Ann Marwick and James Leask - Our Direct Ancestors - my generation’s g g g g grandparents

Elizabeth / Betty Leask, known as Betsy Leask, was born on the 18th of December, 1828 and was christened on the 8th of January, 1829 at Evie. She died on the 8th of June, 1899, aged 70 at Ballarat House, Harray. Her parents were Ann Marwick (1796-1863) and James Leask (circa 1790-1864).

Ann Marwick was born on the 1st of May, 1796 in Rendall. Her parents were Hugh Marwick, a seaman, and Betty Cormack. Records tell us that Ann’s siblings included Christoper born on the 29th of September, 1800 (Reference 72130, IGI/OPR Index: 1800-016) at Evie and Rendall, and Betsy born circa 1810. Ann’s sister, Betsy, died on the 2nd of December, 1868, aged 58 (Reference 4079; Death Certificate: 1868-016-00-0019) in Rendall. She was the widow of John Rendall and mother of William Rendall.

James Leask was born circa 1790 in Rendall. According the to records there were seven James Leasks born between 1785 and 1795, but none recorded in Rendall, so I cannot confirm our James Leask’s parent’s or date of birth. Supposedly James died on the 31st of December, 1864, at Hindatown, Harray.

Hindatown Farm as it looks today

James Leask and Ann Marwick were married on the 18th of January 1817 in Evie, Rendall and Gairsay (Reference 26150; IGI/OPR Index: 1817-016).

James and Ann’s children included:

1. Ann Isbister - born circa 1820; married Malcolm Isbister; their children included

• James - born 1845

• John - born 1847

• Margaret - born 1849

• Ann - born 1850

• Betsy - born 1852

• Jane - born 1855

• Mary A. - born 1856

Ann died on the 17th of October, 1877 (reference 3815; death certificate:

1877-018-00-0009) aged 56, of inflammation of the stomach, at Buckquoy, Harray

2. Margaret - born in 1821; married ? Dishan / Peter Merriman

3. Mary Clouston - born in Evie Orkney, on the 14th of October, 1827; married James Clouston, farmer of 17 acres, born in Orphir, Orkney; their children included:

• Mary Dunnet - born circa 1852, born in Firth, Orkney, married Charles Fraser Dunnet in 1873

• Betsy - born circa 1854, born in Harray, Orkney

• James - born circa 1856, born in Harray, Orkney

• William - born circa 1859, in Harray, Orkney

• Ann (Annie) - married ? Hay

Mary and James's headstone at Tapanui cemetery

Mary and James Clouston immigrated to New Zealand at some stage. I have not looked any further into their family at this stage. But I do wonder if Mary’s husband James was related to Thomas Clouston, Jean’s husband? Thomas and Jean settled in the Omakau area during 1889 after leaving Orkney. Mary died on the 25th of April, 1886, aged 59 in either Dunedin or Taranaki. Her husband died on the 6th of August 1897, aged 80. They are buried with their son, James in Tapanui cemetery.

5. Louisa Taylor - born in 1825; married George Taylor; died circa 1857

6, Elizabeth / Betty (Betsy) - born on the 18th of December, 1828 and christened on the 8th of January, 1829 at Evie (Reference 2861; IGI/OPR Index: 1829-016) - our direct ancestor - more about her in the section on John Corrigall and Betsy Leask

7. James - born on the 12th of June, 1831, at Evie and Rendell (Reference 62862; IGI/OPR Index: 1831-016)

8. Samuel - born on the 31st of December, 1833, at Firth and Stenness (Reference 62863; IGI/OPR Index: 1833-017); married Agnes Miscall; died aged 47 on the 15th of May, 1881, at Ophir, Central Otago, NZ; Block I. Plot 029B

Samuel and Agnes’s children included

• Ann

• Samuel

• Robert

• Jane McAdam

• George Ross

• Mary Agnes Bowman

Samuel immigrated to New Zealand with his brother William in the 1860s. I have not looked any further into their family at this stage.

Headstone of Samuel and two of his infant children, Samuel and Jane McAdam.

9. William Hourston was born on the 30th of March, 1836, at Pomona, Orkney Islands (Reference 62864; IGI/OPR Index: 1836-017) - more about William Hourston Leask and his wife Ellen Corrigall in a separate post

10. John Firth - born on the 10th of February, 1839, at Firth and Stenness (Reference 62865; IGI/OPR Index: 1839-017)

From the dates and locations of the children’s births, it appears that James Leask and Ann Marwick and their family moved from Evie and Rendell, approximately 12 to 15 kilometres away to Firth and Stenness around 1832. I can find no mention of the family in the 1821 census, but in 1841, they were living at Buckan / Bockan Farm in Sandwick. This property is very close to the Loch of Stenness. James was 45 and Ann was 40 in 1841. They were living with their children Margaret, 20 years old, Ann, 25 years old, Samuel, 7 years old, William, 5 years old and John, 2 years old. I wonder where Betsy, Louisa and James were at the time of the census? They would have been 10, 16 and 8 years old.

Bockan Farm, Sandwick as it looks today from Lyking Road

The 1851 census tells us that James was 61 and a farmer of 44.25 acres. This was quite a significant amount of land compared to many farmers of the time. Ann was 54 years old, and the couple were living with five of their children and a servant, eleven year old Isabella Taylor. Betsy’s name is recorded as Betty in the 1851 census records. She was 20 years old and employed on the farm. James was a tailor journeyman and was 18 years old. Samuel, 16 years old, was employed on the farm, and James was attending school at 12 years old. Louisa was married by this time, but her married name was not recorded. She was 26 years old and a sailor’s wife.

By 1861, James was 71 and farming 30 acres. Ann was 65. Their only child left living at home was John at 24. It is unclear what he was doing, but an S is recorded by his name, so he was likely to have been a single man. A farm servant, Robert McDonald,14 years old was also living with the family.

Ann died on the 16th of January 1863, aged 65 years old (reference 106359, death certificate 1863-027-00-0001) at Buckan / Bockan. Her cause of death was listed as disease of the heart / ‘dropsy’. The informant was her husband, James.

There is no mention of Buckan / Bockan Farm in the 1871 or 1881 census, and by 1891, there were no Leasks living at this property.