Sib Folk News Issue 17 March 2001

Contents

Rage V 2 From the Chairman uke ^ and the Editor

3 Correspondence

5 The Skail Proof

6 Kirkyard Puzzle

7 's Gravestones etherhouse, a deserted group of houses in from a line and wash 10 Web News drawing by the Editor. At one time Netherhouse was the home of a num- Nber of families. The scene would have been one of small children play- 12 Secretary1 s Report ing, older children helping parents, carrying water, feeding the hens, bring in the 14 Bob Flaws Interview 'kye' (cattle) for milking and men walking their horses to the fields to work. 16 Genetics, Genealogy and History

19 Visit toWa r Cemetery

The Newsletter of the Orkney Family History Society If any of our members from out Prom the In S F N No 1 5 we had a letter of Orkney would like to be at a from the said Robert Marwick meeting of the 0 F H S then plan Chairman encouraging us to get our re- to be there on the second Thurs- search into print. He has set us day in the month except June hope you all enjoyed Sib all a good example! His sugges- August and December. In June Folk News No. 16. With its tion to have small bits of re- the annual outing is on Saturday I24 pages it was our biggest search printed in S F N could be or Sunday, in August the Sun- production so far and we posted helpful to both readers and re- day after the County Show we nearly 500 of them. A big thank searchers alike. I hear that at are at the Vintage Rally and you to all who contributed the moment another there is no meeting in August. items and another to our editor man is writing his memories of who had the daunting task of life in Rousay. What about I close with best wishes to you putting it all together before other parishes? all and thank you for your con- Christmas. I'm sorry you did tinued support of the society. not see the journal until after At the January meeting member Christmas but we shall try to be AJistair Tulloch spoke about the Scott more prompt in future. As we Orkney Vintage Club and he has had put extra forms into a lot of promised to give a talk on the the envelopes it meant extra parish of Firth at a later date. From the Editor work for the volunteers who had Some of that may appear in to weigh the different categories print in the future. At the same reetings to all OFHS and stamp them accordingly. meeting Sandy Firth gave an members, especially to Now that we are settled in our interesting history of the build- Gnew members receiving new office our mailing system ing we now occupy, and its sur- their first SFN. I hope that you should improve. roundings. He explained that will find the newsletter of inter- the Stryndwas the Strand remi- est and that you will be encour- S F N No 16 had lots of Westray niscent of when the shore came aged to publish some of your interests in it and that was fine up to the Castle and the Cathe- own research or to submit a but I am a Westray lass who dral. To me the Strynd had just query. Many members receive has become interested in the is- been a lane with Louie's tuck answers to their queries and es- land of Rousay. I think it shop at one end and Nicholson's tablish many correspondents started with that lovely day in cream cookies at the other! As a world wide. . June 1997 when 0 F H S got founder member of Orkney such a well-conducted and Heritage Society, Sandy has I have included several extracts stimulating tour of the island I played a big part in preserving from Eastman's Genealogical was back there this last summer old buildings in Orkney. At the Newsletter in this issue. Many and took friends over the same end of Alistair's talk he deliv- members are computer users route but had more time to stop ered a very quotable quote when and there is so much informa- and see the sites on the way. he said that our three groups tion 'out there1 that it is easy to Before rejoining the ferry 1 left were, "Looking after the future be unaware of what is available. my footsore companions in the of Orkney's Past" There is also reference to the car and explored the grounds of Newspaper Library catalogue on House. The gardens In March we are planning to put page 13. The National Archives are overgrown now but would on a public relations exercise in of unveiled their new have been interesting in their the Supper Room of the Town Website in November at day. It was sad to see the house Hall. In April we are meeting in www.nas.feov.uk Look it up to in its dilapidated state, but per- the Commander Hotel at 7 30 see what is available. Many haps not irreparable. I photo- p.m. when the speaker will be family history software pro- graphed some of its features, but William P M Thomson who will grams are becoming available as with three pairs of rather impa- give a presentation on Rousay. free downloads. One of these is tient eyes watching I didn't try Our AGM is to be held in the LEGACY 3 to see inside the building. Be- Supper Room on 10th May. Our To download it call up fore leaving Rousay I bought speaker on that occasion will be www.legacvfamilvtree.com Robert C. Marwick's book, "In Sheena Wenham who will de- Dreams We Moor". This liver the second part of her talk proved to be another guided tour on The Graham Hall Journey. but mostly in a different era.

Issue 17 February 2001 Sib Folk News 2 Correspondence

From: Roddy Simpson, Member man in Glasgow who receives the Sib Folk News. He also said that, like us, he has no idea how it was spelt but that folk probably didn't write it I wanted to let you know that I have been very much (hence it wouldn't necessarily have a spell- pleased with the responses to my article and have ing) - they would use their full name in writing. received some useful information. It has certainly Interesting! stimulated interest for my time in Orkney this summer. Unfortunately the publication of the arti- One more point Phil Pursley from USA (who cle has coincided with my change in e-mail ad- has a website including the Robert Leslie line that dress, although the published address should work I'm distantly related to) sent me a list of my side. until the end of March. My new address is as It states Ann Williamson died in in 1902. above. St Ola is near where she was on the I thought the photograph on the cover reproduced 1881 census but she later married in Glasgow and very well. I concentrate on fine monochrome I presume she died there. Is there any way I can prints and have a lot of images from Orkney. If check that death certificate? Were this particular you are ever looking for a photograph of a par- Ann's parents called Andrew Williamson and ticular area as an illustration, I would be happy to Helen Leslie? I think this information originally see if I had something you might want to con- came from Jim Wilson's files. sider. Best wishes Thanks again, Roddy Simpson Fiona from York

From: Margaret Elliott, Mem- From: Sheila Spence, Mem- Answers ber 544 ber 39 Concerning the letter from Fiona to the Pearson in Sib Folk News No 16 My husband Jack and I visited re the name Ceena, my father's Kirkwall in August last year aunt Seena Walls (nee Miller). 'Ceena' and met Nan and Jack Scott, She was born, lived and died in George Gray, Frank Eunson Kirkwall during the latter part of and others, who were so kind the 19th century and firet half of and helpful to us. I have left the 20th century and had been my Hewison Family Tree and christened Alexins Miller. copies of old letters at the office.

We have just received the Sib Folk News 16 and From: Alister Tulloch .Member 70 thoroughly enjoyed the contents. The Genealogi- cal Information from the "Skaili Proof 1843" in- Regarding your explanation of "Ceena" in SFN 16 terested me as it contained two Hewisons. Could for Fiona Pearson. My wife, Rosina, whilst work- anyone verily for me if Janet Hewison, b 1779 ing for a family was called "Sina" by them. Also had a brother Benjamin? I am descended from there was a shop owner in Victoria Street called GEORGE HEWISON, son of BENJAMIN and "Sina" Bain. Thorn Bain told me of a "Sina" MARGARET FOULIS, who married in Westray Cook, who, incidentally, lived very close to Sina cm 13th Nov. 1790. If so, who were the parents Bain's shop. and when was Benjamin bom? Also, is there a By the way, I would not like to see SFN change connection between the entry Margaret Hewison, from its present format b 1759 and Janet Hewison?

From: Fiona Pearson, Member 424 Recently I was reading a copy of Westray Roots 16, April 1992 and noticed on page 8: "The head of the Hewison Family according to the Please thank Sheila Spence if you are in touch 1841 census was William, merchant, aged 40. with her I also received this version of'Ceena as How could I find out who were his parents? an abbrev. of' Alexins' in a letter from a gentle-

SibFclKNeics Issue 17 February 2001 3 pie and dates as well as get some surnames of the various wives. Can anyone help? On my family tree there are listed the three children of Benjamin and Margaret; William, Lorraine Louttit Hilton, b Westray 13th October 1799; George, from 1504 Main St., whom 1 am descended, bom Kirkwall 5th Decem- Coventry, RI 02816-8441, ber 1803 and Jean, b Kirkwall 15th May 1808. Do USA, you think this William corresponds to the Pierow- all one? When was he bom? From: Mrs Jane Cromarty, Member 148

Having visited the Queen's Hotel when we were in I am trying to find any information on a John Cro- Kirkwall and enjoyed the delights of the Bucking- marty, son of John Cromarty (b 1765 , Ork- ham Restaurant, I have redoubled my efforts to ney) who married Catherine Corrigal (b 1778) in learn more about the Hewison ownership of the 1806 in S Ronaldsay. They had the following four hotel from at least 1878 to about 1925, as far as I sons: James (b 1807, d 1835) William (b 1814, d know. If any reader can help me with the history 1875) Magnus (b 1816, d 1895) and Peter (b 1820). of the hotel, I would be grateful. The present own- I found the above family on the 1821 and 1841 ers are interested also. census records, but no mention of John on the OFRs or the death record of the father in 1855 Kind regards to you and all those good folk we where issue is listed (even the deceased James was met and those to whom I have corresponded. on it) but the will probate of the father includes a "son John". I am wondering if John was a son Margaret Elliott. from an earlier marriage or possibly an illegitimate 4/21 Bandon Street son raised by his mother and acknowledged by the Forbes. NSW. 2871 father in his will. Any information on any of the Australia above names would be greatly appreciated.

From: Ford & Lorraine Hilton ford8@home. com

RED), Barbara, b 1761, place unknown wife of David Louttit (b 1764, ). The IGI gives her parents as Robert Reid and Margaret Eun- son (b 7 Dec. 1739), m. 3 Nov. 1759, Kirkwall/St. Ola and Margaret's parents as David and Marg (?) Eunson of Kirkwall/St. Ola. David is given as b 1709 (w/ 2 different dates) in KirkwalL/St. Ola to James and Margaret Eunson who were m. 4 Jan. 1709, Kirkwal!/St.01a. Since the IGI is often suspect, I would like to verify these peo-

Issue I 7 February 2001 Sib Folk News 4 The Skaill Proof correspondence

From: Ken Harrison mcharrison@ Compuserve.com

"The Skaill Proof, 1843" was very interesting From: Jim Corse and informative. As you suggested in the intro- [email protected] duction, I, as a Traill descendant found it very useful. I have just received Sib Folk News No 16 and in the article Skaill Proof 1843 found the reference I would like to make a comment to assist mem- to Smith, Elizabeth age 63 b 1780 widow of Wil- bers in interpreting this document. Either the liam Corse. This must be my G.G.Grandfather Editor or the contributor added a note to the entry John's brother about whom I don't have much on page 12 for Jean Traill, stating, "Jean could information. This might be the lead that I need! not be a witness as she was dead. Perhaps it was Thank you for all your help. her mother who died in 1804/5". I'm afraid that this note may lead readers astray. See also note in CORRESPONDENCE by Margaret Elliot. Several of the Traills listed on this page were dead before 1843. Some were probably dead nearly 100 years or more before then. Please note that the introduction does not say that the persons listed were all witnesses in 1843.1 quote from that introduction: "The following list rec- ords genealogical information given by the wit- nesses during their statements." aak aak aak From: Tom Scott [email protected]

Sorry about the Jean Traill confusion. My notes said she was not a witness. She died in 1805 or maybe the year before. The information was given by Margaret Traill (Mrs. Simpson) wife of a minister in , but related to the Traills. Margaret gave quite a lot of infor- mation as did many of the witnesses. 1 will send to you a script of Margaret's notes when I write.

On a further reading of e-mail, yes, Ken Harrison is correct when he suggested all the genealogical information did not relate to witnesses Many witnesses related in- formation about their parents or others as they had heard them relate memories re- garding the Traill situation. How exten- sive this could be you will realise when I send you that of Margaret Traill.

Sib Folk News Issue 17 February 2001 5 In these cases the IGI records the basic data, More on the child's name, parents' names, date of christening and church, but FamilySearch often has all the Kirkyard Puzzle data that was originally recorded, possibly god- parents who may have been relatives, etc. When From: J.A.LANCASTER details are from family histories submitted by peo- [email protected] ple then these should be checked more carefully as some of us are not as careful as we should be I have just received SFN 16. Once again many about our sources. Family tradition on its own thanks for such an interesting publication. I really may be accepted as hard fact. The source of the enjoy reading it even though I have no Orcadian information is given (as a number) alongside the ancestors. entry in the IGI and you need to read the notes to sort it out The other point about these indexes is I have been following the notes about the Strom- that they only include those registers to which the ness Kirkyard Puzzle, and I enjoy reading mem- LDS has access, so if the church or chapel have bers* enquiries. not allowed transcription or filming of their regis- ters, then events at that church will not be in- Family historians in general owe a great deal to cluded. the work of the Mormon Church (LDS) and two of their efforts are mentioned. Fiona Pearson men- I feel it is very important to be precise and quote lions www.FamilySearch.org and Peter Russell which version of the IGI was used if people are to mentions the IGI. The LDS Family History Cen- be able to find the same information. Likewise ters also have information available on their com- with the 1881 Census, many of my friends simply puters. Some of these have information which is refer to finding their family in the 1881 Census not available on the other(s). Perhaps it is not re- without stating which version - the original (per- alised that these are only indexes, pointers, and so haps on film), the microfiche copy of the tran- it is worth looking where the information came script, or the CD copy of the transcript. In the CD from, and if possible checking that source. Be- transcript I found some LANC ASTERs living in cause they were prepared for the LDS religious Pilkington, Lanes, who were said to be born in purposes, they do not usually include deaths. The Bingley, Lanes, (Bingfey is a town in Yorkshire). other point is that the IGI have been available for So where should I look for birth certificates? many years and is in different editions. Births and When I looked at the film of the original, the peo- marriages have been removed as well as added in ple were born in Ringley which is the next town- later editions, as the compilers became aware of ship to Pilkington There are many other similar possible difficulties with accuracy. In general the occurrences which have occurred when the tran- best sources quoted are where the LDS have ex- scription has been done by people unfamiliar with tracted the details from published parish registers. the area.

SCOTTISH CENSUS RECORDS

Transcripts and Indexes to the Census Records of ORKNEY now available on microfiche, transcribed and edited by David Armstrong, (Member of the Western Australian and Ontario Genealogical Societies, and Orkney Family History Society). Parishes: 1821 Census: , , St Andrews, Sandwick, South Ronaldsay and Burray, Stromness. 1851 Census: , Deerness, & Pharay, Evie and , Firth and , , Holm & Paplay, and , Kirkwall & St Ola #, North Ronaldshay, Orphir, Rousay & Egilshay, St Andrew's, Sandwick, Sanday, Shapinshay, South Ronaldsay and Burray *, Stromness *, Stronsay, Walls and . Price: AS4.00 each or * AS4.50, # AS5.00 (incl. p & p). Discounts 10% on 5-9 sets, 20% on 10-24 sets. Agents: Aberdeen and North East Scotland Family History Society, Ontario Genealogical Society Email: [email protected] Please make payment to> D.S. Armstrong, P.O.Box 136, Maylands, Western Australia 6931.

Issue 1 7 February 2001 Sib Folk News 6 The references and sources quoted in the table are amplified below, but a few additional words of Orkney's explanation are necessary:

Gravestones Columns 1 and 2 are my understanding of the by different kirkyards in the various parishes. James Irvine Columns 3,4 and 5 list the approximate number [email protected] of legible stones recorded, and their earliest and latest dates. Several kirkyards have some older stones that were not legible when the earliest re- o date Monumental Inscriptions (as grave- cording was made, and some legible then that are stone data is technically known) have been no longer legible today. Trecorded for over thirty of Orkney's kirk- yards. I understand work is currently in progress Column 6 identifies the location and reference of in another three. I and other genealogists owe the listing for each kirkyard or, where I have found much gratitude to the contributions and hard work more than one listing, the most comprehensive. Foi of the many organisations and individuals in- each such listing, columns 7-10 note whether there volved. Apparently a further seven kirkyards is an accompanying plan, whether the listing is in- await similar efforts. dexed alphabetically, brief details where the listing! include either abbreviated transcriptions or are ac- Hitherto no comprehensive index of the listings of companied by sketches or photographs, and the these recordings has been made. This has reduced authors). the use that has been made of these efforts, and even to some duplication of effort. In the table Column 11 identifies the number of War Graves in opposite I have attempted a preliminary overview each kirkyard. Column 12 identifies additional of the main features of the listings for each kirk- listings and the approximate number of stones re- yard. In finding the data for this table I have been corded therein. Some of these are separate record- assisted by Phil Astley, Liz Johnston and Janice Sinclair, but any errors or omissions are mine; for ings, some simply transcripts. these I apologise in advance, and will welcome any corrections and additions.

OA Box Orkney Archives, Box (on open shelves) OA D Orkney Archives, Gfts and Deposits (on request) OA GRS Orkney Archives, Graveyard Recording Sheets (in volumes on open shelves) Stromness Stromness Parish Church, 1999: "The Kirkyards of Stroraness & Graemsay" War Graves Commonwealth War Graves Commission, 2000: "The War Dead of the Commonwealth: The Orkney Isles" (copy in St Magnus Cathedral) (A) Historic Monuments (Scotland) Commission, Orkney & Shetland VoL H, 1946 (B) OA Box 3/37 (D1/244, by J.Firth) (C) Johnston, Liz, 1994: "St.Magnus Cathedral Gravestones" (D) OA D16/1/11/4 (by W.Spencc) (E) In 12 sections (plan D66/I/11); in 6 notebooks; further notes in D66/1/12 (F) OA Box 3/28 (D1/176/2, by N.Hendiy; Section I only) (G) OA GRS (by S.Tariow) (H) Burial Register 1921-c 1966, alphabetical, by A.Thomson in OA D1/251/1 (I) wwwGemikiOKXRousay (by R. Ma-wick) (J) OA Dl/619 (by T.Gibson) (K) OA Box 2/21(+ plan) (L) OA Box 3/40 (+ planXby Linklater) (M) OA D1 /90/2 (by S WR1) (N) OA Box 3/27(D 1/176/2, by N.Hendry) (O) OA Box3/35 (+ plan & index, by SWRJ)

Sib Folk News Issue 17 February 2001 7 ORKNEY'S GRAVESTONES 1 2 5 3 4 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Parish Cemetery Legible stones Moat comprehensive listing War Additional listings no, from to ocation/reference plan index remarks author Graves Birsay St.Magnus 483 1790 date n church yes yes B.Harvey 6 Deecness in progress OIC SpProiect 1 Eday & Pharay Eday 450 1600 1995 OA Box 3/39 yes no names only.no dates 1 3 in (A) Evie & Rendall Evie 237 OA GRS no no OIC SpProject 1 Hinderayre, Rendall 141 OAGRS no photos OIC SpProject Firth & Stenness Firth in progress OFHS 1 Stenness 60 1792 1889 OA Box 2/18 yes yes abbreviated 2 H array Si.Michaels, Old 65 1804 1885 OA Box 1/11 no no 37 in (B) New Extended 6 Holm & Paplay 1617 4 6 in (A) Hoy & Graemsay Old Hoy 71 1625 OAGRS yes no photos M.Watters 1 2 in (A) Graemsay 42 1828 1995 Published yes yes Stromness 1

Kirkwall & Sl.Ola St, Magnus Cathedral 83 OA GRS no no sketches S.Tarlow 52 in (A); 62 in (C);c40in (D); - also in OA D66/1/10, /1/12 St.Magnus Graveyard 5888 c1885 OA D66/1/10 yes D1/251/2 A.Thomson see (E); 227 in (F); 1537 in (G)

St.Olaf Graveyard C1880 in progress OFHS 63 see(H)

North Ronaldsay Old 1800 1983 D1/202 yes yes D.M.Eaton 1 Orphir St.Nicholas 1642 1997 awaiting publication O.HeritageSoc 3 11n (A) Rousay & 112 1920 date OA Box 2122 yes no 1 also in (I); 2 in (A); some in (J) Corse, Wasbistef 94 1827 date OA Box 2/19 yes no _ also in (I) Scockness 68 1846 1938 OA Box 2/23 yes no 1 also in (I) St, Marys, Skaili.Westside 90 1825 1927 OAGRS no no S.Tarlow 1 also in (t); 77 in (K) Cbeppl9,Giebe,Knarston 30 1840 1943 OA Box 2/20 yes no _ also in (!) Egilsay 76 1848 1977 OA Box 2/24 yes no also in (I); 71 in (I) Wyre 53 1861 1975 www.Genuki .OK I .Rousay no no R.Marwick

St.Andrews 253 C17 C1920 OAGRS TO no S.Tarlow

Toab 1913 2 Sanday Lady Cross 1 - Burness 2 Sandwick St.Peler's 332 1623 1991 OA D1/2Q1 no no photos OIC SpProjed 3 1 in (A) summary J.Irvine

Shapinsay 622 C1640 1983 OAD1/90/1 yes yes S,Comm.Co 1 53 in (M) South Ronaldsay St.Peters, S. Ronaldsay 375 1645 1988 OAGRS no no K.Hogarth 7 5 in (A) & Burray St.Mary'6, Burray 27 1554 1850 OA Box2/17 no yes SWRI 3 2 in (A) Stromness 3 kirkyards 1868 1727 1997 Published yes yes Stromness 4 Slronsay St.Nichdas 65 1838 1937 OABox3/26 (D1/176/1) no yes N.Hendry 2 Lady 115 1788 1952 OABox3/26 (D1/176/1) no yes N.Hendry _ St. Peters 49 1825 1938 OA Box3/26 (D1/176/1) no yes N.Hendry Walls & Flotta St.John's, Melsetter 65 OAGRS yes no photos M. Waiters Ostnundwail, Longhope 305 1995 OAGRS yes no photos M.Watters 45 15 in (N) Flotta 267 OAGRS yes no photos M.Walters 10 223 Westray & Ladykirk, Pierowall 867 1994 OAGRS no no S.Tarlow 4 Papa Westrav St, Boniface, PW 316 OAGRS no no S.Tarlow 1 33 in (O) This program and associated data is freeware Computer User Section and may be used or passed on to, or, by anyone, providing all files are also included. This pro- Parish Locator for Windows gram and the associated data are copyright by the authors, and only the right to use the program is granted. All other rights including but not limited his is another extract from Eastman's On- to use of the database in other programs, any line Genealogical Newsletter which should commercial sale in any form, inclusion in any Tbe very useful for members searching for other work, and any use for profit are reserved to relatives outside Orkney. the authors. Any use other than for family history research by individuals must be authorized This week I experimented a bit with a recently in writing. updated program, called "Parish Locator." Nice The data has been prepared in the ongoing program. I was going to describe it here but found work on the Lawson One Name Study by Terry an excellent description that already exists within Lawson of the Sussex Family History Society; the program's built-in Help file: Gerald Lawson [email protected]) of the Yorkshire Archeological Society, Family History This program provides the ability to examine Section; Steve Archer the lists of parishes and other vital record-keeping (100142.2542@compuserve. com) entities in the UK and Ireland Records may be and myself, Arlyn Liddell. viewed in various orders, and subsets of the re- cords may be selected to focus interest according In making this utility freely available for indi- to your desires. The major subset selection is list- vidual use, it is hoped that many more family his- ing parishes within a specified distance of a base torians will gain the benefits of being able to parish. easily identify parishes that may have recorded information useful to their research. This routine was developed to assist in identify- ing records in England, Scotland, and Wales that Parish Locator is available online You can down- are available for Family History research. We load either a self-installing executable file or a have attempted to include all parishes and other ZIP file which you then must extract yourself us- entities that have kept vital records in a database ing WinZIP, PKZIP, or a similar ZIP program. If that can be searched by location as assistance to you don't already have a ZIP program, download anyone doing genealogical research in the UK. the self-installing executable file. Installation of The database includes the parish or entity name, Parish Locator was simple; it only took a minute the parish or entity type; the location by county, or so. country, and Ordnance Survey Reference; and the dates that records are known to be available. In effect, Parish Locator is a database, along with several tools to search, sort and organize that da- Unfortunately, there are many problems with tabase. You can easily find parishes and then also records, and records may not actually be available find neighbouring parishes. The program includes for the Ml period that is recorded in the database. a tool to select a particular parish and to display We have attempted to indicate both the earliest all date and the latest date that records are available. parishes within a certain distance from the Original sources for the records may be deter- selected parish. mined by reference to the online reference at Family History Library Catalog. This is the cata- Parish Locator contains parish listings for about log of genealogy references available at the Fam- 24,500 churches, including: ily History Library of the Church of Jesus Christ * Roman Catholic parishes of Latter-day Saints. The repositories of the origi- * Non-conformist (Protestant) parishes nal records are indicated in the notes for each re- * Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints cord entry in the catalog. parishes (stakes) * State Church parishes The routine will identify and display parishes in the UK that are within a specified distance of a It also contains listings for Civil Registration Dis- selected reference parish. It provides the capabil- tricts. ity to search by parish name or partial name. The Parish Locator program also supplies a bit of The user may also display a subset of the records history about parish records. The earliest parish according to entered criteria. records are those of the Church of England and

Issue 1 7 February 2001 Sib Folk News 10 MB— resulted from an order by Thomas Cromwell in 1538 that each parish should record every bap- Palmers Shipping Lists tism, marriage and burial. The system was stan- dardized in 1598, when entries were written in o you know the name of a vessel that books made of parchment; all earlier existing re- your ancestor sailed on to reach the cords were to be copied into the books King DUnited States? By finding more inforna- Henry VHI had severed connections between tion about that vessel, you might gain new in- England and the Roman Catholic Church in 1534, sights into your ancestor's travels. The Palmer which led to the formation of the Church of Eng- List of Merchant Vessels is an online database land. By 1662 Anglicanism secured its position as created by Michael P. Palmer. Wherever possi- the state church. Followers of all other denomina- ble, Palmer lists the name of vessel, its rigging, tions after this time were regarded as 'dissenters and its nationality. In a few cases there are pho- or nonconformists'. tographs available.

Civil registration of birth, marriage and death re- You can access the Palmer List of Merchant Ves- cords began in 1837 throughout England and sels online at: Wales, and in 1855 in Scotland Records prior to http://www.geocities.com/mppraetorius those years typically will be found only in parish records, hence the usefulness of this program.

Parish Locator is a free program. It requires Win- dows 95 or a later version of Windows and also (unctions properly on Windows NT and Windows 2000. The program is a large download at 6.3 megabytes. It can be downloaded from the GenUKI web site as a ZIP file at: http://www.genuki.orft.uk/big/parloc/ parishlocator.zip or as a self-installing executable file at: http://www.senuki.org.uk/big/parioc/ parishlocator.exe

Hie Immigrant Ships Transcribers Guild

he Immigrant Ships Transcribers Guild is From Jim Wilson: [email protected] one of the niftiest online collective efforts underway today. This group of volunteers T ecently I came across a website which I is dedicated to the task of making the search for thought would be of interest to 'Sib Folk'. our ancestors' immigration easier. The Guild is I certainly found it mildly addictive for a working to produce online ships' passenger lists. R short time. The GENS site (http://www.gens- Many people who are researching family trees us.net/map/genera.html) plots the number of peo- find it difficult to leave their homes to find this ple (or households,-1 am not exactly sure which information on microfilm. The Immigrant Ships records are used) in each state in the USA who Transcribers Guild is transcribing the lists into have a given surname. Of the common Orcadian online listings. surnames, both Flett and Rendall are present in all but 14 of the states. Even surnames which have There are tens of thousands of names, covering become very rare in Orkney can be relatively passenger lists from approximately 3,000 ships, common in the US, e.g. Folsteris found in 21 available today at the ISTG website. This collec- states. Other names that are extinct in Orkney tion will continue to grow for a long time yet. such as Corston and Turfus are also there (in 7 and 2 states, respectively), however neither Take a look at: http://i stg.rootsweb. com Knarston nor Skethaway are on record (although the former is extant in New Zealand). Of course there is no guarantee all are descendants of the Orcadian diaspora, but it is enough to tantalise.

Sib Folk News Issue 17 February 2001 11 Mrs Janice Sinclair received a letter from a family The OFHS Secretary wishing to pass their Tait' family bible on to any existing relatives in Orkney. Mrs Helen Manson Gillian Mooney's and Mrs Hazel Goar were connected to the Tait family and will investigate. Janice also brought a Report copy she had made of Margaret Traill's recipes from the early 1700's which the Archives Office thinks may be of particular interest. It was noted that the recipes were seemingly not for the 'ordinary' house- wife. It is hoped we may be able to sell these recipe books

Nan received a letter from the West Middlesex Fam- ily History Society to say that reading other Socie- ties' Journals was popular at their meetings but they didn't have one from Orkney. She suggested we send them our forms.

One of the evening's speakers, Mr Leslie Foubister, unfortunately had flu' and was unable to attend but he had completed Deerness graveyard details for the society, with extra notes, and they were now in the office but need a final check.

Nan then introduced Mr Alistair Tulloch, a leading light in the Vintage Club. Alistair explained that the he Orkney Family History Society's Open Club, which has risen from 18 members to over 320, Meeting was held on 11th January 2001 in was set up after enthusiasts realised that so much of Tthe Supper Room, Town Hall, Kirkwall at Orkney's ancient history was leaving the County i.e. 7.30pm. cars, tractors, motorbikes, farm machinery, house- hold items etc. The club holds 1 or 2 meetings The Chairman Mrs Nan Scott welcomed everyone every month when programmes include films, items to the well-attended meeting of over 40 members to display and talks on restoration. They organise and friends and explained that it was hoped to hold road runs to various places of local interest usually the next open meeting on 8th March 2001 as culminating in a bar-meal or barbecue and have weather conditions in February were often adverse. made trips to several of the smaller islands. They The March meeting would be on the same lines as enjoy evenings with 'knees-ups', 'family nights' with the "Homecoming" where members of the public quizzes and competitions and the farm museums at can call in for information or to get help with re- Kirbister and Corrigal provide the right atmosphere search. Also available will be the 1881 Census for for demonstrations on spinning, horse-shoeing, all of Britain and journals/newsletters from other straw coir nets for stacks, rope-making etc. There family history societies with the names and ad- are theme days with exhibitions of toys, wartime dresses of their secretaries. items, cameras and telephones and they've produced a book on the first 10 years of the club Nan attended a meeting in Edinburgh of the Scottish To date the club has raised money for charity Association of Family History Societies last No- amounting to £5000. The Family History Society is vember and felt that it would be worthwhile to send pleased to have twice had a stall at the annual Vin- a representative to their meetings which are held tage Club Rallies held at the Auction Mart at Hat- twice a year. A copy of the minutes of the Novem- ston. Both groups along with the Heritage Society ber meeting has been promised. Nan also apologised and the Collectors' Club help to keep up the interest for the late dispatch of our own Sib Folk News this in the . time.

Mr George Gray read a list of names he had been asked to research so that anyone present could offer information. George, as membership secretary, stated that some members would receive pedigree charts with their magazines and he would welcome their return when completed.

Issue 1 7 February 2001 Sib Folk News 12 An example of the Orkney dialect in common use in the islands

ne day when I came off the ferry at Wes- tray I was picked up by Mrs Foulis of OJericho. She was driving her son's car and she told me that her husband John's car had "geen a' smdrie". I knew exactly what she meant although it is a word I have never used, but I remember my An extract from Eastman's Online mother using it. "Sindrie" means to fall apart. As Genealogy Newsletter. it happened John was taking delivery on the same ferry as I had been on of a new car. ( at least new to him as he said) have visited this library in North London and read original copies (not microfiche copies) Sometimes the word can be used as the example of the Orcadian and Orkney Herald. I in the Orkney Dictionary " tae tak things sindrie" The Editor. or to take things apart. I suppose my mother used it when I was a boy because I was always taking The British Newspaper Library at Colindale now my toys apart ( and never putting them together has an online catalogue that is available to every- again). one on the World Wide Web. You can find details of the newspapers which have been published and which are held by the Newspaper Library. Note that this is a catalogue, not the actual articles. You can search by title, place or by date. The search will display a page listing all articles that match your criteria. You can then click on the articles referenced to view the catalogue reference num- bers and dates for each title. A. notes section gives further details, such as whether or not the article is available on microfiche.

The British Newspaper Library Catalog is avail- able at: http://prodi gj.bl.uk/ni cat/

My thanks to Geoff Riggs for letting me know about this valuable resource.

I wonder how many Orkney children know what "sindrie " means.

The Ed. Perhaps "sindrie" is derived from "asun- der".

Sib Folk News Issue 17 February 2001 13 to write at least one novel in my lifetime. One day, An Interview while vacationing in British Columbia, I bought a book on the Vikings by Magnus Magnusson in a sec- with ond hand bookstore, and it had a bunch of references to Orkney and the first Norse Orkney jarls. So I started Bob Flaws jotting notes for possible plot ideas. Then, six years ago or so, I got a job lecturing in Europe. I typically ob Flaws is an American descendant of lecture each year 2-3 weeks somewhere in Europe and S. Ronaldsay Flawses, Walls/Wallaces, my family and I then tack on a week or so for vaca- BChalmers, Budges, and Duncans. He is tion. That particular year, I asked my son Ian where also one of the best known English language he'd like to go. He was 11 or 12 at the time and he sur- authorities on acupuncture and Chinese medicine, prised my wife and I by suggesting we visit Orkney. having written translated, and/or edited over 100 books and scores of articles on all facets of Chi- FC: So you did? nese medicine. What is not so well known is BF: Yes, we did, and it was that Bob recently pub- really great. We had a won- lished a historical derful time. At the B&B we novel with Mind & stayed at in Kirkwall, the Memory Press titled owner called up Magnus Njall & The One-eyed Flaws from Wyre, the ferry Lord and set in 9th cen- boat skipper, and said he had tury Orkney The fol- an American Flaws who was lowing interview was looking to meet family. So conducted by Frank we went on Magnus's ferry Crawford, Mind & to Rousay and Wyre where Memory page and we had lunch with Magnus's cover designer, in - wife, Margaret, also bom a Boulder, CO. Flaws. According to Magnus and Margaret, all the FC: It was a lot of fun Flawses had originated on working on the cover South Ronaldsay. of Njall for you. How did you get interested FC: Did you go to there to in life in the ninth cen- follow up on any leads? tury Orkneys? BF: Unfortunately not. We already had nonrefundable BF: My family is from the Orkneys and I've al- plane reservations back to the U.S. and we couldn't fit ways known our name was Norse, not Scots. So a South Ronaldsay jaunt into our itinerary. even from when I was a little kid, I had a great interest in Vikings and such. I guess I inherited a FC: That must've been frustrating. strong pride in my Scottish and Orcadian heritage from both my father and grandfather. However, BF: In a way. But it was a lead. A year or so later, I when my father died 10 years ago, all I really discovered doing genealogy via the Internet, and I was knew was that my great grandfather's name was able to trace some of my other family connections here Robert Flaws and that he and my grandfather and there. But I still wasn't able to find out anything (Robert Wallace Flaws) had immigrated to more about the Orcadian side of my family. Then one Watertown, NY when my grandfather was a little day I was visiting my mother who lives in New Jersey boy. I knew we were from the Orkneys, but be- and went digging in her attic among my father's be- yond that I didn't know anything else. longings. There I found a clipping of my great grand- father's obituary saying that he had emigrated from St. FC: I remember you telling me that you had re- Margaret's Hope on South Ronaldsay. He had origi- searched Njall for several years before sitting nally come to New York in 1883 leaving his pregnant down to write it. wife, born Barbara Wallace, behind. Then, in 1886, he had come back to fetch Barbara and my grandfather as BF: I studied American literature in college with well as a sister who had married another Scots immi- the idea of becoming a novelist. As it turned out, grant. So that confirmed what Magnus had said, but I have mostly written technical non fiction. How- now I really was sorry that we had not been able to go ever, I had it in the back of my mind that I wanted to South Ronaldsay when we were in the Orkneys.

Issue 17 February 2001 Sib Polk News 14 Some time later, my mother sent me a newspaper Sinclair USA on the spot. The Sinclairs trace clipping from The New York Times about a B & B in their family descent down from the same Norse St. Margaret's Hope. So I wrote to the address asking in the Orkneyinga Saga Therefore, I had yet an- ^ if anyone there could help me in my genealogical re- other reason to focus my novel on Rognvald the ^ search. As I remember, I got a letter back from Helen Wise, Turf Einar, and the rest. (Bob chuckles.) Manson of Sillerdyke saying that the owner of the B Now I'm the Colorado-Wyoming Territorial & B had referred my request to her. Helen was ex- Commissioner for Clan Sinclair USA and editor tremely helpful and filled me in on the next couple of of the national newsletter, Yours Aye. generations back from my great grandfather. She also sent me some photos of St. Margaret's Hope and FC: In fact, I hear you're donating all the profits even a picture of John Flaws's clothing store from the from Njall to the Clan Sinclair Trust. late 1800 or early 1900s with various relatives stand- ing out front. Helen also turned me on to the Orkney BF: Yes, I had an opportunity to visit with Lord Family History Society. Between the OFHS, Walt Malcolm, Earl of Caithness, Chief of Clan Sin- Custer's excellent Orkney surnames Web site, re- clair, when he was in Colorado last year He's prints of the 19th century South Ronaldsay censuses, trying to establish a clan center, including a ge- and the great Orkney genealogical bulletin board at nealogical research center, in Caithness as well www.orkney.com. I now know quite a bit about my as prevent Girnigoe Castle from falling into the South Ronaldsay Orcadian family. In addition, I've sea. Since Clan Sinclair represents all Norse sur- met "cousins" from all over the U.S., Canada, and name Orcadians not otherwise members of any Australia. other clan, such as the Flawses, Fletts, Norquays, Rendalls, Rosies, Cursitters, and such, I have FC: Did your visit to the Orkneys further inspire you agreed to give any profits from Njall to the trust. to write a novel set there? FC: How can readers get a copy of Njall & The BF: Absolutely. When I was there, I jotted down lots One-eyed Lord? of notes about the weather, scenery, etc. I also bought a copy of the Orkneyinga Saga in a bookstore in BF: Anyone anywhere in the world can order a Kirkwall. This saga tells the story of the first Norse copy directly from jarls or earls of Orkney in the 9th - 12th centuries. It www.mindandmemorypress.com. The Orcadian is the main source for the history behind Njall. An- bookstore in Kirkwall is also going to be selling other summer, I got the opportunity to visit northern the book, and I'm still negotiating with Sinclair Norway where the Orkney jarls first came from, gath- Bay Trading Co. to become Njall's sole UK dis- ering more information and impressions. Another tributor. year we were in Copenhagen and I was able to do re- search at the state museum there on Vikings and their FC: Do you have any plans on visiting South life and times. Yet another year we went to Galway, Ronaldsay in the future? the Gall's, i.e., Viking's Way. Once I developed a basic plot line and some characters, I devoted 18 BF: Absolutely! I'm still trying to find a connec- months or more to reading everything I could find tion between the Robert Flaws who married about northern Europe, the Vikings, etc. during those Mary Arnot in July 1756 and the Donald Flaws times. who married Margaret Duncan

FC: Were there any other influences that prompted you to write about this particular place at this particu- lar time?

BF: Yes, there was one other major influence and that was my discovery of Clan Sinclair USA. Every Sep- tember there is a large Highland Festival in a town near Boulder. When I say large, I'm talking 40,000 people or more. One year, there was a Clan Sinclair tent with a sign outside that listed the Flaws surname as adherents. You know, Flaws is a pretty rare name in the U.S. When I was growing up, my father and I always played a game of looking in the telephone book for any Flawses every time we went somewhere new, and never once (except in Aukland, NZ) did we ever find another set of Flawses. So when I saw our name on this placard, I was hooked. I joined Clan

Sib Folk News Issue 317 February 2001 15 Genetics, Genealogy and History By Jim Wilson

ne of the most depressing occur- are other parts of the Y chromosome (and in rences when tracing a family tree is fact of many chromosomes) which do not en- Oto run into a dead end. The farther code any biological instructions, such DNA is back in time one goes, the more likely this known as 'junk DNA\ This junk DNA is for becomes, as records are scarcer and less the most part identical between the Y chromo- easily available until finally all ascending some of any two individuals, however there are lineages come to a stop. This article intro- differences if one looks hard enough. These duces a completely different line of attack differences do not have any functional conse- that will be available to genealogists when quence, as they are in the junk DNA. If a small they run into this problem: the application of change in the DNA code occurs on the Y chro- genetic analysis, the study of DNA. As we mosome of one man, all of his sons, and all of inherit our DNA from our parents and their sons in turn, and so on, will inherit the Y grandparents before them, our DNA is thus chromosome with that same unique change. an archive of our history - from family This means that by looking at that part of the history to prehistory. DNA code (by extracting the DNA from a DNA, the material in which the mouth swab) and checking whether we see the instructions to build and run our bodies is original or the changed code, we could tell encoded and through which this information whether an individual was a male-line descen- is inherited, is packaged into structures dant of the man in whom the change occurred. called chromosomes. Every cell of the hu- As these changes have been happening man body (e.g. skin, muscle and brain cells) throughout time and every change is inherited contains twenty-three pairs of these chro- from father to son, the Y chromosomes of mosomes, one set from the individual's fa- today may be divided into related groups of ther and one set from the mother. lineages which share one or more such changes Twenty-two of the chromosome pairs are in their junk DNA. It is like generating a vast identical, but the last pair, called the X and male-line family tree of all the men in the Y chromosomes, are very different from world. Although I will not discuss it further each other. One of the instructions encoded here, the female line is tracked in a similar in the Y chromosome DNA is that to make fashion by a strand of DNA (called mtDNA) an embryo develop as a male, but this in- inherited from mother to daughter. struction is not encoded in the X chromo- The application of these genetic trees some. Thus individuals inheriting an X from to the study of family trees is in its infancy, but their mother and an X from their father are the possibilities will be almost endless for female, and those that inherit an X from those who can afford it. This is because the Y their mother and a Y from their father are chromosome tracks male lineages: for sur- male. In this way, the Y chromosome is names that arose only once, e.g. CorrigalL, in passed down the generations as one block of the absence of illegitimacy, all bearers of the DNA from father to son. This pattern of name will carry an extremely similar Y chro- inheritance is rather like that of a surname. mosome (identical apart from very recent All Y chromosomes encode the changes). In cases when a surname arose more same instructions to make a male, but there than once, e.g. Shearer, then descendants of

Issue! 7 February 2001 Sib Folk News 16 each original bearer of the name will have the minated both prehistoric migrations, e.g. of same Y chromosome, different from that of the people who brought farming into other Shearer clans. Thus it will be possible to Europe from the Near East around 10,000 join together existing descendant trees of the years ago, and more recent, historical folk same surname and so extend family trees far- movements, such as Viking settlement in ther back in time knowing nothing about the the British Isles. Orcadians commonly con- progenitors at the top of the trees except for sider themselves to be descended from Vi- their Y chromosome genetic code. kings and Orkney was a powerful Norse An example comes from my family, Earldom for centuries, only becoming part the Wilsons of Fair Isle, Shetland. Years of of Scotland in 1468. In spite of this, it was, sleuthing by various family historians have of course, possible that the 9th century Scan- traced the line back to a Robert Wilson who dinavians took administrative control of lived at the close of the sixteenth century in Orkney without having a large demographic Shetland. However, the trail goes cold at this impact, e.g. if the ruling class whom we point and there arc conflicting stories as to read of in the Orkneyinga Saga were Norse where he came from: Ayrshire, Caithness or but the common people, the majority, were Fife? If the Fair Isle Wilsons originated in one of pre-Norse, Pictish stock. The contrasting of these places, then any very far-flung rela- viewpoint, that the incoming Norse were tions alive there today will cany an extremely numerous and decimated the indigenous similar Y chromosome to mine. Genetics population was popular earlier this century, should pin down the geographic origin. But, as however, archaeologists now usually favour yet, genetics cannot give good estimates of interpretations involving more inter- time depth over these scales. That is to say I breeding. In order to determine whether the would not know if these Scottish Wilsons were Viking heritage of Orkney is genetic as well 20th or 30th cousins, just that they were related. as cultural, I decided to carry out a Y chro- People who have a different surname may also mosome survey of Orcadians. have a similar Y chromosome to mine, because To answer this question I first had they share an ancestor with me, say, seventy to determine what Norse and pre-Norse generations ago. In the future, however, when British Y chromosomes looked like. I got the entire genetic code of the Y chromosome DNA samples from Norwegian men to rep- can be read, it will be possible to estimate the resent the former and from both Welsh and number of generations since any two Y chro- Irish men to represent the latter. By reading mosomes and, therefore, people shared a com- parts of the Y chromosome genetic code for mon (male line) ancestor. In the meantime, a each individual I could assign them into company in Oxford charges £120 to read parts related groups, each sharing a particular set of the Y chromosome or mtDNA genetic code. of changes. I found that around 90% each of As noted above, having a different Y chromo- the Welsh and Irish carried Y chromosomes some or mtDNA would rale out a relationship that fell into group one. The Norwegian Y in the male or female lines, respectively, but a chromosomes were very different: only match does not guarantee shared ancestry in the 26% were in group one, while a total of last twenty generations. For estimates of the 66% were in two different lineages called time since shared common ancestry, which will groups two and three. My project was thus only be possible for the Y chromosome and feasible: in as much as the modern popula- will be much more costly, we will have to wait, tions reflect those of a thousand years ago, but with the speed of scientific progress, no the Norse Y chromosomes were differenti- doubt less than a decade. ated from the pre-Norse British Y chromo- While genetics has yet to be routinely somes such that if any male-line applied to family history, the last fifteen years descendants of the Vikings were still to be has seen an explosion in its application to found in Orkney today, I would recognise at population history. Genetic analyses have illu- least some of their Y chromosomes.

Sib Folk News Issue 17 February 2001 17 I duly collected a sample of Orca- individual's ancestry. What of the maternal dian men and read the same parts of their Y grandfather's Y chromosome and the father's chromosomes: around one third fell into mother's father's? If these were also Orcadi- either group two or three, i.e. were very ans and so carried a similar distribution of Y likely of Viking origin! Remembering that chromosomes to that observed today, then Orcadians today also descend from the the proportions of Norse, Scottish and other many Scottish settlers who arrived both components in the individual Orcadian's pa- before and after the Northern Isles became ternal ancestry will reflect the paternal ge- part of Scotland, we should also expect a netic heritage of Orkney as a whole, a fine Scottish component in the Orcadian Y chro- mixter-maxter indeed. mosomes. Other data have shown Scottish Y chromosomes to be similar to those in Jim Wilson (member 19) Wales and Ireland, and indeed the remain- [email protected] ing two-thirds of the Orkney Y chromo- somes were in group one, indicating that the Scottish incomers have also left a genetic legacy. Orcadian surnames provide a means to check whether this interpretation is correct: they may be divided into a 'Scot- tish' class, such as Sinclair and Tulloch, and an 'indigenous' class, such as Flett and Isbister, which are not found anywhere else. If I was right, I expected a concentration of This space was the Norse groups two and three in the Y chromosomes of individuals with indige- reserved for your nous surnames and of the high frequency article but unfortu- pre-Norse British group one in the Y chro- mosomes of the Scottish surname class. nately I did not This is exactly what I found! 83% of the receive it. Scottish surname class carry group one chromosomes and a minimum of 38% of the Make sure you indigenous class have Norse Y chromo- somes. The remainder of the indigenous make the next chromosomes are also in group one and so publishing date- are of less obvious provenance as this group is presort in both Norway and Britain, but a which is 7th May. proportion would certainly be Norse. There are various reasons why the frequency of groups two and three in the indigenous sur- name class is lower than in Norway, not least that some of the Y chromosomes may not truly be pre-Scottish, however it may also be due to a Pictish influence. I should like to emphasise that the possession of a 'Norse' Y chromosome, although indicating likely male line descent from a Norseman, does not 'make' someone a Viking, any more than possession of a different Y chromosome excludes the possi- bility of having Scandinavian forebears. The Y chromosome tracks only one ances- tral lineage, which is a minuscule part of an

Issue 17 February 2001 Sib Folk Neics 18 A Visit to the Crest Cemetery at Fontaine Notre Dame France by the Editor

In May '99, my wife and I paid a short visit to France where we found the grave of my father's uncle, David Rendall, who had been killed in France at the end of the 14/18 war. His story is recounted in Westray Roots 9, 10, and 26. The grave is situated in a small, all Canadian, ceme- tery. Strangely, David is buried with another soldier. Like all war cemeteries, Crest is kept immaculate by the War Graves Commission. I was surprised to find when reading the visitors' book that we had been preceded by someone from Westray by the name of Fordyce. I under- stand that he is or was a school teacher in Wes- tray. Researchers may wish to know that the War Graves Commission whose address is 2, Marlow Road, Maidenhead, Berks, SL6 7DX, can supply locations of the graves of any soldier, buried in France or Belgium.

Charles Addington of Canada, a long standing contributor to WR sent me part of a publication entitled 'The Canadian Expeditionary Force Roll of Honour' of those who died as a result of Service in the Great War 1914 - 1919, compiled by Edward Wigney. ISBN 0-9698857-3-3.

It is of interest to me personally because the section sent to me by Charles contains the refer- ence to David Rendall. Other researchers wish- ing to obtain information of other Orcadians who emigrated to Canada as David Rendall did, may find the publication useful, I noticed that there were several Seatters and Drever men on the sections sent to me.

The following men who were members of the Canadian Expeditionary Force are recorded on the Westray War Memorial.

Sgt. George Seatter, Daisybank Cpl David Rendall, Saverton Pte, John Cooper, Newbigging Pte Thomas Drever, Sangar Pte James B. Groat, Feuld.

Sib Fclk News Issue 17 February 2001 19 The Orkney Family History Society Membership, Subscriptions, etc.

Membership of the Society runs from 1 March to 28/29 February and subscriptions should be renewed dur- ing the month of March. All subscriptions should be sent to the Treasurer, George Gray, 'Fulmar', East Road, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1LX.

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

The present subscriptions rates are as follows:

£10.00 I Ordinary - Adult membership £15.00 2 Family membership - ( Spouse/Partner & children under 18) f 7.00 3 Senior Citizen - ( single or couple ) £12.50 4 Overseas - ( Surface Mail) £15.00 5 Overseas - (Air Mail)

Overseas members should pay their fees in sterling or its equivalent If it is not possible to send pounds sterling, please check exchange rate. Our bank will accept overseas cheques without charging commission. Receipts will be issued with the next magazine. Members residing in the may pay their subscriptions by Bankers Order and if they wish can have their subscriptions treated as Gift Aid donations. (Forms will be sent on request) Cheques should be made payable to: ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY

The Society publishes 4 magazines in the year. Members may place queries in the magazine at no charge. Queries should be sent to the Editor. Back copies of the magazine may be purchased at £1.00 per copy.

Our office address is: The OFHS, The Strynd,, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 IHG

Office opening hours are as follows: April to September Mon to Fri 2.00pm to 4,30pm Sat 11,00am to 4.30pm October to March Mon, Wed, Fri 2-00pm to 4,30pm Sat 11,00am to 4.30pm

Articles in this newsletter are copyright to the Society, and its authors, and may not be reproduced without permission of the Editor. The Society is a registered charity in Scotland, and a member of the Scottish As- sociation of Family History Societies. The Society does not necessarily accept the views expressed in let- ters and articles published within. The Society's newsletter Sib Folk News is registered with the British Library under the serial number ISSN 1368-3950

General enquiries should be addressed to the office in writing, or to The General Secretary, Mrs Gillian Mooney, at [email protected]

Specific research enquiries may be sent to Mr George Gray at his address above or his e-mail address [email protected]

Editor of Sib Folk News: Mr Gavin Rendall, 55 Plough Lane, Purley, Surrey, CR8 3QL e-mail: westrayroots@netsc*peonline.eo..

Sib Folk News issue 17 20