She was the only child of Thomas Buchanan, of Sandside and
later of Sound in Shapinsay, and Margaret Douglas. Her parent’s marriage
contract is dated 8th November 1708.
Her paternal grandfather was James Buchanan, a merchant in Edinburgh,
who was a brother of Arthur Buchanan. James’s brother had acquired the
lands in Eday and Shapinsay from Sir John Buchanan of Scotscaig in Fife.
Her maternal grandfather was Sir Alexander Douglas 2nd of Egilsay, who
was Stewart of Orkney and tacksman the Bishopric rents from 1705 to 1714.
In accordance with the marriage contract of Thomas Buchanan and Margaret
Douglas, she was vested in her father’s lands in Eday, Evie, etc. in security
for her dowry.
From the Register of Sasines, we find that there is a charter signed
by Thomas Buchanan on 10th August 1710, but by 15th September 1710, he
had died. Janet’s mother had died by 1st February 1717, leaving Janet
an orphan. Her grandfather, Sir Alexander Douglas, had been formally
appointed her “tutor dative”. When he died, Janet’s uncle, Cornet
William Douglas was appointed. Janet could only have been around
11 years old when she was married to James Fea VI of Clestrain. He
was 27 years.
Thoughts of Janet having been born before her parent’s marriage or that
the marriage pre dated the marriage contract seem precluded by the terms
of the 1708 contract, which specifically show that her parents were not
already married and also that she was not yet born.
The following reference to a teacher for Janet Buchanan after her marriage
comes from a cash book of James Fea under the date April 1721 or 1722,
among “disbursements I wes att upon my wife’s account” when in Edinburgh:
