Hi People, I have been doing research into my Flett ancestors with the assistance of Charles Flett of Essex who is my 2nd cousin once removed. I have hit a brick wall in the 17th century with my 7th G.grandparents: James Flett (b.1640-1670, m.1682 & c.1698, d..after 1713) Margaret Dunbar (m.1682, d.1692) Jannet Scot (b.19 Feb 1682, m.c.1698). The only record I have of them is on the mainland on the Moray Firth. However, we are convinced that either James or his recent ancestors came from the Orkney or Shetland islands. I am wondering whether anyone on this list may have leads on any of these people. Here is all I know of them. James Flett was born in the mid-1600’s and died after 1713. James or his ancestors almost certainly came from the Shetlands or Orkneys to the mainland. In 1682, James was a resident of Burghead in the parish of Duffus in Morayshire on the mainland when he married Margaret Dunbar. Margaret was probably from the mainland but could have been from elsewhere. No earlier record of the name Flett exists in the area and it therefore has to be concluded that James was an incomer. >From later records the only place where substantial numbers bearing the Flett surname were established in the mid seventeenth century was Orkney where the name appears in those islands' early sagas and it would seem very likely that James hailed from these northern isles. James may not have arrived here alone, as another James Flett was recorded in a marriage contract with Christian Steven in 1688. There is no evidence to identify the relationship between the two men except that they were two individuals, and not the same person. They may have been cousins or simply associates as a later record suggests. Around 1698 James married Janet Scot from Burghead. The couple moved from Burghead to Findochty, Rathven sometime around 1719. Some of the Fletts of Findochty are also said to have come from Shetland on the invitation of John Ord, the Laird of Findochty. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. John Flett Lotus, CA, USA.