My last post referred to my Cutt family from Orkney. The parents'farm was small; it was hard to find enough work to support a family, and my great-grandfather John Cutt and his wife Jane were having babies every two years...he worked as a labourer on the roads and on the farms...and then a doctor (former employer?) who ran an asylum in Edinburgh, offered John the job of gatekeeper there. John Cutt and wife Jane left Orkney for Edinburgh in 1881 with 6 children. Five more were born in the little gatekeeper's cotttage there. The boys joined the armed services, and the girls 'went into service'. John Cutt b. 22 Jul 1870 Birsay Orkney m. Lilias Wilson d. 1Jan 1854 IOW children and grandchildren. Used 'Cutt' Margaret Cutt b 30Jul1872 Harray m. Robert Reddoch d. 1955 NJ USA Jessie b 15Oct 1874 Harray m. George Cook d. 1974 Ohio USA no issue Jane b. 16 Jan 1877 m. James Foulis d. Illinois no issue Mary b. 26 Feb 1879 m. David Auld d. New York USA Isabella b.7 Apr 1881 m. RB Graham d. South Africa 1910 or so Jemima b.3Sep1883Edin m.Victor H>C>Lovell 1904,d. Sydney Australia 1971 Lizzie b. 1 Sep 1885 Edinburgh m. William George Holt d. Ohio Ellen b. 1887 m. David Johnston d. Illinois Harold Clouston Cutt b.29 Oct 1888 d. Ohio USA Apr 1920 one son,one dau both living with issue: (boys use 'Coutts') George Drever Cutt b. 20 Jan1891 d. England no issue (used 'Cutt') All USA individuals used 'Coutts'. The 'old folk' also used Coutts by 1905 ( addresses on letters) HOWEVER, John and Jane were buried in Portsmouth under the name of CUTT in 1916 & 1918. Why the change? Any guesses? It appears to have been begun by others (census takers, for instance.). Boat passenger lists? (It may have been originally pronounced 'cut', very short and sharp, bringing a slight ss sound at the end.) Sue Hamilton _________________________________________________________________ MSN Photos is the easiest way to share and print your photos: http://photos.msn.com/support/worldwide.aspx