SIB FOLK NEWS NEWSLETTER OF THE FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY ISSUE No 63 SEPTEMBER 2012

We’ve lots of questions about this photograph – see page 2 – but do you have any of the answers? 2 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Issue No 62 June 2012

ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY NEWSLETTER Issue No 63 September 2012

COVER The Mystery Commander From

PAGE 2 From the Chair the Chair PAGES 3 & 6 We are coming to the end of another busy The day we went to summer in the Family History Office and were delighted to have welcomed so many visitors PAGES 4, 5 & 6 From Rags this year from all over the world. Whether they to Riches were members or non-members its was great to meet them all all and we hope it’s not too long before we meet again. Our PAGES 7 Bob Flett is volunteer staff are always delighted to help visitors discover their Orcadian searching for roots and quite often put them in touch with an Orkney relative that they might his Fletts not have known existed. PAGES 8 & 9 Last voyage of the Our summer started with the usual annual trip and this year we went to Flotta Flowery Land for the first time. Many thanks to Elaine Sinclair for organising it all and you PAGES 10 & 11 can read her report of the day on page 3. We also set up our stall at the Vintage The Sinclairs and Rally which turned out to be a lovely day with a large number of visitors Garriochs of enjoying the show.

PAGES 12, 13 & 14 We are now looking forward to the start of our winter schedule and are very An Orkney Love Story pleased to have for our first speaker, Dr Peter Gesner, a maritime archaeologist who is up in Orkney to speak at the Orkney Science Festival. He has kindly PAGE 14 agreed to give his talk ‘Pandora’s Secret’ to our members at the open meeting Transportation th to Van Diemen's on 13 September in the St Magnus Centre @ 7.30 pm. If you didn’t manage to Land hear Dr Gesner at the festival, do come along to our meeting.

PAGE 15 Homecoming It is getting to be a struggle to find speakers for our meetings, so if you have for George been doing research and would be willing to give a talk we would be interested PAGES 16, 17 & 18 to hear from you. If you cannot stretch it a talk, send your story to our Editor Return of the Descendants and he will be very happy to publish it in the ‘Sib Folk News’.

PAGE 19 The Cromartys of Qouypetty Anne PAGES 20 & 21 Are you related to Our Cover Photograph Colin Firth? Here is a puzzler from Bruce Gorie, Member No 961. The man in the centre of the pho- tograph is in the uniform of a Commander but is he the genuine article? Why PAGES 22 & 23 the medals and the epaulettes? Has the rank insignia slipped on one of his sleeves or Shirley is stuck has the sleeve been shortened? Does he have a button missing? If it is special occasion and needs why is the P.O. so casually dressed? Do you recognise the boat or the skipper? Does the your help with Norns wheelhouse have a DIY look about it? I have shown it to a few people without success. Captain Fred Johnston thought that the Com- PAGE 24 mander might have been connected with the boom defence system in during Membership WW2 but admits that's only a guess. It's a mystery but hopefully one of our members will have details the answer. Issue No 63 September 2012 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY 3

Part of the colourful mural in the Flotta Community Centre Elaine Sinclair, Member No 1211 reports on a great day out. A group of 20 people met at the Orkney Library and ing WW2. We drove along parallel to the Flotta air strip, Archive on Saturday, 16 June 2012 to head off on our which was frequently used during the oil terminal con- coach for our annual trip. We were pleased by the weath- struction phase, until safety concerns arose following a er, as the forecast showers hadn’t appeared and thank- precarious landing. Below, on the shore, were the remains fully the day remained dry. Some excitement was caused of a WW2 pumping station – water was an extremely pre- to the organiser (me!) by the apparent non-appearance of cious commodity during WW2 and some was brought by our promised guide – Julian Branscombe, Project Man- boat to the pumping station on the shore and pumped ager of the Scapa Flow Landscape Partnership Scheme. across the island to other services sites. We also passed However, he saved the day when he joined us at a location where barrage balloons were located during ferry terminal and went on to endear himself to the So- wartime. ciety further by insisting that the SFLPS would meet Our next stop was at the Neb Battery, which was used the costs of the transport of the coach and passengers on during both WW1 and WW2. There were the remains of the ferry for the trip. This was thoroughly appreciated an engine room beside the roadway. Julian spoke about by the group. the camp and the numbers of personnel stationed on Julian explained that the SFLPS wished to support Flotta during each war, when Flotta played a major part our Society in our decision to visit Flotta, which is one in the organisation of the defence systems in the Flow. of the main areas where the SFLPS has been working to He spoke about the number of barrage balloons located promote the wartime heritage of the Scapa Flow area. on the island (quite a lot!) and the scarcity of water, for They have created a trail around the island to allow ac- which one of the solutions was to build dams around the cess to a range of wartime sites. Interpretation boards West Hill road to collect as much water as possible. have been provided at strategic locations to provide in- Throughout our drive we saw several examples of high- formation on historical, geographic and natural land- ly unique and clever sculptures created from recycled and scape and wildlife aspects of the various locations. scrap materials by a local man. These included penguins, On arrival on Flotta we were joined by a local member a light aircraft gun and a tractor and trailer. who was able to provide a lot of local knowledge about We drove on to the Flotta Kirk and War Memorial. We the places we saw on our route around the island. The had a short walk in the surrounding cemetery and the coach driver was able to take us over the West Hill road, earliest date which I could locate on a gravestone was which can be impassable at certain times of the year, 1827. There were older stones in the graveyard, but many as it is not on the list of roads maintained by the local were illegible as they had been worn by the weather. The Council. However, the conditions were right on the day War Memorial plaque in the Kirk recorded the names and we were able to proceed to various sites on the road. of 10 men from the island who gave their lives during Regardless of people’s personal opinions on the visual WW1. I was struck by the work which had obviously been attributes of wind turbines in rural landscapes, there done by local people to track down photographs of these was no getting away from the fact that the large turbine men. The named photos were displayed in a picture frame erected on West Hill dominated the view(s). beside the war memorial, giving the information a more Our first stop was at the remains of the Naval Cin- personal feel than just a cold plaque. A ema and conifer plantation, planted by servicemen dur- article concludes on page number 6

Nan Scott captured these happy trippers about to tuck into a hearty lunch at the Flotta Community Centre. 4 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Issue No 63 September 2012

By Lynda Hodgkinson, Member No 2201 For some years I have tried to find my great grandfa- its doors as the “Boston Store.” His business associates, ther’s sister’s descendants. After having been in Strom- Sibley excepted, were likewise natives of , young ness last year, I decided to try again to find these lost rel- men of modest wealth, but splendid business training, atives. I have a copy of a letter sent to my grandmother who had come to America to seek their fortunes, and to- from her cousin, John White Johnston in the 1930’s. gether they established a business which was successful I knew his parents had moved to Rochester, New York and has since grown to excellent proportions. Ten years and that he had made a white photographic ink used on after the business began, Mr Curr’s health failed and Mr bindings in most libraries, but that is all I knew. Johnston took his place in the firm, modestly requesting Mary Ann White born 12 August 1845, , that the original name of the business be retained. At Orkney Islands, married Thomas Slater Johnston the time this was written Sibley, Lindsay & Curr Co. in born 23 November 1845 , Orkney Islands, I have Rochester was the largest wholesale and retail business been able to contact the wife of John White Johnston’s of its kind between New York and Chicago, employing son, Grant White Johnston and the great grandson of on an average of 1,800 people. Mr Johnston was mar- John White Johnston’s sister Elizabeth Slater Carter ried Dec. 24, 1877 to Mary Ann, daughter of Capt. John (nee Johnston). White, master mariner, of Stromness, Orkney. They This following information has been supplied by these had three sons and one daugh- people and a cousin, Diana Thom- ter: John White, Louis White, son who lives in Toronto, Cana- Thomas Slater, Jr., and Eliza- da. SIBLEY’S — A POTTED HISTORY beth Slater Johnston, all of Article from National Cyclo- The first Sibley store opened it’s doors in 1868 in the growing city the three sons at different times paedia. of Rochester in Monroe County, N.Y. being employed in their father’s Thomas Slater Johnston, By 1893 business was booming and a new 12 story 23 acre drygoods business. It was the merchant, was born in the par- flagship store was opened in the Granite Building. Their stay there great ambition of the father to ish of Stenness, Orkney Isles, was short-lived as the building was gutted in the disastrous fire of 1904. The following year Sibley’s had established themselves see his sons college graduates, Scotland, Nov. 23 1845, son of in their final location, the new Sibley Building. This was further and that ambition was happily Peter and Betsy (Slater) John- extended in 1911 and 1926 and by 1939 Sibley’s was the largest gratified, John W. Johnston ston. In his infancy his father department store between New York City and Chicago. securing his degree at Harvard was lost at sea, and the mother, The company was acquired by the Dry Goods Corporation in 1957 which in turn was acquired by May Department Stores in 1986. The and the other two at Yale Col- with that fortitude so character- Sibley name was merged into May Company’ s Kaufmann name lege. He was domestic in his istic of Scottish womanhood, set in 1990. tastes, a kind, generous and lov- out to support herself and her Most of the suburban locations, after converting to Kaufmann’s ing husband and father, devoting two children. The son attended became part of Macy’s in 2006. himself entirely to his children the school connected with the so that they might profit by the church at Stenness, earning his educational opportunities which first money by herding cattle he had not been permitted to en- during the summer months un- joy. He was a man of indefati- til twelve years of age. He was gable energy, unbounded justice then apprenticed to James Gar- and absolute honesty of pur- rock, a drygoods merchant, at pose. While a somewhat stern Stromness, and six years later and resolute business man, he he entered the employ of Messrs was nevertheless a kindhearted Mann, Byars and Co. of Glasgow, and most genial friend, winning Scotland. In the spring of 1868 he the regard and respect of thou- came to the United States to take sands of his employees. Leav- charge of the men’s furnishings ing an estate of over $2,000,000, department of Sibley, Lindsay & his benefactions to the family, Curr, a drygoods store of Roches- Photo credit Daniel Penfield 2010 as well as to the charitable and ter, N.Y., which was just opening philanthropic interests of the A Issue No 63 September 2012 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY 5

F Brick Presbyterian Church, of Ro- Rochester on the subject. In 1922 he refounded the Saint chester, at which he was a regular Andrews Scottish Society of Rochester. He was President and devout worshiper, and to of the Property Owners Association of Arnold Park as well the community, bespeacks as the President of the Harvard Club of Rochester and the the success and worth of Monroe County Sportsman’s Association. He was an hon- his character as well as orable member of the Rochester Garden Club, where he the honor which his ca- was a lecturer. He is listed in the Rochester Blue Book reer reflected on the land along with his sister Elizabeth Slater Johnston Carter, his of his birth. He died at brother, Louis White Johnston and their father. The latter Rochester, N.Y. June 20, two were presidents of Sibley, Lindsay and Curr Co. 1915. On February 14th 1921 John White Johnston mar- After his death, Mr The Johnston house in Rochester ried Miss Constance Grant of Arbroath, Scotland in Johnston’s wife, Mary Ann (White) Johnston continued Glasgow. Connie at the time of her marriage was a noted to live in their family home at 5 Arnold Park in Rochester. grand opera singer both in England and in Europe. They She died September 19, 1941 at the age of 96 years. She had a daughter, Mary Grant Johnston, born February and her husband and two sons, John White and Thomas 23, 1922, and a son Grant White Johnston, born March Slater Johnston Jnr. are buried in Mt Hope cemetery in 27, 1925. Grant White Johnston and Paul Epler Carter the Johnston Mausoleum. served as primary sources of information about John White Johnston’s life. John White Johnston While attending the 50th anniversary of the Battle of This is taken from a biography written by John White Gettysburg in 1913, John White Johnston decided to Johnston’s nephew Paul Epler Carter, Jr. in 1992. prepare lantern slide lectures on some aspects of Get- John White Johnston was a musical composer, au- tysburg. He did intensive research about these Gettys- thor, publisher, lecturer, inventor and manufacturer. burg themes, Andersonville prison, Custer’s Last Stand He was the first child of Thomas Slater Johnston and and the United States . He also collected memora- Mary Ann White, who were born in or near Stromness, bilia connected with his research. They were placed on Orkney Islands, Scotland. John White Johnston was born exhibition at the Rochester Museum and in the three in Rochester, New York on April 24, 1879 in the Whitcomb historic buildings that he owned in Gettysburg. He was House Hotel, Rochester, New York. Later he lived with his appointed substitute lecturer of the Rochester Historical parents at 5 Arnold Park until he purchased 8 Arnold Park. Society, and gave numerous lectures about the previously John White Johnston attended Monroe (Number 15) mentioned topics. His research and lecturing continued Grammer School, Rochester High School and the Ath- until the Depression, when lack of finances forced him enaeum and Mechanics Institute, where he improved his to discontinue these activities. At that time he sold his talent in art. historical properties in Gettysburg. In 1899 he entered the Arts Deparment at Cornell On July 26, 1959, he died in Canandaigua, New York. He is University, then entered Harvard University, where he buried with his family in Mount Hope cemetery in Rochester. played the violin for the Pierian Sodality. He organized a Harvard University Band and directed the Harvard Uni- Louis White Johnston versity Orchestra. He also wrote the “Stadium March”, Louis White Johnston was born in Rochester, New which was subsequently played by John Phillip Sousa’s York on May 4, 1881. Band and reproduced by the Victor Phonograph Company. Mr Johnston graduated from Phillips Academy Ando- In addition to that, he had other compositions published. ver, Mass. In 1901 and Yale university in 1905. After completing a year at the Harvard Law School, he Shortly after his graduation, he began his career at completed two years of post graduate work in 1908. Sibley, Lindsay and Curr Co. by working at the bundle John White Johnston was a friend of Franklin D. Roo- desk. A six year apprenticeship followed in selling and sevelt, when the latter was head of Harvard’s newspaper. office work. He was assigned to many departments. Mr Johnston’s son, Grant’s family have letters that were He became a director of the company in 1917 short- sent to him from both Mr and Mrs Roosevelt. ly after the death of his father. He became corporation In 1915 he founded a manufacturing business, Snow secretary in 1931, vice-president and secretary in 1937, White Products, based on his own invention, and estab- president in 1939 and board chairman in 1956. lished a publication business for his distribution of his Mr Johnston’s service in civic improvement extended historical research. back into the 1920’s when he was on the Rochester Bet- In 1917 he volunteered for service with the New York terment Council. He was a member of the War Memo- Scottish Infantry Regiment, but did not go into battle be- rial Committee; a past chairman of the Retail Merchants cause the regiment was held in New York City in reserve Council; trustee of the Bureau of Municipal Research; and throughout World War 1. was president of the Rochester Redevelopment Corp. In 1919 he founded the Johnston Memorial Pipe Band— Mr Johnston was married in Rochester to Katherine a Scottish bagpipe band, as a memorial to his father. In Zimmer. She died in 1937 and he married Cora Scovi. 1921 he became the first President of the Monroe County Mr Johnston died on May 4, 1963 on his 82nd birthday Fish and Game Protective Association. He was also very at Vero Beach, Florida. Mrs Johnston sold their home and interested in ornithology and delivered annual lectures in moved to Palm Beach, Florida where she died in 1969. A 6 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Issue No 63 September 2012

F Thomas Slater Johnston Jr. was born in Rochester, New York CONTINUED on February 11, 1885. from page 3 He was called Slater by his family. He graduated from Phil- F After a quick stiop at the Community Centre to check lips Academy, Andover, Mass. and when to be there for lunch, we visited Stanger Head Bat- tery, a WW1 and WW2 site, with its breathtaking views, Yale University in 1910. including Longhope Bay. Julian again explained the site After his graduation he moved to us, including its importance in coordinating signals west to Medford, Oregon where and communications. A dam was located nearby, togeth- he entered into the growing of er with water towers to help with the problem of water pears. He bought a ranch called scarcity. Julian also referred to the nearby Kings Hard, Antelope Orchards and lived in where King George V landed to visit the troops during a sprawling ranch house built WW1. On our way to the Community Centre for lunch, along the banks of the Rogue Thomas in his twenties. from Stanger Head, we passed the site of Buchanan Bat- River. In addition to his fruit farming, he raised many tery, a twin 6 pounder gun emplacement and directing acres of gladiolus for the commercial sales of the blooms tower, down on the shore below the road. and bulbs. We had a lovely lunch at the Community Centre and a Slater was an avid fisherman and fondly thought of by chance to stop and chat for a short time. Then we were off his neighbours and friends. to see the Peerie Museum – a collection of wartime and Slater married late in life. His first wife died in an au- oil-related memorabilia located in a room next to the local tomobile accident. He died September 24, 1942 survived shop and post office. There was an amazing collection of by his second wife, Louise. items and a very welcoming atmosphere with the avail- ability of a toilet and washroom and a kitchen to make Elizabeth Slater Johnston a cup of tea, should you wish. Julian explained that the was born in Rochester, New York on February 28, 1887. collection should be moving later this year into a barn, She was called Bess by the family and was educated which is currently being converted into a Heritage Cen- at The Knox School. tre, located a few metres from the current building. This building will provide more space to display the items. She was married in Rochester on November 10, 1917 There was just time to take a drive up the West Hill to to Paul Epler Carter, son of Edward Carlos Carter and the turbine site with its amazing 360o views around the Fannie Gertrude (Fairbanks) Carter of Evanston, Ill. surrounding landscape before it was time to catch the When her husband returned from after the Ar- ferry back to Houton. We arrived back in feel- mistice of World War 1 in 1919, the couple moved to live ing that we’d had a really good day and it was thorough- in Bronxville, New York. Paul Epler Carter had been ly enjoyed by all. L promoted to Resident Manager of the Eastern District of the General Railway Signal Co. and his new offices were in New York City. They had three sons, Paul Epler Carter Jnr., Thomas Johnston Carter and Edward Carlos Carter II. Thomas Johnston Carter was killed in the Second World War. She lived in Bronxville with her family until her hus- band’s death in 1933. That year she moved back to Ro- chester to be near her mother Mary Ann Johnston who was 88 years old. One of Mrs Carter’s favourite interests was her work at the Genesee Hospital. She served for many years on the Woman’s Board of Directors and spent many days each year, for 27 years, on her job as a Gray Lady, at the reception desk or passing out magazines in the wards. Mrs Carter was vitally interested in the education of young people. Besides providing her own children with a fine education, she personally underwrote the costs of educating a number of promising students in the Ro- chester area, several becoming outstanding in their cho- sen professions. You don’t need to be a genius to Mrs Carter died in Rochester on January 29, 1960 and write an article for Sib News. We is buried in Mt Hope Cemetry in the Carter family mau- are not looking for a Samuel John- soleum with her husband and sons and their families. son or Pulitzer Prize contribution. Just tell it as it is and I guarantee we will enjoy it. And, as Einstein himself once This is the information I have been seeking for years said,”If we knew what we were doing it would not be called and I am so pleased to be in contact with my great grand- research! Would it?” father’s sister’s descendants at last and to have photos of his Something for December by November 5th would start sister and her family. Lynda Hodgkinson L things off with a bang (British joke). Issue No 63 September 2012 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY 7

by Robert (Bob) Scott Flett Member No. 2856 At long last I am fulfilling my lifetime dream & trav- children & it would be great if any members have family elling to Orkney in late September for two weeks to go links to Flett or Robertson & can confirm this. on the ancestral trail & hope to meet up with family Eight years later in 1909 James married Emily Banks members as my grandfather James Scott Flett was in & the marriage certificate states he is a wid- born 1876 Orkney. He was the son of James Flett born ower. The plot now thickens as we have been unable to Stromness & Ann(e) Scott. James Flett was the son find further trace of Margaret, Johanna & William & of John Flett born 1807 & Margaret Wishart very much doubt that James was indeed a widower at and John’s parents were James Flett & Marjorie that time. James & Emily had four children & unfortu- (May) Clouston. nately Emily died in childbirth with their fifth child in I have very fond memories of my grandfather when I 1918. James subsequently married for a third time to was about seven years old but unfortunately he declined Ethel Banks, Emily’s sister in 1919 & had three more in health from then on & died five years later. Howev- children. The implication here is that my father & some er it seems that James Scott Flett never spoke much or all of his siblings may be illegitimate depending on about his past & now delving back to his time at home the status of Margaret Flett at these times & myself & in Orkney we are finding out that he did indeed have a other family members are keen to solve this mystery. past! James was working as a waiter at the Kirkwall I also have the photo below of an unknown Flett gen- Hotel at the time of his marriage to Margaret Robert- tleman taken in Stromness that I would love to identify son in 1898 & the 1901 Census shows they have two & put a name to. children Johanna (Joanna) aged 2 years & William If any member can shed light on any of my past family aged 8 months but Margaret is listed as living with members it would be much appreciated & if any Flett/ her mother in Stromness & James is missing from the Robertson family descendants would like to meet up census. Margaret’s mother was running the Commer- when we visit Orkney it would be great to make contact cial Hotel, Stromness at this time. I have a photograph & exchange information. My email address is : that I strongly believe to be of James, Margaret & the [email protected]

MYSTERIOUS FLETTS? But could they be mine?

Just two of the many unidentified photographs in the family collection; but could they be Fletts? My wife Gina and I are visiting Orkney for a short time from Septem- ber 22 and can hardly wait to begin our search on the is- lands. Any help, or advice with the investiga- tions would be great- ly appreciated. I see that there are over 100 Fletts in the Orkney telephone directory — some of them must surely be my Fletts. 8 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Issue No 63 September 2012

The last voyage of the Flowery Land

By John Sinclair No 588 with lots of help from Thora Craigie No 414 and Mr Google The tale begins in July 1863 when the Flowery Land,a barque group of men. They were rigged vessel of 900 tons sailed from the Port of London bound armed with handspikes and the for Singapore by way of the Cape of Good Hope. and capstan bars and She was carrying a cargo of wines, bottled beer and were aiming blows last mass soft goods and was under the command of an Orcadian at a prostrate figure public hanging skipper, Captain John Smith, one of the three sons on the deck—it was to take place in of James Smith and Jane Matches of Cockleha’. He Karswell. Great Britain was born on the 14th October 1821 in the parish of St A blow from a weapon Andrews, Orkney. knocked Taffir Many ship owners of the 19th century were a money backwards and he fled grasping set quite prepared to cut corners in order to to the cabin to seek the maximise their returns. Captain Smith soon recognised captain. The captain the crew for what they were — the dregs of the docks was dead, murdered in his sleep as was his brother. prepared to work for even less than the 2 shilling (10p) a Taffir armed himself with a revolver and locked himself day pittance, the going rate paid to deep sea sailors. in his cabin. The 14 members of crew included six half breed Spaniards “Come out we want you.” said a voice that Taffir recognised fom Manila, a Greek, a Turk, three as that of Leon, one of the Manila Chinamen, a Finn, a Norwewgian sailors who could speak English. who acted as ship’s carpenter and “We have killed the captain, his a black seaman. brother and the first mate and you Just before the vessel sailed the are the only man now on board who captain remarked to a friend “I knows how to navigate. Take us to can trust the ship but such a crew the River Plate where we will be safe as they have given me will want and we will spare your life.” watching day and night”. Taffir realised that if he did not agree The officers were the first mate the mutineers would soon break down called Karswell, the second mate the cabin door and he would share the Taffir and three others including a same fate as the captain. passenger — the captain’s brother Released from the cabin Taffir George Smith —and they made witnessed an orgy of destruction and the up the only British personnel on the dead being unceremoniously thrown barque and Smith warned them to overboard. The mutineers ransacked keep their wits about them. the captain’s cabin and plundered The were not long into the voyage cargo. Leon eventually restored some when events showed how much the sort of order and the crew managed to crew were lacking in seamanship. work the ship under Taffir’s guidance. They were idle and insubordinate Some weeks late the Brazillian coast too. Captain Smith, a strict was sighted. disciplinarian was quite prepared George Smith on the left with his brother Captain John Following Leon’s plan they scuttled the to use physical force if he thought it Smith of the ‘Flowery Land’. Photo Stromness Museum. ship, murdered the Chinese seamen necessary. First mate Karswell took then took to the boats and landed his cue from the captain and had the men beaten with a not far from the entrance to the River Plate. Leon told a rope’s end when they did not please him. In addition the plausible story that they were the crew of an American food was not good and this led to further unrest. vessel bound from Peru to Bordeaux which had foundered Things came to a head on the 10th September. The at sea. This might have worked had not Taffir escaped and second mate, who had held the first watch, was relieved alerted the authorities as to what had really happened. by Karswell and turned in for a few hours sleep. It was The pirates were soon under lock and key, court martialed about 3 o’clock when he was wakened by a strange noise and surrendered to the British Government and returned on deck. He rushed to the deck but found his way barred by a to London to stand trial. A Issue No 63 September 2012 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY 9

—Leon (deemed to be the ringleader as he spoke English the prisoners one by one arranging the ropes round and gave orders to Taffir to navigate the vessel) Blanco, their neck before going into Duranno, Santos, Marsloino and Lopez. the Turk, the prison for the next man. By Waldo and the Greek, Carlos. the time the five of them were They were charged with the commission of wilful murder assembled on the gallows they on the high seas. were in a sorry state. About the only The mob howled and cheered defense made when the drop finally fell was a long recital leaving all five men struggling of abuses by the in the air. The fall was short; captain and first necks were seldom dislocated mate. Their stories and strangulation was the had some truth in usual outcome. Calcraft, the Hangman them, as far as A few weeks earlier a Royal Commission had begun to these charges were review the whole subject of capital punishment and the concerned but the whole fiasco of the ‘Flowery Land’ executions certainly court did not take concentrated their minds. So much so that in 1868 a Inside the ‘Old Bailey’ much account of bill recommending that all future executions should provocation in this case. be carried out within prison walls passed through both The seven were sentenced to hang, but two of them, Houses and became law in 1868. Santos and Marsalino were reprieved shortly afterwards It seems that the tragic death of Captain Smith and his and transported to Australia. Carlos, the Greek was brother and the circumstances of the execution contributed acquitted, but the following day was sent to prison for 10 more than any others to bring about the long overdue years for helping scuttle the ship. change in the law by abolishing executions in public. The scene outside Newgate when the executions took place was quite extraordinary. A huge crowd had gathered to witness the spectacle – far greater than any previous occasion. It was a callous crowd of coarse minded people who had come to enjoy themselves. Scaffold side seats and windows of the house opposite, facing the gibbet, were at a premium. The executions were about to be carried out by the sixty- eight year old hangman Calcraft who was to receive £10 for the job. He ensured that the show was well stage managed. There were five ropes on the gibbet. Calcraft brought out

Captain Smith’s SEA CHEST is there for you to see in the Stromness Museum. But how did it get back to Orkney? Did the pirates take it on the ship’s boat after scuttling the ‘Flowery Land’? Did the Brazilians return it along with the pris- oners? And there is another mystery . . . The SHIP’S CHRONOMETER Kathleen Keldie has reminded me that Isabella Tom- linson Muir mentioned this in her ‘Memories of Veddar’ which appeared in Sib News No 34 Jun 2005. Isabella was a neighbour of the Smith’s of Cockleha’ and she remembered that the chronometer of the ill-fated ‘Flowery Land’ stood on top of a chest of drawers in the ben room of Cockleha’ where James, the brother of Cap- tain John Smith, lived with his wife Jeannie. Perhaps you can clear up some of the mysteries in this It too must have been returned to Orkney but where is it article. If so I will be delighted to hear from you. Ed. now? I’m sure that we would all love to know. L 10 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Issue No 63 September 2012

By Sharon Simms, Member No 1852 The article in the June 2012 SIB Folk News about the Sinclair family of South Ronaldsay has prompted me to write about my ancestors in hopes of getting further information and connections. The SouthRonaldsay.net website has helped me find that my great grandfather, James Sinclair, was born on July 3, 1857 at Cavelton in South Ronaldsay. (Other sources including family infor- mation give the date as July 2, 1856, however.) His mid- dle name was Garrioch, the maiden name of his moth- er Jane (1814 —1891). James’ father William Sinclair (1831– 1897) was born, lived and died at Mucklehouse/ East Side near St Margaret’s Hope on South Ronaldsay. Bankburn Farm. An idyllic setting with Oak River in the foreground. William’s parents were James Sinclair (1797-1877) William Henry and Mary Tait. Henry originally from and Jane Kennedy (1796-1865). Jane Garrioch’s the Kirkcudbrightshire area of Scotland) in 1890 and had parents were Robert Garrioch (b. 1769) and Kaithren a family of eight children who were raised on “Bankburn Berston (b. 1780). Jane’s brother, James Garrioch Farm” as he had called his home. (born in 1822 in Orkney) came to Canada around 1871. As the nearest town, Oak River, was 4 miles south of In 1880 he acquired 640 acres of land in Western Mani- the farm, in 1901 Bankburn School District No. 1098 was toba from the Crown designated on the Dominion Land officially formed Survey as 16-14- 22 W1. James’ surname was always on the Sinclair spelled “Garrick” in Canada, as far as I’ve seen. homestead with According to the Canadian 1906 census, James Gar- an enrolment rick’s nephew James Sinclair arrived in Canada in 1873. of seven pupils. Family information says he worked on the railroad and The school was in Winnipeg, Manitoba for a time and later moved west built on a site to Blanshard Municipality where his uncle had acquired overlooking the land. ravine of the James Sinclair Oak River which bought the north west flowed through quarter of 16—14– 22 the homestead. Bankburn School. W1 for $540 from his The teacher boarded with uncle. He went on to neighbouring families in buy the other three turns. The families re- quarters of the section ceived $10 a month for in later years. James room and board, washing, Garrick was said to and ironing. The highest have come down with salary received was $500 sunstroke and left a year. Manitoba. He is listed Family history tells that on later Canadian cen- many good times were held sus records as living through the years at Bank- in Queensville, On- burn School at the yearly James & Elizabeth Sinclair’s tario as a merchant. picnics, baseball games and family about 1901 He married Adelaide football games, box socials Baker, died in 1896 and is buried in London, Ontario. through the winter months After buying the homestead, James Sinclair broke the Possibly Empire Day , May 24 1907, and of course dancing. prairie sod for planting wheat crops with oxen and lat- when the Union Jack was flown over the school for the first time The ravine was a big A er horses. He married Elizabeth Henry (daughter of Issue No 63 September 2012 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY 11

Fattraction in the fall and School stood in spring for skating and sled- memory of the ding. The Empire Day pioneers who celebrations on May 24th were instrumen- honouring Queen Victoria’s tal in having the birthday were an annual school built as event. A class of 42 pupils well as to hon- from Grades 1 to 8 was our its teachers, enrolled by 1908. Sunday pupils, and trus- School was also held in the tees. school every Sunday. James and Eliz- James spent part of each abeth’s daughter winter hauling wood from Ellen continued the bush 75 kilometers living in the big north of the farm and also farm house with hauled logs for many build- her brother Bill Uncle Bill in his ‘Bankburn ings in the district. He be- and his wife Jessie, and hired men John Paul (Scotty) Farm’ knitted sweater came well known for his and Harry Clyne until the late 1980’s when one by one Clydesdale horses and registered Hereford cattle. His they all passed away and the house was abandoned. Part wife, Elizabeth, was the district seamstress before she of this land remains owned by Sinclair descendants but was married, and was known far and wide for making is rented out to other farmers today. clothing for both men and women. The Oak River still winds through the section and it is In the year 1917, a drastic change to Bankburn School a haven for deer and wildlife of all kinds. took place. Bankburn was merged into the Oak River I often wonder if James Sinclair called his farm “Bank- Consolidated School District ending the era of the little burn” after something nearby his former home in Orkney “Red School Houses”. Pupils were transferred to Oak Riv- as I understand there is currently a bed & breakfast near er School by horse drawn vans in winter and summer. St. Margaret’s Hope with this same name. James and Elizabeth both died in the winter of 1935 and are buried beneath a big spruce tree at the White Bank Any information on Bankburn or a connection to the Sin- Lea Cemetery just a few miles from their former home. clairs / Garrochs would be appreciated. You can contact A cairn was erected in 1984 on the site where Bankburn me at [email protected]. L Can you help Val fill in the blanks? Val Hughes, member No 889 sent this photo of a KGS Primary School class from either 1952 or 1953. Val used to have the original but over the years it disappeared and all the names with it. This should be an easy one for our members; some of you might even be in it. If you can come up with the missing names Val would love to hear from you. You can contact her at: [email protected] The names Val has, starting at the back row going left to right are: Back row- 2 Alistair Sinclair, 3 Mary Oddie, 4 Ian Groundwater, 6 Jean Bews, 8 John Chapman, 9 Alex Cardno, 11 Tom Firth 2nd row - 2 Ernie Sabiston, 3 Maureen Archibold, 5 Valerie Bullers, 6 Willie findlay, 8 Craigie Forthingham, 10 Marion Pirie 3rd row - 3 Kenny Foulis, 5 Margaret Skea, 6 Ian Kemp, 7 Robert Eunson, 8 Alice Johnson, 9 Peter Barry Front row - 9 Jackie Maxwell 12 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Issue No 63 September 2012

By Mavis Moore and Patricia Dishon. Submitted by Brian Dishon, Member No 2620 James Neil McDonald was born in the Manse at Stenness is believed they eloped because of family disapproval. They were in 1867. His mother, Phillias McDonald (nee McKay), was a married in Manchester in 1863 and then returned to Orkney to friend of the minister’s wife and had been visiting her when the face the music. They had three children, Catherine born in 1864, baby made a sudden appearance! John William born in 1868 and Robert Currer born 1870. Phillias was born in Walls around 1835, the daughter of Robert and Robina Dishon’s marriage seemed to be a true William McKay, a farmer, and his wife, Jessie McKay. Phillias love match as Catherine kept a hand-made rug that her father married William McDonald, a seaman, of Burnhouse, North had made for her mother on one of his voyages. It was done in Walls and had four children to him, Williamina born in Walls in needlepoint with two hearts and the sentiment “Ever Thine”. 1861, John Sinclair born in Stromness in 1863, William born in Tragically, Robert Traill Dishon had been lost at sea in 1883, in 1866 and James Neil McDonald as above. the year before James McDonald had proposed to Catherine Phillias and William McDonald, with their children, moved Dishon, leaving Robina a widow. to Leith, the port of . Leaving the clean air and healthy Catherine Dishon was a skilled tailoress, her brother, John lifestyle of a farm on Orkney and moving to a tenement in the William, was an apprentice watchmaker and her brother, Robert docklands of Leith was to prove fatal to Phillias. She died there Currer, was still at school. Obviously, Catherine was the main in their house at 15 Couper Street, of British cholera, in 1868. breadwinner in the family and times were very hard. She was aged 33 and her baby son, James Neil, was just eleven Having accepted Catherine Dishon’s promise to marry him months old. Phillias was buried in common ground in Rosebank sometime, James Neil McDonald set off to seek his fortune. He Cemetery, Pilrig Street, Leith, far from green, fertile Orkney. travelled to London, in 1884, and boarded the windjammer Ruthin, Unable to raise four young children on his own, in the port to sail to Australia. For four years he went adventuring there and of Leith, William McDonald took them back to Orkney to be in New Zealand, Hawaii, Canada and in parts of California and raised by Phillias’s parents and sisters, on their farm at Lower Nevada. He settled permanently in the States in 1888 when he Ellibister. was 21 years old. He worked in mining, in tunnel and bridge Later, William McDonald was to emigrate on his own to construction and possibly on building a dam in Nevada. Canada and become a ship’s pilot in Paget’s Sound, Vancouver, Over all these years he and Catherine wrote to each other and B.C. leaving his children behind in Orkney. sent photographs and gifts. After their grandfather William McKay’s death, the two James was keen to better himself, so went to school to advance younger children, William and James Neil McDonald, moved his knowledge of bridge and tunnel construction. He learned to with their grandmother, Jessie, and their unmarried aunts to Hamar speak with a typical American accent! He changed the spelling farm, above Stromness. Their sister, Williamina McDonald, no of his surname from McDonald to Macdonald to make it clear longer lived with them as she had married. Sadly, her husband he was Scottish, not Irish, as there was great prejudice against was lost at sea and she then emigrated to Canada to keep house the Irish in the States at that time. He was anxious to improve his for her father, William McDonald, in Vancouver. Their older social status and so joined the Masonic Lodge, which was at that brother, John Sinclair McDonald, left Orkney in 1880 bound time a prestigious WASP group. for Australia and nothing was ever heard of him again. He left California in 1895 when he was 28 years old. He went James Neil McDonald went to school in Stromness and his to visit his family in Canada and then returned to the States and best friend there was John William Dishon. James often visited worked as a foreman on a tunnel construction crew in Republic, his friend in his house in Stromness and there he met John’s big Washington. Republic was a frontier town in the north-eastern sister, Catherine Elizabeth Douglas Dishon, who was two years part of this State, about twenty miles south of the Canadian older than James. border. They fell in love. Back in Scotland in that same year, 1895, his sweetheart James McDonald trained as a ship’s carpenter at the Ness Catherine’s mother, Robina Traill Dishon, died on Inchkeith shipyard. In 1884, when he was 17, he decided to leave Orkney , in the . to seek his fortune abroad. Before he left James asked 19 year old Robina Traill Dishon’s father, John Dishon, had been a Catherine Dishon to marry him. Catherine accepted, but said sea Captain and had sailed on the Expert, but was lost at sea in she could not leave Orkney while her mother still needed her. 1864. Her mother was Catherine Dishon (nee Mowat). Robina Catherine had been born to Robert Traill Dishon, an able had two brothers and one older sister, Janet Taylor Dishon. seaman, and Robina Traill Dishon. The two were cousins and it Her brother, John Rae Munro Dishon, also became a A Issue No 63 September 2012 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY 13

F Master Mariner. In 1862 he persuaded his mother to allow him Macdonald then, but she was apprehensive after the long years of to take his young brother, Joseph Peacock Dishon, on a voyage separation. She was now 32 and had last seen him when she was with him. Tragically, Joseph Peacock was washed overboard 19 years old! on the voyage. John Rae went out of his mind with grief and She continued keeping house for both her brothers until an old his crew had to tie him up to restrain him from jumping into the friend of the family told her – “Your brothers will never be able to sea after his brother. They kept him locked up until they reached marry if you don’t go out to your young man.” port. Later, Captain John Rae Munro Dishon was also lost at sea Catherine took courage and decided to go to the States. (The old when the steamer Sidra went down with all hands on a voyage friend was right. Within three years of Catherine leaving Scotland between Malta and Port Said in 1874. both her brothers had married, Robert Currer to Jessie Clark Having lost her father, her two brothers and her husband to the McLean in 1900 and John William to Jessie Campbell in 1902.) sea, Robina Traill Dishon was determined that neither of her Catherine set sail from Glasgow, in 1899, bound for New York. sons would ever go to sea. When James Neil Macdonald had left She had arranged to meet James Neil Macdonald in Spokane, Catherine Dishon with her mother back in Orkney, Robina had Washington and she made the long journey across country by train, already apprenticed her older son, John William, to a watchmaker going the whole way in a chair car. She had bought a whole ham in Stromness and, when he was old enough, she apprenticed the and a loaf of bread which she carried in a basket. The conductor other son, Robert Currer, to a baker in the town. took pity on her and made her tea in his quarters. On board the train she met a Presbyterian minister, and when she told him she was meeting a young man in Spokane, whom she had not seen for fifteen years, he told her that ifJames did not turn up he would take her on to his own mother in Oregon! James was waiting on the platform at Spokane. The minister asked if that was her young man. Catherine said she did not know! She had last seen him when he was a boy of 17 and he was now 32 years old. His hair had turned very grey and he had put on some weight. Fortunately, she finally did recognise him! Catherine and James stayed in Spokane for two weeks until their marriage could be arranged. They were married in the local United Presbyterian church by the Rev. Spalding on the 4 July 1899, the date having been chosen deliberately by James. They were given a wedding breakfast in the home of a Mr & Mrs Robert Ames. Mrs Ames was a neice of John Davie, an Orcadian they chanced to meet in the congregation the Sunday before they were married. After the wedding, James and Catherine Macdonald drove north to Republic in a horse-drawn buggy. He was working in a

John William Dishon and Robert Currer Dishon with their sister Catherine Elizabeth Douglas Dishon about 1899 before she left for the USA . In spite of Robina’s best efforts the call of the sea was in the blood. John William Dishon became a steward on the Princess Louise, served at sea with the Northern Lighthouse Board and then became a Lightkeeper on Inchkeith in the Firth of Forth in 1894. His brother, Robert Currer Dishon, joined the Merchant Navy and sailed the world. The Dishon family in Edinburgh still have oriental ware he brought back from his voyages. James Neil Macdonald had continued to plead with Catherine Dishon to come out to the States to marry him all through these years. But now Catherine was faced with another dilemma. With both her brothers gone that would have meant leaving her mother alone in Stromness. So she put off going but still James waited for her. While John William Dishon was serving on Inchkeith Lighthouse his brother, Robert Currer Dishon, left the sea and James and Catherine Dishon) Macdonald on their wedding settled in Edinburgh, returning to his trade as a baker. For some day, 4th July 1899 in Spokane, Washington. USA. time Robina and Catherine Dishon divided their time between mine there called Knob Hill. One wonders what Catherine thought the two brothers, keeping house for both until Robina died on about this rough frontier town after life in Orkney and Edinburgh. Inchkeith in 1896. James built them a wooden cabin in Republic where they lived for Catherine could have gone to the States to marry James Neil five years. Four children were born to the couple there. Sadly, A 14 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Issue No 63 September 2012

F two of these children, John Joseph and James died in infancy. granddaughter, Mavis Anne Covington, who listened with rapt Their third son, Robin Roy Macdonald was born in 1902 and their attention as Catherine related tales of her childhood in green daughter Jessie Isabella Macdonald in 1904. Orkney, which left Mavis with a lifelong fascination for the By the time of the San Francisco earthquake, in 1906, James was islands that her grandmother loved and never forgot. working on the Western Pacific Railroad in Eastern California and Catherine Elizabeth Douglas Macdonald (nee Dishon) died Western Nevada, and Catherine and the children were living in a in 1947, having outlived her husband, James, by fourteen years rental house in Reno, Nevada. James came home whenever possible, – the end of An Orkney Love Story. but once when he took seriously ill while away from home his The Macdonald and Dishon surnames died out in the company did not inform Catherine. When the regular pay cheques family in America, but the Orcadian genes still cascade down did not come Catherine feared the worst. She rented a large house through the descendants of Catherine and James, through in Reno and took in boarders, and when, many months later, an their son, Robin Roy Macdonald and daughter, Jessie Isabella emaciated James returned home he found her taking care of herself Covington. The line continues and the children. No wonder he waited fifteen years for her! through the families of Mavis The family moved around depending on James’s work. They Moore (nee Covington), her lived for a time in Niles, California and in Oakland, in the San Covington brothers, William, Francisco Bay area. Neil, Richard, Franklin and In 1926, Catherine, and her daughter Jessie Isabella Macdonald, Lincoln and the family of paid a visit to Scotland to see her brothers, John William and Robert Ronald Roy Macdonald. Currer Dishon, whom she had not seen for twenty seven years. There are now over forty Shortly after they returned to the States James Neil Macdonald A descendants in the States. retired from railroad work and bought the Richfield Service Station The Dishon name continues in Lincoln, California. Catherine disliked the heat of Lincoln, so in Scotland and Canada in 1929 they sold the station and bought a house thirty miles away through the descendants of in Sacramento. James Neil Macdonald died there four years later John William Dishon, the in 1933. He was 69 years old and after his death his ashes were lightkeeper. scattered in San Francisco Bay. In 1941 John William After James died, Catherine Macdonald rented out their house Dishon’s son, Alexander and moved back to the Oakland area, where she lived with close (Sandy) Campbell Dishon, friends, who were Christian Scientists, and then moved in to was posted to housekeep for her son Robin Roy Macdonald. lighthouse, which had its shore In 1936, she returned to Sacramento to help her daughter, Jessie station in Stromness. He, his Isabella Covington (nee Macdonald), who was expecting her wife, Ethel (Betty) Dishon, sixth child and stayed until Jessie found a teaching post near (nee Fea), and their two sons, Lincoln in the fall of 1937. Sule Skerry Lighthouse, Orkney. Alexander (Eddie) and Brian, During the last ten years of her life Catherine began to fail. lived in the lighthouse building in Stromness from 1941 to 1946. She moved between Oakland and the Lincoln area where her The Dishons had returned to Orkney and the story had come the daughter lived. For some of that time she shared a room with her full circle. L

their birth and marriage families in the UK and their decendants in Australia. Colette and her colleagues are busy searching for gaol and trial records together with newspaper stories about these women and they hope to transcribe all the records they find into a database, bringing together the woman, her family and all information pertaining to her. This would be invaluable in giving family historians and academics a better understanding of the female experience of the convict system. Much of the information required will be contained in records held in Great Britain and Ireland and access to these is beyond our capacity. We are hoping, therefore, that family history researchers will be interested in researching the lives of some of the women who were transported from these areas. Membership of www.femaleconvicts.org.au costs nothing and A request from Colette McAlpine gives free access to the database. All work is done by volunteers. If your research has come up with any woman who suffered If any of the OFHS members are interested Colette will send this fate Colette McAlpine would like to hear from you. them a list of the women from their part of the country. Colette is a volunteer with the Female Convicts Research Colette has only found two women transported from Orkney at Centre (www.femaleconvicts.org.au) and also the Founders and this stage Survivors (www.foundersand survivors.org). MARGARET SINCLAIR in 1839 They are currently trying to connect the female convicts who and MARY PRIEST also in 1839 were transported to Van Diemen’s Land (Now Tasmania) with You can reach Colette at |L Issue No 63 September 2012 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY 15

A news item from Nan Scott, Member No 8 On May 30th, a lovely sunny day, George Gray and I crossed the String on the MV . When we landed on Shapinsay, George, the treasurer and research secretary of the Orkney Family History Society, was back on Shapinsay the island of his birth. He was accepting an invitation from the Shapinsay Lunch Club to come and tell them about his experiences when helping visitors and members of the OFHS to do research. In the Community Centre for the lunch he found that he was sharing a table with his ninety one year old aunt Bella Muir. Then his cousin Brenda , Bella‘s daughter, wearing her Shapinsay Lunch Club apron, appeared to serve the lovely meal. She is one of their committee and one of the volunteers that day.When later on George was telling a bit of his own family history Aunt Bella, now sitting at some distance, was able to hear him and keep him up to date! Bella herself is head of a large Muir family having had six children, twenty grandchildren, twenty four great grand children and now one great great grandchild. About twenty people listened to George and didn’t let him go until the first afternoon ferry to Kirkwall had gone without him. His talk was much appreciated and one lady was heard to say, “Don’t be so long away next time”. He in turn thanked them for their interest, their invitation and the lunch. While waiting for the next ferry his sister-in- law, Gladys Gray, who was also at the meal, whisked him around the island in her car when they discussed changes in at various groups over Orkney. When older folk are there, as at a population and scenery including the presence of the profitable lunch club, it can be beneficial to all concerned. Could there be wind turbine near Howe.The sun continued to shine for the return more invitations in the pipe line? In the picture from left to right ferry trip when we enjoyed the company of one of the lunch club are Bella Muir, George Gray, Gladys Gray and Brenda Rendall. members, Marjorie Kent, who is also an OFHS member. Over the years the society has always been willing to provide a speaker Our thanks to the Shapinsay Tourism Group for the photograph of Balfour Village taken by Nic Thake.

Kathleen Keldie tells me that the names on the school photo- graphOOOPS! which I included on page 21 of our June issue were muddled up. They were evidently incorrectly listed on the back of the photograph and the correct sequence of the back row, reading L. to R. is: Robert Petrie, Robert Harcus, John Foubister, Robert Voy, Louis or Ken- ‘Royal’ visitor makes maiden visit to Orkney neth Sabiston, William Tulloch, Jackie Eunson, Jim On Tuesday 31 July the prestigious cruise liner Queen Elizabeth dropped Scott, Tommy Scollay, Billy Spence and Miss Rich- anchor in Kirkwall Bay. She is just one of the 78 cruise ships listed for mond. Orkney port calls in 2012. 53 cruise ships are already booked for 2013. 16 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Issue No 63 September 2012

By Shaun Hubbard, Member No 2751 “It’s better to be a Firth than a Thecond”. That was the with oats, peas, turnips, and potatoes. Before Robert was motto of our Firth family reunion in 2006 on San Juan Is- put in charge of the farm nearly 10 years later, the live- land in Washington State. Since that reunion, my cousin stock inventory had peaked at upwards of 5,000 sheep – Doug and I had been planning a trip to Orkney to see on the farm and at the various stations scattered around the place our great-great grandfather Robert Firth and the 54-square-mile island. his wife, Janet “Jessie” Fotheringham Grant, called home. A f t e r Our spouses/fellow travellers, Polly and Harold, were ea- what was ger to come along. This is a story about that trip in May b a s i c a l l y 2012, but first, a little history about Robert and Jessie’s a 13-year emigration. s t a n d o f f , Robert Firth left his Orkney home at Longtownmail Kaiser Wil- (aka Quoys) of St. Andrew’s Parish for employment with helm I of the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) in 1850. He boarded G e r m a n y the HBC barque Tory which departed England in Septem- was asked ber of that year and arrived in Victoria, British Colum- to arbitrate. bia, Canada in May 1851 – the voyage taking 8 months He awarded and 7 days. In Victoria, Robert was stationed at an HBC the island farm where he was employed as a servant. He returned to Robert Firth at Belle Vue Farm archipelago Scotland and married his sweetheart, Jessie Grant, in the to the U. S. in 1872. The HBC soon after left their island summer of 1857. The banns were registered in the South holdings behind, and Robert Firth became the sole owner Leith Parish Church and the marriage took place in Kirk- of the farm in 1873. wall. In September 1857, they hopped aboard the HBC By 1870, the Firth family had grown to a total of 8 chil- barque Princess Royal for yet another arduous journey dren. Robert received his U.S. citizenship in 1878 and lived around the Horn, landing in Victoria in February 1858. out his days working the farm with his family until his There they raised 2 children. death in 1903 at the age of 72. Jessie had died in 1889 at In 1862, Robert was asked to run the HBC’s Belle Vue the age of 59. Their youngest daughter, Mary Jane Firth Sheep Farm on San Juan Island,15 miles west of Victo- La Chapelle sold the family farm in 1927, and in 1966 the ria. The island was one of “The Disputed Islands”, which farm site and surrounding acres became a National His- had been under military occupation and in the beginning toric Park. It is now called “American Camp” where you can stages of “The Pig War” (so named for its only casualty). visit an interpretive center, walk the prairies and beach- The dispute was whether the islands belonged to Great es, and see Britain or to the United States. the house H B C ’ s where the p r e s e n c e used on these is- to live. lands would Most of help make Robert and a claim for J e s s i e ’ s Britain, so c h i l d r e n in 1853 a stayed on farm was San Juan established Island to and roads raise fami- Firth Farmhouse 2010 — the American Camp built to ac- lies of their own, and some went to the “mainland” to ei- Old Hudson’s Bay House and Firth family about 1864 cess prairies ther farm or to find careers in the big city of Seattle, 90 for grazing. The farm itself was comprised of some 220 miles to the south. Of those who stayed on the island, acres on an exposed, south-facing slope above the Haro there were farmers, a saloonkeeper, and a town sheriff Straits; about 60 acres of which were under cultivation – all early pioneers of the island community. Now, the A Issue No 63 September 2012 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY 17

F fourth, fifth and sixth generations of Robert and Jessie so helpful in answering my many family research ques- Firth descendants are scattered far and wide, although tions. The first stop on our itinerary was a visit tothe a few have stayed close to the island. Harold and I live Firth home, Longtownmail, near the airport. The sweep- just a few miles from the original homestead on San ing view of the bay from the house is so similar to that on Juan Island, and Doug and Polly live on Camano Island, San Juan Island that we could imagine when Robert first a nearby isle to the south. We must have island fever in arrived there he must have felt right at home. From the our bones – the Orkney Islands were calling to us! driveway into Longtownmail, Ian pointed out the sites of In May 2012, 162 years after Robert left Orkney, Doug other Firth homes nearby – Moss Sinclair and Annfield. and I (with our willing mates) returned to our homeland. It was a special feeling to walk around the grounds where As the ferry approached Stromness, we were awed by the our ancestors had lived. unforgettably beautiful sight – the lifting sea fog reveal- The morn- ing those tall red and green cliffs lit by the late-evening ing sun was sun. It looked like something out of a movie and I could shining and hear the music swell! It was a touching moment. the ever- Upon our landing in Stromness, Harold photographed present Ork- Doug’s and ney breeze my first foot- blowing – we steps onto our felt so fortu- native soil. We nate to have then enjoyed a the weather delicious meal in our favour. at the Ferry After Long- Inn which t o w n m a i l , had been rec- our next stop ommended to was the in- us by friendly triguing set- Ian the butch- ting of Hall of er, whom , Doug had met a cloistered on the ferry g r a v e y a r d (we still talk surrounded First footsteps — Shaun and Doug touchdown in Orkney. about that by an age- Sticky Toffee old, but still- A poignant moment at Hall of Tankerness graveyard. Pudding). In the dusky light, and with the expert guidance working farm. of Navigator Polly and Driver Doug, we found our way to There we visited the graves of many of our relatives, but the Lynnfield Hotel in Kirkwall – our charming home for were especially drawn to that of our three-times-great- the next three days. Before settling in, we had a celebra- grandparents, Robert Firth and Elizabeth Cleat. I couldn’t tory peedie sip o’ Scotch – “Cheers to Orkney!” help but be touched by the sight of the bluebells of Scot- The next morning, our Firth family adventure began. land blooming beside their gravestone, and I wondered, had they ever even imagined that their descendants from America would stop by for a visit one day? Our escapade continued and next we found ourselves in the wide-open setting of St. Andrews cemetery where we searched for other family headstones. Thanks to Ian and the informa- tion he gathered from the OFHS, we were able to locate the graves easily. Ian is an excellent guide and he rightly decided that our experience was not complete without a visit to the beau- tiful on Holm and a look into the more recent – the story of the . We stopped at the roadside display to read all about the tragedy of the HMS Royal Oak, the vigorous response, and the labour force of the Italian prisoners- of-war. After , we had one more Firth family stop – Midhouse in Holm – where our three-times-great aunt, Back where it all began —The Firth family home at Longtownmail, Orkney. Hannah Firth, and her husband, John Hepburn, had lived. It was all masterfully planned by our knowledgeable The present owner, Hazel, graciously gave us a tour of the guide, Ian Cameron of the Orkney Family History So- inside. Even though it is no longer used as a residence, it ciety (OFHS), and his delightful wife, Betty. I knew we felt cozy with its thick walls and generous fireplace, still were in good hands – I had been in touch with Ian by feeling like a family home after all these years. e-mail for several months prior to the trip, and he was What an inspirational and heartwarming morning we A 18 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Issue No 63 September 2012

F had! We said our thank yous to Ian and Betty, with a blue skies. We spent plan to meet at the Lynnfield for dinner that evening. In the morning touring the meantime, we decided to explore Kirkwall where Pol- West Mainland and ly spotted the perfect place to have lunch – The Reel. In the ancient sites – addition to the tasty meal, a highlight was hearing the The Stones of Sten- fiddle music over the speakers and browsing through the ness, The Ring of music books and CD’s. I added several to my collection Brodgar (where Ha- and we vowed to return on Wednesday night to listen to rold walked around, the practice session of The Orkney Fiddle and Accordion touching each stone Club. After lunch we strolled through the magnificent St. for good luck), and Magnus Cathedral, then returned to our hotel to take amazing Skara rests in preparation for the evening’s festivities. Brae. Looking at After our excellent dinner at the Lynnfield (I had my these ancients mon- first “spoots” – yum), we retired to the hotel’s cozy draw- uments, we realized ing room, full of chairs of all sizes. There, Ian had planned that 1850 was real- a surprise for us – some real, live Firth cousins! Ian had ly not that long ago. done his homework, sought them out, and arranged that We made a brief we all meet. There were Barry Heddle, and Liz Jolly stop at the beauti- Johnson, and her sister Meg Jolly Gibson, Ian Gibson, fully-restored St. Meg’s husband, was there, too, bearing photos and fam- Peter’s Church and ily trees that he had so ably compiled. An amusing and its graveyard to find amazing part of the evening was that Barry discovered headstones of the Kirkness family (no relations, but close that he, too, was related to Meg and Liz! They had known friends to our family in Seattle), then back to Kirkwall for a each other, but had not known they were related until tour of the Highland Park Distillery – very informative and they all showed up at the Lynnfield that night looking entertaining. Sipping Scotch whisky had become a part of for their American cousins. We had so much fun trying to our evening ritual throughout our travels in Scotland and figure out who was who and how we were related. We cal- now we knew the magic behind the making of it. culated that Doug and I are third-cousins-once-removed We raise a glass to you, Orkney, and to all the delight- to Barry, Meg and Liz – we are all descendants of Robert ful Orcadians we met! We look forward to continuing the Firth and Elizabeth Cleat whose gravestone and home search into our family tree, adding more branches, filling we had seen for the first time just that morning. in the missing pieces, finding new relatives – luckily, we Liz expressed it well when she said that it felt as if we are proud members of the ever-resourceful Orkney Family had already known each other. There was so much more History Society. On the night before departing Orkney, we to talk about, so many more questions to ask, but our had a kindly sendoff from Ian and Betty Cameron in their visit was short. We would like to return someday to see lovely home – a perfect farewell! We will never forget this more of Orkney, delve more into our history, and meet trip. Our lives are that much richer for having seen our more Firth cousins. For now, we are so happy to have had homeland and having met our people. Thank you! L the opportunity to see the place of our beginnings and connect with our new-found family members. Shaun Hubbard and Harold Kawaguchi – San The following day was our last full day on Orkney. Juan Island, Washington State Again, the weather was on our side, Doug and Polly Groseclose – Camano Island, bringing us sparkling sun and clear Washington State. OUR ORKNEY ODYSSEY

L. to R: Barry Heddle, Liz Johnston, Doug Groseclose, Margaret Gibson, Ian Gibson, Poly Groseclose Shaun Hubbard, Ian Cameron and Betty Cameron. Issue No 63 September 2012 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY 19

By Graeme Lewin. Member No. 2765 This could well have been the highpoint of my visit to Orkney, a My Gt Gt Grandfather was John Bremner Cromarty and he lived place that at one time I would have struggled to pinpoint on a map. at Quoypetty until his marriage to Isabella Bews. John became a All this changed in 1996 when my father died whilst on a trip to schoolteacher at and in the 1861 census he was living at the Australia and the subsequent request from the authorities there schoolhouse in Burray. Despite the help of the good people in the got my wife and I well and truly hooked on Family History. The OFHS and a visit to Burray I was unable to locate this property and request was for the names of his parents and that was when I can only presume that it no longer exists. I was however able to realised that I had never had any knowledge of his parents. As visit his grave at St Lawrence’s cemetery, Burray (he died in 1866). my mother had died back in 1964 I had not much knowledge of her family either although I did know her parents. What I did find was that her parents were both of Scottish descent and on her mother’s side they came from Orkney. I am a descendant of the Cromartys from - or at least those from the late 1700 s namely David Cromarty and Margaret Pottinger. One of the joys of research for us has been the travel involved and in meeting relatives, however distant, and seeing the places St. Lawrence Kirk, Burray. The tall gravestone on the left hand where ancestors lived back in the 1800s. It was with this in mind side is that of gt. gt.grandfather George Bremner Cromarty. that we set out on a three week holiday in May in our motorhome to cover a large slice of the Highlands and to spend one of those I was also able to go to The Old Schoolhouse at Toab where John’s weeks on Orkney. As with member Helen Trustom in the last widow Isabella set up home sometime between 1871 and 1881. edition of the SIB FOLK we had a wonderful trip. John & Isabella’s daughter, my Gt Gt Aunt Robina Ann Cromarty, We arrived on Orkney armed with information gleaned from many married a John Bews and raised a family at this property and my sources including the OFHS web site. On arrival at St Margaret’s Gt Grandfather David Schenck Cromarty was shown as resident Hope one of the first things we saw was ‘Cromarty Square’. As we here prior to his death in hospital in Edinburgh 1927. The Bews then drove into Kirkwall we stopped at the Italian Chapel and can only family continued to own this property until about 1980. Near to echo Helen’s words and say what an incredible piece of work it is! the end of our stay we made contact with another descendant of During our week on Orkney we travelled across most of both East David Cromarty with whom we had coffee and an exchange of and West Mainland. We did many of the tourist attractions but information about the the family. also went in search of graves (admirably helped by the work of All in all it was an incredible experience both from the family the OFHS) and old properties where some of my ancestors lived. history point of view and from the tourism aspect. The scenery The cemeteries were St Andrews, Toab; Hall of Tankerness; St is beautiful and the sights are all that the guides say they are. Ninians and St Lawrence at Burray. I was able to see for myself The weather was reasonably kind although the traditional Orkney the graves of my Gt Gt Grandfather and mother and numerous ‘blow’ did worry us on one particular night trying to sleep in our other Cromartys and Bews. motorhome which seemed to be about to overturn at any moment. In Deerness I had my Quoypetty moment —I was standing at the The trip will not be forgotten and I will continue to track down door of the house through which many generations of Cromartys family both old and new. Since returning home I have made had passed. contact with one of the Bews family who used to live at The Old It is now almost derelict, but once it was the Schoolhouse in Toab. I would love to hear from anyone with any home of my Gt Gt Gt Grandfather George links to or knowledge of any of the people I have mentioned. Cromarty from 1821 until his death in You can email me at 1862. His daughter Hannah Cromarty continued to live with her husband Charles Inkster and their 4 children. Charles died in 1880 and Hannah in 1910 and it was the sons William, Robert & John who continued to live there until the last one (Robert) died in 1942. I can only think that this house has been left unoccupied ever since but would St Ninian’s Church, Deerness welcome any further information. 20 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Issue No 63 September 2012

are you related to Colin Firth? asks William Firth, Member No 1910 The film star’s fame means that we Orcadian Firths have less frequent need to repeat and/or spell our surname, but Colin’s origins are in Yorkshire, not Orkney. So when the flight attendant at the departure gate in Newark checked my passport and handed it back, asking “Are you related to Colin?”, I answered “No.” But does anyone actually know?

PHOTO LICENSED UNDER COMMONSCREATIVE That these Firth branches are distinct is very likely, as this 1881 UK census map demonstrates (Check out a common ancestor, and DNA could give an idea of the coloured original which shows much more detail at when such an ancestor might have lived. If our www.rootsmap.com) The shading of each county indi- DNA is of Saxon type, we just might be Colin’s cates the number of Heads of Household named Firth, distant cousins. The more likely Viking or Pictish aged at least 45, who were born in that county. York- types would suggest a more local origin for the shire is hugely dominant – over 90% – but, remarkably, brothers. Perhaps more likely (and more prosai- every such Firth born in Scotland was Orcadian! Only cally) it would suggest that the Firth surname middle-aged and older Heads (mostly male) are simply comes from Firth parish. represented in the map in order to pick out What about written records? There are no Firths those progenitors of present-day Firths in the , but Firths are found in vari- who were born before the advent of ous Orkney legal documents from the 16th steam enabled substantial population Century, usually as witnesses, rather than movements within the UK. principals. Earliest I’ve found is a refer- Did the Orkney Firths immigrate ence to “Nycholl of Fyrtht” in a document from Yorkshire, as those in. e.g., the of around 1520. James Firth of Gran- presumably did? There don, Firth, has a will dated 1624, while a is a tale that we all descend from two Thomas Firth of Stenness and a William brothers (one dark, one fair) from “across Firth (servant in Rendall) witnessed sas- the Firth”. Would that be the Pentland ines around the same time. These early written Firth, and did the brothers perhaps come records are too patchy to conclude much beyond from Yorkshire? Improbable, no doubt, but the fact that there were a number of Firths in nowadays DNA testing can actually test Orkney by the early 17th Century. such stories. In fact, several Yorkshire Firths Parish records of births and marriages with no known mutual relationship have become significant in the 18th Century, been shown, from their DNA, to all derive but there are major gaps, especially from a common ancestor, (very) roughly 500 in the Firth parish records. Some years ago. gaps have apparently been filled by They were tested within a project to trace later transcriptions of birth data from possible connections within a group of family Bibles. Nevertheless, in the surnames including Thrift and Firth, run by three decades 1770-1800, i.e. the span Richard Thrift . For details and results so of a generation, there are nearly twenty far, see his website and included links: Firth families recorded where two or more HYPERLINK “http://www.familytreed- siblings are born to the same parents. Eight of na.com/public/Thrift-Frith-Firth/” \t “_blank. http:// these families are in Firth & Stenness, four in Kirkwall www.familytreedna.com/public/Thrift-Frith-Firth/. & , with others in Harray, Stromness and St An- So far, all Firths tested are of Yorkshire origin, and all drews, or split between parishes. It is likely that most have a common ancestral DNA which seems to be of Orcadian Firths descend from one of these families and, Saxon type. I plan to have my DNA tested, and would furthermore, that statutory BMD and Census records welcome Orcadian Firth volunteers to join the project. enables that descent to be traced in almost all cases. DNA testing a few Orcadian Firths could answer a lot There is usually a major problem connecting these fami- of interesting questions. The “two brothers” story implies lies to the patchy early data. That said, the Grandon A Issue No 63 September 2012 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY 21

F Firths recorded in gravestones in cemetery are presumably descendants of the James who died in 1624. The 1841 Census gives the first complete record of Orcadian Firths, there being 151 listed on the OFHS Census pages. By parish one finds Firth & Stenness (65), Kirkwall & St Ola (26), Stromness (20), St Andrews (16), Harray (15), S Ronaldsay (7), (1) and Deerness (1). Later censuses show a small increase, to 180+, but Firth never approaches the top ten Orkney surnames. As one would expect in view of ever-increasing population mobility, their geographical spread becomes ever wider. Of some 400 Firths born in Scotland during the present Queen’s reign, only about 80 were born in Orkney. DNA and online BMD/census information can provide only the outline of the story of Orkney’s Firths. Family records, letters and other material would add colour and interest, as well as providing clues to help weave the story into a complete and coherent whole. My own family seems to lack such records, so I’d be very grateful to hear from anyone who has or knows of Firth family records dating from the 19th Century or earlier. As an encouragement, and perhaps a challenge, I’ve in- cluded the earliest Firth photograph I know, which is a wedding photo of Robert Firth and Jessie Grant, taken at Leith in 1857. The couple emigrated to San Juan Island, WA, USA, where their descendants still live. (I’m indebted to Shaun-Alice Hubbard for the image.) Robert was born in St Andrews about 1828 to Robert Firth and Elizabeth Cleat. The latter had at least eleven children. Their young- est son John married my great-aunt Isabella Firth in Holm in 1871. John and Isabella were certainly no closer than third-cousins, but if all Orcadian Firths are related, I sup- pose they were cousins of some sort! If you want to get in touch with William you can email him at

PARTY, HOUSE, APRIL 13th 1921. J. OMAND.

Doreen Tait, Member No 98, found this photograph photographs was this one which Doreen thought might amongst the effects of Jessie Robertson (nee Tait). Do- be of interest to her fellow members. Alan Clouston reen and her husband Ralph Tait, (nephew) were clear- thought that Jessie might be front row, extreme right. ing the house — The Shop, Orphir and among the many Would any member be able to add to that? L 22 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Issue No 63 September 2012

By Shirley Clarke, Member No 2764 A few years ago I thought it would be interesting to research my father’s side of the family. I was amazed at how quickly William NORN Age: 52 Birth Year: 1829 my curiosity mushroomed into a genealogy addiction. I Birthplace: Scotland now have a collection of 16 (large) binders full of details about the families I never knew. My cousins Beverly and Occupation: Farmer Province: Northwest Territories Betty-Jean had compiled extensive research on the maternal Subdistrict: Battleford side of the family. I now reside in Alberta close to the areas Wife: Sarah where the ancestors had settled in the mid 1800s to the early 1900s. It is an easy jaunt into the Alberta Provincial Children: Joseph age 20, Cleophes age 13, Francis Archives in Edmonton – a wonderful resource! Finding the age 11, Jamima age 9 Issabella age 7 ancestors’ roots in Scotland is not so easy to do from here! G2 Grandfather William NORN, born in the Orkneys is the “elusive” ancestor I seek here. 1891: William NORAN Age 68 Birth Year 1823 The first information I found relating to William was his Birthplace: Scotland biography through the Hudson’s Bay Company Archives located in Winnipeg, Manitoba: Province: Territories District: Alberta Subdistrict: Lac la Biche Wife: Sara Noran NAME: NORN, William PARISH: South Ronaldshay, Orkney Children: Cleophas age 23; Jamima age 19; ENTERED SERVICE: 6 December 1848 DATES: d 1902 Balla age 17; Francis age 22; 1848-1849 Labourer General Post Grandchildren Donald Cohan (Bahan) age 23, Harriet 1849-1851 Labourer Saskatchewan Cohan (Bahan) 13 1851-1854 Labourer Upper Red River 1854, 1 June retired to Red River 1901: William NORN Age 75 Birth Day and Month: 6 Jul 1825 by 1871 in Victoria Settlement Birthplace: Scotland Occupation: Farmer Wife: Sarah (Sally) Whitford (daughter of Province: The Territories James Whitford, bapt 1834) Subdistrict: Pakan Children: Margaret (b.ca.1851, son Rory McRae Wife: Sarah age 60 no children living at home b 1888); James; Cleophas; girl; Adelaine; 1906 Census Sarah NORRCUS (corrected to NORN) Age 68 Joseph (b 1861, m Eliz. Jane Purden1885) Living with: Margaret Bhan (Bahan) widowed daughter age 53; Roderick McRae grandson age 18 see “The Lives of Rory McRae”, by Ruth Matheson Buck 1911 Census Sarah no longer appears HBC Archives documentation in the form of a servant’s contract for William Norn cannot be found. I purchased a I then obtained the death registration of William NORN: copy of the manuscript “The Lives of Rory McRae”. It is a North-West Territories Registration of Death (Record No. good read, written when Rory was in his later years, detailing 1518 of 1902): in the first section his recollections of his childhood being Name of Deceased in full: WILLIAM ROSE NORN (I raised by his grandparents William and Sarah. He offers now found his middle name!) Date of Death: November no details regarding dates, their parents, etc.I then found 30, 1902 Age: 78 years. Place of Death (Nearest Post William and his family on the Censuses of Canada: Office): Victoria, Pakan, P.O., Alberta Place of birth: Orkney,

G2 Grandfather William NORN’s obituary: The Edmonton Bulletin December 12, 1902 Page 8 PAKAN Obituary – There passed peacefully away at his home here on Sunday, November 30th,William Norn, one of the oldest and most highly esteemed settlers in this vicinity. Mr. Norn was born in the Orkney Is., Scotland, in 1825, and in 1849 came A Issue No 63 September 2012 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY 23

Fto York Factory in the Hudson’s Bay Co’s service but was later transferred to old Fort Garry. In 1856 he left the company and went to Partridge Crop Lake Manitoba, with the Anglican missionary. After some time he went to Portage la Prairie as gardener for Archdeacon Cochrane, whence he came to Victoria to farm in 1866. Mr. Norn was a sincere Christian man as all who knew him know and was very well known to many of the western pioneer missionaries who were always welcomed to his home, and entertained with his generous hospitality. Of late years Mr. Norn had been gradually weakening with consumption, but bore the affliction with all patience and Christian fortitude. The funeral service at his late residence, conducted by Rev. C. H. Lawford on Dec. 2nd was very largely attended, and many followed the remains to Victoria cemetery, where the last sad rites were solemized. Deceased leaves a widow, five daughters and three sons to mourn his departure. They are Mrs. M Bahan, Mrs. J. Erasmus, Mrs. L Thomspon, Cleophas and Francis Norn all of Victoria, Joseph Norn of Beaver Lake, Mrs. Dan McCauley of Leduc and Mrs. R. Steele, of MacLeod. On the probate documents of their son Cleophus I was able to find a death date for Sarah as May 30, 1907. Through the Glenbow Museum in Calgary, Alberta I researched the Charles Denney papers. The Glenbow site describes Mr. Denney’s work: “In 1967 he began doing genealogical research on his wife’s family, which was descended from several of the Lord Selkirk Red River settler families. The project grew, and by 1985 he had compiled family history files on over 1200 families with roots in Red River, predominantly Metis and fur trade families.” William and Sarah NORN are family number 608.000. Mr Denney’s note on their page reads: “William Norn 1803- 24 Sept, 1844 buried at St. Johns age 44”. This William married Catherine Birston daughter of Magnus Birston (family 299.000). I have found the web site Red River Ancestry (redriverancestry.ca) to be a great resource covering many Orkney men and their connections to the HBC. From it I read: “On Dec 3, 1829 daughter Catherine married William NORN who was born May 20, 1798 in Sandwick, Orkney, son of Elspet ALLAN & David NORN (1775-) from Stromness.” Although some researchers report my G2 Grandfather’s first wife to have been Catherine Birston, I do not agree. Mr. Denney’s file 608.000, except for the misplaced William and Catherine Birston notes, goes on to correctly list William, Sarah and their children: Margaret, Mary Elizabeth (my great grandmother married Daniel Macaulay), James, Annie, Joseph, Adeline, Thomas, Flora, Cleophas, Francis, Jemima and Isabella. I have been fortunate and delighted to find details about William, his wife Sarah, his children, and his life here in Canada. I continue to search for documented information about his birth, his parents, his siblings, his home life in Scotland prior to coming to Canada. I joined the Orkney Family History Society to see what I might find there. I’ve quite enjoyed searching through the site and the message board. To one of my first posts and after some researching, Alan Clouston sent me these possibilities as parents and siblings of William: NORN Ann Stewart F C 1831-07-10 James NORN Eliz. Sutherland South Ronaldsay NORAN William M C 1828-08-24 James NORAN Eliz. Sutherland South Ronaldsay NORN James M C 1834-11-16 James NORN Betty Sutherland South Ronaldsay NORAN Robert M C 1823-09-10 James NORAN Eliz. Sutherland South Ronaldsay NORAN Margaret Sutherland F C 1822-02-03 James NORAN Eliz. Sutherland South Ronaldsay NORAN Elizabeth Park F C 1826-03-28 James NORAN Eliz. Sutherland South Ronaldsay From this information, I placed another post to the OFHS message board seeking details about James NORAN and Elizabeth SUTHERLAND. Would following their lives and the lives of their children lead me to proof of William being their child/sibling? Again, I was fortunate, and received a reply from Nancy Charlton who sent me an attachment (from scotlandspeople) that she had found. The page is titled: “Anno Domini 1828”. “NORAN, William, the son of James NORAN and his wife ELIZABETH in the Hope was born on the Tenth baptized Twenty-fourth August in presence of the congregation” It will be wonderful if this proves to be the family I seek! The date of August 10, 1828 differs from the date given on the 1901 Canadian Census of July 6, 1825. But, census birth dates and years are so very hit and miss. I contacted the Anglican Church Diocese of Ruperts Land to see what records they had. The response: “I actually found a card for William Norn, telling me he married Sarah Whitford at St. Andrew’s Church, which was in the Red River Settlement area. I have actually found the entry in the book.” Unfortunately, in 1850, details about the bride and groom’s birth dates, parents, places of birth, etc. were not asked. Thank you Orkney Family History Society for publishing my article searching for William and Sarah NORN. And, thank you reader for taking time to read my ongoing search. I am quite enjoying my searches around Scotland for the ancestors. My McCOLMAN roots are from the Isles of . My Great Grandfather Daniel MACAULAY was born Balallan, Isle of Lewis. The NORN and MACAULAY grandfathers and the fathers of the women they married have many ties to the Hudson’s Bay Company. My search continues! It is my hope that there will be other researchers of the NORN, NORAN, SUTHERLAND families that can assist me. If anyone has information to share or comments to make about my research please contact me at HYPERLINK mailto:[email protected] L THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY

rkney Family History Society was formed in NEW MEMBERS 1997 and is run by a committee of volunteers. Membership of the Society is through subscription and runs O It is similar to societies operating worldwide for a period of twelve months from date of application. where members share a mutual interest in family Members will receive our magazine ‘Sib Folk News’ history and help each other with research and, from which is published every 3 months and the ‘Members’ time to time, assist in special projects concerning the Directory’ which is renewed annually in September. countless records and subjects available to us all in This Directory lists members’ contact details and their finding our roots. research interests. The main objectives are: Members will receive a password to access the 1 To establish a local organisation for the study, members’ pages on the website, details of which are collection, analysis and sharing of information about shown on the Home Page. individuals and families in Orkney. A great deal of research can be achieved through these 2 To establish and maintain links with other family resources history groups and genealogical societies throughout THE PRESENT MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES AND RATES ARE the UK and overseas 1. UK only ORDINARY 3. To establish and maintain a library and other Family membership reference facilities as an information resource for £10.00 members and approved subscribers. 2. UK only FAMILY MEMBERSHIP 4.To promote study projects and special interest Spouse, Partner and Children under 18 £15.00 groups to pursue approved assignments. 3. UK only SENIOR CITIZENS We are located on the upper floor of the Kirkwall Single or couple Library next to the archives department and are open £7.00 Mon–Fri 2pm–4.30pm and Sat 11am–4.30pm. 4. OVERSEAS - Surface Mail £12.50 Our own library, though small at the moment, holds a 5. OVERSEAS - Air Mail £15.00 variety of information including: The IGI for Orkney on microfiche. DOWNLOAD THESE and SEND The Old Parish Records on microfilm. WITH YOUR SUBSCRIPTION The Census Returns on microfilm transcribed Visit www.orkneyfhs.co.uk/docs/mempack.pdf where on to a computer database. you will find a New Membership Application form and Family Trees. a blank Family Tree. Please complete these, print and Emigration and Debtors lists. send with the appropriate subscription to The Treasurer Letters, Articles and stories concerning Orkney at the address below. and its people. EXISTING MEMBERS CAN RENEW ONLINE Hudson’s Bay Company information. Existing members wanting to renew their subscription Graveyard Surveys (long term project). can now do so online. Just Log In and use the link from This material is available to members for ‘in house’ My Details on the Member’s Page. You can, of course, research by arrangement. still send your subscription to the Treasurer at OFHS. Locally we have a Members’ Evening, most months, CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATE with a guest speaker. Overseas members, paying in their own currency, We produce a booklet of members and interests to should check the exchange rate to ensure the correct allow members with similar interests to correspond amount is forwarded. Our bank will accept overseas with each other if they wish. cheques without charging commission. We regret that We also produce a newsletter 4 times a year and are foreign 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 Cheques should be made payable to:- who live outwith Orkney but this is dependent on the ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY willingness of our island members giving up their and forwarded to The Treasurer spare time to help. Any costs incurred, such as fees for ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY certificates, will reqire to be reimbursed by the member. 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 Secretary. 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 subscriptions etc is a Registered Charity in Scotland SCO26205 MEMBERSHIP