active gardener. Betty became Ian and Betty Cameron involved in church activities and takes a turn at welcoming visitors to the St Magnus or Ian and Betty Cameron retirement Centre. They both joined a collectors club. has meant a new way of life. In fact it He collects crested china and she collects Fmight be true just to say, “a new life”. unusual vesta boxes. As a result of these They were living in Glasgow when due to interests they have become well known in retire and thought they would be staying on Orkney and have made many friends and there. Over the years they had enjoyed nowhere more so than in the OFHS. visits to Orkney. On retirement a house they They have both been committee members were familiar with in Glaitness Road, of the society and regular volunteers. Ian, Kirkwall came up for sale and they felt that especially in the early days, would turn his this would be ideal for them. hand to a variety of jobs, often with much Both had Orkney ancestors and Ian had hilarity. They have endlessly turned out lived for a time in the parish of Firth.Ian’s census books etc and could perhaps hold the mother was born near Airdrie in all-time record, as the demand will possibly Lanarkshire. Her father James William never be so great in the future as it has Peace had Stronsay parents and was born at been. When the 1901 census came out there Longhouse in St Ola. The Cameron side of was a queue of members right out the door of the family came from near Fort William. Ian the office and the books were being bought knows Orkney well because after the war he as they came off the printer. Definitely “hot toured the islands and some of the parishes off the press”. Ian researched one of the as an operator with the Rural Cinema booklets, The Stronsay Bill of Mortality Scheme.Following that he has worked in 1801-1854. He was also a former contributor Glasgow until he retired. As well as being a to the Orkney View. As a result of working projectionist he was and is a keen in the office they have both become good at photographer. using computers though never used them Betty’s father had been born in Fraser’s previously. They now have one at home and Close and her Wilson and Gibson ancestors it has given Ian an opportunity to expand his were well known in and around Kirkwall. photography skills. That too has been of The family moved south but she visited benefit to OFHS. Orkney regularly when growing up and Both Ian and Betty have been willing continued to come on holiday with Ian after contributors to the OFHS monthly meetings. they married. Betty recalls being taken to They did not stop there but have been good the Glasgow Orkney and Shetland Literary ambassadors for OFHS as they have spoken and Scientific Society by her parents when at many other meetings including SWRI she was a child and has the photograph of meetings in different parishes including over herself in party dress taking part in one of the barriers one dark night to Burray and their events.Since then changes have across the sea for an ‘overnight’ in Rousay. resulted in the Society being named the The OFHS occasionally allow them to have Glasgow Orkney and Shetland Association some time off so that they can “go Sooth” or with Betty now their Honorary President. take a trip abroad! Before coming to Orkney to stay Betty had All in all the Camerons are proving that been a member of the Glasgow and West of life in retirement can be very interesting and Scotland Family History Society for fifteen rewarding and they are an inspiration to all years and they had both joined the newly our members Issue No33 March 05 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEYFAMILY HISTORYSOCIETY 5 MIGRATION TO SOUTH AUSTRALIA IN 1851 By James M Irvine Member No 96

wo references in The website addresses SFN (Nos.22, p18 immigrants to South Tand 32, p16) to Australia under United migrations from Kingdom assisted passage Shapinsay to Adelaide in 1851 schemes, 1847-1886. At Did you ontwo different ships, Marion present it identifies the know and Oregon, caught my ships arriving in 1849 (27), 1850 (12), 1851 (14), 1852 Generally conditions on attention. Was this co-incidence? (19) and 1853 (15), and early immigrant ships A little digging on the web includes transcripts of the were horrendous. The found the passenger lists of original passenger ships were overcrowded these voyages are included lists for the ships that and unhygenic and many in the website:- arrived between January 1850 and August died on the voyage with www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/SAassi 1853. the cause of death being stedindex.htm “Colonization Circular No.9” of 1849 listed invariably listed as fever and sore throat. This site reveals that many other ships the payments required, which ranged from Married couples carried Orcadian migrants from London or £2 from labourers aged between 14 and 40, and up to £15 for older and more skilled travelling steerage were Liverpool and Plymouth to Port Adelaide at allocated a sleeping this time: persons; children under 14 were charged £1, but £5 each if there were more than two space 3ft x6ft with any children having to bunk SHIP DEP ARR PASSE- FROM children under 10 years of age. These payments included bedding and mess in with them. Couples UK SA NGERS ORK. had little privacy with utensils on the passage, and the cost of each family being sep- Sea Queen 12.49 3.50 242 2 passages from Leith to London, Glasgow to arated by a plank some Sultana 4.50 7.50 - 2 Liverpool, or Dublin or Cork to Plymouth. 2ft high. Prince Regent 11.50 3.51 - 8 Orcadians probably travelled to Leith on one The air was usually foul Marion 3.51 7.51 3.50 19 of six paddle-steamers of the Aberdeen, Leith as portholes could not be Omega 4.51 7.51 332 7 and Clyde Shipping Co. (Alistair McRobb kept open because of Sultana 5.51 8.51 256 5 2000, The North Boats, p10). their close proximity to Thetis 5.51 8.51 235 31 “Colonization Circular No.13” of 1853 the sea. Lighting was at a Reliance 6.51 9.51 313 12 advised that emigrants to the Australian minimum because of fire colonies “must be of callings which from time Oregon 7.51 10.51 363 27 risk. Toilet facilities were to time are most in demand in the colony. primitive with male Lysander 7.51 11.51 - 8 They must be sober, industrious, of general Hydaspes 8.51 11.51 245 1 facilities usually being good moral character, and have been in the outside the main deck. Charlotte Jane 10.51 1.52 - 34 habit of working for wages, and going out to The basic diet was salt Adelaide 11.51 1.52 175 21 do so in the colony, of all of which decisive beef, rice and dried Caucasian 11.51 2.52 - 31 certificates will be required. They must also potatoes and passengers Amazon 11.51 2.52 285 17 be in good health, free from all bodily or were expected to do Sibella 12.51 3.52 257 24 mental defects, and the adults must in all most of their own Anglia 1.52 5.52 238 1 respects be capable of labour and going out cooking. Medical Standard 3.52 6.52 - 2 to work for wages, at the occupation specified facilities were almost non Gloucester 4.52 8.52 - 4 on their Application Forms. The candidates existent and fresh water who will receive a preference are respectable Omega 5.52 8.52 11 was extremely scarce. young women trained to domestic or farm Medina 6.52 10.52 410 1 service, and families in which there is a And when the ships Steadfast 7.52 11.52 300 1 preponderance of females.….. “Families in landed landed.... So why did 243 Orcadians leave for South which there are more than 2 children under Australia in 1851, when only 10 had 7, or 3 children under 10 years of age, or in migrated there the year before and only 20 which the sons outnumber the daughters, the year after? Turn to Page 6 6 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORYSOCIETY Issue No33 March 05

Continued from page 5 The growing prosperity of this colony at widowers and widows with young children, this time does not adequately explain its persons who intend to resort to the gold sudden attraction to Orcadians.To fields, to buy land, or to invest in trade, or investigate this I have compared the 1851 who are in the habitual receipt of parish passenger arrivals with the OFHS relief, or who have not been vaccinated or transcripts of census returns for 1841/1851. not had the small-pox, cannot be accepted.” On the OFHS website I have listed all the The passenger lists show that half a dozen Orkney passengers and, where I can, the deaths on these voyages were not parishes from which they came. This shows uncommon, and on one voyage there were 23 that at least 58, or 24%, of the migrants deaths, mostly of children, from infectious probably came from Shapinsay. Given that When the ships landed diseases. But the Bishop of Adelaide Shapinsay’s population was then (as now) in Australia there were believed the government emigrant ships less than 3% of that of Orkney, this is no reception facilities were “more respectfully conducted than obviously significant. and immigrants had to The immediate reason for this migration fend for themselves. passenger ships, on board the latter the sale Those who had brought of spirits is the ruin of numbers.” from Shapinsay was undoubtably the additional goods and On arrival at Port Adelaide the migrants “removal” of tenants, the “squaring” of the tackle with them often were allowed to stay on board for fourteen land and other agricultural improvements found that landing days,“during which they are provisioned”. which the new laird of Shapinsay, David charges were so high Should they have failed to “procure sit- Balfour, and his factor, Marcus Calder, that they were forced to uations” by then, cottages were available commenced in 1848 (Mary Zawadzki 1986, abandon them. Luggage nearby for temporary accommodation. For The Balfours and Balfour Castle p20). “As a was often dumped on those destitute, the expense of their journey result of all these improvements, life in jetties and by the time it to Adelaide, eight miles away, was provided. Shapinsay became somewhat easier than it was reclaimed it had used to be.With the laird’s encouragement often been looted. “There is much distress and disappointment Immigrants had then to felt by a very numerous class of educated and assistance, some of the tenants and find accommodation and persons, who arrive without capital.” But evidently some servants, left Shapinsay to work and many landed the “Colonial Labour Office” had been est- try for an even better life in Australia” in tented shanty towns ablished for the hiring of servants and lab- (Foden op.cit., p61). These migrations only to be constantly ourers.“Wages are from £13 to £18.” contributed to a fall in Shapinsay’s harassed by officialdom. “Respectable servant girls are sure to find population from 935 in 1841 to 898 in 1851, The discovery of gold in employment.” before rising again to 973 in 1861 (Barclay 1851 brought thousands The colony of South Australia had been op.cit., p19). of immigrants and by founded in 1836. It never accepted convicts, But why did these migrants choose South 1852 25,000 people Australia? For this we have to go back a few were working the so was often short of cheap labour, and as it Foerset Creek Diggings began to prosper in the 1850s as a producer years to a religious dispute on Shapinsay at Castlemaine, Victoria. of wheat and wool, its main need was for (Paul Sutherland 1985, The Laird, the Factor When transportation of farm workers.(Frank Foden 1992, and the Elders: Change and Stress in British convicts ceased Connections,Orkney and Australia p45). By Shapinsay 1847) which led the emigration of in 1868 over 160,000 1853 migration from UK and Germany to one of the elders on the island, William convicts had swollen the the colony was running at over 1000 per Skethaway, to South Australia. He probably population to 1.5 million. month. The UK emigrants came from all chose this colony because it had become a Not all immigrants were over the British Isles. Of the 275 Orcadians popular destination for religious dissenters drawn to the goldfields listed, 56 were husbands, 57 were wives, 104 (Douglas Pike 1967, Paradise of Dissent however and many South Australia 1829-1857). He arrived at became directly or were children, and 58 were single persons. indirectly involved in the Most couples were in their 20s or 30s, but Port Adelaide in December 1849 as an farms that developed some in their 40s and the oldest was 59. assisted passenger with eight children, but around the early Most adults were labourers or servants, and now a widower, and presumably had then settlements. They grew only six claimed a trade. One baby was born, written back to his former neighbours that mainly wheat and raised but five Orcadians died at sea, and another there were good employment opportunities sheep that had originally after arrival. Andrew Louttit had “died in for non-skilled immigrants - exactly what been brought from Scotland in 1849”, but his widow and six many Shapinsay folk were soon to be Europe. Today, the children sailed in November 1850, implying seeking. (I am grateful to Robert Janbmaat country’s agriculture a considerable delay between applying for for the facts above). production has But while this exodus from Shapinsay was increased well beyond the passage and obtaining a berth. the needs of the Migration from Orkney on this scale was significant locally, these migrants only population, due in no not exceptional, for during the latter part of accounted for one in four of those who left small measure to the the 19th century an average of 400 Orkney for Adelaide in 1851. For these other efforts of the early Orcadians emigrated each year (Robert Orcadians perhaps the Shapinsay folk had immigrants who laid the Barclay 1965, The Population of Orkney “spread the word”; perhaps it was just that this foundation which allows 1755-1861 p11). Obviously not all Orcadian destination had become “the” place to migrate Australia to be one of the emigrants chose assisted passages, and not to: certainly at this time books were being world’s largest food all chose South Australia. But why did published in UK on migrating to Australia exporters. Adelaide become so popular in 1851? (Robert Hughes 1987, The Fatal Shore p557). Issue No33 March 05 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORYSOCIETY 7

James m Margaret Christian m Thomas James Irvine m Elizabeth REID Hutchinson Drummond IRVINE 1759 - 1797 1781 Heddle

James S Robert m Christian Magnus John IRVINE m Christin James Magnus 1798 1802 1821 1797-1888 1799 - 1860 1786-18 1813 Shearer 1794-1864 1798-1877 Did you Ness Steaquoy Sandgarth 1797-1882 Viantro Quholm know m m 1821 m 1824 m 1818 Our thanks to Peter Jannet Lidel Jane Dennison Margaret Irvine Peggy Bain Leith, member no 65,of 1797- 1787-1877 c1790-1880 c 1791-1851 Stenness who sent the following interesting comments on two of the items which John REID Magnus (3) Thomas m Mary (3) Margaret (1) John (2) m Margaret Mary appeared in our last 1882 1830- 1821-1899 1821-1899 1814- 1819-99 1862 1831-1907 1826- newsletter. m probably m 1835 m 1851 The first concerns the Anne emigrated on John HEDDLE John S giant who threw the c 1830 Steadfast’ 1814- DENNISON Dwarfie Stone on to in 1852 1825 Hoy. His name, Peter tells us was ‘Hug Boy’ Names in BOLD Tom Mary Janet John James Margaret and he threw lots of type emigrated on 1848- 1848-51 c 1837- 1838- 1841- 1844- stones at Orkney. One can still be seen at the Marion in 1851 died on voyage Liley Banks at the Loch of Skail. On another continued from Page 6 hardships they had encountered: eight occasion he was The passenger lists suggest that many of years later,William Ward, who had chasing Mrs Hug who the Orcadians (and no doubt others) migrated as a 26 year old unmarried had evidently annoyed migrated in groups of relatives and agricultural labourer in July 1851, wrote him. She was off like a neighbours. Many of the single persons from Adelaide to David Balfour thanking greyhound and by the bear the same surname as families on the him for the £10 Balfour had sent him and time he reached the same voyage.Maybe the John Heddles in advising he had “this week begun work Kame of Hoy she was the two SFN articles were related. And in which will last but a few weeks and then I three miles away in response to Janet Stevenson’s plea (SFN 22, must look for more it is always the case Stenness. In a rage he p18) I can now show above, the probable here everything is so uncertain, .… I may picked up a huge relationship of the four Shapinsay families well rue the day I came here for I have boulder and threw it at who emigrated on Marion in 1851: never settled or been at all comfortable and her. Fortunately he And why did the Orcadian migration to done no good for myself since the day I left missed but the stone South Australia then slow so suddenly in you.” (Orkney Archives D2/45/5). lay in Stenness for 1852? No doubt the news of the discovery But this unfortunate example was not thousands of years until of gold in NSW and Victoria that reached typical, for the majority of Orcadian some misguided person UK in late 1851 quickly made Adelaide a migrants to South Australia “made good”, had it broken up for less popular destination. And some of the and many of their descendants still roads and drains. new arrivals may have written home of flourish there 150 years later Peter’s second bit of information was triggered by the Washington Irving with Andrew Mitchell & Co Ltd canvas merchants . Who knows about the article and concerns the He was eventually the major shareholder . Three famous actor Henry generations later the firm’s name is now Andrew Irving (1838—1905), Moodies of Sanday? Mitchell Group , its annual turnover is £25 million who dominated the y name is Alastair F. Moodie and I live in and it is still controlled by the Moodie family .David English stage for 50 Cambuslang, on the outskirts of Glasgow . married Janet Gay 23/4/1890. They had 7 children years with his dramatic MThe earliest ancestral record I can find is including my father Peter Alexander Moodie born acting. the baptism of John Moodie in Cross Parish on 24/5/1892 . His real name was 26/8/1792 in Sanday – parents John Moodie & Peter married Jessie Ferguson. They had 3 boys, ‘Broadribb’ and he took Barbara Millar..John married Janet Milne and had David Garrioch ( Garry), Peter Alexander & me, his stage name after 8 children including my great grandfather Peter,born Alastair Ferguson Moodie . reading some of in Cross Parish 18/8/1827 . I have no record of John & Barbara being Washington Irving’s Peter married Barbara Garrioch in the Free married or of their parents.I would like to writings. Peter quotes Church School House, Lady Parish. They had 8 communicate with any person who can tell me his source for this as children including my grandfather David Garrioch anything about them and their forbears . John o’ Londons Moodie . 30 Burnside Road ,Glasgow G73 4RS Tel 0141 Weekly 3.7.1953. David moved to Glasgow and found employment 634 4262 email:[email protected] 8 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORYSOCIETY Issue No33 March 05

DOWNTOWN KIRKWALL. PART OF AVALENTINEPOSTCARD FROM THE 1900s he year before my reddish fair with bright sister Barbara blue eyes, a forthright, Tmarried, Mr I was eleven honest-to-goodness per- Taylor, the Headmaster son. She went to America left, and he was succeeded and mother many years later and is by a Mr Farquharson from still there and unmarried Aberdeen. Mr Farquharson as far as I know. Alice was singing mad and no told me I had Robertson I lost trace of matter what other subjects long ago, but I think she were neglected, our to go to is in Edinburgh. singing lessons never There were certain were. He started a singing school in days that were special class for the young people occasions in my school of the parish, and held Kirkwall. life, such as the day the concerts at which my inspector came and prize sisters Barbara and day. The former was Maggie took part. We had a school concert dreaded. The inspector was looked on more too, not long before Barbara married. The or less as an ogre, and we went to school in scholars had collected money and bought her fear and trembling on inspection morning. a rocking chair and a little table, and the Prize day was looked forward to with presentation was made at the concert. I took pleasure and happy expectations.We part in the singing, dancing and drill. gathered wild flowers to put in the jugs that Besides ordinary physical ex-ercises, we had were set on the window sills, and everyone We continue with tambourine and hoop drill and our hoops wore a clean pinafore or a fresh collar that Isabella Tomlinson were decorated with gaily coloured paper. day. We didn’t all get prizes, but there was a Muir’s reminisc- The winter before that my sister Sarah was bag of sweets for everyone. The laird and his ences of her life as married to Peter Brass.I remember the lady arrived about noon in their carriage a young girl at the fiddling, the dancing and the singing, and with the prizes which we piled up on the farm of Vedder, in the crowd of strange people, and especially headmaster’s desk. There was a sewing prize Tankerness, the bridescake! My cousin, Mary Donaldson, for each class too (Mrs Baikie and a friend having judged the sewing some time before). Orkney. and I ate icing from the brides-cake until I was sick. Barbara was a brides-maid and she I never received a sewing prize–Lizzie She wrote the tale wore green ribbons on her white dress Mitchell always got it– but I think I always in 1942 when she because she was older than the bride. got the book prize for excellence in standard was in her late But, back to school. The class I was in was work. Then there was the school picnic, but I forties and this very small even for a country school. There only remember being at two of them. They episode tells of her were just four of us to start with; Lizzie were superseded by a parish holiday, which experiences at the Mitchell, Robina Hay, Walter Taylor and at first took the form of a picnic or a drive. Burgh School in myself. Jeannie Banks came later—and later Then a sea trip by the Good Templars be- Kirkwall and of the still Alice Robertson, but that was after the came the popular outing for the parish lifetime friends she Taylors left. Jeannie and I were very friendly holiday. Bagpipes, fiddles and melodian acc- made there. during our school days and after. She came ompanied the trippers, and there was as an adopted child to John and Mrs Banks dancing on the green, and sometimes on the of Calsit when she was about ten, but she deck of the ‘Fawn’ if the weather was fine. never really fitted in at Calsit. She came a I was at one of these trips before I left good deal to Vedder, not altogether because school. it was to Rousay, and it was a beau- of me, but because she liked youthful tiful day, and Rousay is one of the prettiest company and John and Mrs Banks were old islands in Orkney.We had the use of people. Jeannie was a dark vivacious Westness House, lent by the owner, a stocky creature, full of all sorts of pranks—but I little retired army officer, with the apoplectic shall speak of Jeannie again. Lizzie Mitchell look many army officers of his day seemed to and I did not visit each other during our have.He gave us the freedom of the grounds schooldays, but we became firm friends some of Westness House too, and we had a glorious years later. Lizzie was very fair, with ash day. The ‘Fawn’ took off from the pier at blonde hair and blue eyes, but she too will Tankerness but we were landed at night in come into my tale later. Beenie Hay was small boats below the farm of Wethick. Issue No33 March 05 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORYSOCIETY 9

Hiking was an unknown word in these days, KIRKWALL but the hikers of today could not beat the walkers When I was eleven and a half mother told of forty years ago.Imagine young people from me that I was to go to Kirkwall to live with Toab an St Andrews having to walk home from Sarah and go to the Burgh School besides Wethick, a distance of five or six miles, and that helping my sister. Sarah by that time had two after having spent an energetic day in the open. I little boys. They were fine little chaps, clever think it would compare well with the modern and amusing. hiker. It is typical of the times we lived in that I One person I will always remember with never questioned my parents’ authority about respect was Jean Banks. She lived in a tiny what they said I should do. Going to school for house not far from the school and was Janitrix for instance had been a dreadful ordeal for me, but Did you many years.She was a cousin of John Banks, and because my parents said I had to go,I took it know Jeannie and I often called on her on our way from for granted and never told mother my childish that weather forecasting school. She was a very good woman and res- fears.So it was when she told me I had to go to in Westray in the 17th pected by all. The fact that she was a poor, Kirkwall. Perhaps the novelty of going there to century was fraught with working woman made no difference to the esteem live fascinated me; but I did not know there danger as Janet Forsyth and affection with which she was held, and Jean was such a thing as home-sickness.I was not found out. Her young man, Ben was a welcome visitor at the neighbouring farms. what you call unhappy, but I was terribly Garrioch, and some Sometimes we came home from school by the homesick at times, but this too I kept to myself. friends set out on a public road, and called at Willowvale (or ‘the Starting life at the Burgh School was bonny day to do some Briggs’) and talked with Jamie Muir who, besides another trial but I got to like the school. sea fishing. Suddenly a fog descended and they being the farmer was also a cobbler and mended Saturday I went messages and took the never returned. for the whole parish. Jamie always gave us a children out, usually up the Willow Road to the Janet foolishly announc- welcome and a laugh, and we liked going to his ‘Ducky Pond’. Most of the Willow Road and ed that she had dreamt little shop. But one day his father saw us take a Mill Street children gathered there of a of a tragedy at sea and turnip out of his field, and he shook his fist at us, Saturday with their younger brothers and had begged Ben not to go. Before she could say so we did not go near the ‘Briggs’ for some time sisters and we all played, for the most part ‘eye of a toad’ her after that. happily together. neighbours blamed the On the few occasions that we had a On Sundays I went walking with Sarah, incident on sorcery and penny to spend we went to ‘The Shop’ Peter and the children, but I seldom got home labelled Janet ‘the storm witch of Westray.’ where we got a quarter pound of sweets for for a weekend. The sound of St Magnus Now some time later the a penny.‘The Shop’ was owned by Mrs Catherdral bells on a Sunday seemed like a islanders watched with Sinclair (or Becky Chalmers as she was death knell to me. anticipation as a storm more often called–married women seldom My class teacher was Miss Harriet Harvey. lashed merchant vessel got their married names in Tankerness). She also taught me French, and Miss Budge drifted on to the rocks. Janet, however, braved There was another shop kept by Ellen was my Latin teacher.I admired and liked the storm in a small Matches and sometimes we went to her for them both. Miss Harvey was red haired and boat, reached the ship we thought we got more sweeties from her neat–and a very good teacher.Mr Duthie and guided it into the for our penny! taught the boys of the class (with five or six calm waters of Pierowall The second winter Barbara taught, we had girls to even the numbers) taught us singing. Bay. To the irate islanders a snow storm.Father came in about school and that was a period I enjoyed. Mr McEwan this was proof of Janet’s time to ask mother if the ‘bairns’ were away (afterwards Dr McEwan) was headmaster and witchy activities and (Barbara, Jimmie and I) for it was going to be I believe a very good headmaster too, but I they had her arrested, a storm.We were away over the hill by this have one bitter experience of him. tried, and sentenced to time and, sure enough, the snow storm came. We were at Latin one morning when Mr hanging and burning. Parents came for their children in the McEwan came in and took the class (I’m afraid As she turned to face the afternoon and then Mr Farquharson went he was more often called ‘Stumpy’). He had a crowd after sentencing, there in their midst home with some of the scholars that lived heavy cold and his voice was a croak–but he stood Ben, looking all near. When he came back he told us we were could use his hands! He used both, one to Tom Cruisie in his naval not to attempt the journey home.Jamie either side of my face, and not many of us uniform. Turns out he Eunson of Whitecleat came to the school for escaped punishment that morning.I don’t had not drowned but had been ‘press ganged’ us and we went there to spend the night. think it was so much the slapping as the with his mates into the Even that short distance was bad enough. indignity of being slapped that hurt me, and I Royal Navy to fight the When darkness fell, father and mother did not like it (or Mr McEwan!) at all. When I French. became anxious, and father set off in the face came into Miss Harvey’s class I was still Next morning the crowd of the storm and came to Whitecleat where he weeping. That same afternoon Mr McEwan gathered in Broad Street judged we would be.Jimmie went home with took the French class and we were all trem- Kirkwall for the hanging father, but Barbara and I stayed at Whitecleat bling, but he was in a rare good humour and but when the escort all night. Next day the storm was over, the did not lift a hand to anyone. went to collect Janet the guards were drunk, the ground was covered deep with snow and the Next year I was in Mr Reid’s class, but the cell empty, and the bird sun was shining. The surface of the snow was school was closed for an epidemic of measles, had flown–no not on her hard as Barbara and I made our way home, and I had rather a bad attack.When I was broomstick– but with almost blinded by the sun and the snow. better I went home for a holiday and I was not the redoubtable Ben. Barbara was married when I was ten and I sent back to Kirkwall again. Turn to Page 12 10 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORYSOCIETY Issue No33 March 05 12 months crofting–profit £38 and that was just 67 years ago

This plan shows the layout of Maltbarn about 1935 when Ernie Wishart, at the age of 14, was faced Part 3 with running the croft as his grandmother was The sale of no longer able to cope. Maltbarn Working the croft consisted of ploughing the Marion McLeod con- Maltbarn was a 20acre croft and consisted of land, sowing the oats, rolling the field, cludes the tale of the following: waiting till it was ready to cut, cutting with this part of her 1 milking cow, 1 calf, 1 x one year old 1 x two the mower (horse drawn), sheaves being father’s life when, as year old and a neighbour who worked and made and when 6 had been tied they were a young lad of 14, used his horse got grazing for 3 x two year set up against each other making a stook, 3 he was sent from old stots. This was a total of: at each side until all the sheaves had been Kirkwall to Eday stooked. The oats were cut before they were 7 Animals 30 Hens where, as a complete ripe and they ripened standing stooked, then 3 Ewes and their lambs 8 Ducks novice, he had to they were carted into the stackyard next to 1 Horse 1 Dog learn to keep the the house and built into stacks so that all 1 Pig 2 Cats croft of Maltbarn the crops were at hand when winter came.At functioning at a The yearly income for the croft was: the carting and stacking all hands were profit. 1 x two year old animal £30 working–women and children forked sheaves He was a quick either on to carts or stacks. The stacks were learner, which was 4 Lambs £20 then thatched with simmons. This was straw just as well, as the TOTALINCOME £50 wound up into ropes which one made in the croft had to feed wintertime sitting on a stool in the barn him, his granny, her Yearly outgoings were: house. One man stood on top of the stack and sister and a sister- Bull serving cow 5/- pulled the simmons up and over and down to in-law. Tethers 5/- In this final episode about three feet from the ground and the big Paraffin £1 stones were put in the loop then hauled up he relates to his Feed and Food £20 daughter Marion over the top until one went right round the (sold eggs to shop and got groceries for stack. When winter came and the grass had just how a year was the price of eggs) spent earning a been eaten, the cattle were taken into the Feed for Hens £1.10/- byre. They had to be fed with what was handsome profit of Horse feeding, shoes and harness £4 just £38 mainly straw so the oat stack was taken Blacksmith and Meal Mill £3 down and put into the barn at one end so TOTAL OUTGOINGS £12 that one stood up and fed the threshing mill. YEAR’S PROFIT £38 The straw came out the other end and was Their diet consisted of rabbits, hens, cock tied up in bundles called a winling until the chicken, fish (caught themselves), salt fish, barn was full up. own cured pork, 1lb meat from shop per Great grandfather had, at some time week, bread, tea, sugar, biscuits, flour (from earlier in his life, lost parts of his fingers on eggs exchanged at shop), eggs, butter, his right hand during an accident with the cheese, tatties, turnips, cabbage (own mill, which was a sail mill situated in the produce). barn at Maltbarn Issue No33 March 05 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORYSOCIETY 11

The mill had to be set up for use and Then it was thoroughly washed out with looked like a boat’s mast with jib sails.It boiling water and dried. When this was done had to be set into the wind. A shaft ran my father had to wash his feet, roll up his down from the roof to wooden teethed cogs, trousers and get in the girnal. Great granny which ran to another shaft in the mill. His would then ladle the oatmeal in and he had grandfather discovered the mill wasn’t to tramp this down, especially at the corners, running fast enough and discovered some until all the meal was stamped hard. This old straw jammed in the cogwheel. He tried was done to keep bugs and mites from eating to pull the straw out while the mill was still it. Then clean cloths were put over it and working and his hand got trapped. He lost this would stay in perfect condition for ages. three and a half fingers on his right hand. When baking was done it was laid in the he was left with only his thumb and a girnal on top of the cloths and this gave the stump of a first finger.His wife, Maggie, cakes, etc a lovely taste. had bound up the hand and mangled My father, on behalf of his grandmother, fingers and applied a tourniquet, sold Maltbarn in 1937 to George Carter, who instructing him to release the tourniquet worked as a roadman in Eday and, when Did you every 20 minutes and exercise the arm till George married Babie Twatt of Breck, they know the blood flowed while she got a neighbour moved into the Maltbarn house.When to take him the 3 hour journey in a small George died Babie sold Maltbarn to Tommy ORKNEY fishing boat with sail to Kirkwall to have Tulloch of Breck and she moved to Kirkwall You should never call it the hand attended to by a doctor. The mills and opened a chip shop at the corner of ‘The Orkneys’; it is were driven either by horse, which consisted Gunns Close and Victoria Street. She later correctly referred to as of a circle, which the horse went round, and went to Australia with one of her sons. Be- ‘Orkney’, “The Orkney round turning a shaft fixed to the mill, wind fore she had married, Babie had been a Islands”, or ‘The power with 4 masts to which were attached housekeeper for my grandmother’s brother Northern Isles’. sails depending on how much wind there William Harcus, in Stromness. THE MAINLAND was, water powered and in some of the So my father spent an educating 3 years The largest of the bigger farms there were engine powered living with his granny, her sister-in-law on Orkney Islands is mills. On my great grandparent’s croft it the small croft in Eday. He still recounts called The Mainland’ was wind power. There were drawbacks as stories and incidents that he remembers and never just you can imagine so an eye was kept on the from these years and, although it seemed a ‘Mainland’. weather and moon and the sails put up and tough hard life at the time, he did have some GAELIC on when weather permitted. Water power fun on Eday from all accounts! You won’t hear the had its problems too depending on how gaelic spoken in much water could be held back in reserve.It Life after Eday Orkney unless by took a lot of water to thresh a stack. Horse Ernie Wishart recalls the events after the sale someone from the power was the most reliable but it had its of Maltbarn and his return to Kirkwall Scottish Highlands. problems too,as someone had to be with the KILTS horse all the time. My great grandmother After the sale of Maltbarn, granny and her Kilts and tartans are told my father that one man could thresh a sister came to live with my parents so that foreign to Orkney We lot of oats with a flail in the time he spent my mother could look after them. are, however, fond of with the horse at the mill so there seemed The Maltbarn estate in Eday had been wearing the kilt at to be a problem with them all. The engine own-ed by my grandmother Margaret weddings. was the answer, if one could afford it; as one Harcus and was to go, on her death, to her PIPE BANDS threshed the oats the straw went out one son William (being the only son and the elder Another import from end and the oats came down a shute into of two children).William, however, had no mainland Scotland sacks which were then put through a thing interest in it and after family agreement, although we do have called fanners. This was a wind drum, relin-quished all rights to the estate and them and they have which blew the outside husk off the oats passed his share on to me as I had looked competed successfully leaving the oats clean. These were then after granny and the others. at the Scottish Pipe sacked up–some kept for next year’s seed, When Maltbarn house was sold for about Band Championships. You are more likely to some for feeding hens and some for oat £180 this was given to him as his share and I hear the fiddle and meal for making oat cakes, porridge, etc. got the remainder when the furniture, The sacks were then loaded on to a horse accordion played to animals, etc were sold off.Granny had perfection— well most and cart and transported to the grinding about £500 cash savings and this along with mill where it was left until it was ready to of the time. the sale of my share of Maltbarn [which I FLAG be taken home. We do have a flag— Maltbarn’s oatmeal was kept in a huge gave to my parents] was used to purchase completely chest about 4ft long by 2ft wide and about the properties of 2 & 6 Union Street and 89 1 unauthorised by the 3 /2 ft high with a hinged lid called a girnal. & 91 Victoria Street in Kirkwall. These 4 properties formed a block of land and houses Scottish heraldic The day before the oatmeal arrived great authorities—it is the on the corner of Victoria Street and Union granny rolled up paper into torches and lit red cross of St Magnus them and went all over every seam in the Street and went the entire length of Union wood to kill any bugs laying in the seams. Street to Junction Road. Turn to Page no 12 12 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORYSOCIETY Issue No33 March 05

Continued from Page no 11 boss [and later as a grain store for the On 4.5.1937 my father and mother Distillery - there had been a gantry at the purchased these properties and the entire Victoria Street upper large window for family moved in to 91 Victoria Street and 6 hauling up the grain sacks and the floors in Union Street, which was one house at that the house all sloped because of the grain time. My parents rented out 89 Victoria being stored in it] and 2 Union Street had Street to 2 families as the house was split been the coach house and stables. There was into 2 x one up & one down flats with a circular stone stair leading to the upstairs separate doors. An old man lived in the living accommodation and a large stone right-hand flat and Bertie Hannah and his sundial near the front door. The Borwick mother lived in the other flat. After Granny family had lived in the upstairs latterly.My and her sister died we no longer needed the brother,Jim, then built a large garage on the Did you whole of the large house so the 91 Victoria site of this old coach-house. None of the know Street part, with it’s own entrance in Union Street houses had any water and they after the defeat of the Victoria Street, was given to my brother all used the hand pump outside Tom Brass’s Spanish Armada by Drake, the fleet battered Willie and his wife Sylvia Campbell to live shop and carried water in buckets to their and out of powder were in. When they left Orkney my mother, on houses. ordered by the Duke of her son’s behalf, rented this property out In 1973/4 my brothers,Jim and Arnold, Medina-Sidonia to return firstly to Isabella Rousay, a sister of Annie decided to renovate the house at 6 Union to Spain round the North Rousay who married John Harcus of Pharay, Street and make it into 2 separate flats [one of Scotland. This was a dreadful journey and of and an old neighbour of Granny’s from Eday. above and one below]. The upper flat had a the 130 ships that origin- Isabella Rousay was married to Andrew new outside stone stairway to a new door so ally embarked from Spain Moodie and they had a son Eric Moodie who it was completely separate. When we 3 only 60 returned. The was a Banker in Kirkwall. My mother sent brothers started this work we discovered Duke of Medina’s ship encountered foul weather the weekly rent to Willie and his wife but all that the floor joists were all ships masts or and was driven ashore on she ever got from them was about one letter large tree trunks cut and fitted in and nailed the Fair Isle. He was or a card each year. I can remember, when I with smithy made nails. The house at 89 eventually transported by was young, my mother saying she had given Victoria Street had been the same when I a Shetland laird to up on Willie after all those years.My renovated it some years later. Dunkirk but his men on Fair Isle were not so Mother later sold the house to a Mr Bertram [his brother owned the Orkney Steam Ship lucky. The Spaniards Continued from page no 9 evidently paid well for Company]. anything they received The house at 89 Victoria Street became I made some friends during the short time but a Fair Isles man said I went to the Burgh School and one of them ‘Spanish money couldna empty just before the war when the old man fill empty bellies’. With died and the Hannahs moved elsewhere.My I have kept in touch with ever since. She winter approaching the brother Jim and I cleared it all out and made belonged to Aberdeen but her father’s bus- islanders feared that it into one house, heightened the ceilings, iness brought him to Kirkwall. After her there would not be eno- etc. It was then rented out for some time to father died, the family returned to Aberdeen ugh to go round and many of the Spaniards Bunty Groundwater and his wife and their and my friend, Edith Gruer, went through were brutally murdered. daughter Jessie was born there [Reynalt Aberdeen University. She took her degree, Another ship went down Johnstone’s wife]. When I returned to and also a scholarship which gave her a year off North Ronaldsay and Orkney after the war with Olive and Marion, in Paris. She is still teaching. Her brother some of the crew Harold was a brilliant student of Aberdeen escaped in a small boat just a baby,I managed to find work at J & W and eventually came Taits garage.A Mr Linklater also worked University and afterwards got an app- ashore at Pierowall Bay in there and was desperate for a house so the ointment with the Indian Civil Service. Westray where they were property at 89 Victoria Street was rented out I received a good grounding at the Burgh well received. The to him and his wife and all his children were School in grammar, and I have Miss Harvey Spaniards were evidently quite happy. They built born there. to thank for that. English was the subject I houses, married wives After my father died all the property was liked best. I frequently made top of the class and formed a settlement. divided up into equal shares between the at Grammar in the forenoon, only to come They tried to ensure that brothers. My brother,William, and his wife down at Geography in the after-noon.My they did not intermarry Latin and French home exercises were other than with des- Sylvia moved into 91 Victoria Street when cendants of the original they married. My share was 89 Victoria always good, for Peter Brass corrected them settlers. Eventually this Street and my brother,Jim, had 2 Union before I wrote them in my exercise book! practise was given up Street and it’s garden and half of 6 Union One very bad habit the pupils of the and the susbequent union Street, whilst my other brother, Arnold, had Burgh School had was ‘changing’. When we of the Dons and Orcadians produced men half of 6 Union Street. My mother lived with corrected each other’s spelling, etc. (and we who were renowned for her son, Jim, in the lower half of 6 Union used slates then) we were suposed to change their seafaring skills. Street, while Arnold and his wife, Sylvia, some mistakes so as to make their number Many of the Spaniards lived in the upstairs half. About this time 2 less. It was in Miss Harvey’s class where I even adopted Orcadian learned and reluctantly fell into the names and the best Union Street was falling down and we known of these were decided to demolish it, as it was dangerous. changing habit. After I left the Burgh School Reid, Hughison and The house of 6 Union Street had been the I went back to Tankerness School for a year, Petrie. town house for the Highland Park Distillery and so ended my schooldays. Issue No33 March 05 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORYSOCIETY 13 This little old lady is waiting to hear from

Did you her Irvines in Orkney, know Have you heard of Henry Canada and the USA Ford? Of course you have and Laurie McClanahan, Member No 1160 but have you heard of IRVINE Alexander Y Malcomson? reckons there must be hundreds of you out there Probably not; yet his little old lady has been working on Bruce memorial. The bronze statue of the Malcomson who was our Irvine genealogy for the past man on his horse, both attired in war mail, born near Longhope in twenty years. One daughter sat down is outside the building.Bruce was an Orkney was Detroit’s lar- T gest coal dealer and be- with the computer, map and a desire to invincible man of war who requested his came Henry Ford’s part- view where our ancestors lived and walked heart be taken into every battle after his ner in 1902. through the past centuries. She came up death. A body with its heart removed was It was Malcomson who with a tour and we all agreed. found by archeologists many years later. provided the money that Four of us boarded a Boeing 777 at On our visit to the Orkney Islands we allowed Ford to develop Newark in the U.S.A. and were soon in attended church services the prototype of a vehicle London where we waited for the fifth at the magnificent St that eventually became member of the group to catch up after her Magnus Cathedral, built the Ford Motor Comp- plane flight from Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1137 under Earl any’s first product and he had been cancelled. Our destination was Rognvald, nephew of St at one time owned a quarter of the company. Scotland. We made the two week tour via Magnus. Master masons Malcomson also set up a planes, trains, buses, taxis, ferries and a began work using red rival company ‘Aerocar’ van with a private tour guide.We saw so sandstone quarried near- and he financed it with much of the country, including the Orkney by and yellow sandstone his income from his Islands, our final destination. We breezed from Eday. There are shares in the Ford Motor into the Kirkwall Library and Archives too tombstones within the Company. late on a Saturday night to do any research, cathedral as bodies were Ford too had a rival but learned about the Orkney Family buried there from the company which he called History Society.I am now number 1160 of 13th to 17th centuries. The Ford Manufacturing that organisation. One stone,I understand, Company which manu- Robert the Bruce factured the highly suc- On Scotland’s mainland, we visited Drum was for an Irvine. cessful Model N and in Castle and lands, which were granted to All this has made me even more which Malcomson had no William de Irwyn (Irvine) in 1323 by King determined to trace my family back further shares. The cars favour- Robert the Bruce who ruled from 1306- than 1813 when John Irvine married ed by Malcomson were 1329. It is located ten miles from the centre Catherine Garrioch (who was christened the Models B & K man- of Aberdeen. Twenty-four generations of April 30th 1786). They had six children: ufactured by the Ford Irvines have lived in the castle con- John, Margaret,Jane, Mary, Ann and Betty. Motor Company. These tinuously until it was given to the Scottish The John Irvine who was born March 25 were more expensive National trust in 1975 who opened it to 1814 and died in 1892 was a farm servant, vehicles and sales turned public tours. according to the 1861 census.His son John out to be poor. Strapped for cash to keep Our Irvine flag (three clusters of holly on Yorston McKay Irvine b.22 Aug 1853 moved ‘Aerocar” afloat he was a white background) still flies over the to the USA to start a florist /greenhouse forced to sell his Ford ancient keep which was built in the second business since he had been a gardener on shares to Henry Ford for half of the thirteenth century. The one of the castle grounds in Scotland. He $175,000. Ford then ab- medieval keep was deliberately built with married Anna May Chandler in Toronto, sorbed the Ford Man- no entrance at ground level, eliminating a Canada and they had ten children so as you ufacturing Company into surprise attack. One wonders how such will see there must be many Irvines out the Ford Motor Company buildings could be erected without our there whom I would love to link up with. and the rest is history. modern equipment. We signed our names in Our visit, which we enjoyed so much, was Malcomson’s Aerocar the visitors book in the Irvine room of the over all too soon. Hopefully my children will Company eventually went bankrupt and after one or castle before going down to the tearoom to get back to Scotland again and while it will two other unsuccessful enjoy tea and scones, a Scottish treat. probably be the last big trip this old lady ventures he disappeared Outside the castle is the 16th century will undertake the memories will last a and no more is known of Chapel which was restored in 1856. The lifetime. The icing on the cake, however, him. . . .unless of course stone canopy is fifteenth century and was would be to reach all my ‘lost’ Irvines. if any reader can tell us part of the altar tomb of Sir Alexander Please contact me at: [email protected] otherwise. Irvine.We stopped to see the Robert the Lorraine (aka Laurie) McClanahan. 14 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORYSOCIETY Issue No33 March 05 A 13 year old Kirkwall lad fighting for America’s Independence Sue Merrell tells of her ancestors’ adventures after leaving Kirkwall in 1774 Sue Merrell, a great ess than a year before the colonies Standing Tree.Sometime we were under the great granddaughter of declared their independence from command of Gen. Williamson, a militia Bertha Tullock is LBritain, my ancestor John Tullock left scout, but most commonly we had no officers justifiably proud of her Kirkwall aboard a ship called the of a higher grade than our Capt.John Bowie. Orcadian ancestory and Marlborough. We were marched to a ferry at New Richmond, we’re pretty impressed Thomas Walker was in command of the then down opposite to Augusta (Ga.) The with her American ship which had 53 passengers, including British was in possession of the town. We were background too. It’s all John’s wife Jannet Seater and their five stationed on the opposite side of the river there—redcoats, children: Samuel,Magnus, Elizabeth, Janet where we torn up the battery.We remained yankees, Indians, civil and Mary. (Scots in Georgia and the Deep there until the British evacuated Augusta. We war—just the sort of South by David Dobson). A year earlier, the were then marched down to Bear Creek and ancestors we would all Marlborough had made a similar trip leaving joined General Lincoln, marching through the like to uncover. from Stromness. state of Georgia and Carolina. Sue currently works as a The Marlborough arrived in Savannah, In the spring — I can not recollect the date theatre (yes that’s the Ga., in September, 1775. John was of the years — I joined General Lincoln and way we spell it Sue) indentured to Thomas Brewer in Richmond was marched through the country until the reviewer for the Grand County, Georgia, until 1783, probably to Rapids Press in Grand Battle of Sterno.After the battle, we were repay the cost of the family’s passage. But Rapids, Michigan and marched to Fort Independence and remained was over in Scotland last that didn’t keep Samuel and Magnus from there some time guarding the frontiers. In August for the Edinburgh enlisting in the Yankee military. Military pay November, we marched to Savannah and Fringe Festival. She also records dated 1785 in Charleston, South werein the battle at that place. The siege con- found time to visit Carolina, list both men as serving privates. tinued three weeks...We lost hundreds of men Orkney, We know this because Magnus applied for and were defeated.We were then marched Sue says sorry the pic is his military pension in Blount County, back to Fort Independence to guard the of her in Edinburgh but Tennessee, in 1832. According to his frontiers. We were ordered back to the she was so busy testimony at that time, he was only 13 years Cherokee Nation in search of a British agent photographing her old when signed up in 1777. He said there by the name of Cameron. We found him but Orkney roots that she has was no record of his birth and I have not he fled and made his escape.We were no Orcadian pictures of been able to find one in the OPR. marched back to Augusta and remained there herself. “I enlisted at a place called White Hall Fort some time to hunt the villains and Tories that You’ll just have to come (Abbeville, SC) at the residence of one were ravaging through the land and hills.We back and remedy that General Williamson. I enlisted for three years remained there until the fall of Charleston. Sue. under Capt.John Bowie, commander of the We were then marched back to White Hall. .. . 2nd. Infantry.Myself with a certain soldier gave up our arms.. ... and were discharged. Moore was ordered to Charleston, S.C., to In the spring of 1781 I volunteered under Col. Hunger regiment, to learn William the command of Capt. Bushalo, a French Moore to beat the drum and myself to play man, Col Anderson’s regiment… I was in the the fife.We remained at Charleston on the siege of Ninety-Six (a South Carolina island near there for six months.When the six district) Capt. Bushalo was ordered to take months had expired we obtained permission 11 men and march the prisoners to Camden to go to Charleston, three miles or there about about 32 miles. Col. Anderson heard some from the island. As we were walking up the Tories were coming down the river and street we met Capt. Bowie, our old captain ordered us to scout about….We were marched who enlisted us… Bowie remained with us back to Abbeville County under the command some days in Charleston to obtain some of Col. Anderson and General Pickens and clothing for the company.We then marched to was commanded by them until the close of Fort Independence in Abbeville County now, the war, sometime in the year 1782, to the but at that time 96 District on Rocky River. best of my knowledge.” We were then marched through Georgia to A couple of years after leaving the military, the Cherokee Nation to a place called The in 1784, Magnus married Nancy Logan in Issue No33 March 05 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORYSOCIETY 15

in Abbeville. Soon after they moved to Blount 1765. And by 1810, a William Tulloch was pastor of County,Tennessee,where they had nine children. a Baptist church on Westray, so the Baptist link to By the first U.S. Census in 1790, John Tullock my ancestors,seems a possibility. and his oldest son Samuel, and the daughters One of Magnus’ sons, Andrew H. Tullock, lost a appeared to be living together in Abbeville,S.C., leg fighting for the Confederacy in the Civil War. He with John as the head of the household. By the died in 1869. Another, Samuel Logan Tullock, was 1800 census, Samuel (born in Kirkwall, 1759) also the grandfather of my grandmother,Bertha Tullock, was listed on the census rolls with his wife who married Walter Coleman,on Dec.20,1913. Jemima. But Samuel died before the 1810 census leaving Jemima expecting her sixth son. (John is also not listed on the 1810 census so he had probably died.) Within a few years Jemima joined a wagon train and headed West in 1815 or 1816 to Washington County, Missouri. Missouri didn’t Did you become a state until 1821. know One of Jemima’s sons, Samuel, who was born ‘Columbas said to the in Abbeville,SC, in 1801, became a fur trader and Spanish King, I’ll let you explorer for the American Fur Trading Company. in on a mighty fine thing, He led a group of about 40 traders from St. Louis I aim to prove that the up the Missouri River to Montana. Several Web world is round, the United sites and ‘The March of the Montana Column’ States has never been mention Tullock in connection with the building found’ and according to of two forts.Fort Cass was built about 1830 on this song from the 1950s, the Yellowstone River near the mouth of the Big Walter Coleman and Bertha Tullock off he went in 1492 to ‘discover’ America. But Horn River.Fort Van Buren was built further They had seven children but more than their did he? Yes he did find west at the mouth of the Rosebud between 1835 share of bad luck. Walter Coleman was hauling America but it is doubtful and 1839. meat to market when his truck was hit by a train if he was first or even Samuel Tullock traded the Indians guns and several months before my mother, the seventh second to discover the blankets for furs. He also brought fancy lace- child, was born. Bertha developed cancer and died new world. trimmed coats to trade — worth eight fur robes.A There are many eminent just before my mother’s seventh birthday. The men who believe that tall, slender man with long sandy hair,Tullock was children were scattered among relatives and my called The Crane by the Indians. He wasn’t known America was in fact mother,Beulah Mildred Coleman, was raised in an visited by Prince Henry St. for his hospitality as noted in this journal excerpt orphanage. written by Capt.Nathaniel J.Wyeth in 1833. Clair, who became the first Earl of Orkney in “About 3 miles below the mouth of the Big 1379. Horn we found Fort Cass one of the Am. F. Co. at Did Alec Omand’s His life was linked with which post we traded about 10 packs of Beaver the Knights Templar and and 150 to 200 pack robes goods.We were treated Grandmother indeed his journey to with little or no ceremony by Mr.[Samuel] America is thought to Tullock, who we found in charge which I come from Orkney? have been his attempt to attributed to sickness on his part well knowing create a new Jerusalem. that a sick man is never disposed to be over civil My mother’s maiden name was Thora One of the earliest to others we therefore pushed on next morning.” Beatrice Omand. She was born in masonic documents in Samuel had two wives among the Crow and Victoria Avenue,Milnathort, Fife, on Scotland is a scroll held at the Masonic Lodge in several children, but he only took one with him April 30, 1917. Her mother was Elizabeth Ritchie Omand who was mar- Kirkwall said to document when he left not long after Fort Van Buren was Henry’s life from the late built. He never returned. But Tullock Creek bears ried for a while to an Edinburgh fur- 14th century. Further his name. Col. George A. Custer’s men camped niture dealer by the name of William evidence of the trip there in 1876, a few nights before the fateful Mathew Quin. supposedly comes from a battle of Little Big Horn. By the time my mother was born they detailed log kept by an Samuel returned to Missouri where he married had separated. I believe my grand- Italian who was the Mary J. Boyd in 1839. mother subsequently fell on hard times navigator on the voyage. Another of Jemima’s sons,Magnus, became the and my mother was then taken in and The legends of the minister of the United Baptist Church of Christ adopted by an Inglis family in Stirling. Micmac Indians of Nova Scotia also tell of Henry’s in Iron County,Mo. This fact has led me to Later my mother moved to Edinburgh, got married and had two sons — myself adventure. Perhaps even question whether the family was Baptist before more convincing is that at leaving Scotland. That would explain why only and brother Derek. She died in the city Rosslyn Chapel in one of John Tullock and Jannet Seater’s five in 1990. I was always led to believe that Edinburgh, the ancient children are recorded in the OPR. If the family my grandmother was born in Orkney home of the Knights was Baptist, the children would not have been and I would be delighted to hear from Templar there are christened. The oldest continuous Baptist Church any of your members who can help me carvings of American in Scotland was established by Sir William with my research. plants—and Rosslyn Sinclair near John O’Groats in 1750, I’m told, but From Alex Omand ( Member 1184 ) Chapel was built 50 years the church was pretty much underground until before Columbas made his ‘discovery’. 16 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORYSOCIETY Issue No33 March 05 The Leasks of Algath Our research secretary, Adrianne Leask, received this from a distant cousin in N.Z.

he name of Leask is mentioned in very early family who was an ancestor of Lord Geddes and records. In 1380 William Leask of that Ilk (ie Sir Eric Geddis. Tthe family obtained a charter of land from To return to the Leasks. Many of them have King David 11). It would seem at that time emigrated to the colonies or foreign countries William Leask was the head of a considerable where they have settled and their descendants are family of that name.The estate of Leask was in the still to be found . Parish of Slains in Aberdeenshire and was The following are a few of the most sold by Alexander Leask to the Gordon notable: Cumming family in 1696. UTE CRE Thomas Leask went to Africa where T S he travelled as a trader for a number The next mention of the name R C occurs in 1460 when a William I O of years in the country now known Leask acted as Crown Chamberlain V as Zimbabwe.Finally he settled in for the King of Denmark in Papa Klerksdarp where he married and Westray, Orkney. He was said to be set up business with a partner, a descendant of the Danish Royal name of Taylor, which he carried on family. until his retirement. He kept diaries In 1468 Orkney came under of his travels which are now preserved Scottish rule and in 1484 we find an at Salisbury (now Harare), South Alexander Leask in Sanday holding Africa.A part of these were printed the same office under the Scottish in 1954 ‘The South African Diaries King. In 1490 a Henry Leask of Thomas Leask 1865-70’. rendered an account of affairs in L Thomas Leask taught the Great Orkney to Lord Sinclair, which he EASK Khana rifle shooting.While he was repeated in 1497. on one of his journeys he was at Chief During the 16th and 17th centuries we find Bengula’s Karal (Kraal?) and the chief brought out various references to this name in Stenness, a gun with the doghead broken. He was able to Did you Orkney.James Leask served as one of the 14 repair this gun and was rewarded with a present know members of a baillie court held in the Kirk of of ivory—a mere 200lbs worth. He was the first Stenness on 4th April 1576.Three months later he white man to see the Victoria Falls after Dr that the Scots discovered appears again in the same office.John Leask in Livingston. penicillin, invented Clanstan signs several times as a witness about Thomas Spence Leask was another who sought television, telephones, the same time.Another witness is Robert Leask in his fortune in Africa (a nephew of the other tarmacadam, waterproofs, Hablester.We also find a John leask in Clouston Thomas Leask). With his elder brother William he tyres and a whole lot mentioned in a rental in 1653. started a store around which the town of more? Of course you did, There are other Leask families in Stenness Wolmaranstad grew up. He had learned the trade but did you know that two besides the Leasks of Algath and it is likely that of chemist and had studied medicine and though Orkney lads invented the those already mentioned may have belonged to he had no medical degree, the South African suspender? those branches. Government allowed him to practice as a doctor. Andrew Thomson and The Algath family had a tradition that their first He took an active interest in public affairs and was James Drever who appear ancestor came to Orkney in or about 1700.Who he intimate with many notables of the time including in an Orkney Census for was or where he came from was unknown, but he President Kruger.He died in 1946 at the age of 92. 1891 as apprentice tailors seemed to be a gentleman of means and was Robert Leask of Coldomo was Harbour Master emigrated to America supposed to be in hiding for some crime he had at Melbourne for a time but afterwards came where, in 1896, they committed. He was the father of John of Algath home and being married settled down on the farm patented a device in and he had two other sons,William in Bagswell of Coldomo where he spent the rest of his life. The California as ‘a clasp for first steam ship entered the port while he was garment supports’. and James in Settiscarth, who had des-cendants harbour master. It was originally used as a living at the end of last century at least. His eldest son William Smith Leask went to sea device to hold up It has been supposed that it may have been a attaining the rank of captain. In the course of his dungarees but one of Jacobite rising 1715 that compelled him to go into seafaring life he sailed fortytwo times round Cape them, we don’t know who, hiding. This is quite likely, there were many who saw its potential as a had to take the same course when they found Horn. On one occasion he sailed from Britain in means of holding up themselves on the losing side. company with two other ships and saw them both stockings. There was a family called Cruikshanks who go down in weather which prevented him from owned considerable propertry in Aberdeen, but giving any help. He commanded a sailing barque being concerned in the rising, their land was all called ‘The City of Florence’ on which he had pre- forfeited and the family took refuge in Orkney, viously sailed as mate. During this time they sigh- when they settled on the island of Hoy. One of their ted the ‘Mary Celeste’ the famous mystery ship. family married a Geddis belonging to a Stromness Turn to Page 18 Issue No33 March 05 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORYSOCIETY 17 Calling all Brass & G DAY Flett families with O RKNEY Aussie connections Did you Janette Thomson Member #121 has some news for you know anette was leafing through a new Margaret Adams (1872–1951).(Spinster). that the world’s most public-ation ‘Pioneers’ Register; Elizabeth Catherine Adams (1874–(1964), northerly distiller of J‘Warrnambool, 1838–1900’ which is (Spinster). Scotch whisky is the published by A.I.G.S. (Australian Institute of Samuel James Adams (1876-1938). Highland Park Distillery, Genealogy Studies and thought that the Mar: To Elizabeth May Hancock 1908 established in 1798, in following information might help fill in a few Hugh Adams (1878–1939). Kirkwall, Orkney’s ancient gaps in some Orkney family trees. Occ: Presbyterian Minister. capital. Vol.1 contains the following information Mar: Florinda Mary Batterby at Laen 1912. The distillery is situated in the Parish of St Ola, on a John Brass: John Adams (1880–1952). and beneath its distinctive P.81 John Brass, parents’ David Brass & Mar: Ethel May Tyson. pagodas, peat fires dry Jennet nee Garson. 1820–1895, b. Sandwick, Alexander William Adams (1882–1951). the malted barley and Orkney d. Warrnambool and buried in Mar: Mary Harriet Louisa Hancock 1914. help give Highland Park cemetery. Martha Adams (1883–1945) Whisky its unique flavour. Occ. Ship’s carpenter and lighterman. Mar: (?) It is said that the distillery Listed on Pioneers’ honour Board in Library. Other Fletts listed in Vol 1. developed from the illicit Arrived in area in 1852. Presbyterian. Isabella Flett (1809–1865, born in Orkney, activities of the legendary Mar. 1 1855 at Warrnambool to Ann died and buried in Warrnambool. distiller and smuggler McDonald, (1820–1890) 1 child. Mar:James Flett (1808–1880 no relation) in Magnus (Mansie) Eunson and that it stands on the Mar. 2 1893 at Moyston to Mary McKinnon. 1837 and arrived in Portland, Victoria with site of the spring, and no issue. five children on board the ‘Marmion’. produces its whisky from Children: Johanna Brass (1863–1936), b. James Flett (1808–1880) Farmer and the same crystal clear Warrnambool. seaman. His parents were John Flett and water that Mansie used. Spouse: Andrew Smith,(1858–1926). Elizabeth Sutherland. He was born in Orkney He went to outrageous Farmer and he died and was buried at Warrnambool. lengths to hide his liquor Children: John (Jock) (1883–1945, Andrew He built the general store at Wangoom and in from the excisemen and (Addie) (1884–1935), Annie Sophia (Cissie) 1854 donated 1 acre of land for the Presby- on one occasion, having 1886–87, Annie Maud (1887–1891), Donald terian church at Wangoom. His farm is still been warned of an Hector (1890–?), Ethel Ida (Eppie), run by his three great grand-daughters. impending raid he hid two casks of his finest in a (1892–1953), Wm. Stanley (Stan), Children: coffin in the church and (1893–1975), Maude Johanna, twin, James Flett (1838–1898) b. Orkney d. Laen, proceded with the (1895–1939), Ruby Hilda, twin, (1895–1957), Occ:Farmer. Mar: (?) ‘funeral’.When the Beatrice May (1896–1979), Myrtle Dempsey Peter Flett (1839–1898) b. Orkney d. and exisemen got a bit too (1897–1898), Myrtle Mabel (Topsy), buried Warrnambool. nosey the word smallpox 1899–1968, Eva (?), Leslie Roy (1901–1950), Occ. Cooper and Coffin-maker. was whispered to them. Rita Muriel Dempsey (1903–1950). Mar: To Elizabeth Young in 1870. The officers evidently left Vol. 1 also contains the following Isabella Flett (1842–1933) b. Orkney d. and without further enquiry. entries on the Fletts: buried Warrnambool. Today, however the casks Page 207 Elizabeth Flett (1845–1914, b. Occ: Schoolteacher. are stored legitimately; 40,000 oak, sherry and Orkney died and buried at Laen. Mar: Wm. Flett (cousin) at Wangoom in 1863. bourbon barrels Occ. Home Duties Elizabeth Flett (1845–1914) containing some eight Spouse: Hugh Adams (1846–1915) b. Mar: Hugh Adams. million litres of whisky, Broughshare, Antrim, N. Ireland. Elizabeth John Flett(1847–1932. Batchelor.Farmer. are maturing in arrived with parents and four siblings at On P. 209 the following Fletts appear: warehouses round about Portland, Victoria in 1852 on ‘Marmion’. John Brown Flett (c. 1827–1905). His parents the distillery. Religion: Presbyterian were John Brown Flett and Jean Gorie.He It is said that both the Mar. at bride’s home, Church Hill, was born in Orkney and died and was buried Queen and Sir Winston Wangoom, Victoria, in 1867. at Warrnambool. He was a Fisherman and Churchill showed an Children: Isabella Adams (1868–1949), wheelwright. Arrived in Australia in the early interest in the product which visitors can sample (Spinster). 1850s.John Brown Flett spent 14 years in on the distillery tour. Mary Ann Adams (1870–1942) South Australia and 36 years in Victoria. An attractive shop within Mar. 1894,Warrnambool to George Some of his descendants are still in the distillery is also very Frederick Flett. Warrnambool. popular with the tourists. 18 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORYSOCIETY Issue No33 March 05

Mar: ? Mar: 1854 at Robe,S.A. to Frances Brown. Warrnambool and Portland are both on the Children: Peter Gorie Flett, b.1855 Robe. d. south coast of Australia, west of Melbourne. 1896 Warrnambool. Mar: 1878 to Ann Tyler The following information together with the Children: Nine. family tree of the Fletts of Outertown has been John Brown Flett b. about1857, Robe. d.1893 supplied by James Irvine Member 96 and pro- Warrnambool. vides some useful additions to Janette’s article. Mar: 1878 to Christina Mckenzie. J. ohn’s father David Brass was born in Children: Five. 1786 in Nether Garson, Northdyke, James Gorie Flett b. about 1860–1924. Sandwick and died in 1864 in Lee, Did you Mar: 1885 to Elizabeth Jane Arthur. Quholm,Stromness. He is buried in Children: Seven. know Sandwick churchyard and descendants of Jane Gorrie Flett b. about 1864–1938. his elder brother John still live in Nyal, The Mary Celeste, Mar: 1890 to William Anderson. boarded by William Northdyke.John’s mother Jennet Garson Children: ? Leask in December was probably the daughter of David 1872, was what is Henry Flett b. about 1865–1936 Garson of Velquoyin Sandwick. Des- known as a ‘half brig’ Mar: ? cendants of David’s eldest son George still and although no Frances Flett b. 1870 d.1960. illustrations exist of her live in Huan in Northdyke. she would have been Mar: ? similar to the above Charles Flett b. 1873 d. 1942 drawing. She was built in Nova Scotia and launched in 1860. Her original name was ‘Amazon’ and she was 103ft long with a displacement of 280 tons. The ‘Amazon’ did not appear to be a very lucky ship as she was involved in several accidents at sea and passed through various owners. Eventually the vessel turned up at a salvage auction in New York where she was purchased for $3000. After extensive repairs she was put under American registry and renamed the ‘Mary Celeste’. Her new captain was William Briggs a 37 year old man with three previous commands. He sailed from New York on the 7th November 1872 together with his wife, young daughter and a crew of eight. They were bound for Genoa in Italy with a cargo of 1700 barrels of raw alcohol. The Leasks of Algath continued from Page 16 Just one month later of the sail which he always won. He died in 1902 at William Leask boarded Leask went with the boat’s crew to board the the age of 52. the vessel which was in ship which was deserted and adrift The ‘City of Sir David Bore first went to sea as an apprentice first class condition Florence’ could not spare enough mento take with the cargo intact on the ‘City of Florence’ and his book ‘The and the sails set to charge of the ‘Marie Celeste’ so she was left to be Brassbounder’ contains an account of this first voy- catch the wind coming picked up later by the ‘Dia Gratia’. Leask took the age.many of the incidents are actual facts. over the starboard captain’s sextant back with him as proof that he James Thomas Smith Leask was another of quarter. The ship, had been aboard. Captain Leask was a man of Coldomo.He studied law and for many years he however, was deserted. great physical strength and once when he was in There was no sign of carried on a practice at Largs,Ayrshire. Through life and the captain, his San Francisco he broke the wrist of a pickpocket all his life, he was a keen collector of local history family and crew were who attempted to steal his watch. He used to and tradition of which he published a collection never heard of again. challenge the apprentices to race up the leech entitled ‘A Peculiar People and other Orkney Tales. Issue No33 March 05 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORYSOCIETY 19

Did you Another Aussie know In 1383 the control of Kirkwall was divided be- hunting for their tween two men; Earl Henry St Clair and the Bishop of Moray. Heddle ancestors The ‘Laverock’ was church land under the Can you help Barbara Reeves find her Heddles control of the Bishop from Stromness before she arrives in Orkney in July? while the Burgh was ad- ministered by the Earl. an anyone out there help this Heddle William’s stone? The boundary separating who is a G-G-G Grandson of William I have discovered that William and the two was the Kirk Heddle 1787-1849? Euphemia were married ‘by dispatch’ by the Green and a tradition C surving from that time is My name is Barbara Reeves from Rev. Mr. Wm. Muir Clouston (transcript from the Ba’. Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, OPR by Genfindit)—whatever ‘dispatch’ meant. The Ba’ is an incredible member #1034 of the OFHS.While I am not game of street football the son mentioned above,I am his wife and William & Euphemia had 12 children of which takes place every the family ‘gene’, giving me the right to use whom 9 survived. They were all born in Christmas and New Year the possessive pronouns,‘my’ and ‘our’ when Stromness and those that married were also between the Uppies; the talking about this family. married in Stromness. The surviving child- Bishop’s men, and the My researching has led me to many an ren were Doonies; the King’s men. hour spent on the internet, visiting Orkney, Margaret Heddle b.4 Jul1813 There are no written rules, and many an Australian dollar spent on William Heddle b. 20 Jun 1815 no limit to the number of books that may just mention our William John Leask Heddle b.28 Sept 1816. m. players; certainly in the hundreds, and no pro- Heddle. Janet Isbister 6 Dec 1838 Betty Heddle b.19 Jul 1818 tective clothing or head- We are travelling to Orkney in early July gear. Brute force and 2005, for about 2 days. (I wish at least one Euphemia Heddle b.4 Apr 1821 cunning are the order of week but that just won’t happen). Two days Janet (Jessie Heddle b.15 Feb1823 d. the day but surprisingly will mean I can only have a tiny taste of the Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. 1905 serious injuries are place, with no research time possible. But I m. James Dick (1819-1888) on 19 Jul 1847 uncommon. Prior to the will at least be able to visit your library. Mary Heddle b. 23 Apr 1824 game Kirkwall looks like a I have e-mailed a Mr David Jones who Ann Wylie Heddle b. 9 Feb 1828 m. city under siege with all contacted me earlier this year to say he is Thomas Russell 5 Mar 1855 buildings on the route of the present owner of part of the ‘homestead’ Hugh Leask Heddle b. 9 Jul 1829 play being shuttered and barricaded—in fact when known as ‘Quildon’, in Stromness.(The Now I have many references to father William in historical references, as he was building work is under- name ‘Quildon” has been used in Australia taken in that area fixings ever since by someone in the family.) I am seemingly a wealthy man, making his money are included in the plans hoping to spend some time at this property from “straw manufacturing’. When he died in to accept the Ba’ bar- to feel our history, 1849 he left a fascinating will; it details ricades.The Ba’, beaut- The purpose of contacting the ‘newsletter’ everything in the household, including all ifully crafted in leather, is is to try to connect with anyone who can the books (only two–both bibles). The only thrown up at the Mercat help me discover more about the history of thing he did not name in the will for me was Cross, opposite the this branch of the Heddles. the name of his parents.William emphasises Cathedral, to land amid So please, if anyone has anything, even that the money or lands left to his daughters the jostling players. Spectators are in a con- the tiniest snippet of information they can was never to pass to their respective husbands; the girls were always to have vivial mood and shout out share with me, you will find my contacts at encouragement while the end of the article.I would love to have control. What a clever man! passing round bottles to as much of the family history as possible The first son was heir to the larger property. ‘keep the cold out’. before we make the trip so that we can He was born in 1815 and I believe died in 1860. The Doonies goal is the totally immerse ourselves for our short time If so his will is in scottish documents.com too.A harbour where the ball in Orkney. kind member of OFHS sent me the census must be immersed in sea Now the information I have managed to returns for Stromness for 1821 showing all the water often accompanied unearth is as follows: Heddles living in Stromness at that time and I by some of the players William Heddle was born on the 27th have deduced that father William’s (born 1788) too. The Uppies goal is at the opposite end of the April 1787 at ‘Quildon” Stromness. He died parents were a Magnus Heddle and Janet Flett. If this is correct there was also a town. At the end of the on the 14th May 1849 and is buried in game, which could be in Stromness Kirkyard (page 1 of ‘Kirkyards of brother–Thomas Heddle who was born in 1789. darkness six hours later, Stromness & Graemsay’. (IGI) the “man of the match’ is Now William married Euphemia Leask, Of Euphemia Leask’s family I know even presented with the Ba’– also of Stromness and she was born on the less and what little I have has been gained an honour that is prized 4th October 1791 and died on the 10th April from IGI and other internet sites. beyond measure. 1872. I wonder why she is not listed on Turn to page 20 20 INEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORYSOCIETY Issue No33 March 05

continued from Page 19 died without patching up the quarrel. It is Euphemia’s parents were,I believe,John from the son, William Heddle Dick that my Leask b. 29 Jul 1789 at Orphir, and family is descended. Margaret Sinclair b. 19 Feb 1766 also at This about sums up my knowledge of my Orphir. I have been unable to find them a Heddles.I know nothing about Janet’s eight family although I believe Margaret’s parents siblings although I have made contact with might be a Peter and Margaret Sinclair who descendants of Betty Heddle and Ann Wylie. were married in Orphir on 26 Mar 1765. Sad to say they have no more of their history Now my connection with the Heddles than I have of William Heddle. What is the starts with William & Euphemia’s daughter significance of Wylie in her name,I wonder.I Ludwig von Reuter Janet (Jessie) Heddle who married James have discovered that she married Rev Dick on 19 Jul 1847. James was a minister of Thomas Russell, who was the son of a Rev Did you Busby United Secession Church for 16 years John Russell from Glasgow, but again the know before he was demitted as a result of an trail comes to an end. I only hope I can pick ‘indiscretion’. Lucky for us he decided to it up again in Orkney so if anyone can help that four battle ships me with any information before my visit I’ll and four light cruisers move his family,Jessie, their three be on top of the world–or if you are reading from the Imperial daughters and son William, to Ballarat in this in Orkney, from where you are sitting, German Navy still lie at Victoria, Australia in 1862. Sadly, one of the I’ll be on the bottom of the world. the bottom of Scapa daughters died aged 13 but the other two Flow. girls became quite famous for their part in You can reach me by snailmail or hotmail Originally 74 ships lay setting up girls’ colleges in Ballarat. As can at the following: Mrs Barbara Reeves,PO at anchor in the flow, happen in families,James had fallen out Box 4369, Darwin, NT Australia 0801 or commanded by Admiral with his son at some point and unfortunately e-mail me at [email protected] Ludwig Von Reuter and interned there by the British after the armistice of 1918. These ships, Wir Robbie’s Night oot undefeated in battle, were held hostage while governments Allan Taylor, Member #1055, tells how Robbie lost his faither’s spade continued to squabble over the armistice id wis that aafil dry summer in the bratto at the same time. She hid jist feenised terms. These terms grimleens one evening that Robbie o’ cleanin oot the pigsty tae mack hid reddy for were so harsh that Von HNorthoose wis thinkin tae slip aaf tae anither peedie grise, By this time she wis Reuter fully expected see peedie Babbie o’ Windywaas but his auld upon Robbie an’ throwin wet divots; aal tell hostilities to resume. mither jaloused hid an says tae him “beuy thee she wid made a grand cricketer bit When he read a tak thee faither’s spade an’ gae that ditch Harray only hid a football team an’ widnae misleading report in the atween us an Mary Ann a dight oot so wir tak weemin in hid. Times of London he twa kye can git a peerie air o’ water, fir no By that time she hid filled Robbie’s lug wi resolved to scuttle the way this is aafil haet wather an thir gutter an caad him for every saft fleet to prevent it being just sugglan in gutter an’ no gappis she could lay her tongue taken over by the Royal muckle else. on. Navy. He waited until So Robbie put on his new So haevin the spade at Mary the British Fleet were gansey an’ grabban his kep he Ann, Robbie ran fur hame tryan off on exercises and on made fur oot but his mither tae tae luk clean afore his the 21st June 1919 he yelled efter him “Beuy pit mither saw him, but she had gave the order that sent on thee graffit an preen hid heard the on gaans an’ Mary most of the fleet to the aboot thee neck fur hids Ann yellin at Robbie fae the bottom of Scapa Flow. comin doon that thick wey the stert. Nine German seamen nite again and thoo’s been gan “Whars thee faithers spade” lost their lives—the last aboot hostan aal day.” said his mother, “Thou kens he casualties of WW1. In So takin his auld graffit aaf the bowt hid fae a roop in later years many of nail ahint the ooter door, grabbin Stonniehill fur one an’ six twa these ships were the spade oot o’ the ubbie end, an’ year afore he left us. God bliss salvaged by Earnest pittan hid under his oxter, aaf he him an Lord help thee if hids lost. Cox who until then had set across the park in front o’ the Git in an’ clean thee sell up, fur thoo never salvaged a ship in hoose. He wisnae weel start tae the smells like some ain that’s been in a quackoo his life but that, as they ditch that ran atween them an’ Scothoose hole.” say, is another story. when he heard a fearfil roar, “Whits this An whit wis said when she got him in, or if The remaining eight thour daein, stealan me aer o’ watter.” This he fund his faither’s auld spade I never heard, draw divers from all was Mary Ann the neebor wife makin across but aal baet Robbie’s mither‘ll no be keepin hid over the world her park as queek as hir peedie fat legs wid tae hirsel fur long, fur she’s just got that kind caerry her, an’ rubbin her hands in her o’ auld wife wey a tongue that wid clip cloot. Issue No33 March 05 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORYSOCIETY 21 The Orkney Wedding and the cog that gets it into top gear

f there is one thing that By John Sinclair The Bride’s Cog distinguishes an Orkney At one time a number of Iwedding from other wedd- Member No 588 cogs featured at an Orkney ings it is the ‘Bride’s Cog’. This wedding but thankfully this is together with the ‘Blackening,’ is now generally limited to one about all that remains of the ela- cog—the bride’s. borate rituals that once took place. The cog is a round,tapering, The old conventions tub-shaped vessel, beautifully First there was the ‘Speirin’ crafted from wood formed into when the young man armed with a staves and bound with metal hoops. bottle of falling down liquid Two or three handles facilitate approached his beloved’s father to ask for carrying and drinking. her hand. If the night went well the bottle The reception ritual was broached and the cork thrown away It is part of the reception ritual along while the discussions took place. with the ‘Grand March’; itself an Between this and the actual ceremony interpretation of the old ‘Wedding Walk.’ The there was much to be considered; day of the bride drinks first from the cog and it is then week, month of the year and the phases of passed in a clockwise direction round the the moon; washing and eating rituals, dogs guests, being replenished as often as needs to be locked up and a variety of other rites be, as needs be, as needs be etc. which took place just before, during and Replenished with what you may ask. Well after the ceremony. like Coca Cola or Scotland’s other national Now most of these customs are things of drink (Barr’s Iron Brew) the recipies in the past except for the ‘Blackening’ and ‘The many cases are family secrets. Unlike these Bride’s Cog’. drinks however the ingredients can vary and The Blackening the following would be most acceptable. The Blackening takes place prior to the Do not try this at home wedding day which is just as well as it 2 Bottles of Whisky, 2 Bottles of Brandy, 2 involves the prospective groom being Bottles of Rum, 1 or 2 bottles of Port, 1 Bottle stripped and covered from head to toe in a of Gin, 10 litres or so of Beer ( if Orkney mixture of molasses, flour and feathers. He is home brew reduce to 8 litres), 1 litre of Stout, then paraded through the town in an open Sugar and a mixture of spices. lorry together with his ‘friends’ who bang Method drums and the sides of the lorry making as Pour the beer and stout into a large pot. much noise as possible. All this while When warm add the sugar and then the consuming prodigious amounts of strong spirits. Do not under any circumstances let drink. Tourists gaze in open-mouthed boil or you will lose the alcohol and defeat amazement, fortunately not fully the whole purpose of the exercise. Add the understanding the ripostes between the spices and serve while still warm. entourage and the locals as the vehicle Precautions thunders past. Originally a male convention Past experience warns one to stay away it is now being hijacked by the female of the from the preparation of the mixture as species as more and more young women frequent tastings are required and various participate in an almost identical event. opinions sought as to the efficacy of the What’s it all about? Who knows; informed brew.To the uninitiated this can lead opinion is that noise was required to frighten rapidly to total oblivion and result in the away the evil spirits who might have put a unfortunate victim missing not only the spoke in the nuptials. wedding but most of the following day as Certainly spirits of one kind or another well—and that would be a great pity for feature largely in the ritual. And speaking of the Orkney wedding is a most enjoyable spirits tleads us neatly to the ‘Bride’s Cog.’ and memorable affair. 22 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORYSOCIETY Issue No33 March 05

Orkney’s sons Sir Robert Strange Our thanks to Ian & Betty Cameron for bringing this ‘son’ to our attention. Come on readers you must know more. The name nown as the father of line engraving, each (about $1.75 us). Smellie and Robert Strange was born on the He left Edinburgh for London where he Kmainland of Orkney on July 14th married his long-time sweetheart Miss its variants 1721. His father was Sir David Strange, or Lumisden, a sister of Andrew Lumisden, a The name is of Strang who had settled in Orkney at the Jacobite of some eminence.From London he time of the Reformation. Robert enjoyed a Scottish origin and moved to Paris where he studied under Le classsical education at Kirkwall under Mr Bas who taught him the art of the dry point arrived in Northern Murdoch Mackenzie a teacher who also pro- needle, a technique in which he subsequently Ireland in the early duced accurate surveys of the Orkney excelled. part of the Islands aandthe British and Irish coasts. He returned to London for a while but seventeenth century Robert Strange studied law for a time and eventually moved to Italy in 1760, where he during the Plantation also applied himself to the sea before making was held in high esteem, becoming a member of Ulster. Letterkenny, art his profession. A friend showed his work of the academies of Rome, Florence, Bologna Co. Tyrone, Co. Down to an Edinburgh engraver who recognising and France. Strange was the only Scottish or and the Larne areas all the young man’s potential and took him on indeed British engraver whose portrait was saw settlements of the as an apprentice. His progress was rapid and painted on the ceiling of the Vatican print name. Other variations he was soon working for himself. One of his room. of spelling include early works was a portrait of Bonnie Prince Apart from the engravings he produced in Smylie, Smilie and Charlie who’s cause Strange supported. He Italy he also made drawings of many famous also etched plates for a banknote designed paintings using coloured crayons (an Smyley. On the for the payment of the Jacobite army whose invention of his own). From these he sub- Scottish side the name ranks he was soon to join. sequently produced some fifty engravings. was native to With the defeat of the Prince’s cause In 1787 he engraved West’s Apotheosis of Lanarkshire and Strange took refuge in the Highlands until the Prince Octavious and Alfred and was probably a variant of things quietened down and he could return rewarded with a knighthood. the name Smellie. Like to Edinburgh where he supported himself by He died in 1792 leaving behind a wife, a most names, Smiley drawing portraits of the Jacobite leaders. daughter and three sons. His remains are may have referred to These he sold to sympathisers at a guinea interred in Covent Garden Churchyard. the place a man came from and been changed through the years to it’s present Are there any descendants of the Smellies in Orkney? form. This could have pointed to Smalley in was interested to read your comment on otherwise, that the name should be pronounced just the way it was spelled. Derbyshire, Smeley in page 19 of the Dec SibFolk News regarding the name Smellie. There was Another son emigrated to British Guiana Essex or even the Ionly one family of Smellies, ever, in Orkney, (now Guyana) and descendants spread French place name of headed by my great-great-great grandfather, around the world, including back to the UK Semilly. The earliest Rev.James Smellie of St Andrews parish. Of (England) and from there to Australia. This occurance of the name the 18 children that he and Margaret Spence one branch in Australia has changed its appears to be in had, 11 died unmarried in Orkney. name about 40 years ago to “Smiley”. Glasgow in 1283 when The only surviving daughter Lucia Traill Another son (my ancestor) went to Oliver and Richard Smellie, left Orkney after the death of her Hudson Bay and then back to Scotland Smally were father in 1852 and lived another 35 years, (Wick). After a couple more generations in landowners in the unmarried, in Edinburgh. I don’t know how Scotland, all surviving remnants of this line town. she pronounced the name. have spent the last 3 generations in Canada. I can find no Smellies Two sons gradually worked their ways All of these pronounce the name as Smellie. south as ministers, finally ending in To the best of my knowledge, with the one in Orkney and only Australian exception mentioned above, none three listed in the Edinburgh. One had no children and the other had at least two generations of of this family has changed either the Highlands & Islands offspring, but contact with this branch has spelling or the pronunciation of the name. telephone directory been lost. I don’t know how either of these And back in Lanarkshire where the family which covers the branches pronounced the name. came from I understand that it is also north of Scotland from Two sons emigrated to Canada and pronounced as spelled. a line stretching descendants abound there to this day. One I would be interested in learning if roughly from Oban to of these, early in the 20th Century, was readers have any other information which Nairn. noted for loudly disclaiming, whenever might lead me to more information about Editor. anyone sought to pronounce the name my family.Ken Harrison, Member No 108 Issue No33 March 05 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORYSOCIETY 23 Can you link Heather Taylor to the Shapinsay Irvings? eather Taylor, member No 1103 was who married THORA. interested to read the Washington HROLLAUG, who became a chieftain in HIrving article in our last newsletter as Iceland and an ancestor of THORA she is currently researching her family—the aforementioned. Drevers of Shapinsay. Helen believes that EARL ERLAND and THORA were the there is a connection between the Drevers and parents of the EARL ST MAGNUS. the Irvings and would welcome any inform- After the death of EARL ERLAND, THORA ation our readers may have on the subject. married SIGURD (earl's Kinsman) and Heather also sent the following document became an ancestress of EDANE of Paplay in which she came across, the source of which is a Holm, Orkney.. EDANE was the chief heiress mystery. There are gaps, but even allowing for of the old PAPLAY family (See Storer this it certainly gives the Irvings some Clouston's 'History of Orkney' page 256). She impressive antecedents. married CRISTE IRVING of Sebay, Tankerness,Orkney. Their grandson Irving connection. MAGNUS, became head os the Shapinsay American author, Washington Irving, whose IRVINGS and was living in that island in father was a native of Shapinsay,Orkney, was 1608. A later MAGNUS IRVING the related to the Drevers. It is accordingly grandfather of WASHINGTON IRVING interesting to look into his ancestry, since it married CATHERINE WILLIAMSON and appears he had some ancestors from whom, it their son WILLIAM born in 1731, was is understood, Queen Elizabeth II of Britain ( WASHINGTON'S father—see Edinburgh this sentence incomplete but probably reads Evening News of 1st December, 1962. It is 'is descended'). probable, indeed likely, that the relationship Rognvald Eysteinson, Earl of More, Norway, with the DREVERS originated from had inter alia the three sons mentioned:- CATHERINE WILLIAMSON, but even so, ROLF, who became Duke of Normandy and the relationship is notable, particularly Phew! Another ancestor of William the Conqueror from having regard to the ancestry of the magazine whom (this part missing) can trace descent. IRVINGS. completed. TORF EINAR who became Earl of Orkney, End of document. Twenty-four pages and an ancestor of ERLAND, Earl of Orkney, Heather Taylor this time so grateful thanks to SUBMISSIONS for JUNE NEWSLETTER by the 18th APRIL PLEASE all who have contributed and Your newsletter depends on a constant flow of articles, sending JPEGs they should be saved at the highest made this possible. long and short, from members. Twenty to twentyfour quality, largest setting or at highest resolution–240- But what about all pages requires around 17,000 words, even allowing 300dps the other members for pictures and headings. LINEART or BLACK & WHITE IMAGES out there.I would LENGTH These should be scanned at a minimum of 600dpi. be delighted if you Submissions can run over one or two pages or if lon- VECTOR GRAPHICS could help me ger can be serialised. Generally about 750 words make Can be sent as EPS files with any text converted to reach twenty-four up a page and this allows for the inclusion of a picture. curves or paths. pages again for Shorter submissions are welcome too; even a PHOTOCOPIES our June issue. paragraph can fill a corner. These are not suitable and cannot be used. DID YOU KNOW Right now I am IF YOUWISHMATERIAL RETURNED PLEASE INCUDE A sitting with an These fit well into the narrow columns on each page. STAMPED ADDRESSED ENVELOPE LETTERS Please address all submissions to:- almost empty file I would still like to establish a letters page so this is The Editor, Orkney Family History Society Newsletter, so it’s over to you. something to keep in mind. Orkney Library & Archive, 44 Junction Rd. Kirkwall. You’ve got lots of SUBMISSIONS KW15 1A. time—I don’t need If possible please type your article,‘Word’ is fine and E-mails and attachments can be sent directly to the your contribution send on floppy, disc or as an e-mail attachment. If editor at [email protected]. until 18th April. possible let me have a hard copy in case I cannot open VIEWS EXPRESSED Ed. your attachment. Remember hand typed submissions Views expressed in contributions are those of the have to be retyped and may be delayed. author and not necessarily those of the Society. PHOTOGRAPHS The editor reserves the right to amend any copy If possible please provide an original image ( but not submitted. your only copy). If you want to provide scanned Members should ensure that any material submitted material, pictures should be scanned as greyscale. does not infringe any copyright. 300dpi images. Do not send 72 or 96 dpi JPEG files. If I hope this is helpful. Ed. The Orkney Family History Society rkney Family History Society was formed embership of the Society runs from 1st in 1997 and is run by a committee of March to 28th/29th February and Ovolunteers. Msubscriptions should be renewed during It is similar to societies operating worldwide the month of March. All subscriptions should be where members share a mutual interest in family sent to the Treasurer at the OFHS address below. history and help each other with research and, New members joining before the 1st December from time to time assist in special projects con- will receive back copies of the three magazines for cerning the countless records and subjects the current year.From 1st December new members available to us all in finding our roots. will receive membership for the remainder of the The main objectives are: current year, plus the following year, but will not 1. To establish a local organisation for the receive the back copies of the magazine. study, collection, analysis and sharing of The present subscription rates are as follows: information about individuals and families in ORDINARY Orkney Family membership £10.00 2. To establish and maintain links with other family history groups and genealogical societies FAMILY MEMBERSHIP throughout the UK and overseas Spouse, Partner and Children under 18 £15.00 3. To establish and maintain a library and other SENIOR CITIZENS reference facilities as an information resource for Single or couple £7.00 members and approved subscribers. 4. To promote study projects and special OVERSEAS interest groups to pursue approved assignments. Surface Mail £12.50 We are located on the upper floor of the the new OVERSEAS Kirkwall Library adjacent to the archives Air Mail £15.00 department. Our own library, though small at the moment, Overseas members should pay their fees in holds a variety of information including: sterling or its equivalent. If it is not possible to The IGI for Orkney on microfiche. send pounds sterling please check the exchange The Old Parish Records on microfilm. rate. Our bank will accept overseas cheques The Census Returns on microfilm transcribed without charging commission. Receipts will be on to a computer database. issued with the next magazine.Members residing Family Trees. in the United Kingdom may pay their Emigration and Debtors lists. subscriptions by Bankers Order and if they wish Letters, Articles and stories concerning Orkney can have their subscriptions treated as gift and its people. donations.Forms will be sent on request. Hudson Bay Company information. Cheques should be made payable to: Graveyard Surveys (long term project) ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY This material is available to members for ‘in and forwarded to house’ research by arrangement. Locally we have monthly Members Evenings ORKNEY FAMILYHISTORY SOCIETY with a guest speaker. Orkney Library & Archive We produce a booklet of members and interests 44 Junction Rd, Kirkwall, Orkney KW15 1AG to allow members with similar interests to General enquires should be addressed to the office in writing or correspond with each other if they wish. to Gen. Secy. Mrs Gillian Mooney (e-mail [email protected]) We also produce a newsletter 4 times a year Treasurer. Mr George Gray (e-mail [email protected]) and are always looking for articles and Research Secy. Adrianne Leask (e-mail [email protected]) photographs of interest. A stamped addressed Editor. John Sinclair (e-mail [email protected]) envelope should be included if these are to be returned. Back copies of the magazine can be Articles in the newsletter are copyright to the Society and purchased at £1 per copy. its authors and may not be reproduced without permiss- We can usually undertake research for ion of the editor. The Society is a registered charity in Scotland and a member of the Scottish Association of members who live outwith Orkney but this is Family History Societies.The Society’s newsletter,Sib dependent on the willingness of our island mem- Folk News is registered with the British Library under bers giving up their spare time to help. the serial number ISSN 1368-3950. subscriptions etc MEMBERSHIP