Papa Westray About Papay Getting here Staying Things to do Hostel Shop Birds Films Tours Events PDT

Papa Westray Census 1851

1841 census

The house name comes first, the surname of the 'head' of the household follows. Note that some houses have several different families occupying different parts of the building. In this transcript of the 1851 Census houses are listed in proximity order, generally going from north to south. Holland is the 'great house' with an extensive collection of outbuildings. At this time Holland owned most of Papa Westray and had large numbers of servants and farm-workers.

Hundland  (1) (1851) Seator
  Jeremiah (29) Farmer 3 acres - born Westray
  Isabella (29) wife
  Margaret (3) dau
  Jessie (9m) dau

Hundland  (2) (1851) Drever
  Andrew (27) Farmer 2 acres + mason
  Margaret (29) wife - born Orkney Sandwick
  Peter (5) son
  Andrew (4) son
  David (1)

Ness (1851)  Drever
  Thomas (31) Farmer 8 acres
  Ann (28) wife
  Andrew (9) son, scholar
  Thomas (7)   "       "
  Ann(5) dau, scholar
  Margaret (3) dau
  William (1) son

Gowrie (1851) Harcus
  James (58) Farmer 21 acres, 2 labs - born Westray
  Ann (57) wife
  Andrew (22) son (unm) farmer's son
  Margaret (18) dau (unm) farmer's daughter
  Janet Logie (5) visitor - born Westray

Whitelooms (1851)Harcus
  David (34) Farmer 17 acres
  Mary (31) wife
  Janet (14) dau, farmer's daughter
  Margaret (12) dau "             "
  Stewart (9) son, scholar
  Catharine (8) dau
  Mary (4) dau
  Thomas (1) son

Stripes (1851) Drever
  Margaret (63) Widow  retired - born Westray
  Jane (34) Daughter - bedridden
  Margaret (24) "      - Dressmaker
  Jane Groat (60) House Servant

Clestran (1851) Hourston
  James (59) Farmer 21 acres - born Westray
  Margaret (54) wife
  James (20) son (unm) farmer's son

Newbiggin (1) (1851)  Fouls
  John (21) Farmer of 9 acres
  Margaret (23) wife

Newbiggin (2) (1851)  Fouls
  Stewart (47) Farmer 9 acres, 2 labs
  Marjory (50) wife - born Westray
  Thomas (16) servant, farmer's servant ?son
  Marjory (13) dau, farmer's dau

Newbiggin (3) (1851)  Fouls
  William (23) Farmer 9 acres
  Mary (24) wife

Quoise (1) (1851) Groat
  David (65) Farmer 22 acres, 2 labs
  Mary (67) wife
  Mary (30) dau (unm) farmer's daughter
  Isabella Peterson (7) Grand Dau - born Westray
  Mary Harcus (1)             "      "

Quoise (2) (1851)  Harcus
  William (24) Farm servant
  Margaret (27) wife, servant's wife
  Thomas (4) son
  Mary (3) dau
  Stewart (1) son

North Via (1851) Mainland
  James (63) Blacksmith + farmer of 13 acres, 3 labs - born Kirkwall
  Mary (65) Wife
  Ann (26) dau (unm) farmer's dau
  Thomas (24) son, joiner and wheelwright
  William (19)\son (unm) farmer's son
  James Hutchison, farm servant - born Westray

South Via  (1851) Harcus
  Balfour (37) farmer of 13 acres, 3 labs
  Mary (35) wife, born Westray
  Mary (11) farmer's daughter
   James (5) son
  Jane (4 m) dau

Breck (1851)  Thomson
  Edward (52) Shoemaker
  Mary (18) dau, house maid

South Via (1851) Burgar
  William (45)  Farmer 11 acres, 3 labs
  Margaret (43) wife
  Andrew (15) farmer's son
  James (13)        "          "
  Betsy (11)         "         daughter
  William (9)  son,  scholar
  John (6) son
  Benjamine (3) son
  Thomas (1) son

Hinsobreck (1851) Irvine
  Robert (49) Farmer 14 acres, 3 labs - born Shetland, Fair Isle
  Elizabeth (45)
  Catharine (14) Farmer's daughter
  William (11)  Farmer's son
  John (5)    Son - Scholar
  Robert (2)  "
  Girzie (50) Sister - Unmarried - Farm serv  - born Shetland, Fair Isle

Cott (1) (1851) Drever
  George (48) Farmer 11 acres, ? labs
  Margaret (46) wife
  Margaret (18) farmer's daughter
  Robert (15)           "        son
  Catharine (9?) dau,  scholar
  John (?) son

Cott (2) (1851) Drever
  Thomas (38) unmarried, farmer 11 acres, 2 labs
  Thomas(16) servant, farm servant
  Mary (13)         "          "         "

Midhouse (1) (1851) Miller
  David (70) Retired farmer
  Catherine (69) wife
 
Midhouse (2)  (1851) Miller
  George (38) Widower, farmer of 22 acres 4? labs
  Janet (17) Dau, house maid
  Ann (16) farmer's daughter
  John (14) farmer's son
  David (10)      "
  Catharine (5) Dau, scholar
  Margaret (3)   "         "
  George (2) Son

Shorehouse (1) (1851) Hewison
  John (72)  Retired farmer - born Westray
  Mary (73) wife

Shorehouse (2) (1851) Hewison
  George (42) Farmer 20 acres, 3 labs
  Ann (39) wife
  Thomas (16) farmer's son
  David (14)        "           "
  Ann (12)           "         daughter
  William (8) son, scholar
  George (10 m) son

Source illegible (1851) Mainland
  John (31) Blacksmith + farming 5 acres
  Mary (34) Wife
  Catharine (10) dau, scholar
  Ann (6) dau
  James (2) son

Maybo (1) (1851) Fouls
  George (39) Farmer of 12 acres, 2 labs
  Mary (38) wife
  Mary (16) farmer's daughter
  Jane (11)             "

Maybo (2) (1851) Davidson
  John (47) Farmer of 12 acres, 2 labs - born Westray
  Ann (48)  wife
  John Ross (16) farm servant
  Marjory Davidson (68) Moth-in-law, living on money sum, born Westray
  William Davidson (39) Brother, foolish

North Maybo (1851) Fouls
  William (79) Farming 5 acres
  Mary (80) wife
  Tomima/Jemima? Fouls (39) Daughter, married - farmer's daughter

Skeness (1851) Fouls
  John (43) Farmer of 27 acres, 3 labs
  Margaret (41) wife
  William (17) son, farm servant
  Margaret (11) dau, farm servant
  Jane Fouls (9), dau, scholar
  George (3) son
  Jane Smith (15) Farm Servant - born Westray

Maybo (1851) Fouls
  George (25)  Farmer
  Mary (25)
  Mary (6)
  Jean (2)
  Nelly? Thomson (12) Female Servant

Sunibraes (1) (1851) Hutchison
  Robert (56) Farmer of 4 acres + fishing - born Westray
  Isabella (64) wife
  Isabella (10) ??dau - scholar - born Westray

Sunibraes (2) (1851) Hutchison
  Robert (23) Fisherman
  Ann (22) wife
  Margaret (4m) dau
 
Newhouse (1851) Harcus
  John (54) Farmer of 4 acres, 1 lab +Fisherman - born Westray
  Elizabeth (59)
  George (17)  Farmer's son

Nouster (1851) Miller
  Thomas (59) Farmer 30 Acres, 4 labs - born Westray
  Ann (56)
  Hellen (32) Daughter, farm servant at Holland
  George (29) Son, servant + fishing
  Balfour (19) Son, farm servant + fishing
  Barbara (18) Daughter, farm servant
  John (17) Son, farm servant + fishing
  Ann (12) Daughter, scholar

Daybreck (1851) Burgar
  Benjamine (50) unm, farming 15 acres, 3 labs
  Henry (39) unm, farming + day labouring
  Mary (31) unm, farming
  Margaret (10) neice, scholar
  Margaret (75) mother, widow, retired farmer depending on family support

Freechurch Manse (1851) Logan
  William Spence (31) Minister of the Free Church of Scotland
        - born Stromness
  Ann Miller (32) wife - born Edinburgh
  John James (3) son, minister's son - born Edinburgh
  ? Milleny (1) dau, minister's daughter
  Ann Harcus (25) unm, house servant
  Jane Henger (19) unm,  "           "        - born Birsay

? British School (1851) Pottinger
  George (27) Schoolmaster - born Westray
  Isabella (23) wife - born Kirkwall
  James (1) son

Links (1851) Fouls
  Olipher (70) Farmer 12 acres - 1 lab
  Ann (74)
  Jane (29) Daughter - Farm servant

Hooking (1851) Keldie
  James (47) Farmer 12 acres, 2 labs
  Elizabeth (48) wife
  Mary (20) dau,  farmer's daughter
  James (14) son, farmer's son, scholar
  Margaret (11) dau, scholar

Quarryhouse (1)(1851) Harcus
  Jane (53) widow, formerly farmer - born Eday
  Robert (11) son, scholar

Quarryhouse (2)(1851) Harcus
  Ann (58) widow, formerly farming
  Jane (16) neice, day labouring

Quarryhouse (3)(1851) Fouls
  ? (46) fishing and day labouring
  Christian (44) wife
  John (3) son
 
Dykeside (1) (1851) Keldie
    George (58) unm Servant at Holland
  Jane (76) sister, unm - Pauper, formerly farming
 
Dykeside (2) (1851) Reid
  Jane Reid (48) unm, school mistress - born Westray
  Mary Rendall (7) nephew (sic) seamstress   "

Dykeside (3) (1851) Traill
  Peter (26) fishing and day labouring - born Westray
  Catharine (27) wife

Bilbow (1851) Drever
  George (77) Formerly farming 5 acres and fishing
  John (31) Farming 5 acres and fishing
  Isabella (33) - born
  Catharine (3)
  Ann Logan Drever (3)
   George (2)

Schoolhouse (1) (1851) Robertson
  James (59) Superannuated teacher - born Evie
  Janet (71) wife - born Birsay
  William (21) son, day labourer

Schoolhouse (2) (1851) Robertson
  James (31) Mason, Boatsman - born Westray
  Jane McKay (27) wife - born Caithness Dinnet
  Betsy (3) dau
  George (2) son

Holland No 1 (1851) Traill
  Thomas (28) Landed proprietor farming 839 acres, 35 labs, 3 women,           2 boys
  Margaret (24) Proprietor's wife - born Dunfermline
  George (3) son,      "            son
  Thomas (1)   "        "              "
  Janet Menzies (33) unm, visitor, factor's daughter - born            Dunfermline
  Barbara McKay (22) servant, unm, house maid - born Caithness            Dinnet
  Charlotte Swanson (25) "           "          cook     - born Thurso
  Margaret Irvine (22)     "           "     nursey maid - born Shapinsay
  Ann Burgar (42)             "           "       dairy maid - born Westray
  Betsy Manson (21)         "           "    under dairy maid - b. Rousay
  Jessie Manson (18)        "            "  assistant "      "    - b. sanday

Holland (2)? (1851) McKay
  John (50) Grieve - born Caithness Dinnet
  Donald (14) son, scholar - b. "           "

Holland (3) (1851) Thomson
  John (21) farm servant
  Elizabeth (19) servant's wife - born Caithness - Dinnet
  William (5m) son

Holland (4) (1851) Miller
  Mary (41) Housekeeper, sailor's wife
  John (13) son, scholar
  Ann (6) dau, scholar
  Margaret (2) dau, scholar

Holland (5) (1851)
  George (27) Farm servant
  Alexander  Rendall (17) farm servant
  Thomas Miller (16)           "        "
 
Holland (6) (1851) Fouls
(Bowman House)  George (35)                  "         "
  Uphans (40) wife
  Janet (14) dau, servant's daughter
  Mary (1) dau

Holland (7) (1851) Angus
(Bowman House) Robert (58) Farm Servant - born Sanday
   Elizabeth (51) wife                         "        "
  Jean (14) dau, no occupation
  Margaret (12) dau, scholar

Holland (8) (1851) Thomson
(Bowman House) William (59) Farm Servant
  Elizabeth (45) wife
  Elizabeth (17) dau, unm, day labourer
  Margaret (14)  "               "        "
  Marrion (9) dau, scholar
  Tomimma (4) "        "

Holland (9) (1851) Gray
 (Bowman House) William (45)  Farm Servant - born Westray
  Mary (54) wife
  Isabella (24) dau, unm, day labouring
  Jane (15)         "               "        "
  Mary (8) dau, scholar
  John (5) son

Holland  (10) (1851) Manson
  William (43) Farm servant  - born Caithness ???
  Elizabeth (43) wife - born Rousay
  Margaret (19) dau, unm, farm servant - born Sanday
  William (15) son, scholar
  James (12)     "         "
  David (9)        "         "
  Mary (7)       dau       "
  George (?)     son      "
  Barbara (4m) dau

Holland (11) (1851) Rendall
  William (55) Miller   - born Westray
  Ann (56) wife                  "          "
  William (15) son, scholar

Holland (12) (1851)
  Magnus Mure (35) mar, joiner, emp 1 carpenter - born Sanday
  Hugh Cormack (19) unm, apprentice

Bolisbel (1851) Fouls
  George (49) Farmer 8 acres
  Oliphan (46) Wife
  Thomas (20) Son Farm servant
  Jane Fouls (14) Farmer's daughter - scholar
  Ann (11)                        "                         "
  James (9)   Son Scholar
  Margaret (7) Daughter  scholar
  William (5) Son
  James (7) Nephew  scholar

Bolisbel(2) (1851) Gray
  David (29) Farm servant at Holland
  Ann Harcus (30) Wife

Edgeriggs? (1851) Robertson
  John (41) Farmer of 9 acres, mason ???
  Mary (40) wife
  Margaret (17) dau scholar
  Jane (14)           "       "
  George (9) son           "
  Mary Miller (65) mother-in-law, formerly farm labourer

Brecaskail (1) (1851) Miller
  William (31) farmer 9 acres
  Margaret (29) wife
  James (7) Son, scholar

Brecaskail (2) (1851) Miller
  James (24) Shoemaker, agricultural labourer and fisherman
  Jane (22) wife
  James (1) son
  Jane (1m) dau

Brecaskail (3) Biglan
  William (74) Farmer 9 acres, 2 labs
  Margaret (70) wife
  Ann (30) dau, servant

Brecaskail (4) Biglan
  William (30) Farm servant + fishing
  Mary (29) wife
  William (3) son
  Mary (2) dau

Garbols (1) (1851) Fouls
  George (67) Farmer of 16 acres, 3 labs
  Jane (67) wife
  Thomas (18) Grandson? Farm servant
  Janet (10?) Grandaughter? Scholar

Garbols (2) (1851) Hume
  James (26) Farm servant and tailor
  Ann (28) wife
  Jane (4) dau
  George (2) son
  Ann Scot (52) mother, former labourer - born Westray

Bacaskaill (1851) Miller
  James (75) Farmer 9 acres
  Margaret (74) wife

Hindbrae (1851) Miller
  Thomas (70) Retired farmer supported by friends
  Janet Hewison (70) wife
  George (5) grand son?  scholar

Peatwall (1841) Hourston
  Margaret (40) Farmer
  Ann (13)
  Mary (7)

Rendall(1) (1851) Robertson
  George (70) Farmer 20 acres, 3 lab - born Rousay
  Margaret (68) wife
  Mary Fouls (60) sister in law, servant

Rendall(2) (1851) Robertson
  Nicholas (30) Farm servant + fisherman
  Margaret (24) wife
  George (3) son
  Ann (1) dau

Quoyolie (1851) Reid
  Thomas (45) Farmer of 7 acres
  Marrion (50) wife - born Westray
  Mary Loggie (7) servant - born Westray

Southhouse (1851) Reid
  William (30) farmer 7 acres
  Robina (33) wife - born Westray
  George (10) son, scholar
  Mary (8) dau,         "
  James (7) son,        "
  Wiliam (5) "           "
  Elizabeth (1) dau

Northhouse (1851) Reid
  Henry (76) retired farmer - born Westray
  Elizabeth (75) wife, pauper (farming)
  Barbara (30) dau, widow - formerly ? farm servant

?Hyrie (Myrie?) (1851) Keldie
  George (69) Retired farmer - born Westray
  Robina (70) wife
  Jane Groat (72) sister, pauper (farm servant)

Midhouse (1851) Keldie
  William (35) Farmer 6 acres
  Barbara (42) wife - born Westray
  Elspert Groat (75) mother (unm) pauper (farm servant)
  Marjory Heldie (11) dau, scholar
  William     "       (9) scholar

Whitehowe (1851) Reid
  John (38) Pensioner (Seaman's Society) and farmer 6 acres, 2 labs
  Elizabeth (47) wife - born Westray
  James (16) son, farmer's son + fisherman
  George (15) "         "          "           "
  John (10) son,     scholar
  Marrion (7) dau,     "
  William (5) son,       "
  Elizabeth (3) dau
  Lydia Flett (21) wife's dau (unm) depending on family support

Holland (1841) Fouls
  Euphans? (25) Farm Servant (f)
  Janet (6)
  John (4)
  Mary (50) Housekeeper

?Gayfield (1851) Cursiter
  William (40) Farmer of 16? acres, 3 labs - born Sanday
  Traill (39) wife - born Kirkwall
  John (15) son, farm labourer          -born Sanday
  Mary(12) dau, farmer's daughter       "       "
  William (10) son,    "       son               "       "
  James (5) son
  David (1)
 
?head (1851) Drever
  Mary (?31) widow, merchant grocer shop
  Tomimma (5) dau scholar

Nistaben (1851) Swannie
  John (48) Farmer 10 acres, 1 lab - born Westray
  Jane (47) wife
  Ann (18) visitor, dau, servant Parish of Holm
  Edward (16) son, farm labourer
  George (15) son, scholar

Vestness(1) (1851) Davidson
  John (61) Farmer of ?56 acres, 4 labs - born Westray
  Ann (61) wife

Vestness(2) (1851) Hourston
  Thomas (26) Farm labourer
  Ann (25) labourer's wife
  James (4) son, scholar
  John (2) son

Vestness(3) (1851) Davidson
  William (35) Farm labourer + fisherman
  Marrion (38) wife - born Shapinsay
  Ann (7) dau, scholar
  John (4) son, scholar
 
Peatwall (1851) Miller
  Benjamine (55) Farmer 6 acres, ?3 labs
  Mary (54) wife - born Westray
  Marjory (27) dau (unm) dressmaker
  Benjamine (15) son (unm) joiner and carpenter ????
  Margaret (18) dau, farm servant
  David (16) son, scholar + servant
  Mary Petrie (5) niece, scholar
 

/

Text and pictures copyright 2000-2024 Papay Development Trust and individual contributors. All rights reserved. PapaWestray.co.uk makes minimal use of cookies, including some placed to facilitate features such as Google Search. By continuing to use the site you are agreeing to the use of cookies. Learn more here. To contribute or link contact Webmaster