Introduction / Westray Grays / George Gray and Margaret Seatter / George Gray and Jean Reid / Jean Gray and James Millar

Ann Millar and William Harcus

Ann Millar (b. 1828), the youngest known daughter of Jean Gray and James Millar, married William Harcus (b. 1829) from Papa Westray. No record of their marriage has been found but this is likely to have been after 1851. They lived on Stronsay for a time, where their early children were born. One is recorded as born in Kirkwall and they returned to Westray around 1857 or 1858.

Children identified are:

• William Harcus born 19th December 1854 and baptised on 29th April 1855, Stronsay.

• Jane Harcus b. 6th February 1856, Stronsay.

• Mary Harcus b. 6th February 1856, Stronsay

• Isabella Harcus b. 6th February 1856, Stronsay

• Jonathon Moar Harcus b. 11th January 1857, Kirkwall

• Jane Logie Harcus b. July 1858, Westray

• Isabella Margaret Ann Moar Harcus b. 13th December 1862, Westray

• George Traill Harcus b. 15th September 1866, Westray

• James Millar Harcus b. 7th June 1868, Westray

• Alexander Corner Harcus b. 20th August 1869, Westray

It would appear that Ann Millar had triplets on Stronsay in 1856: Jane, Mary and Isabella. They have not been identified in any of the subsequent census records. The other children all appear in at least one census with their parents.

Ann Millar and William Harcus were living at Clifton in Westray at the time of the 1861 census, when his occupation was given as ploughman.

1861 - Clifton, Westray

	Relation	Age	Occupation	Born
William Harcus	Head	31 years	Ploughman	Papa Westray
Ann Miller	Wife	33 years		Westray
William Harcus	Son	6 years		Stronsay
Jonathon M Harcus	Son	4 years		Kirkwall

By 1871, the family had grown and Ann's mother, Jean / Jane Millar, was also living with them at Gallowhill. She had moved from Glen in Westray.

1871 - Gallowhill, Westray

	Relation	Age	Occupation	Born
William Harcus	Head	42 years	Farm Servant	Papa Westray
Ann Harcus	Wife	43 years		Westray
William Harcus	Son	16 years	Scholar	Stronsay
Jonathon M Harcus	Son	14 years	Scholar	Kirkwall
Jane L Harcus	Daughter	9 years	Scholar	Westray
Isabella Mgt. Ann Harcus	Daughter	8 years	Scholar	Westray
George Traill Harcus	Son	4 years		Westray
James M Harcus	Son	2 years		Westray
Alexander C Harcus	Son	1 year		Westray
Jane Millar	Mother in Law	83 years	Widow	Westray

The family subsequently moved to East Denwick in Deerness in the East Mainland of Orkney and can be found there in the 1881 census, when William Harcus's occupation is given as a farm manager.

1881 - East Denwick, Deerness

	Relation	Age	Occupation	Born
William Harcus	Head	51 years	Farm Manager	Papa Westray
Ann Harcus	Wife	53 years		Westray
William Harcus	Son	26 years	Farm Servant	Stronsay
Isabella Harcus	Daughter	18 years	Domestic Servant	Westray
George Harcus	Son	14 years	Scholar	Westray
James Harcus	Son	12 years	Scholar	Westray
Alexander Harcus	Son	11 years	Scholar	Westray