A few more leads for you: NAS CC17/2/3 Testament, Janet Clark, spouse to James Bewis, in Holme, 12 Oct 1637: see www.scotlands people.gov.uk NAS CC17/2/5 Testament, Catherine Clark, spouse to David Ryland, in Sangar, Shapinsay 16 May 1649. ditto NAS CC17/2/8 or /9 Testament, Thomas Clark and his spouse, in Walls 23 Jan 1665. ditto NAS CC17/2/10 Testament, John Clark, in Sands, Shapinsay, 10 Jan 1668. ditto NAS CS7/13, ff. 260-1: 12 March 1584-5 Discharge by Mr Edward Bruce, advocate, to Michael Balfour of Montquhany, for 2000 merks, (?an annualrent on the lands of Montquhany) and ratification of contractes dated at Edinburgh and Montquhany, 16 and 21 May 1585, between the said Michael and Marioun Adam, his spouse, on the one part, and the said Mr Edward and Magdalen Clerk, his spouse, on the other, concerning the alienation of the lands of Westray, whereby the said Mr Edward discharges all interest he may have in them and all other lands pertaining to Archibald Balfour of Westray to which he or his heirs may pretend interest, with all rights and titles made by the said Archibald to the said Michael, and will also give 'afauld and trew counsall' to the said Michael. NAS CS15, box 31: Edinburgh, 3 October 1582: Letters of summons at instance of Patrick Bellenden of Stenness, holding tack, undated, by Archibald Douglas to *** of the subdeanery of Orkney, narrating that tenants will not pay and must be summoned, in particular John Stewart and Thomas Flemyng, both allegedly provided to the 'stallarie' of the said subdeanery, and others having interest. With notes of execution by William Bannatyne: on 18 December 1582 before witnesses Thomas Swinton, minister; Alexander Robertson; Alexander ?Ure, burgess of Kirkwall; against the said John Stewart 'pretendit subdean': on 29 December before witnesses James Broun, younger; Magnus Prince; Walter Clerk, servitor to Jerome Tulloch; against James Irving, Magnus Langskaill, Thomas Moir, Alexander Broun, John Cursiter (Cursetter), Magnus Irving, Symoun ?Burn and Jerome Tulloch, tenants: and on 23 and 30 December before witness Thomas Fleming; against Thomas, Andro and William Lentroun; Magnus Prens! e; Magnus Chalmer; and David Thomesoun. NAS NP1/75B f.179: Feu charter 1580 by Earl Robert to William Clark and his spouse Mareon Chalmer, of a tenement in Cairston, "with power of brewing and selling, keeping of ostelrie and bying of al things appertening thairto for furnissing of commounes and utheris resorting thairaway." Reference in Troup & Eunson 1967, 2 NAS PS1/54, f. 137: Charter at Kirkwall, 2 May 1580, by Lord Robert Stewart, feuar of Orknay and Yetland, to Rany Elphingstoun of the ½d land of 'Hamiger in Cairston, (Hammager in Kairstane), in the parish of Stromness. With precept of sasine (in the vernacular) following thereupon, dated at Birsay, 3 May 1580, witnessed by Mr John Duschingtoun, William Gordoun, Thomas Robesoun, Walter Bruce, servitors of the said Lord Robert Stewart, and instrument of sasine dated 6 June 1580, given by Mr Jerome Tulloch, subchanter of Orkney, to the said deceased Rannald, and afterwards at his desire, to Jonet Halcro, his spouse, in conjunct fee, before William Fermour, notary public. Witnesses: Andrew Davidsoun in Anstruther, Thomas Smyth, Stephen Broun, Thomas Adesoun, William Clerk, Magnus Prince (Prence). Confirmation under the great seal, 31 March 1587. Printed RMS, v, no. 1178; listed in Hourston Inventory, OA D20/4/16A, no.2. Notes D20/3/12; D23/3, 231. NAS RH1/2/201 (19th century transcript) Gift by Duncan of Law to Donald Clerk "in mariage as movable gude wyth Janet Law my sister" of part of a tenement in Kirkwall, Kirkwall 6 June 1433. Abstract in Clouston 1914, p329. NAS RH9/15/175/1, f.21v: Poll Tax List of Holm, c1693: James Clark, apparently unmarried, in property owned by David Covingtree, paying rent of 2 meils malt, worth c.£4 scots. OA D23/15/2 Testament dative in Walls, 24 Jan 1665 of Thomas Clark, died Apr 1646, spouse of Janat Ronald. OA SC11/5/1766/026 Action, Janet Douglas against John Clark, tenant in Holland. OA SC11/5/1770/013 Action, John Clark, tacksman in Shapinsay against John Laughton. PRO B11/1420: Will dated 15 Feb 1805 of Margaret Clark, widow of Andrew Garrioch in St.Andrews/Kirkwall. If you are not familiar with terms, abbreviations or context of above my I recommend my book "Trace Your Orkney Ancestors". Please revert to me off-list for details. The attribution of the surname in Black's "The Surnames of Scotland" (1947) says "Originally a man in a religious order, and later a scholar". While there is a monastry in Orkney today, it moved there only in the 1990s, I think, and I'm pretty sure there wasn't one in the 17th century, so it seems likely the early Clarks of Orkney came, like many other Orcadian families, from the scottish mainland. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Lewis & Catherine" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, September 28, 2005 2:36 PM Subject: Clarks of Orkney > Hello all, I've been reading everyone's postings with interest for a while, now I've got one. > > I've traced the Clark branch of my family back to Orkney - this is as far as I've got - > > Alexander Clark born 6 Feb 1681 Holm & Paplay, married Janet McKiver c1680 in Thurso 28 March 1701 > > Alexander's parents: Donald Clark c1659 Orkney & Katherine Randall c1658 Orkney (don't know where exactly). > > Donald Clark's (1659) father, another Donald Clark was born c1635 Caithness. > > I've been told the Clark name originated because the men were clerks to the monks. I don't know if there were monks on Orkney in the 1600s, but the name must go back further than that. I think Alexander & Janet lived in Wick after their marriage. > > Is there any way of finding out anything about the clerks to the monks of Orkney? I know some of the "lower order" monks were clerks, and they were allowed to marry. Strange to think one of my ancestors might have been a monk! I'd appreciate any help at all. > > Catherine > > ______________________________

James - thankyou SO much!! I'll read it all properly later (about to go visit Mum-in-law), and I'll certainly get back to you about that book - it sounds terrific. Catherine ----- Original Message ----- From: "James Irvine" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, September 30, 2005 7:04 AM Subject: [Orkney] Re: Clarks of Orkney >A few more leads for you: > NAS CC17/2/3 Testament, Janet Clark, spouse to James Bewis, in Holme, 12 > Oct 1637: see www.scotlands people.gov.uk > NAS CC17/2/5 Testament, Catherine Clark, spouse to David Ryland, in > Sangar, Shapinsay 16 May 1649. ditto > > NAS CC17/2/8 or /9 Testament, Thomas Clark and his spouse, in Walls 23 Jan > 1665. ditto > > NAS CC17/2/10 Testament, John Clark, in Sands, Shapinsay, 10 Jan 1668. > ditto > > NAS CS7/13, ff. 260-1: 12 March 1584-5 Discharge by Mr Edward Bruce, > advocate, to Michael Balfour of Montquhany, for 2000 merks, (?an > annualrent on the lands of Montquhany) and ratification of contractes > dated at Edinburgh and Montquhany, 16 and 21 May 1585, between the said > Michael and Marioun Adam, his spouse, on the one part, and the said Mr > Edward and Magdalen Clerk, his spouse, on the other, concerning the > alienation of the lands of Westray, whereby the said Mr Edward discharges > all interest he may have in them and all other lands pertaining to > Archibald Balfour of Westray to which he or his heirs may pretend > interest, with all rights and titles made by the said Archibald to the > said Michael, and will also give 'afauld and trew counsall' to the said > Michael. > > > > NAS CS15, box 31: Edinburgh, 3 October 1582: Letters of summons at > instance of Patrick Bellenden of Stenness, holding tack, undated, by > Archibald Douglas to *** of the subdeanery of Orkney, narrating that > tenants will not pay and must be summoned, in particular John Stewart and > Thomas Flemyng, both allegedly provided to the 'stallarie' of the said > subdeanery, and others having interest. With notes of execution by > William Bannatyne: on 18 December 1582 before witnesses Thomas Swinton, > minister; Alexander Robertson; Alexander ?Ure, burgess of Kirkwall; > against the said John Stewart 'pretendit subdean': on 29 December before > witnesses James Broun, younger; Magnus Prince; Walter Clerk, servitor to > Jerome Tulloch; against James Irving, Magnus Langskaill, Thomas Moir, > Alexander Broun, John Cursiter (Cursetter), Magnus Irving, Symoun ?Burn > and Jerome Tulloch, tenants: and on 23 and 30 December before witness > Thomas Fleming; against Thomas, Andro and William Lentroun; Magnus Prens! > e; Magnus Chalmer; and David Thomesoun. > > > > NAS NP1/75B f.179: Feu charter 1580 by Earl Robert to William Clark and > his spouse Mareon Chalmer, of a tenement in Cairston, "with power of > brewing and selling, keeping of ostelrie and bying of al things > appertening thairto for furnissing of commounes and utheris resorting > thairaway." Reference in Troup & Eunson 1967, 2 > > NAS PS1/54, f. 137: Charter at Kirkwall, 2 May 1580, by Lord Robert > Stewart, feuar of Orknay and Yetland, to Rany Elphingstoun of the ½d land > of 'Hamiger in Cairston, (Hammager in Kairstane), in the parish of > Stromness. With precept of sasine (in the vernacular) following > thereupon, dated at Birsay, 3 May 1580, witnessed by Mr John Duschingtoun, > William Gordoun, Thomas Robesoun, Walter Bruce, servitors of the said Lord > Robert Stewart, and instrument of sasine dated 6 June 1580, given by Mr > Jerome Tulloch, subchanter of Orkney, to the said deceased Rannald, and > afterwards at his desire, to Jonet Halcro, his spouse, in conjunct fee, > before William Fermour, notary public. Witnesses: Andrew Davidsoun in > Anstruther, Thomas Smyth, Stephen Broun, Thomas Adesoun, William Clerk, > Magnus Prince (Prence). Confirmation under the great seal, 31 March 1587. > Printed RMS, v, no. 1178; listed in Hourston Inventory, OA D20/4/16A, > no.2. Notes D20/3/12; D23/3, 231. > > NAS RH1/2/201 (19th century transcript) Gift by Duncan of Law to Donald > Clerk "in mariage as movable gude wyth Janet Law my sister" of part of a > tenement in Kirkwall, Kirkwall 6 June 1433. Abstract in Clouston 1914, > p329. > > NAS RH9/15/175/1, f.21v: Poll Tax List of Holm, c1693: James Clark, > apparently unmarried, in property owned by David Covingtree, paying rent > of 2 meils malt, worth c.£4 scots. > > OA D23/15/2 Testament dative in Walls, 24 Jan 1665 of Thomas Clark, died > Apr 1646, spouse of Janat Ronald. > > OA SC11/5/1766/026 Action, Janet Douglas against John Clark, tenant in > Holland. > OA SC11/5/1770/013 Action, John Clark, tacksman in Shapinsay against John > Laughton. > PRO B11/1420: Will dated 15 Feb 1805 of Margaret Clark, widow of Andrew > Garrioch in St.Andrews/Kirkwall. > > > If you are not familiar with terms, abbreviations or context of above my I > recommend my book "Trace Your Orkney Ancestors". Please revert to me > off-list for details. > > The attribution of the surname in Black's "The Surnames of Scotland" > (1947) says "Originally a man in a religious order, and later a scholar". > While there is a monastry in Orkney today, it moved there only in the > 1990s, I think, and I'm pretty sure there wasn't one in the 17th century, > so it seems likely the early Clarks of Orkney came, like many other > Orcadian families, from the scottish mainland. > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Lewis & Catherine" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Wednesday, September 28, 2005 2:36 PM > Subject: Clarks of Orkney > > >> Hello all, I've been reading everyone's postings with interest for a >> while, now I've got one. >> >> I've traced the Clark branch of my family back to Orkney - this is as far >> as I've got - >> >> Alexander Clark born 6 Feb 1681 Holm & Paplay, married Janet McKiver >> c1680 in Thurso 28 March 1701 >> >> Alexander's parents: Donald Clark c1659 Orkney & Katherine Randall c1658 >> Orkney (don't know where exactly). >> >> Donald Clark's (1659) father, another Donald Clark was born c1635 >> Caithness. >> >> I've been told the Clark name originated because the men were clerks to >> the monks. I don't know if there were monks on Orkney in the 1600s, but >> the name must go back further than that. I think Alexander & Janet >> lived in Wick after their marriage. >> >> Is there any way of finding out anything about the clerks to the monks of >> Orkney? I know some of the "lower order" monks were clerks, and they >> were allowed to marry. Strange to think one of my ancestors might have >> been a monk! I'd appreciate any help at all. >> >> Catherine >> >> ______________________________ > > > ==== ORKNEY Mailing List ==== > This is not a commercial or "FWD the latest political or humour" list, > anyone considering posting any item that might be construed as being > commercial/political otherwise known as being "OFF TOPIC" can and will be > advised once - IF there is a second post of the same nature the subscriber > will be unsubscribed IMMEDIATELY. > > ============================== > Search the US Census Collection. Over 140 million records added in the > last 12 months. Largest online collection in the world. Learn more: > http://www.ancestry.com/s13965/rd.ashx > >