Shetland Feas

In Shetland the name Fea occurs as early as the year 1576, viz; John Phea of Unst who gave evidence against Lord Robert Stewart. From that date there is a gap of over a century when the death of one Robert Fea is recorded in 1681 whose daughter Christian married Edward Sinclair of Toft. In the middle of the eighteenth century a family of the name was living in Lerwick. In the old burial ground of the church a tombstone records that Margaret Bolt or Hole (an old Norse name) who died in 1758, married Thomas Fea, merchant of Lerwick. On her tombstone in Lerwick "Old Kirkyard" is the following inscription,

Memento Mori, Here lyes interres the corps of Margaret Bolt spouse to Thomas Fea, Merchant in Lerwick, they were married in the year 1736 and of her age 22 - to whome she had 13 children She dies Novr. 14th 1758 aged 44 Here rests the dust, the soul from earth set free Enjoys the pleasures of eternity Peaceful, contented riopus and resigned an upright neighbour and a social friend calmly endured the troubles of this life a tender mother and a loving wife Her husband and her house were all her care in life below, in death had nought to fear

Thomas must have had some connection of the Clestrains of Orkney, as upon the monument occur the same arms as appear upon the dexter shield of an old painting depicting the alliance between Baikie and Fea mentioned in the previous chapter, viz. Azure, three covered cups. On the stone or, the three mullets argent in fess, between the cups, are almost, but not quite, obliterated.

Contemporary with the Lerwick merchant was a Magnus Fea of Clivocast who is said to have migrated from Orkney and obtained his lands by marriage with an heiress, Margaret, daughter of Thomas Hay of of Clivocast. His grandsons, Magnus and Thomas settled in Hull, England, where descendants are still living.

Don Laureson of New Zealand, claims a 5th great grandfather named Magnus Fea, baillie of Sandness and the Laird Scot thereof, who died in Walls (Shetland) in 1758 aged 92. That Magnus was reputed to be uncle or cousin of Magnus Fea of Lerwick who was the Master Mason there.

Information connecting the Feas of Clivocast with the Feas of Clestrain in Orkney comes from a small handwritten book on the pedigrees of Ogilvy of Stove and Seafield, Fea of Clestron and Clivocast, Hay of Clivocast, Bruce of Symbister, Neven of Windhouse and Lunning and Sinclair of Swining and Still. This book was prepared by A. Francis Steuart in Edinburgh in 1890 and sent to Charles Ogilvy in Australia.