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Feas of Clestrain \ James I \ James II \ James III \ James IV William Fea of MilnfieldWilliam Fea married Mary Lyell and became a became a merchant Burgess of Kirkwall. The IGI indicates the following children although Dr Hugh Marwick, in his paper “The Feas of Clestrain” (1932), suggests that there was only the one child, Isobel who married William Traill on 16th January 1714.
On 30th September 1698, William Fea was elected as a Counsellor in the town.
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He was to own several properties in Kirkwall, including a tenement known in those days as “Hell”, as well as Milnfield in Stronsay. A property in the Broad St, opposite St Magnus Cathedral, was acquired in 1702 from Magnus Prince, the son of Patrick Prince, the acquisition being -
This was a fairly typical 17th century building. It consisted of three floors and attic and had crow stepped gables. He granted a life interest in the property to his wife, Mary Lyell. In 1702, he applied on behalf of his step father, John Wilson, for permission “to erect a monument above the burial place of his dear spouse.” This was to William’s mother, Isobel Traill who had died on 14th November. While still living in Kirkwall, John Wilson was suspended from his ministry of St Magnus Cathedral, at this time, due to his advocacy of Episcopalianism. William Fea became a Baillie of Kirkwall, a few years after becoming a Counsellor and there are frequent references to Baillie Fea in the Kirkwall Session Records. He appears to have been well respected for there is no record of censure to be found in Church records, which was often the case with public men in these critical times. On two occasions, he is mentioned for gifting timber to St Magnus Cathedral. In 1706, along with two others, he is mentioning for undertaking on behalf of the rest of the seamen of Kirkwall to repair the “Seamen’s Loft” there. William did appear to have had some health problems, which he mentions in a letter of April 1713 from Edinburgh to his brother, James Fea V of Clestrain -
In a further letter of 19th May 1713, he adds -
He seems to have responded to whatever treatment he received for he continued to live for another 28 years. In the same year, he received a property in Anchor Close, Kirkwall from his step father, Rev John Wilson. The Rev Wilson left for Edinburgh around 1714\15. William gifted the property to his daughter, Isobel. He had strong Jacobite sympathies. A letter from him to this brother, dated 21st May 1715, gives an indication that whispers of the intended Jacobite rising of that year had reached Orkney. He was among the friends and relations who went to see James Fea VI of Clestrain at Carrick in Eday immediately following his nephew’s capture of the pirate, John Gow. He may have had some involvement, although not directly, in the murder of Captain James Moodie of Melsetter on the Broad Street in October 1725 by the Stewarts of Burray. The Stewarts were strong Jacobite supporters. William experienced financial difficulties in later life and borrowed heavily. This included from his nephew for on assuming his uncle’s debts in 1738, a disposition was granted for the whole of William Fea of Milnfield’s estate to his nephew. James was appointed as sole executor after William’s death on 31st May 1741. The house in the Broad Street still formed part of the William’s estate and when he died, James “sealed up the house till the nearest of kin be summoned.” The house was sold to Andrew Ross, the chamberlain of the Earl of Morton. It was eventually demolished in 1869. Hugh Marwick, in his paper “The Feas of Clestrain” (1932), suggests that there was only the one child, Isobel who married William Traill on 16th January 1714.
On 30th September 1698, William Fea was elected as a Counsellor in the town.
**********************************************************
**********************************************************
He was to own several properties in Kirkwall, including a tenement known in those days as “Hell”, as well as Milnfield in Stronsay. A property in the Broad St, opposite St Magnus Cathedral, was acquired in 1702 from Magnus Prince, the son of Patrick Prince, the acquisition being -
This was a fairly typical 17th century building. It consisted of three floors and attic and had crow stepped gables. He granted a life interest in the property to his wife, Mary Lyell. In 1702, he applied on behalf of his step father, John Wilson, for permission “to erect a monument above the burial place of his dear spouse.” This was to William’s mother, Isobel Traill who had died on 14th November. While still living in Kirkwall, John Wilson was suspended from his ministry of St Magnus Cathedral, at this time, due to his advocacy of Episcopalianism. William Fea became a Baillie of Kirkwall, a few years after becoming a Counsellor and there are frequent references to Baillie Fea in the Kirkwall Session Records. He appears to have been well respected for there is no record of censure to be found in Church records, which was often the case with public men in these critical times. On two occasions, he is mentioned for gifting timber to St Magnus Cathedral. In 1706, along with two others, he is mentioning for undertaking on behalf of the rest of the seamen of Kirkwall to repair the “Seamen’s Loft” there. William did appear to have had some health problems, which he mentions in a letter of April 1713 from Edinburgh to his brother, James Fea V of Clestrain -
In a further letter of 19th May 1713, he adds -
He seems to have responded to whatever treatment he received for he continued to live for another 28 years. In the same year, he received a property in Anchor Close, Kirkwall from his step father, Rev John Wilson. The Rev Wilson left for Edinburgh around 1714\15. William gifted the property to his daughter, Isobel. He had strong Jacobite sympathies. A letter from him to this brother, dated 21st May 1715, gives an indication that whispers of the intended Jacobite rising of that year had reached Orkney. He was among the friends and relations who went to see James Fea VI of Clestrain at Carrick in Eday immediately following his nephew’s capture of the pirate, John Gow. He may have had some involvement, although not directly, in the murder of Captain James Moodie of Melsetter on the Broad Street in October 1725 by the Stewarts of Burray. The Stewarts were strong Jacobite supporters. William experienced financial difficulties in later life and borrowed heavily. This included from his nephew for on assuming his uncle’s debts in 1738, a disposition was granted for the whole of William Fea of Milnfield’s estate to his nephew. James was appointed as sole executor after William’s death on 31st May 1741. The house in the Broad Street still formed part of the William’s estate and when he died, James “sealed up the house till the nearest of kin be summoned.” The house was sold to Andrew Ross, the chamberlain of the Earl of Morton. It was eventually demolished in 1869. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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