Dear Charles, Could you please tell me (us) where in Orkney your SKEA ancestors originated? Mine were in Sanday. Thanks, Doug Nicol, Santa Rosa CA

Reposting surname interests. ThomasSKEA m Isabla Twat Children:-John SKEA Mary Skea Thomas Skea m Ann Heddle Children:-Janet SKEA m James GARRIOCH March 1849 Janer SKEA Petter SKEA m Grace CRUM - Glasgow April 9, 1863 Ann SKEA Margaret SKEA Charles LYON Maghull Merseyside UK

Some time ago I ran across a book that was written back in the 40's that showed the origin of Scottish surnames. The book, titled "The Surnames of Scotland, Their Origin, Meaning and History", written by George F Black, PhD has an entry for the surname Westray with the following explanation: "From the lands of Westray in the island of Westray, Orkney. Michael de Westray witnessed a charter by Henry de St. Clair, earl of Orkney, apud Kirkwaw, in 1391." Would someone help me understand the meaning of that statement as it applies to my surname research as my research may or may not extend to the Orkneys? My surname (WESTER) is occasionally intermixed with WESTRAY as I dig through 19th and 18th century records in Kentucky, North Carolina and Virginia, here in the US. Thank you so much. Don Wester in Minnesota

I wonder what has become of all the family bibles? Some body should start a home in the Orkneys for family bibles. Blake

Well, from what eveyone is saying there are no death records available in the OPRs. Just to clarify a point, Statutory Regisitration started in Scotland in 1855 and so the Scottish Register Office's on-line database does not include any death records from the OPRs. They are all from the statutory index. That is a pity because it would help me prove some ancestral links, I am sure there are many in the same situation. Regards John Kelday

>Have you checked the Scottish GRO on line? (Scots Origins at >http://209.130.76.71/cgi-local/user.pl) I found my great-great-grandfather's >death records in the OPRs (see below). They have them indexed and if you >happen on one that looks like a match you have to order the copy of the >extract. Being good Scots they make a few pounds on the deal. > >Hope this helps. > >Phil Pursley > >from an Extract of an entry in a REGISTER of DEATHS for the Parish of Stronsay >in the County of Orkney > >#10 Williamson, George fisherman (Married) died: 1858 December twenty second >at 11:45 A.M. Village of Whitehall - Male age 44 - Parents: Andrew >Williamson, Fisherman and Barbara Williamson Maiden name Leslie - cause of >death: Consumption 8 months - place of burial: St Peter's Burying Ground >Stronsay certified by John Irvine Gravedigger - Informant: Laurence(Sp?) >Williamson Brother who was Present at death > I guess the Death records begin before 1861 but I don't believe they were consistantly kept in all parishes at the same time. Somewhere on line I've seen information about the years the began by parish - also I believe some records were lost in a fire. Regards, Anne M. Rendall volunteer host Orkney GenWeb and Orkney-L http://rendall.net/orkney/

> I don't know why the records office have not put the older death records > on their computer database, since they have done so with births and > marriages. Does anyone else know how to get old records? It is true that there are very few death records in the old parish registers. For some reason deaths were seldom recorded on paper. One place to find death records are cemetery records, but only Rousay is available on the net -- at my Orkney website listed below. The Orkney Family History Society is working on recording them, but have no idea whether or not they will ever get on the net. I suspect at the very least they will sell them. Bill Teschek teschek@tiac.net Orkney GENUKI website: URL: http://www.tiac.net/users/teschek/genuki/OKI Distributor of JuicePlus+ nutritional supplements Fruits and vegetables in capsule form! A simple, convenient and effective way to get the nutrition you need every day to avoid getting cancer and other diseases... http://www.gsrs.com/juiceplus.htm

You can find Orkney death records at the Scots Origins service of the General Register Office for Scotland web site, but you have to pay a nominal fee to access the database. There are only records of deaths for the Statutory Index on line, that is from 1855 onwards. For death records prior to 1855 you may have to apply to the Register Office in writing. I don't know why the records office have not put the older death records on their computer database, since they have done so with births and marriages. Does anyone else know how to get old records? John Kelday

At 04:14 PM 3/7/99 EST, you wrote: >Does anyone happen to know where to get death records or indexes of deaths for >the Orkney's. I had went to the LDS and the only thing they have on film is >for the years 1881 and 1891? >Any info would be greatly apreciated. > >Thanks > I don't believe there were death records before the statutory index was created, after 1861. I understand that the Orkney Family History Society is creating an index of the cemetaries. I don't think they'll be putting it online though. There's contact and membership information at the Orkney Genuki site, I don't have the url off hand, but there's a link to it from the Orkney Genweb page http://rendall.net/orkney/ Regards, Anne M. Rendall volunteer host Orkney GenWeb and Orkney-L http://rendall.net/orkney/

Hi! I can be completely wrong but I think that recording deaths was not a common practice in Orkney until the end of the 18th century. Most people had family bibles that they inscribed the births, baptisms and deaths. Sorry, I wish I could more helpful! Lise Hoping to be competely wrong on this one!

Forgot the URL - it's http://rendall.net/westray/ At 01:16 PM 3/7/99 -0500, you wrote: >Hi folks, > >Since I have a special interest in Westray I decided to create a separate >Westray query board at my web site. I've discovered quite a few Stevenson >cousins around the world and I thought it would be a good way for us to >share information and I wanted to extend that ability to others with >Westray connections. > >If you have web space with access to a cgi-bin I would be happy to help you >put such a board on the web for area of Orkney you have a personal interest >in. > >This has no affect on the Orkney GenWeb board - at least I hope it won't. > > >Regards, > >Anne M. Rendall >volunteer host Orkney GenWeb >and Orkney-L >http://rendall.net/orkney/ > > >

Ann, What is the URL for your Westray Query Board? I was unable to find it on your site. Mike Bostwick

Hi folks, Since I have a special interest in Westray I decided to create a separate Westray query board at my web site. I've discovered quite a few Stevenson cousins around the world and I thought it would be a good way for us to share information and I wanted to extend that ability to others with Westray connections. If you have web space with access to a cgi-bin I would be happy to help you put such a board on the web for area of Orkney you have a personal interest in. This has no affect on the Orkney GenWeb board - at least I hope it won't. Regards, Anne M. Rendall volunteer host Orkney GenWeb and Orkney-L http://rendall.net/orkney/

In a message dated 3/7/99 3:25:24 PM CST, StellaP@aol.com writes: > Subj: [ORKNEY-L] Death Records??? > Date: 3/7/99 3:25:24 PM CST > From: StellaP@aol.com > Reply-to: ORKNEY-L@rootsweb.com > To: ORKNEY-L@rootsweb.com > > Does anyone happen to know where to get death records or indexes of deaths > for > the Orkney's. I had went to the LDS and the only thing they have on film is > for the years 1881 and 1891? > Any info would be greatly apreciated. > > Thanks Have you checked the Scottish GRO on line? (Scots Origins at http://209.130.76.71/cgi-local/user.pl) I found my great-great-grandfather's death records in the OPRs (see below). They have them indexed and if you happen on one that looks like a match you have to order the copy of the extract. Being good Scots they make a few pounds on the deal. Hope this helps. Phil Pursley from an Extract of an entry in a REGISTER of DEATHS for the Parish of Stronsay in the County of Orkney #10 Williamson, George fisherman (Married) died: 1858 December twenty second at 11:45 A.M. Village of Whitehall - Male age 44 - Parents: Andrew Williamson, Fisherman and Barbara Williamson Maiden name Leslie - cause of death: Consumption 8 months - place of burial: St Peter's Burying Ground Stronsay certified by John Irvine Gravedigger - Informant: Laurence(Sp?) Williamson Brother who was Present at death

Does anyone know of anyone researching or with info on Liddell, Liddel, Liddle or any phonetic variations? Im related to Andrew Liddell, a surgeon who went to Australia whose relatives are from Orkney Islands. I have lots of info to swap on our Australian branch. Thanks in advance, Deirdre Hay (Aussie in Washington DC)

Hi Janine, The article you asked about is in the June 1998 issue of National Geographic. It was a great article, wasn't it? I'm afraid I can't answer your question on Burrastown. Sue (Researching TULLOCH and WALLS in the Orkneys) > I read about an article in National Geography that is all about Orkney. Can > anyone tell me what is the month and year of the magazine that this article > appeared in? > > Also can anyone tell me where Burrastown is. > > Janine

Does anyone happen to know where to get death records or indexes of deaths for the Orkney's. I had went to the LDS and the only thing they have on film is for the years 1881 and 1891? Any info would be greatly apreciated. Thanks

In a message dated 3/6/99 9:07:02 PM CST, janine@muskoka.com writes: > Subj: [ORKNEY-L] National Geography > Date: 3/6/99 9:07:02 PM CST > From: janine@muskoka.com (janine) > Reply-to: ORKNEY-L@rootsweb.com > To: ORKNEY-L@rootsweb.com > > I read about an article in National Geography that is all about Orkney. > Can > anyone tell me what is the month and year of the magazine that this article > appeared in? Answer: June 1998 page 46 "ORKNEY Ancient North Sea Haven" By Bill Bryson Photographs by Jim Richardson

The article on Orkney was in the June or July 1998 issue of National Geographic. The exact title "Orkney-Ancient North Sea Haven" by Bill Bryson. I think if you get onto National Geographic Magazines web page you can find the article and print it out. A neighbor did it for me....Jane

I read about an article in National Geography that is all about Orkney. Can anyone tell me what is the month and year of the magazine that this article appeared in? Also can anyone tell me where Burrastown is. Janine