SIB FOLK NEWS NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Issue No 73 March 2015

April 10,11,12 Old Fossils, Intrepid Explorers, If you are visiting the Islands August 9 ORKNEY Heroes and Heroines, Saints and this year you will find so much ORKNEY Sinners; we’ve unearthed many a to do but if you have Orkney CEILIDH one over the years. VINTAGE WEEKEND connections wouldn’t it also RALLY If you know where to dig the be exciting to discover some- results can be quite astounding. Cars, Tractors, Engines, Day workshops – Evening ceilidhs thing that you did not know Farm Machinery etc. www.orkneycommunities.co.uk/otda about your ancestors. www.orkneycommunities.co.uk/orkneyvintageclub Make time for a visit to our April 17,18,19 offices in the Kirkwall Library August 9 (see back page for times and ORKNEY location). RIDING JAZZ Bring whatever family papers OF THE FESTIVAL MARCHES STROMNESS HOTEL you have and be prepared to Showcases local and be amazed at how much our Procession meets at UK musicians. researchers could discover. Broad Street at 2pm www.stromnesshotel.com www.orkneycommunities.co.uk/ridingclub May 2nd Jun 7 - Jul 19 July 17, 18, 19 August 15 ORKNEY ORKNEY BOYS’ PAPAY FUN PLOUGHING RUGBY GARDEN TRAIL WEEKEND SEVENS 3 different trails on 7 Music, Dance, Sport, MATCH Orkney Rugby FC. Opp Sundays throughout Carty Races, Picnics and FESTIVAL OF June and July THE HORSE Pickaquoy Leisure, Kirkwall. etc on Papa Westray SOUTH RONALDSAY www.orkneyrfc.co.uk www.scotlandsgardens.org www.papawestray.co.uk www.hall75.freeserve.co.uk/ploughingmatch.htm May 2 - June 13 June 14th July 31 Aug 1 & 2 Sept 3 - 9 ORKNEY TRADITIONAL MUSIC PROJECT HOY HALF SANDAY ORKNEY LUNCH TIME MARATHON SOULKA INTERNATIONAL CONCERTS Agricultural Show Day. Sea SCIENCE ST MAGNUS 5k Family Fun Run. Angling. Home Brew Tasting. FESTIVAL CATHEDRAL Out and back from The famous Orkney Feast. Astronomy, Zoology & Archaeology. Seven SATURDAYS at 1pm North Walls School. A real Family Fun Day. Concerts, Ceilidhs, Local Food/Drink. www.otmp.co.uk www.orkneycommunities.co.uk/IOHDT www.sandaysoulka.com www.oisf.org May 17th June 19 - 24 Sept 18 - 20 NORWAY’S ST MAGNUS ORKNEY FESTIVAL BLUES CONSTITUTION Various venues. An FESTIVAL DAY adventurous celebra- Stromness and other Parade, Service, Concert JULY 31st venues. See Website in St Magnus Cathedral. tion of the arts. SANDAY AGRICULTURAL SHOW for full details www.orkneycommunities.co.uk/onfa www.stmagnusfestival.com www.orkneyblues.co.uk AUGUST 1st EAST MAINLAND May 21 - 24 Jun 17 - Jul 23 AGRICULTURAL SHOW October 22 - 25 ORKNEY ORKNEY FESTIVAL OF ARTS &CRAFTS AUGUST 4th FOLK SHAPINSAY ORKNEY FESTIVAL EXHIBITION AGRICULTURAL SHOW and SALE in the STORYTELLING Tradition & Contem- Something for everyone porary Folk Music. Kirkwall Town Hall AUGUST 5th at various venues. www.orkneyfolkfestival.com www.orkneyartsandcrafts.com SOUTH RONALDSAY & BURRAY www.orkneystorytellingfestival.com AGRICULTURAL SHOW May 30 - June 7 July 19 - 25 December 25 AUGUST 6th ORKNEY STROMNESS DOUNBY AGRICULTURAL SHOW the BA’ WINE SHOPPING UPPIES V. FESTIVAL WEEK AUGUST 8th DOONIES Celebrate good food Seven days of com- ORKNEY COUNTY CHRISTMAS DAY and wine at various munity celebration with AGRICULTURAL SHOW Boys’ Throw-Up 10.30 locations fun for all the family Mens at 13.00 at the BIGNOLD PARK KIRKWALL www.orkneyfoodanddrink.com www.stromnessshoppingweek.co.uk www.bagame.com AS THIS PAGE IS COMPILED EARLY IN THE YEAR YOU SHOULD VERIFY DATES FOR THESE AND OTHER ORKNEY EVENTS BY CHECKING AT www.discover-orkney.co.uk 2 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Issue No 73 March 2015

ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY NEWSLETTER Issue No 73. March 2015

COVER What's on in Orkney

PAGE 2 From the Chair From PAGE 3 The Jentrader the Chair PAGES 4,5 & 6 David Geddes and the American War of Independence Welcome to issue no 73 of the Sib Folk News, I can’t believe that we are in March already. PAGE 7 We had the sad news of the death of one of our founder Thirteen Orkneymen members Mrs Betty Cameron (No 10) at the end of January, Die on the Lady Jane my commiserations go to her husband Ian, Betty and Ian PAGE 8 were both very knowledgeable volunteers and supporters When I finally opened of all our meetings and regulars on the stand at the Vintage the Box Rally. I will always be very grateful for Betty’s support and PAGE 9 advice when I took over the Chairmanship of the society. Members' Messages On a happier note we learned that two of our members Sandy Firth and Bryce Wilson had been awarded the MBE in PAGE 10 The tragic loss of Three the New Years Honours list. This is very well deserved and Generations of Tomisons both are fonts of knowledge of all things Orcadian. Welcome to the club! It is a great honour and I am sure they and their PAGE 11 families with have a great day at their investitures. Imperial Service Badge We are looking forward to a busy summer and meeting the PAGES 12, 13, 14 & 15 visitors to our office in the Library and hopefully helping them Origins of the Orkney to discover their roots. If you are planning a trip this year Family Name of Cromarty please let us know beforehand together with any family detail PAGES 16 & 17 you already have and we will try and have information ready Expect Skeletons for you when you arrive. That way you can spend more time enjoying your visit and maybe meet a few relatives along the PAGE 18 & 19 The Orphans of Orphir way.

PAGES 20 & 21 Connecting the Tulloch families PAGE 22 Anne Rendall I never knew I had Orkney Blood

PAGE 23 Remembering Betty Cameron

PAGE 24 Membership Details Issue No 73 March 2015 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY 3

Do you remember the Jentrader? It is surprising where Sib Folk News gets to and how long a life some copies have. Per M. Press picked up a copy in Denmark dated December 2008. As he flicked through the pages the article from Harold and Mina Noble caught his eye and he was intrigued to find that Harold was familiar with the Occidental supply ship Jentrader. Not as familiar as Per perhaps for Per was the former master of Reliability also describes her crew. There were only four of us but both the Jenclipper and Jentrader. we all possessed a dedication that led us to give it 100% every “I remember these as some of the happiest times of my career”said day. Reliability goes hand in hand with a good work ethic and the Per and he thought that there might be members of the Society dependability of performing well consistently. with a Flotta connection who would be interested in a little We were a happy ship which was evident in the very low crew background to the operation. turnover rate. “In the 1980s and 1990s the Jentrader and other coasters from the This teamwork also extended to our relationship with those private ship owner H.C.Grube I/S in Mastral were on charter to working ashore and our mess was often packed with shoreside Occidental Petroleum. people enjoying a coffee break with the crew. The charter started in 1980 with the single hold Jenclipper and This camaraderie was also evident when berthing at Gibraltar pier in had been arranged by an agent Mr Cameron of Leeds, who would bad weather, of which Orkney has more than its fair share. Without have received a fee from Occidental for all ships for the duration the help and expertise of the Flotta workboats and the linesmen on of the charter. the pier we would have faced many a difficult situation. I was a 10% part owner of the Jenclipper which ran for one year We were also, on occasion, grateful to the Occidental and later Elf until Occiental decided that a tween deck vessel was required in Oil staff for providing technical assistance when required. And I order to avoid too much high-value deck cargo. cannot close without praising our relationship with the Flotta locals. It was agreed that the Jentrader would fit the requirements and she It was a happy time—a time not likely to be repeated and unfortunately was to be a familiar sight in Orkney waters for a number of years. you do not recognise these things as they are happening. The Jentrader was built in 1968. She was a general cargo vessel, Years later you recall them as some of the happiest times of one’s 50 metres long with a gross tonnage of 520. Her IMO no was working life and if anyone from that era thinks likewise and would 6807321 and she had a speed of 9.50 knots. She was a reliable like to get in touch I would be delighted to hear from them.” L little vessel and only ‘off charter’ every two years for dry docking. Per M. Press. 4 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Issue No.73 March 2015

By Archie Gilbert, Member 1052 I have been meaning to write this for many years now, but All of the following is entirely Dr. Geddes’ research and I am lethargy prevailed. However, having been prompted by reading grateful to his daughter Jane for allowing me to quote from it. Bryce Wilson’s latest book ‘Stromness – a history’, here at last is However, since my efforts in editing are severely curtailed, I would my contribution . urge anyone who is interested to avail themselves of the copy in David Geddes is my 4 x Gr Grandfather. When I started my the Kirkwall Library Archives. Dr. Geddes’ last paragraph of the own research, all I had to go on was a photograph of his grave in introduction reads “At a guess …. it has taken eleven years to Warebeth cemetery, which I had visited with my wife a few years complete this record”. He also travelled the entire route taken by ago. We had six days without rain in the month of May! As well as his ancestor from Quebec to Charlottesville accompanied by his David’s grave marker, I also found wife and sister. his parents’ gravestone and other David Geddes was born in Stromness on the 23rd Sept 1751. members of the family. One which He was the son of George Geddes (GADDES on his gravestone) immediately intrigued me was a and Katherine (Catherine on her gravestone) Johnston. George memorial to DR. DAVID GEDDES was a seaman and Katherine’s father was a merchant. Her brother d.1995 – ‘Historian of his family”. was Joshua, a lawyer in Stromness, so her family seems to have I could hardly contain my excite- been of some prominence in the town. In fact, it was David Ged- ment at finding somebody who had des’ Johnston uncles and cousins died so recently and was described who set him on his adventurous as a family historian. I had to try road in London, Canada and the to find out where his research was. U.S.A. Katherine died in 1755 When I returned home I set when David was very young, so about trying to locate Dr. Geddes it is likely that he was looked and/or his research. After a cou- after by the Johnston family. ple of futile attempts, I had one of He does not seem to have im- those rare moments of intuition pressed his uncle Joshua with Doctor David Geddes and got the name of the monumen- his academic progress as he David Geddes house in Stromness tal sculptor in Kirkwall who had made and erected the plaque. had described him as a dunce at I’m not sure if data protection was in force at this time, but they sometime or other. This came back willingly gave me Dr. Geddes’ daughter’s telephone number! to haunt Joshua. When I phoned Jane, she was pleased to hear why I was inter- David was sent to London to ested and how we were related. I am her 4th cousin once removed. be apprenticed as a clock mak- She explained that her father was the youngest child of Baron er with his uncle John Johnston Auckland Geddes (1879-1954 ) who had written and published a at his shop in the Strand. He was book (the Forging of a Family) about the Geddes family, starting there from about1762-68, but the with the Orkney connections. The Baron covered the history of clock making business did not his ancestor, David Geddes, in about four pages which contained prosper as John would have liked some unconfirmed family myths. I can only assume that this was so, accompanied by young David, what ignited Dr. Geddes’ urge to investigate further.. he left London for Quebec where Jane explained to me that her father’s work had never been his brother James and sister Ann published in book form, but there were copies, one of which was George Gaddes (Geddes) stone were already ensconced. James in the Archives of the library in Kirkwall. I tried, without success, had formed a business with a John to see if I could obtain a copy or find it on line, so Jane kindly Purss, viz. Johnstone and Purss, Merchants, which was already offered to lend me her own copy;. This consisted of about 200 A4 well established by the time David arrived in Quebec. Uncle John pages, typed in several fonts, and perhaps on several typwriters, soon left for the West Indies to seek his fortune, leaving David which was sent by snail mail and which I laboriously scanned employed as a clerk with Johnston & Purss. page by page! In 1770 James accompanied by David embarked for the West Dr. Geddes’ research is, in my amateur opinion, of the highest Indies to seek out further trade between there and Quebec. In a quality, and is an amazing story in Geddes and Stromness history. letter written by Uncle John, now back in London, it was report- It was for this work that Dr. Geddes received his PhD from the ed that “David was with him when he proposes to settle on one University of London. of the islands”. It seems that this did not happen and David A Issue No 73 March 2015 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY 5

F returned to Quebec to continue his career there. vention, were not to be considered Prisoners of War, but called At this point it is necessary to introduce new characters outwith “tourists”and were to be sent “home” to their bases in Canada and the family and more information with reference to the business of the United Kingdom as the case may be, in return for a promise Johnston & Purss, since these influenced David Geddes’ military not to fight again in the war against the Americans. As tourists, career. they would have to be self sufficient. The British and Germans Colin Drummond was the agent for the bankers in London, (there were 3,000 German mercenaries in the army commended Harley & Drummond, who, among other things, supplied specie by General Baron Frederick Adolph von Riedesel) were to be and notes to the Army in Canada. Colin Drummond was also sent to Boston where they would embark on transport to Europe. trustee for Les Forges de St. Maurice, a company which produced What actually happened was that about eleven hundred Canadian bar iron and for the sale of which, Johnston & Purss were agents. provincials left for Canada. Presumably David could have gone Jacob Jordan was also an agent for the sale of bar iron from “home” to Canada with them, but maybe the prospect of quickly Les Forges in Montreal. He met James Johnston at this time. getting back to Britain from Boston was more appealing. On the Jordan was also an agent for Harley & Drummond and when other hand, perhaps he had no choice, and was ordered to remain Colin Drummond died, he became the principal agent. Because with the Military Chest which would have to remain with Bur- of his connection with James Johnston, Jordan employed David goyne. Amazingly, General Gates had never demanded that the Geddes as a clerk and as Montreal Agent for the sale of spruce chest be surrendered to him; this cast a shadow over his relation- beer. Spruce beer was made by a company owned by James John- ship with George Washington, his patron. ston’s sister Ann and her husband Dr. Henry Taylor. Taylor, hav- What in fact happened to the Military Chest is that on 15th Octo- ing knowledge of pharmaceuticals, had invented a concentrated ber, two days before the official surrender, Burgoyne ordered that essence which could be diluted to make spruce beer, which was the contents were to be distributed amongst the army – to be ac- very popular and was supplied to Burgoyne’s army too. It may counted for in due course. The books were tidied up on arrival in be noteworthy that the British Army’s surrender at Saratoga came Boston and later, back in England, Burgoyne averred that “not a two days after they had run out of spruce beer. shilling” had fallen into American hands. Of course, as Assistant At this time, the American colonists were becoming enraged at Paymaster, David Geddes was a central figure in all that! the imposition of new taxes by the British Government. The cul- By Christmas 1777, Burgoyne was beginning to lose patience mination came when tempers frayed and resulted in the famous, with the Americans at the delay in getting his troops embarked or infamous, Boston tea party in 1773. Soon the Americans were for Britain. Truthfully, the Americans did not want the troops to in open revolt and met the British Forces in open battle at Lexing- be freed and were making any trivial excuse to delay this. They ton and Concord. They managed to bottle up the British in Boston, insisted that there should be monies available to settle all accounts and even invaded Canada in an effort to prevent an attack by the that had been generated for the sustenance of the “tourists”. At British from the north. This eventually failed when, in December this time Burgoyne wrote to his “gaoler”, General Heath, asking 1775, after having besieged Quebec for six months, the Ameri- that “Mr Geddes, acting Paymaster to the Troops of the Conven- can General Montgomery was killed by a ball from an artillery tion, be furnished with a passport to Rhode Island upon his parole battery, commanded by Lt. Colonel James Johnston. This was the to return at a proper limited time…….. I beg the favour of your same James Johnston, David’s uncle, who, by now, had become a answer this evening.” well respected and public spirited citizen. The answer came back smartly! There is no hard evidence of how David Geddes came to be Headquarters, Boston, January 3rd 1778 appointed Assistant Paymaster to General Burgoyne, but assump- tions may be made. If Colin Drummond had not died, it is quite “Sir, yours of this date has come to hand. Mr. Geddes shall have possible that Jacob Jordan would have been appointed, being the a Passport to Rhode Island on calling tomorrow at my Quarters.” agent of Harley & Drummond who were already contracted to W. Heath” supply the army with specie and notes. However, Jordan was now the principal agent for the bank, so it seems logical that David This act set the precedent for what David Geddes’ life was to be Geddes, already working with Jordan, should be suggested to fill for the next three years. He was to be the sole link between the the post. What is hard evidence is that his name appears on a Bank of Harley & Drummond in London, and the Troops of the paper prepared on 2nd May 1777 of “staff proposed for the Expedi- Convention for the provision of monies for their sustenance. tion under Lt.General Burgoyne and submitted to for the decision of His Excellency, Sir Guy Carleton.” George Washington had always been against the agreement And so it was that David Geddes, aged about twenty six, set in the Convention of Saratoga to allow the British and German off with the Army of General Burgoyne from Quebec heading for Troops to leave America on parole that they would not re-enter New York, the plan of action being to create a pincer movement the war at a later date. He had succeeded in persuading his col- with General Howe heading north from New York and, in so do- leagues that embarkation should be prevented at all costs. To do ing, subdue the rebellious colonists. this, Congress accused Burgoyne of breaking the treaty and that all The story of the journey to Saratoga is well recorded so, for the debts must be cleared before the troops could leave. Eventually to purpose of this article, the detail is omitted. Suffice to say that obtain his personal release and that of a few of his personal staff, Burgoyne, young Davie and an army of 6,350 men surrendered to Burgoyne agreed to pay £30,000 which could only be obtained an American force which had virtually surrounded them on 17th from Newport, Rhode Island, which was still in British hands. He October 1777. However, for young David Geddes, this was only obtained permission for David Geddes and the commissary clerk the end of the beginning! to go with him to Newport, from where he embarked for England By the terms of the Convention of Saratoga which had been on 9th April 1778 on HMS Juno. David Geddes then returned to agreed between the American General, Horatio Gates, and Bur- Boston with £47,000 acquired from the Paymaster in Newport. goyne, the British force, now renamed The Army of the Con- It should be remembered that David Geddes was A 6 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Issue No.73 March 2015

F completely unknown to the bankers in London as, before tain them, would make a story in its own right. Much of the re- Burgoyne, he had dealt with H & D’s agent, Jacob Jordan. Since search into this was from letters of Thomas Jefferson, including all communication with Jordan was no longer possible, David had some addressed directly to David Geddes. to introduce himself in a letter to H & D on 10th April 1778, in A general exchange of American officers, held captive by the which he hoped that he would be taken on trust to ask for specie British, and British officers was agreed in August 1781. As a re- and bills of exchange to pay for the maintenance of the Army of sult of this David Geddes set sail for England from New York in the Convention.. December 1781. Meanwhile the French had declared war against Britain and In London, David has to square his books with Harley & Drum- were supporting the Americans. One result of this was that any mond and also to negotiate his commission for all his work in han- attempts by the British Government to negotiate the release of dling specie and bills. With his accrued salary as Deputy Paymas- the Army of the Convention were vetoed by the French. This re- ter, bonuses and commissions, he probably left London with about sulted in the British Government informing Congress that whilst £3,000, a fortune in these days. Not bad for a young man of 30 they were entirely willing to carry out their part of the Convention from a far flung corner of Great Britain – Stromness. of Saratoga, in view of the Americans’ intransigence, they would David’s job with his uncle in Quebec had been taken by his have to stop supplying money to the Army of Convention. Gen- cousin, John Johnston, Uncle Joshua’s son, so that avenue had eral Clinton on 19th September 1778 wrote to Congress “In this I been blocked. So what was he to do with his life and his small mean to discharge my duty, not only to the King (whose orders I fortune. This decision was made for him after his return to Strom- obey), but also to the unhappy people whose affairs are committed ness, where his eye was taken by his 18 year old cousin, Margaret to you and who I hope will have the candour to acquit me of the “Peggy” Cruikshank. She was a daughter of Andrew Cruikshank consequences that must follow from the new system of war you and Margaret Geddes, David’s aunt, known in the family as Gran- are pleased to introduce.” – a bleak outlook for both David Ged- ny o’ Hoy. David and Peggy were married about 1784 when David des and the Troops. would be 33 years old, and Peggy 19. Surprisingly, I have been Congress gave a surly reply “the Congress of the USA makes unable to find any record of that marriage, but their first born child, no answer to insolent letters”. At this Clinton cut of all, save the Anne, my 3 X Gr.Grandmother, was born 19th January 1785 and most essential, supplies of money for the Army of the Convention. was “lawful”, indicating that a proper marriage had taken place. The next development on 26th October 1778, was George Wash- Despite the fact that David’s job had been filled in Quebec, there ington’s order that the Troops of the Convention be marched to is a letter from his uncle expressing some disappointment that Da- Charlottesville in Virginia where they could more easily be sup- vid had chosen to remain in Stromness where, in his uncle’s opin- plied and guarded. This sealed the fate of the Treaty of Saratoga ion, the opportunities for advancement were considerably less than on the part of the Americans. The problem was that they could if he had returned to Quebec. hardly leave without paying their bills. There followed a game However, David became a successful ship owner in his own of tug-of- war between the Americans and Prescott, the Pay- right, and in partnership with Cruikshank cousins. With his expe- master in Rhode Island, where Geddes was to be sent for money. rience in handling the finances to sustain the Army of the Conven- At first David Geddes was to be given money, then this warrant tion in America, he also became a banker, starting off, probably, was rescinded by Prescott as he was in a difficult position. The by handling transactions of monies sent by his uncle’s cousins in Americans’ answer was to hold General Phillips and the Ger- Quebec to family in Stromness, and slowly branching out to the man General Riedesel virtually as common debtors until the debts wider public. were paid. To add to his income from these sources, and to really estab- The Troops, three British and three German divisions began the lish himself as a leading businessman in the town, in 1791 he was march on 9th November, suffering much from want of clothing. appointed Agent for Hudson’s Bay Company. Prior to this ap- The 4,000 troops were guarded by 2,500 Americans. pointment the HBC had relied on their Captains to recruit staff. The exact route of the journey has been documented and was In this capacity he was responsible for recruitment of men and no 641 miles, arriving at the barracks in Charlottesville on 12th Janu- doubt for procuring goods as required by H.B.C. With this new ary 1779. This journey would be a challenge for any well equipped found success he built his fine house, which still stands today, THE army in good weather, but for troops, badly clothed and shod, to HAVEN, bearing the blue plaque commemorating the connection with H.B.C. David and Peggy certainly needed a large house as they produced 17 children between 1785 and 1806. No wonder David was known as “the Father of Orkney”. By the time he died in 1811 David’s finances were at a low ebb, chiefly due to the costs of ongoing lawsuits, and also to a decline in the shipping trade as a result of the English Channel opening up again at the end of the Napoleonic wars;. David’s son, George, the second born, had to return from Canada to take over the reins of the business. Unfortunately for several reasons the wee empire which David had built ended in bankruptcy, and poor George and his family had to flee Stromness and the wrath of the creditors. But that’s another story. So ends the remarkable story of David Geddes, a humble march in winter was quite a trial. lad from Stromness, who had, by an accident of fate, found The history of the Troops’ imprisonment at Albemarle barracks himself a principal character, although largely unrecorded, in and David Geddes’ involvement in arranging the finances to sus- one of the major events in British history, the American War Issue No 73 March 2015 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY 7

From material supplied by Dave Higgins, Member No 82 The years 1835 to 1837 proved to be one of the most On the 12th March the Lady Jane made landfall at notorious whaling seasons in the history of British Stromness. By that time the death toll had reached whaling. twenty-two. Another five died within days. By this time whalers were working the dangerous ‘Of the twenty five Orcadians thirteen were dead. waters of Baffin Bay, Lancaster Sound and the Pond ‘The appearance of the survivors and the distress of the inlet whenever the ice conditions would allow. This was friends’ reported one newspaper account ‘baffles all pushing the technical boundaries of the ships to the limit description’. and the crews were ill-equipped to handle the dreadful It drew tears from many unconnected spectators. Such weather which they encountered. scenes Stromness never witnessed before’. Despite this, seventy ships sailed to the Davis Straits Recriminations followed the Lady Jane’s return to in 1835. Several were wrecked on the way. The weather the Tyne. A public enquiry at the Peacock Inn on the was such that active whaling was impossible and only quayside, was convened to examine accusations levelled twenty managed to penetrate to the “west water”. By at Captain Leask by members of the crew. They had early October eleven were locked in pack ice near Home challenged the substance of reports that had circulated Bay and Cape Dyer. Two of these were from Newcastle; in the local press prior to their arrival from the Orkneys. The Lady Jane and the Grenville Bay. After six hours Leask was exonerated of all charges The Lady Jane was the best known of the Newcastle viz: that he could have left the ice earlier when the whalers. Her master was James Leask, from Strom- opportunity arose and that he had been the only person ness, and another twenty-five Orkneymen formed almost fit to serve the ship on her passage to Stromness. half the crew. The Orkney Men who died in 1936 were:- The weather was such that whaling was impossible William Knarston Ireland, Stenness Feb 28th and the Lady Jane together with a Hull whaler, the Walter Brown Stromness Mar 9th Mary Frances was forced to cut ice docks in the land floe. Peter Johnston Stromness Feb 26th The Hull whaler was lost ten days later and her crew James McKay Stromness Feb 25th of 53, including the captain, salvaged what provisions John Sabiston Stromness Mar 6th they could and came aboard the Lady Jane. They were Alexander Mowat Stromness Jan 31st eventually split up among the other ships of the fleet. (left a widow and 3 children) By now it was late in the season and the fleet entered Magnus Hourston Mar13th the ice pack in an attempt to force a passage south. The (Died in Hospital) effort was useless, food was running short and rationing Peter Sinclair Petertown, Orphir Feb 28th was imposed. There were seven ships in the vicinity of James Rendall Hackland, Rendall Mar 4th the Lady Jane at this time. Soon only two remained, the George Breck Marwick, Birsay Mar 6th Norfolk and the Grenville Bay and they too disappeared (left a widow and 3 children) to the south, breaking free of the ice and eventually John Sanders Kirkwall Feb 19th reaching their home ports. John McDonald Stromness Mar 12th The Lady Jane, however, remained trapped and (Died on Board) conditions became even more desperate. The account of a William Johnston Houton,Orphir Mar 12th survivor, George Francis reads:- (Died on Board) L ‘The frost was so severe that it penetrated through the deck and the ship’s side about two inches thick so that the bedclothes was froze [sic] fast to the sides of the ship and bed-cabin…when death visited the poor souls their bodies were hailed [sic] out of the bed-cabins and thrown overboard directly without being sewed up or putting any form whatever to commit to the deep’. Before the Lady Jane reached open water on 19th February, ten men had died of scurvy. The Lady Jane had drifted 1000 miles since October. 8 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Issue No.73 March 2015

By Anne Cormack, Member No. 73 In the late sixties when we were still living in Glasgow, I helped with John Tait, William Flett and David Marwick from the Town to clear out an uncle’s house. One of the things I took away was Council, it was minuted “that the Trades may be allowed to dispose of a cardboard box containing war medals, old school certificates the Park.” It was felt that “said Park is of more value to the Council and books. On top was a mason’s apron, which I presume had than to any Privet (sic) Individual in as much as it is surrounded with belonged to my uncle’s father, my grandfather James Greig of good Land belonging to the Burgh.” The Park extended to eighty Kirkwall. At the bottom of the box were four very ancient looking acres within the dikes and the asking price was £240. school jotters which I didn’t bother to examine at the time. 10th December 1849 saw the last entry. Present were John Bruce, That box was with us in Orkney for thirty-one years and then Deacon of Hammermen and David Spence the Box Master, John came sooth with us in 2002. A few months ago I resurrected it, Groundwater, Deacon of Weavers and Robert Miller the Box as I wanted to take the mason’s apron to our local family history Master, Thomas Sclater, Deacon of Shoemakers and Malcolm group’s meeting ‘Bring along a family heirloom’. At the same time Heddle the Box Master, James Leask, Deacon of Tailors and I happened to look at the four tatty old jotters. I couldn’t believe Andrew Guthrie the Box Master. Robert Urquhart the Town my eyes! Three of them contained, not schoolboy scribbles, but Clerk had conducted the sale, the property selling for £310. After copies of the minutes of the General Committee for the Four deductions for cost each Incorporation received £75.19.0. It was Incorporations, (that is, the Hammermen, Shoemakers, Tailors decided the minute book and various papers “shall rest into the and Weavers). More precisely these were the minutes of ‘The hands of Mr James Craigie for Inspection and Preservation.” Committee of Trades appointed for the Management of the Trades I wonder if sometime in the 1890s my grandfather had known a Park.’ They were headed Kirkwall and dated from 1832 to 1849. descendant of James Craigie and thus had access to the minutes. These copies must have been made by my Kirkwall grandfather The fourth jotter in the box contained copies of letters to the who, as a mason, would no doubt have been interested in the Incorporation of Shoemakers. One which caught my eye was Four Incorporations. And in all my time in Orkney I hadn’t even written during the Napoleonic Wars. known why Trades Park was so called! “Kirkwall 11th March 1811 The minutes themselves are not very interesting, dealing as they Messrs Joseph Tait, Deacon do with financial affairs, but we learn the names of members, James Fraser, Box Master some perhaps being forebears of Sib Folk News readers. On 10th Thomas Mowat, Clerk of the Incorporation of Shoemakers August 1832 “were present Thomas Mowat (who was called to Gentlemen, the chair), Patrick Flett, James Walls, George Peace, William Although you have been kind enough to accommodate me with Corston, John Walls, William Hunto, Magnus Rendall, Hugh a Freeman Ticket of this date with a view to protect me from the Craigie.” At the same meeting “They also desired the clerk to impress service on my passage to London, where if God willing I write William Chalmers, one of the tenants in said Park to make intend to go, I hereby promise and become bound not to use this payment of the rent due by him immediately.” Freeman Ticket as such in the Burgh of Kirkwall, in prejudice At the next meeting on 12th November William Chalmers was to the Incorporation of Shoemakers; and if health and life be still owing. James Kelday was similarly mentioned and “the granted me to return to this Burgh, I hereby oblige myself to take committee cannot take upon them to allow any remuneration for the earliest opportunity of being created and admitted a Freeman what improvement he may have made.” of said Incorporation and pay the customary Fees therefore. Poor William Chalmers seemed constantly to be behind. Offering my best thanks for the unmerited kindness which you Although he had paid £2.2.0 in May 1833, he is still mentioned have, in this instance, been pleased to show me, I remain, with at most meetings as owing. On 1st May 1835 he was due £3.10.0 due respect rent and James Kelday £2. A year later they were both still in Gentlemen debt, and so it continued, both in 1837 and 1839. On 24th March Your most humble Servt. 1840 the minutes note “William Chalmers one of the tenants and William Dearness. his wife was also present.” One can imagine the poor distraught Edward Traill, witness wife pleading with the committee who did admit “he has done a William S Petrie, witness.” considerable amount by way of improvement.” By 15th November 1836 the Incorporation had considered selling This letter seems to imply that possession of a Freeman Ticket Trades Park, but nothing seems to have come of this until March protected the holder from being press-ganged. I would love to 1849. At a meeting then, attended by John Groundwater, think that William Dearness was a forebear of one of our members Robert Miller, John Bruce, David Spence, James Leask, who could throw light on to what had happened to him. Andrew Guthrie, James Craigie, James Walls in the chair, and ANNE CORMACK Issue No 73 March 2015 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY 9

confirm their lineage, but wow, it’s difficult. Both Patrick and Magnus had sons named Magnus, born about 5 years apart (1670 Someday and 1675 or so, respectively). Patrick’s son Magnus sells some inherited property in Kirkwall around 1703. A Magnus Prince my Prince shows up on the Isle of Skye in the early 1700s, attempting to set up a salt pan operation which eventually fails, then a “Dr. Mag- will come... nus Prince” shows up in County Down in Ireland in the 1720s advocating the radical concept of inoculation and corresponding with Sir Hans Sloane! He’s also managing some kind of mining ... I hope! venture in Killough, on the side (not salt). First, I would like to link John to Harie, Patrick, and/or Mag- By Valerie Prince, Member No 3435 nus. Second, I would like to confirm the movements of the male I am searching for my Prince ancestors in the 1500s - 1700s in children of Patrick and Magnus in order to try to link them to my Kirkwall. I’ve found pieces of information about a John Prince earliest confirmed ancestor, Magnus Prince b. 1747 in County in the late 1500s in Kirkwall sasine records, then a Harie Prince Antrim. They weren’t a big family to begin with, but the Princ- seems to have fathered Margret (who married Patrick Halcro), es disappear from Kirkwall altogether after the early 1700s, and Patrick Prince, and Magnus Prince in the 1630s or 1640s. All seemingly also from Edinburgh. There are very few “Magnus were merchants in Kirkwall. Patrick was a bailie, married Marga- Prince”s in the world at this time, and Prince doesn’t seem to ret Groat of Tankerness, and was interred in St. Magnus Cathe- be a Scottish name at all. Edward, son of Patrick, disappears. dral in 1673; his is a well-known (now) upright tombstone depict- Harie, son of Patrick, was apprenticed to a mariner and disap- ing Death piercing the urn of Life with an arrow. His surviving pears. James, son of Sir Magnus, inherits his father’s property. children are named on the tombstone: Eward, Harie, Magnus, This leaves us with the two missing cousins Magnus. Margret, and Cathrin. Sorry for the novel, but I feel like I’m so close to making these Patrick’s brother, Magnus, seems to have moved to Edinburgh last few links. I should also note that I plan to travel to Edinburgh to become a brewer. He married Issobel Gourlay in 1672, became and Kirkwall this summer from the US, to try to put the remain- bailie, burgess, Dean of Guild, Treasurer of Edinburgh, and even- ing pieces into place. Thanks so much for any guidance you can tually Lord Provost in 1687 with the support of the king. He was give me, and please let me know if you have questions or need knighted in 1688 and died in 1689 or 1690, shortly after under- clarification. taking a trip to London to congratulate the king on the birth of a You can email me at: [email protected] prince, on behalf of the city of Edinburgh. We all know how that line of succession turned out... Unfortunately, I don’t know how he died and can’t find a portrait of him. He’s buried in Greyfriars in Edinburgh. Laura’s struggle I am currently muddling my way through transcribing the doc- uments of testament for Harie, Patrick, and Magnus in order to with the records

Laura Walker Member No 3434 I have just joined as I have been re- My grandmother was searching my family tree using Ancestry. com and ScotlandsPeople and have discov- Tomima Jean Platt ered a branch of my tree was based in the Orkney Islands for several generations. Maureen Flack, Member 2896 I am at a point where I am struggling to find out any more information and don’t I have just discovered by using Scotland’s People that my grand want to make assumptions. mother Tomima Jean Randall Platt was the daughter of John Ran- My great great grandmother was Barbara Jane Towers (born dall,a farmer and Jane( Jean) Foulis (previously Randall maiden 27/08/1869 on Shapinsay) and her parents were Richards Tow- name Schollie).She married John Lewis Platt in 1913 in Edin- ers (born 1835) and Rebecka/Rebecca Stevenson (born 1835). burgh.She was a domestic servant and he was in the Royal Field I’ve tracked their parents to Stronsay and Sanday. Richard Tow- Artillery,a driver. In his will written in 1914 he left everything ers parents were James Towers (1802-1871) and Barbara Sclater to his wife,the executor being Stewart Schollie of Chaplebrae, (1802-1888), and Rebecca’s parents were Thomas Stevenson Claeton. Tomima’s address was given as “Roadside” Rapness, (1790) and Isabella Sinclair (1796). Westray. She moved to Bordon in Hampshire and had two daugh- I also have the names of James Towers and Barbara Sclater ters...... my mother she gave away to a farming lady in Berkshire; (George Towers and Barbara Scott / William Sclater and Helen the older daughter, Alice, possibly went to live with her mother’s Scott) relations. In 1919 Tomima went from Glasgow to visit friends in If you have any information/records that could help I would the North with her new husband Adam Kidd.Please does any one be very greatful. I have marriage certificates/death certificates have any links or knowledge of any of these personalities? Would for some of the relatives mentioned and would be happy to love to hear! share. Email at; [email protected] Email me at: [email protected] 10 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Issue No.73 March 2015

By Mike Clouston, Member No.37 William Thomison, my g-g-g-grandfather, was born for the purpose of purchasing some stores for their vessel on Flotta in 1794, a son of John Thomison and Janet at Kirkwall. Between five and six o’clock in the evening Winnick from South Ronaldsay. they left the town in the direction of Scapa, laden with On 20 November 1818 William married Mary Barnet, purchases, and the next intelligence about them was the born 1791. She also came from South Ronaldsay. rumour of their loss as now described. One body has been As far as I can discover they had seven children. Their washed ashore. Orkney Herald. third child (second daughter) was Isabella Ross Then, just over two years later, another tragic accident Thomison, my g-g-grandmother. Their sixth child happened involving William and Alexander Thomison, (fourth son) was Alexander Thomison. as reported by the Orkney Herald in July 1870: At some time before the 1841 census the Thomison family moved from Flotta to Orphir. In the 1841 census BOAT ACCIDENT AT ORPHIR. William is described as a carpenter. No property THREE LIVES LOST. named. In 1851 William is shown as living at Dyealls and On the morning of Saturday last (2 July), William is employed as a fisherman. Then in 1861 he is living at Tomison, Muirhouse, Orphir, his son Alexander, and Muirhouse and is still fishing. his grandson, aged ten years, were out in a small boat In May 1868 this incident occurred, as reported by the hauling dogs when, by some mischance, the boat capsized, John o’ Groat Journal of 7 May 1868 but attributed to the and all were lost. When the crew went off to haul their Orkney Herald. nets, the wind was blowing a smart breeze off the land but not so much as to cause anxiety. They reached the fishing MELANCHOLY BOAT ACCIDENT. ground in safety; but by the time they had got their nets FIVE MEN DROWNED. on board, they had drifted considerably to lee. Sail having A melancholy boat accident, resulting in the death by been made, they had again got pretty well up; but, while drowning of five men, occurred on the evening of Saturday affecting this, the boat was observed to ship several heavy last, off the Ophir (sic) coast. About nine o’clock a woman seas and it is supposed that, being previously overloaded who resides near the shore heard cries of distress coming with nets and fish, the water had made the boat dangerous. from the sea; and on giving an alarm, a boat manned by At all events, an attempt was made to shorten sail, and the Alexander and William Thomison, father and son, mainsail was got down, but before the foresail could be immediately put off in the direction from which the cries taken in, the boat sank. She, however, directly re-appeared, seemed to proceed. At a distance of two gunshots from and after turning twice over, floated on the surface, bottom the shore, they came upon a boat which had apparently up. On seeing the accident, William Ballantine and his righted after being overturned, and which contained two crew immediately put off to render assistance; but, when men, one of whom appeared to be supporting the other. they reached the scene of the disaster, no trace of the men The men were taken on shore, and it was then found that could be found. Subsequently Mr. Fortescue’s yacht went one of them was quite dead; and that the other was in out and brought the boat to land; but, although dredged a very exhausted state. On the survivor being conveyed for on Saturday, none of the bodies have been found. We to the house of Dr. Still, in Ophir (sic), he recovered understand William Tomison leaves a widow and sufficiently to be able to tell that he was captain of the grown-up family, and his son, Alexander, a widow and barque Excelsior, of and from Sunderland for Newhaven three children, the eldest, Alexander, being the young lad (U.S.), then lying at Panhope in Flotta, and that four of his drowned. We need hardly say that the melancholy event crew and one passenger were in the boat besides himself has cast a deep gloom over the whole parish, and much when it capsized. Capt. Atkinson, who appears to have sympathy is felt for all the relatives who had so suddenly received some internal injury from a stroke by the boat, been bereft of support. We are informed that some two was not in a fit condition to give any particulars of the years ago, while the captain and crew of a ship, anchored lamentable accident. It is considered strange how the boat in Longhope, were proceding to Kirkwall for stores, they should have capsized, as the wind was very moderate, were overtaken by a squall, which capsized the boat, but and there was no sea in the Flow. The captain and crew were rescued by the men whose sad death we this day came in their boat from Panhope to Scapa on Saturday chronicle. Orkney Herald. A Issue No 73 March 2015 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY 11

FI found all this information through the British Newspaper Archives. Sadly neither the Orkney Herald Looking for the nor the Orcadian have been digitised yet, although I understand the Orcadian is in the process of being MEMBERS’ DIRECTORY? scanned at the moment. Both articles were printed by It appears that some members are unaware that the the John o’ Groat Journal, but I also found identical Members’ Directory is now available online and that copies in the Dundee Courier and the Nottinghamshire finding it couldn’t be easier. Guardian! Go to www.orkneyfhs.co.uk and log in with your It all started when I got a copy of the death certificate Membership No and password. Click on ‘MEMBERS of William Thomison from www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk PAGE’ in the left column and on the panel that opens and saw the cause of death as “Accidental Drowning”. click “MEMBERS’ DIRECTORY in the menu under “Sib Immediately below the entry for William was that for Folk”. Now insert the surname you require. All the mem- Alexander, and on the next page the entry for Alexander’s bers with that surname will appear. son, also Alexander. The deaths were registered by James Thomison, William’s fourth child and second son. He had the sad duty of registering the deaths of his father, younger brother and nephew all at the same time. L

For the lady who asked about this badge In September of last year, during our two day WW1 Exhibition, Nicol Manson got a query from a lady about the Imperial Service Badge. The day was extremely busy at times and Nicol neglected to get her name, which he tells me, is a great pity as he led hercompletely Have you thought up the garden path with his explanation. about producing an Later in the year, when Nicol was visiting “The Highlanders’ article for Sib Folk News? It’s not a monster museum at Fort George, he spotted the very badge in a case undertaking; just have a dig around your together with an explanation of its origin. family history vaults, stitch the bits and piec- Nicol thinks that the lady was a member of the OFHS and has es together and watch your creation come asked me to publish the story behind the badge in the hope that to life. Give it a few tweaks here and there she will read it. and let it loose in the next edition of Sib Folk The Imperial Service Badge was a short lived decoration awarded News. And if I can have it by 18th April that’s to members of the Territorial Force (TF) who were prepared to just what the Doctor ordered. Ed. L serve outwith the United kingdom. The Territorial Force (TF) was the volunteer reserve of the British Army from 1908 - 1920. We are still getting the odd renewal In times of war, units of the TF were liable to serve anywhere in at the old £7 rate. If your Standing within the UK but could not be compelled to serve outwith the Order is still for this amount, please in- country. However, any member or unit could volunteer to be crease it to £10 in accordance with the liable for overseas service. The majority of those who received new rates (detailled on the back page), the award did so for service during the First World War. which came into effect in September The badge became obsolete following the Armistice when all 2013. Even with this small increase you units of the TF were gradually disbanded. New recruiting took still get probably the best value Family place early in 1920 and the Territorial Force was renamed, the History membership in Great Britain. Territorial Army. Ed L 12 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Issue No 73 March 2015 Issue No 73 March 2015 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY 13

Early evidence of Cromartys John Cromarty in South Ronaldsay was not the first to use from the Mowats, heritable sheriffs of Cromarty since the Cromarty name. In 1500, another John, son of Hucheon the reign of Alexander III, or earlier (Duncan, 1988). Lat- Cromarty of Brabsterdorran, Caithness, was granted his er on by 1349, Ross had granted the burgh and sheriffdom deceased father’s lands, which had been in the King’s hands of Cromarty to Adam Urquhart (Tayler 1946). during John’s minority (RSS, June 15th 1500). We can therefore conclude that Hutcheon’s son John had become a The Cromarty Arms major by 1500, and hence was born in 1479 or earlier, and Nevertheless, members of the Cromarty family did use that his father Hucheon must have been born around 1550, armorial bearings, which however, look completely dif- contemporary with John Cromarty in South Ronaldsay, ferent from those of Elphinstone and Urquhart, showing the presumed ancestor. Hutcheon and John may have been no boars’ heads at all (Figure 3). The armorial bearings brothers or cousins of any order, showing that we have at can be seen in several seal stamps in documents signed By Lars Maersk Hansen, Member No. 3390 least one generation Cromarty before them, probably many in the first decade of the 1700s by Hendrich Cromerty Furthermore, we do not know for sure which part of the more, taking into account the following. (Stiftamtmannens arkiv, SAB). Hendrich was a great- Introduction Before the late 15th century there is a gap in documents great grandson of Thomas Cromerty from Walls, Orkney The present article is the first in a series dealing with the shield belongs to Katherine, the three heads/trees or the regarding the name, and we have to go back in the records (NAS, GD195/49), who became burgess in Bergen, Nor- family name Cromarty, so common in Orkney in the 1600s stag or both. Stone No. 29 has no name on it at all. some 200 years before we find it again. In 1291, a safe-con- way in 1572 (BB fol. 202). In copybooks, it is documented and 1700s. Subsequent articles deal with the Cromarties in duct for William de Crumbacy (place-name Cromarty), who that also Hendrich’s father, Thomas Danielsen Cromerty Bergen, Norway, and their descent from Walls, Orkney, as Elphinstone arms was horse-responsible squire to Earl John of Orkney and and Thomas’ grandfather, also Thomas, used a seal in the well as some of their descendants after 1750. Three boars’ heads are, however, found not only in Ur- Caithness (calendar of Patent Rolls, membrane 14, printed 1640s and the1680s. (The Bergen Cromarties will be fur- At present, many Cromarty genealogists assume that quhart coat-of-arms, but also in those of other families in in Bain, 1884). Remark: Some other printed works quote ther dealt with in a subsequent article in SIB News). John Cromarty, who bought land in Garay in the late 15th Orkney and Northern Scotland, such as Cruikshank and the name as “Grumbaig” (place-name Grumbeg in Caith- The shield shows a hunting horn between two trees century (REO p 437), was the ancestor of the Cromarty fam- Elphinstone (Clouston 1928). One of the slabs - No. 30, the ness), but a check of a photocopy of the original shows us and the crest is a tree of the same type. A hunting horn ily, and the first one to use this name, replacing his original most Urquhart-like of the three (Tayler 1946), had an in- that it says “Crumbacy” (Figure 2), which is just one of many is a symbol of mastering the wild, and the trees speak family name Urquhart (Sib Folk News, Issue 21 pp. 12-13). scription “Here lyes ane honest woman” with no name, only different varieties of the place-name Cromarty in sources for themselves. One does not have to use too much imag- However, in the key work on the Urquhart family, there is her initials “EE”. She was married to Thomas Cromarty from 1266-1315, such as Crumbathyn, Crombasin, Crum- ination to interpret that the Cromartys originally were no mention of any John Urquhart of Cromarty who would in Hoxa, whose initials TC are also on the slab. Clouston bathin, Crumbathy, usually in context, such as “William de involved in forestry or had such land titles. But we have fit in time (Tayler 1946). The present article critically ex- seems to initially have assumed that EE was for E. Elphin- Monte Alto, sheriff of Cromarty”. to go back in time, in order to connect the Cromartys to amines the basis for the Urquhart hypothesis and suggests stone. But he had been informed by K. V. Elphinstone, that another, much older origin, based on archive evidence. there was no E. Elphinstone in Orkney at that time, and for this reason, he concluded that the three boars’ heads could The Urquhart hypothesis not be the Elphinstone armorials. This hypothesis was originally presented in a paper show- However, there was an E. Elphinstone in Orkney, spouse ing rubbings of tombstones, located at St Peters Kirk, South to Thomas Cromarty in Hoxa! A document exists: ”Char- Ronaldsay (Clouston 1928). Clouston interpreted three of ter by Andrew Stewart in Weidwall to Thomas Cromartie, these stones (Nos. 28, 29, and 30 in Figure 1) as showing portioner in Hoxa, and Elspet Elphingstoun, his spouse, shields with Cromarty arms. The three boars’ heads would, of ane meillis of udell land lying under the house of the according to Clouston, indicate that the first Cromarty, Breahead in St. Margaretis Houp”, dated May 24th 1630 John of Cara, originally was an Urquhart of Cromarty, a (NAS GD1/460/3). Thus, it is obvious that the “honest wom- family, who had three boars’ heads in their shield. Clouston an EE” was Elspeth Elphingstoun, and, hence, the three also assumed that the Cromarties later on had spread from boars heads shown on her stone are obviously Elphinstone Figure 2. Part of text in the Safe conduct dated 1291 for John, Earl of Caithness and Cara westward to Walls (Clouston 1928, 1939). coat-of-arms. Clouston and his informant were mistaken, Orkney and for William de Crumbacy (calendar of Patent Rolls, membrane 14) excused by the lack of easily searchable archive catalogues, to which we now have access. Dated May 10th 1309 we find William de Crumbachyn a place called Cromarty. Before the Urquharts, the lands Clouston must have been in doubt, because he spent (maybe the same William as above), as Coroner of Caith- were connected to Hugh of Ross, and before him, to the time to search for a woman fitting the initials “EE”, and ness since 1304, confirmed by Edward II, who also grant- Mowats back to 1266, when we find a William Mowat as finally found a Robert Edmondson in Wydwall with a ed him some lands in Caithness (Rotuli Scotiae I, 2, Ed heritable sheriff of Cromarty. daughter Elisabeth, who would fit in time (OA, D23-6 II, p65). It can be questioned if William ever accepted p12, p278). Furthermore, he presented two other (in my (or even was aware of) this nomination and grant from opinion very dubious) arguments against Elphinstone; Edward II of England. King Edward had by May 1309 no Firstly, he could see no chevron between the heads. How- power at all in North Scotland, as the Earl of Ross had ever, the image is indistinct due to almost 300 years of sided with Robert Bruce already in 1308, and represent- atives from Caithness (Earl Magnus V was a Minor until Figure 1. Left: Tombstone rubbings wear and weathering of the stone, and actually, between the left and lower heads, there is a streak which can be 1310) were present at King Robert’s first Parliament in Nos. 28, 29, and 30 (Clouston 1928). St Andrews in March 1309 (Barrow 2005, 239-240). Right: Elphinstone coat-of-arms, Bridge the remains of a chevron. Secondly, a man would not use his wife’s arms on his tombstone, if he had his own arms. In any case, the two documents show that upper class of Dee (http://www.geograph.org.uk/pho- persons titled “of Cromarty” existed some 200 years be- to/2649061) However the inscription tells us it was the tombstone of his wife, and if she came from a family of high rank her fore John Cromarty in South Ronaldsay, and also more Stone No. 28 doubtless was that of than 25 years before the Urquharts became ”of Cro- Katherine Cromarty. But the three arms would certainly be shown on her stone. Further- marty”, which must have occurred after 1316. This year Figure 3. Left and right: two impressions of two slightly differ- top symbols may have other interpre- more the argument is circular, first having interpreted King Robert I (Bruce) granted the burgh and sheriff- ent Seals of Hendrich Cromerty. HT SC is for ”Hendrich Thom- tations than being boars’ heads. The Katherine’s stone, no 28. One may also wonder why the dom of Cromarty to Sir Hugh Ross (son of William, Earl as Son Cromerty” In the shield there is a stringed hunting horn necks are very long which better fit stag is missing if the combination boar-stag was the arms of Ross), also issuing a warrandice against any claims between two trees (fir), and the crest is a tree of the same type. other animals such as deer or wolf. of Cromarty. A 14 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Issue No.73 March 2015

Left: Image of the armorial bearings of the Earl of Ross late 1300s (Dunbar 1890). The two trees flanking the boar’s head show, that forest resources were of importance to the Earl of Ross, as they had been to the Earl of Caithness/Orkney as well as to the Mormaers of Moray

Timber Resources and Norse population in Easter Ross

FThe rule of the Orkney/ Caithness Earls was based on sea power, for which enormous amounts of timber was needed. From around 900, forests did not exist within their Earldoms – Ork- ney and Caithness– and they had to rely on timber from Norway or Ross (see map in Figure 4). At least three of the earls, Sigurd the mighty, Thorfinn the mighty and Harald Maddadson, organised military campaigns to control Ross and even Moray (Crawford 1995, 2013). The Norse Place names in Easter Ross, such as Dingwall and Alness, show that a Norse speak- ing population must have been present in the area for a very long time, regardless of whether the Orkney/ Caithness Earls or Scots rulers (Kings or Moray Mor- maers) controlled the area (Crawford 2013). All of the powerful rulers would have an interest in Figure 4. Map of Northern Scotland, showing the seaways the important timber resources of the area, and the between Orkney and Ross. Notice the importance of Cromarty, Norse speaking population must have had good or ac- controlling the entrance to the Cromarty firth and the forest ceptable relationships with all of them in order to be areas of Easter Ross with Norse place names, such as Alness able to stay there. If they were skilled ship builders and Dingwall, the latter for a long time a local capital, and still they could, as both Earl and King, have an interest in is the central town of the area. shipbuilding. Crawford (1995, 2013) assumes that Norse speakers populated the area with Earl Thorfinn at about 1050, as there are no pagan graves. However, there may have been Christian Norse people in the area long be- Conclusions fore that, as Christian mission in Scandinavia started • The tombstone of Elisabeth Elphinstone with in the late 800s. The Scot/Moray rulers may even have three boars’ heads and the occurrence of the name encouraged such settlement of skilled ship builders. as early as 1291, as well as the Seal stamps of the Conflicts with the pagan majority in Norway/Orkney Cromarty Arms are strong evidence against the may have made it attractive for Christians to settle in Urquhart hypothesis. Scotland. At latest by 1266 (Treaty of Perth), proba- • The title “of Cromarty” seems to have originated bly already by 1215 when Farquhar was awarded the in the area of the Cromarty Firth. Exactly when is Earldom of Ross (Munro 1986), the Earls of Orkney/ not known maybe before A.D. 1000, but probably Caithness had lost all power over Ross, but may still before 1215, when Farquhar was awarded with the have had some rights to timber from the area (Craw- Earldom of Ross (Munro 1986). ford 2013). • Their coat-of-arms and association with the Ork- The armorial bearings of the Cromarty family in ney/Caithness Earls indicate that the Cromartys Bergen (formerly Walls, Orkney) indicate that Cro- played a role in timber handling or trade on behalf martys–shown to have been associated with the Earls of the Earl, and probably had land titles around of Orkney/Caithness–had some connection to forest Cromarty, controlling sea access into the Cromarty resources. Their name points to Cromarty and the Firth. (Evidence for land titles will be discussed in Cromarty Firth, to the West of which there was the a subsequent article on the Cromartys in Bergen, forest-rich region of Easter Ross dealt with by Craw- Norway). A ford (1995). Issue No 73 March 2015 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY 15

Continued from prervious page • Sometime around A.D. 1200, probably due to politi- cal circumstances, Cromartys spread northward to Does anyone know about Caithness and Walls where they seem to have had had land before 1500. Thomas Danvers Johnston? • Before 1500 they migrated eastward to South Ron- aldsay, the opposite direction to the one suggested Eunice & Tony Johnston, Members 3330 by Clouston (1928), as well as to Bergen in Norway. • The earliest origin of the Cromarty family is ob- We are looking for information on a THOMAS DAN- scure. But given the Norse activity in Easter Ross VERS JOHNSTON, great-grandfather. The only informa- for some hundreds of years before A.D. 1200, and tion we have is that he was born or lived in Calderwood knowing the association of William de Crumbacy Stromness Orkney island Scotland, born around 11.8.1838 with the Earl it, may have been Norse, or mixed arrived in Australia on the ship called ALFRED in 1857. with Gaelic, as intermarriage between leading He married ANNE MARIE ROBERTS in RYLSTONE Norse and Gaelic families often occurred, in order NSW AUSTRALIA 1861, Anne - born 1841 - died 1925. to ensure economical or political alliances (Craw- Thomas died in SYDNEY AUSTRALIA 24.7.1892. ford 2013). Can any member help? You can email us at [email protected] Aknowledgments

Thanks are due to: Leah Flag, who first drew my at- tention to the Urquhart hypothesis; Diane Baptie, who searched and transcribed several NAS documents; Yngve Nedrebø with staff, SAB, who guided me in the Bergen Archives; Ron Garson, Adam Cromarty and Margaret Watters with whom I have had fruitful com- munications in the matter. Martin Bork critically read my manuscript, resulting in essential improvements.

References Could this have been my Bain, J. 1884: Calendar of documents relating to Scotland vol II A.D. 1272-1307, 535 great uncle’s grocer shop? Barrow, G. W. S. 2005. Robert Bruce and the Community of the From Heather Ayer, Member 1826 Realm of Scotland. Edinburgh University Press. Clouston, J. S. 1928. Some Orkney Heraldic Rubbings. Pro- I am reading Stromness a History by Bryce Wilson. On ceedings of the Orkney Antiquarian Society, Vol. VI, 43-53 page 174, there is a photo of C. Sinclair Grocery and Chi- Clouston, J. S. 1939. Proceedings of the Orkney Antiquarian naware Shop. Photo is too small to really see it clearly. Society, Vol. XV, 61-68 My great grandfather, William Taylor Sinclair, had a BB. Bergens Borgerbok (Burgess book of Bergen). Bergen brother, Charles Spence Sinclair, who was a grocer. He Byarkiv was born Jan. 29, 1846 and died Nov. 9, 1917. He was Crawford, B. E. 1995. Earl and Mormaer. Norse-Pictish Rela- married to Janetta Ross. Is it possible that the photo in tionships in Northern Scotland. the book is that of his store? If so, does anyone know how I Crawford, B. E. 2013. The Northern Earldoms. Orkney and can obtain a larger copy of the photo and any other infor- Caithness, AD 870-1470. mation relating to him, his family and his store? Dunbar, Archibald H. 1890. Facsimiles of the Scottish Coats of You can email me at: [email protected] Arms Emblazoned in the ”Armorial de Gelre” Proc. Soc. Antiq. Scot. xxv. 9-19 Duncan, A (ed.), 1988. Regesta Regum Scottorum V. The Acts Looking for Isabella Garrick of Robert I. Munro, J. 1986. The Earldom of Ross and the Lordship of the Isles. In Baldwin (ed.), Firthlands of Ross and Sutherland. From Alexandra Richter , Member 1021 NAS, National Archives of Scotland I am looking for information on Isabella Garrick born OA. Orkney Archives Shapinsay 1869. I believe she went to Chicago Illinois to REO. Records of the Earldom of Orkney. (Ed. Clouston), 1914 her 3 brothers. I can find her in the Chicago Obituary in RSS. Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland. 1958 but cannot find Death Certificate or any other info. DRA. Rigsarkivet, København Can anyone help? SAB. Statsarkivet i Bergen (County Archives, Bergen) You can email me at: [email protected] Tayler, H. 1946. History of the Family of Urquart. L

16 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Issue No.73 March 2015

By Graham Mack Member 364

I suppose I should have expected skeletons. Many years ago, ‘Westhill.’ The birth was recorded on March 4th1872, but he before computers and the internet, my father had started to was not baptised until August 13th 1873. He was recorded research his family tree. He had an aunt who had emigrated as illegitimate, his father being Charles Dunnet, a farm to South Africa in the 1920s, and he had lost touch with the servant, and his mother being Eliza Reid, a farm servant, family. In the 1970s, he was able to get information through originally from Westray. Both were probably working South Africa House, that informed him that his aunt had at Balfour Mains. So, my grandfather was illegitimate, recently died, and the voters index gave him the address, something my mother may or may not have known, but in South Africa, of his aunt’s granddaughter. she certainly didn’t talk about it. Delving further into the He wrote to the granddaughter, introducing himself, resources at the Heritage Centre, we found the records of and expressing condolences upon the recent death of her the U.P. Kirk Session Minutes. It didn’t take us long to find grandmother. What a dreadful shock for her. Not that a reference to my grandfather’s birth, and in particular a UK relative had got in touch, but to be told that her to his mother, Eliza. grandmother had recently died. She had been told that ‘Appeared Eliza Reid, who had fallen into the sin of her grandmother had died in the 1930s. In fact, it turned Fornication, after being counselled the session deferred out that her grandmother had spent 40 years in a mental her case to the next meeting’ institution, following the death of a child. This information ‘Considered the case of Eliza Reid the Session not being had been kept from the family by her grandmother’s fully satisfied with the state of minde decline to admite her husband, her grandfather! to her privilages at this communion.’ It wasn’t until my mother’s death in 1997, that I decided Both recorded in March 1873 to research her family tree. I knew something about her ‘Appeared Eliza Reid whose case is mentioned in former father, my grandfather, Captain Charles Dunnet (1872- Minuts, after being counsled and admonished the Session 1960), (see SIB Folk News December 2015), from stories my judging her to be penitent agree that she be rebucked before mother told. I knew that he had been born on Shapinsay, the congregation at the close of Public Worship on Saturday and the story was that he had run away to sea as a young first and restored to her privilages.’ man. My mother spoke of him being brought up in Orkney Recorded on July 10th 1873 by a family called ‘Peace’. This connection was sufficiently The skeleton was well and truly out of the cupboard! Our important to Charles that he named one of his daughters imaginations were running riot and there was a sense of ‘Jane Peace Dunnet’. feeling sad and sorry for Eliza, and the situation that she My mother, Mary, and her brother and sisters, were born found herself in. in Edinburgh, as my grandfather had spent his working Back in Kirkwall, and armed with the information gathered life sailing out of Leith, rising to be Commodore Master of on Shapinsay, we visited the OFHS offices, in its old home the Currie Line. As far as we know, grandfather had little near the Cathedral, and we were able to view census and contact with family links in Orkney, and my mother never other records. We were able to confirm that a Sinclair visited Orkney. Dunnet married Mary Work on 20th February 1851, and So it was, that in 1998, my wife and I, with our two grown that their son Charles (my great grandfather) was born up children, set off for Orkney, to discover my grandfather’s 17th July 1851. They lived with Mary’s mother and aunt, roots, from our home in Essex, England. As soon as we Margaret and Jane Heddle, (Mary was illegitimate) at arrived we saw the name ‘Peace’ on advertisement Tuquoy (?) a property ‘lost’ in the squaring on Shapinsay. hoardings, taxis and shops. We thought it would be easy In 1857 Sinclair took on the lease of ‘Flakimoss’ from the to find a connection! Balfour Estate, and raised a family there. The lease at But first, off to Shapinsay and the wonderful Heritage ‘Flakimoss’ was for 19 years, and so by the 1881 census Centre. The four of us were soon going through the resource the family had moved and were living at 9 Junction Road, files, finding the name ‘Dunnet’. There we found results of Kirkwall. Sinclair’s son Charles Snr (my great grandfather) ploughing matches, the rolls of the Shapinsay Volunteers, was living at this address. the rents of ‘Flakimoss’, a farm which was part of the After the birth of my grandfather, his illegitimate son, Balfour Estate, and farmed by the Dunnets from 1857. Charles Jnr, in 1872, Charles Snr married Jane Reid And then we found the birth of my grandfather, Charles of ‘Monquhanny’, Shapinsay in 1874, and they had three Dunnet! He was born at 5.30pm on February 12th, 1872 at children, including a daughter, Jane. Charles Snr’s A Issue No 73 March 2015 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY 17

FJane died, and he married again in 1892, this time in From the census records, and his death certificate, his Shetland to Anderina Jamieson. They had two children birth could be anywhere between 1819 and 1827, with and moved to Ayrshire around 1894. his place of birth being East May or Canisbay, Caithness. In later visits to Orkney, we were able to meet descendants The closest I can find is the birth in 1821 to a George of Charles Snr’s daughter Jane, my grandfather’s half- Dunnet and Elizabeth Manson. So, is this George sister, and compare family research. We also met another the same person as James? Could they be brothers? Did Dunnet, a descendant of Dunnets from South Ronaldsay. Sinclair’s son-in-law record Sinclair’s mother’s surname These South Ronaldsay Dunnets could trace their family incorrectly? Who are my Sinclair’s parents? back to James Dunnet and Elizabeth Manson, from Now, we did solve one mystery! The 1881 census records Caithness. They had my Sinclair and his family on their my grandfather, Charles Dunnet, as a boarder, living tree, with Sinclair the son of James and Elizabeth. with William and Jane Cormack in Balfour Village, However, here is the mystery! My Sinclair died in 1898, on Shapinsay, and staying there as a visitor, is Charles’ the bowling green at Glaitness House, Kirkwall. His death mother, Eliza Reid. The 1871 census records William was registered by his son–in– law. The death certificate and Jane Cormack living at ‘Westhill’, the place of gives Sinclair’s mother’s name as ------Simpson Charles’ birth in 1872. Living with William and Jane is and his father’s name as James Dunnet. So, either my Jane’s father – James Peace. So before marriage, Jane Sinclair Dunnet is not related to the South Ronaldsay Cormack was Jane Peace. She must have meant a Dunnets, because his mothers name is recorded as great deal to my grandfather, Charles, probably acting Simpson, not Manson, or Sinclair’s son-in-law did not as his mother, since he named his daughter, my aunt, know the names of Sinclair’s parents, and in particular Jane Peace Dunnet after her. Sinclair’s mother. So, skeletons and mysteries – some solved and some not! So far I have not been able to confirm the birth of Sinclair. But friendships too, the subject of a later article. =L

Can you believe that this photograph was taken nearely 61 years ago. It is the Class of 1954, 1B Higher Grade KGS to be precise. You should be able to recognise lots of faces here but if you get stuck have a look at page no. 21. 18 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Issue No.73 March 2015

KIN

grandfather

WIFE genealogicalforebearsthe UNCLEDAD PARENTAGE inheritance DESCENTCOUSIN descendants blood

ORKNEY

FATHER SON

DNA UncleLEGACY relationship The Orphans GUNNSof Orphir ANCESTRY ANCESTORS genealogy By Gordon Gunn, Member No 1843

In my experience, genealogy is more than the study Glasgow, Catherine Morrison Peebles. The Gunn of family history. It can also become an obsessive family had farmed alongside the Loch of Kirbister for compulsive disorder. Once I start a genealogy search, I many years and through James, I could trace my roots become absorbed in solving the puzzle, not satisfied until back to my 5th great-grandfather, John Gunn. The the last piece is put in place. During these periods of Orphir Parish records show that in 1737 John married intensive research, I have a tendency to share my work Cicilia Groundwater (born in 1714). There is no birth and thoughts with others. Friends, family and even record for John in the Orphir Parish records so we never strangers on the street are not safe from my stories. My knew who his parents were. In a genealogical sense, the spouse reminds me frequently that not everyone shares lack of a birth record made John an orphan and he was my enthusiasm for genealogy. She says that my stories not the only one. During my visit in 2007 I had identified can be near fatal and could put a bull elephant to sleep eight other Gunns born in the generation prior to the start in ten seconds flat. of parish birth and baptismal records. While their births My interest in family history started as a child when I were not recorded, I was able to find documentation of heard the stories of how my family came to Canada and their marriages and the baptisms of their children in the ended up on its rugged west coast. The stories were full parish records. of great adventures and offered glimpses of faraway For years, I have worked to peel back time and reconnect places and times. My interest led to me becoming the the Gunn family in Orphir to the Gunn clan in Caithness. repository of family history and artifacts and over the The history of the Gunn Clan in the Orkneys and years I documented our family tree as best I could. There Caithness is well documented, back to the early Viking were limitations in the data, so only modest progress was days and my ultimate goal was to link back to this rich made for many years. Then along came the Internet and history. The specific purpose of my second visit to the everything changed. The ability to share information and Orkney Family History Society was to identify John’s link to historical records enabled much more extensive parents, using available parish records. research. What had begun as a hobby project soon During my became a mission; to discover as much about my family visit to the history as I could and pass that information along. Orkney While genealogy websites have greatly aided research, not Family all resources are online. To research my father’s family, I History needed access to the Orphir Parish Records available at Society the Orkney Family History Society in Kirkwall. Having in 2007, I visited the Orkneys briefly in 2007, I looked forward to confirmed seeing the islands again. that there My grand- were no father, birth James records Taylor prior to Gunn, 1708 but Bachylis in 1925 w a s also noted born at that there was information available in the records Bachylis that might be used to identify family relationships. In in the particular, I noted that records of baptisms and marriage Parish of contracts usually noted the presence of witnesses, who Orphir in were often family members. I theorized that if I looked 1890. As for information about witnesses to these events, I might a young be able to infer family relationships that would help me Catherine Morrison Gunn and James Taylor Gunn man, he to identify John’s parents. moved to Glasgow and then emmigrated to Canada prior Returning to the islands in August, 2013, I took a room at to World War I. There he met and married a girl from the Houghton Bay Lodge to get a feel of Orphir. I touredA Issue No 73 March 2015 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY 19

F the island but spent most of the next five days searching children, beginning with Hary in 1688 and ending with the records at the Family History Society. I identified nine Ursilla in 1711. His records supported my suppositions Gunns who were likely born in Orphir in the generation about the relationship between John and his parents, but prior to the start of the birth and baptismal records: went much further. His family tree linked my Orphir Katharine, Hary, William, Francis, Magnus, Janet, John, ancestors back, generation by generation, to our shared Jean and Ursilla. Danish and Norwegian Viking ancestors. According Any good theory requires a supposition based, in part, to his records, our first ancestor linked to the Orkneys upon an understanding of available data. In the first ten was Thorfinn II Haraldson (The Great) who was born years of the parish records(1710 – 1720), I found that the in Denmark, married in Kirkwall in 1005 and died in only Gunn Thurso in 1056. children born From the information I’ve gathered, I conclude that the were James Gunn’s of Orphir are related through Edward Gunn (baptized (1658) and Elspit Coupar and can trace their paternal in 1712) heritage back to Harald Fairhair, the first king of and George Norway. (baptized in Gordon is a member of the Orkney Family History 1714), both Society from Victoria, British Columbia, Canada and the children has three sons. of Edward Gunn Orphir Parish Records - Witnesses (Abt 1665) and Elspit 1. William Gunn witnessed the christening of George Coupar (Abt Gunn in 1714, son to Edward Gunn and Elspit Bachylis 2007 1670). My Coupar. supposition was that Edward and Elspit were the parents of some, if 2. William Gunn witnessed the christening of John not all, of the Gunn children, with James and George being Louttit in 1715, son to David Louttit and Katharine the last. I also supposed that Edward and Elspit started Gunn. their family when they were in the twenties, having their first children around 1690 and ending with George’s birth 3. Edward Gunn witnessed the christening of William around 1713. Gunn in 1715, son to Hary Gunn and Ann Flett. So I hunkered down at the Family History Society, looking 4. Edward Gunn witnessed the christening of Edward for evidence to support my theory. I was able to find Gunn in 1719, son to Hary Gunn and Ann Flett. 12 records which supported a conclusion that Edward and Elspit were the parents of William, Hary, Francis, 5. Magnus Gunn witnessed the christening of Margaret Magnus, John, Ursilla, George and James. I was unable Gunn in 1722, daughter to Hary Gunn and Ann Flett. to find records that linked Janet Gunn (abt 1705), who married John Flett, or Jean Gunn (abt 1710), who 6. John Gunn witnessed the christening of John Gunn married Thomas Flett. in 1724, son to Hary Gunn and Ann Flett. Returning home to Canada, I felt I had succeeded in establishing that John Gunn’s parents were Edward 7. Edward Gunn was the cautioner for Magnus Gunn, Gunn and Elspit Coupar and that his siblings included when he contracted to marry Katharine in 1725. William, Hary, Francis, Magnus, James and George. I was 8. Hary Gunn witnessed the christening of John Gunn disappointed, however, that I had not connected all the in 1727, son to Francis Gunn and Margaret Wilson. Gunn orphans and that my suppositions about the family connections remained unconfirmed. In genealogy research, 9. John Gunn witnessed the christening of John Gunn it’s important to have multiple sources of evidence and I in 1731, son to Francis Gunn and Margaret Wilson lacked a second source. (suggesting that their first son John died). I thought this is where my story would end, and you the reader may wish it were true, but alas, stories never end 10. Edward Gunn was present at the christening of Isabel quite that easily. Slater in 1733, natural daughter to Ursilla Gunn. Prior to my 2013 trip, I had begun an online conversation with a distant relative in Australia who had posted a 11. Magnus Gunn witnessed the christening of Magnus Gunn family tree more extensive and richer in detail than Gunn in 1735, son to Hary Gunn and Ann Flett. anything I had previously encountered. He told me that his family line had been responsible for keeping family 12. George Gunn witnessed the birth of John Gunn in records over many centuries and that he was in the process 1737, son to John Gunn and Cicilia Groundwater. of translating all these records and posting them online. I asked him for assistance in finding information on the If any member has anything to add Gunn family in Orphir and, to my surprise, he was able about the Gunns of Orphir I will be to locate Edward Gunn in his family tree. According delighted to hear from them. My email to his records, Edward and Elspit had a total of fourteen address is [email protected] L 20 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Issue No.73 March 2015

19 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY

Issue No.60 December 2011

Have you noticed the ‘stone’ on the Heddle Hill? By Mimes Manson. Member No 132 Isobel Michelle from NZ If you read the article in our September issue on the Herdie Boys and Girls you might have wondered how they passed the long days on the hills. Next time you are on one of the roads leading to Finstown look up to the skyline of the Heddle Hill and you will see what some of them got up to. may have connected ‘her’ At first glance you will spot what appears to be a standing stone but this is actually a pillar that was built by herdie boys to help pass the time. Locally it is known as Buckles To’er. Near the village, on the hillside, stands the ruins of the small farmhouse of Bellaquoy. Older locals know it The ruins of the farmhouse of Bellaquoy Tullochs to the Tullochs as Buckle’s. But who was Buckle? 1911 How did they manage to 1881 1891 1901 RESIDENTS OF BELLAQUOY, FIRTH1851 1861 1871 - build it so high? - - - 52 62 73 - Simple. They left stones 74 83 - 43 52 64 - protruding in order to reach Robert Tulloch. Head. Mason. b.Stenness - - - the higher levels and when Tulloch nee (Saunders) Wife. B. Kirkwall - - - 79 Jane - 60 - building was completed they Tulloch. Daughter. b. circa 1828 - - - - Jean - - - knocked off the excess. Mary Tulloch. Daughter. b. circa 1831 16 - - - of - Bellaquoy, Firth - - James Tulloch. Son b. Firth - - - - This photograph was taken by Tom - - - Kent, possibly around 1910. The man Tulloch. Daughter. b. Circa 1835 12 22 - - Margaret - - - in the picture is almost certainly William John Tulloch. Son. b. Firth 9 20 - 66 Tulloch Buckle. 34 45 56 Tulloch. Daughter. b. Firth 6 16 25 - Betsy 32 - - Robert Tulloch. Son. Mason b. Firth 2 12 - 56 26 36 46 Thomas Tulloch Son. b. Firth - 7 16 - 26 36 - Ann Tulloch. Daughter. b. Firth - 7 16 - 9 - - Tulloch. Daughter. b. Firth - - - - Jessie 1 11 - - - - William Buckle. Grandson. b. Edinburgh John Roy. Grandson. b. Firth And it all started when she read William Tulloch Buckle was born on the 22 June 1871 in Edinburgh, the son of Thomas Buckle, a tailor, and Betsy Tulloch. Betsy and her sister Mary were both in domestic service in Edinburgh at the time of her marriage in 1867. Big fam- ilies and lack of work in Orkney meant that many young people had to leave home to find work and many Orkney girls worked in service to wealthy houses in Edin- Mimes Manson’s article in the Decem- burgh and Glasgow. Betsy died in Edinburgh in 1867 which explains how Buckle .There was also a daughter Jane and a son Thomas born in came to Bellaquoy Edinburgh but no record of them has yet been found. William was quite a personality in Finstown and has been credited with building ber 2011 edition of Sib Folk News the Tower but when we find that the Tullochs were a family of masons, and his uncles would have herded on that same hill, it seems likely that he was only fin- ishing a job that had been started earlier. For a pile of stones to stand for well over a hundred years would imply that some building skills were employed. Buckle was a well-known character locally and died in 1947 at Bellaquoy leaving a widow and stepson. One of the roads in a recently completed housing dev- Isobel writes to say that as soon as she started reading elopment in Finstown has been named Buckle’s Road and hopefully Buckle’s To’er will be preserved as a mon- the article by Mimes, bells started to ring and it spurred ument to the Herdie Boys and Girls. her on to researching William Paton TULLOCH, who was born in Orkney in 1832 and she now thinks that he might well have fitted into the family of Robert and Jean, nee Saunders, TULLOCH. William came to NZ in 1858, on the ship “ The Three Christina married and lived in Dunedin. Bells”, which sailed from Glasgow. He settled at first, at Henry married a local Glenore girl, and moved to the the Taieri Ferry, where there were other folk from the remote Northern/Western area of Ovens in Victoria in Orkneys. Taieri Ferry was an over-night stop for people Australia where he went goldmining and eventually es- travelling south, by boat, after leaving Dunedin, and was tablished two dredges and a township. sited up a river. People were then ferried to the Lake at Mary Jane - known as Minnie, died suddenly in Oama- Waihola, and travelled southwards, to the southern end ru, at the young age of 20 years, but is buried in the fam- of the Lake, from where they had to walk. ily plot at Glenore. After William left Stewart Island, he spent some time Helen Clark - married Richard Harvey MICHELLE, on the goldfields in the Lawrence area. Then he pur- formerly of Roxburgh, and from a goldmining family. He chased farmland in Glenore that was beside another came to Glenore, and worked as a farmer/goldminer with goldmining area. On the 5”‘ Febuary 1863, he married William Tulloch. The Michelle family were the only fami- Elspeth Clark, who was a daughter of Henry Clark and ly to remain and live about the Milton area. Michelles are Christina Heron, who were also early settlers to the Mil- still living in the Milton area in 2015. ton area. William Robert George, also went to work with Henry, goldmining in Australia, He married and had a family of William and Elspeth had nine children, named as 8, and used many of the same family christian names for follows. his children. Both “Will” and “Harry” are buried in Aus- Christina Heron TULLOCH - named after her mother tralia. Henry Clark TULLOCH - named after the mother’s John Alexander, worked on the farm at Glenore, then father. at Milburn, north of Milton, on a limestone quarry, until Mary Jane TULLOCH - after the TULLOCH family ? enlisting for WW1. Sadly he died in action, and is buried Helen Clark TULLOCH - named after the Clark side, in Belgium. He had not married. and known as Nellie. Thomas James lnnes - known as Tom, also went to William Robert George TULLOCH - named after the Australia, but nothing more is known of his where~ Tulloch side and Clark side. abouts, apart from being listed as a miner at Omeo, in John Alexander TULLOCH - named after the Tulloch 1907 where Will and Henry, his brothers were working. side ? George Saunders, died at the age of 19, at Glenore, and Thomas James Innes TULLOCH - after the Clark is buried in the family plot at Glenore. and Tulloch famiies, but no information on where Jasper Forrest worked as a missionary in New Zealand the Innes/Ennis may have come from and the Sudan for 7 years, and finally in South Australia. George Saunders TULLOCH - names come from both He married in Australia and died in Adelaide. Clark and Tulloch family William Paton died at Bright in Victoria, Australia, in Jasper Forrest TULLOCH - these names from the December 1906, where he had gone to visit the goldmin- Clark family. ing area that his sons were working in. His death A Issue No 73 March 2015 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY 21

Fcertificate is the only document where Isobel could find the find the name Paton. When William married in Milton, NZ in 1863, it was not necessary to include the parents’ names of the groom and the bride and when William died in 1906, of peritonitis, Henry provided the EXCISEMAN details for the death certificate, but did not know his fa- FASTER THAN A ther’s parents names. Isobel has a copy of the IGI which gives William’s birth parents as Robert and Jean Saun- SPEEDING BULLET ders, with a birth date of 2nd December 1832. The place While searching through of birth is given as Firth and Stenness. William was copies of the Orkney censuses, buried in Bright, Australia and his sons saw that he Ian Cameron, Member No 10, was given a tombstone. Elspeth died in Glenore a few came across these interesting years later, and the Michelle family, with John Tulloch entries: worked the farm at Glenore. Sanday 1871 Robert Rae, lodger, u/m, All of William‘s children attended the Glenore school, Inland revenue excise branch, b. Airth, and their father also served on the school committee Stirlingshire. for nearly 30 years, most of which as chairman. Wiliam Westray 1871 Robert Rae, lodger, u/m, was also on a committee that established the Glenore Inland revenue excise branch, b. Airth, cemetery. Stirlingshire.” Isobel has not, as yet, “attached” her William, to the How did he manage it and what was he search- family of Robert and Jean, who lived in Finstown in the ing for? Orkneys, but would like to know what Mimes and any oth- In all of Ian’s fifteen years as an OFHS volun- er members, who may be familiar with the family, think teer, during which he must have referred to the of her research, and whether “her” William may belong Orkney Censuses hundreds or even thousands of to “Mimes’s” Tulloch family from Bellaquoy in Finstown. times he has never come across such an anomaly. Also, a James TULLOCH was living south of Balclu- tha, NZ in 1895, with a family of three daughters, but shifted to Australia in 1898. BACK ROW: Irene Thorburn, Marina Burger, Colin Les- “Mimes’s James is listed as being a resident of Bel- lie, Russell Corsie, John Rendall, William Emslie, Jack laquoy in 1851, but is missing from 1861. Walls, Robert Scott, Norma Mitchell, Frances Corbet. The 1860s was a major time of goldming rushes in NZ, when many single men came to NZ, in droves, to SECOND ROW: Agnes Leslie, Irene Findlay, Ruth Foster, join in. Frances Wards, Margaret Heddle, Margaret Russell, Isobel would be interested in any information about Pat Horn, Eileen Kirkness, Mary Dawson. both William and James as it appears that William came straight to New Zealand, from Scotland, but she THIRD ROW: The two standing at either end. does not know anything about James, except that he Left: Margaret Milne. Right: Annie Drever. and family appear on a school roll, and that is how she knows he went to Australia in 1898. Isobel would wel- FOURTH ROW: Chris Hoar, Brian Findlay, Neil Johnston, come any sort of news, good or bad, before she can con- Billy Work, Aileen Hourston, Iris Spence, Elspeth Young- firm where “her” William came from exactly, and who son, Isabell Ross, Margaret Craigie, Diana Watt. his parents were. She has asked especially for this letter to be printed FRONT ROW: Kenny Linklater, in an issue of the Orkney FHS newsletter, as it shows Norman Windwick, Bobby Slater. that Orkney folk did come to NZ, on the other side of the world , and “Got on with life” It is Isobel’s husband, Stuart, who is descended from William, via a son of Richard and Helen Michelle. Isobel The kgs class of and Stuart lived on a farm at Glenore for nearly 30 1954. How many did years and she got interested in the history of Glenore you get right? when it was gold-mined again, in the late 1990s, but us- ing very modern gear. Their daughter met her husband to be, who was working at that time at the mine. Well there it is: Isobel has unearthed a lot of informa- tion but is still missing the vital link between the two If you have an old or odd pho- Tulloch families. She is hoping that some of this will tograph that you would like to strike a chord with Mimes or indeed any other mem- share with members, send it to bers of the OFHS. If you can help she will be delighted me as an email attachment and to hear from you. Email her at [email protected] when I have space I will include Isobel Michelle, Member No. 2728 of the Orkney Fam- it in a future SIB News. Ed. ily History Society is also a Member of the New Zealand [email protected] Society of Genealogists. L 22 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Issue No 73 March 2015

They left Orkney probably between 1840 - 1860. James Ross b. 1868 in Gateshead North East England. At this time this area was thriving because of the Industrial Revolution - there were jobs. A few years after doing my research my wife and I booked a cruise, the main purpose of which was to visit the Orkneys. I was excited at the prospect of seeing the islands, and looked forward to doing further research in the Record office. Guess my surprise when I found that the office was closed on the day we arrived, a Wednesday. Never mind, a little further along the library corridor I came across some John Ross, Member No 3324 charming, helpful men from the Orkney Family History Society. Together we ate some biscuits and gathered a little No one in my family had ever mentioned Orkney so when more information relating to my father’s side of the family. I started researching into my family, to my surprise Hopefully, I’ll return on a weekday, other than Wednesday, and pleasure I found that the male side came from the and do some research in the Record office. In the meantime, Orkneys. I found the following: if any of my Orkney family rings a bell, I would love to hear David Ross m. Marjory Scott 1691 - from you. I know my ancestors left in the 1800s, but you David Ross m. Elspet Cromerty - Walls and Flotta 1716 never know. Perhaps there are still some connections, or Donald Ross m. Christiana Millar -Walls and Flotta 1742 even records of the reasons why people left in those days. Donald Ross m. Cathrine Whior -Walls and Flotta 1779 Donald Ross m. Mary McQueen - Stromness 1821 - You can reach me at

Possibly Pottinger People...

. . . or connected to that family. There could be grandchildren reading this who will recognise a family member. If so Nan Scott would be delighted to hear from you. Please email Nan at:- Issue No 73 March 2015 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY 23

OBITUARY

Remembering Betty Cameron, a dear friend and colleague.

Orkney Family History Society lost a valued enjoyed meeting Betty and have been grateful when member and volunteer when Elizabeth (Betty) Ian and Betty have sometimes been able to take them Cameron passed away on 30th January this year to see their ancestors’ birthplaces at the age of 90 years. She and her husband of 40 Betty was well read and interested in Scotland and years had been members (no. 10) of the society Scottish History. As a result she could present an in- right from its inauguration. They both served on teresting talk especially on Queen Victoria’s travels the committee from 1999 until 2005. Betty especial- as she visited the big houses and castles in Scotland. ly had been active in similar societies in Glasgow She had a clear speaking voice that was easy to listen before retiring to Orkney. She returned to Glasgow to and Ian had slides to accompany the talk. Several each year to be at a meeting of the Orkney and Orkney groups invited them to speak. Ian introduced Shetland Association where she was welcomed as them to OFHS and then Betty would give her talk. their Honorary President. Betty has generously supported the society in many Ian and Betty turned up faithfully for duty in ways. She regularly attended the meetings, the par- the office every Wednesday afternoon where they ties and the outings and was always well turned out worked with three younger men. Being the only belying her age. The latter being particularly true lady it usually fell to her to see to the tea break. when she took on an “assault course” at the Graemsay The story goes that she must have had enough of outing! their nonsense one day as she returned from the Issue No33 of Sib Folk News included an article on kitchen with four iced coffees! Another afternoon Page 4 about the many activities Ian and Betty got up she recalled was the first day the 1901 census came to on their ‘retirement’. Well worth a read and you can out. There was a queue in the Strynd waiting for find it on our website. copies and no tea break that day. She turned her We are all going to miss Betty and we send Ian our hand to making the books as well as the men. Many deepest condolences on the loss of a dear soulmate. of our members and other visitors to the office have Nan Scott

Digital files in Word with no formatting or plain text files are preferred although handwritten or typed articles can be supplied. A rough guide as to the length of article is about 900 words for the first page. This allows for a header which I would do plus a good quality photograph to be supplied by the author. Subsequent pages should be about 1100 words long which again would allow for the inclusion of a photograph. There can, of course, be additional photos on the page with a corresponding reduction in text length. These are only rough guides and layouts can always be adapted to suit. Images should be scanned as grayscale and supplied as JPEGS saved as ‘highest quality’ or at 300dpi. Photographs can also be supplied and I will scan as required. It is probably safer not to send originals. Please DO NOT embed photographs in Word files. And there you have it. Nothing complicated. Articles should be emailed to me with images included as JPEG attachments. Last date for articles always appears somewhere in the newsletter. Deadline for our June issue is 18th April. This can be extended if I know something is coming. If you do not have access to a computer you can forward by mail. By EMAIL: [email protected] By POST: John Sinclair, Burnbrae, 21 Burnside, Kirkwall, Orkney KW15 1TF. THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY

rkney Family History Society was formed in 1997 NEW MEMBERS and is run by a committee of volunteers. Membership of the Society is through subscription and O It is similar to societies operating worldwide runs for a period of 12 months from date of application. where members share a mutual interest in family history Our magazine, ‘Sib Folk News’ is available to members and help each other with research and, from time to every 3 months unless they have agreed to ‘opt out’ (see time, assist in special projects concerning the countless new rate structure) as all issues are now available online. records and subjects available to us all in finding our Our ‘Members’ Directory’ can also be found online at roots. www.orkneyfhs.co.uk following links members page/ The main objectives are: Members’ Directory. This lists members’ contact details 1 To establish a local organisation for the study, and their research interests. collection, analysis and sharing of information about Members will receive a password to access the individuals and families in Orkney. members’ pages on the website, details of which are 2 To establish and maintain links with other family shown on the Home Page. history groups and genealogical societies throughout the A great deal of research can be achieved through UK and overseas. these resources at www.orkneyfhs.co.uk. 3. To establish and maintain a library and other reference facilities as an information resource for RATES FROM 1st SEPTEMBER 2013 members and approved subscribers. 1. All UK Membership and overseas members 4. To promote study projects and special interest opting out of receiving a printed copy of Sib Folk groups to pursue approved assignments. News (available on our website) £10.00 We are located on the upper floor of the Kirkwall Library next to the archives department and are open 2. OVERSEAS - Surface Mail £15.00 Mon–Fri 2pm–4.30pm and Sat 11am–4.30pm. 3. OVERSEAS - Air Mail £18.00 Our own library, though small at the moment, holds a variety of information including: NEW MEMBERS – DOWNLOAD THESE The IGI for Orkney on microfiche. and SEND WITH YOUR SUBSCRIPTION The Old Parish Records on microfilm. Visit www.orkneyfhs.co.uk/docs/mempack.pdf where The Census Returns on microfilm transcribed you will find a New Membership Application form and on to a computer database. a blank Family Tree. Please complete these, print and Family Trees. send with the appropriate subscription to The Treasurer Emigration and Debtors lists. at the address below. Letters, Articles and stories concerning Orkney EXISTING MEMBERS CAN RENEW ONLINE and its people. Existing members wanting to renew their subscription Hudson’s Bay Company information. can now do so online. Just Log In and use the link from Graveyard Surveys (long term project). My Details on the Member’s Page. You can, of course, This material is available to members for ‘in house’ still send your subscription to the Treasurer at OFHS. research by arrangement. Locally we have a Members’ Evening, most months, with CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATE a guest speaker. Overseas members, paying in their own currency, should We produce a booklet of members and interests to check the exchange rate to ensure the correct amount allow members with similar interests to correspond with is forwarded. Our bank will accept overseas cheques each other if they wish. without charging commission. We regret that foreign We also produce a newsletter 4 times a year and are Postal Orders are not acceptable in the UK. always looking for articles and photographs of interest. Members residing in the UK may pay their subscriptions A stamped addressed envelope should be included if by Bankers Order and if they wish can have their

these are to be returned. Back copies of the magazine subscriptions treated as Gift Aid donations. Forms are can be purchased at £1 per copy. available on request. We can usually undertake research for members who live outwith Orkney but this is dependent on Cheques should be made payable to:- the willingness of our island members giving up their ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY spare time to help. Any costs incurred, such as fees for and forwarded to The Treasurer certificates, will require to be reimbursed by the member. ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Orkney Library & Archive 44 Junction Rd. Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1AG Scotland. Telephone 01856 879207

General enquires should be addressed to the office in writing or to Treasurer George Gray (e-mail: [email protected]) General Secy. Jackie Harrison (e-mail: [email protected] Research Secy. Enquiries should be sent to George Gray until a new research secretary is appointed Editor. John Sinclair (e-mail: [email protected]) Orkney Family History Society website— www.orkneyfhs.co.uk Articles in the newsletter are copyright of the Society and its authors and may not be reproduced without permiss- ion of the editor. The Society is a registered charity in Scotland and a member of the Scottish Association of Family History Societies. The Society’s newsletter, Sib Folk News is registered with the British Library under the serial number ISSN 1368-3950. The Orkney Family History Society is a Registered Charity in Scotland SCO26205 MEMBERSHIP subscriptions etc