Introduction / Barbara Allan / Westray Allans / Marion Allan and James Harcus / John Harcus and Jane Drummond / William Hercus and Elizabeth Allan

James Hercus and Jessie Lennie

James Hercus was the youngest son of William Hercus and Elizabeth Allan, born 3rd March 1864 on Pharay. His father died when he was a young child. In 1881, James was a farm servant at Grindmist, Rapness, Westray. By 1888, he had become a merchant seaman and his residence was reported as Gallowhall, Kirkwall, the same as his brother Peter's. On 29th November 1888, James married Jessie Lennie, a machinist living in Kirkwall. Jessie was daughter of Magnus Lennie and Margaret Halcro, born at Swanbister, Orphir, 25th April 1855. James and Jessie had two children and lived in Kirkwall:

• Jane Ann (Nanna) Hercus, b. 1890 who married Walter Welsby and lived in Penrith Cumberland, England. They had a family of three.

• Jamesina Hercus, b. 1891 who married John Magnus Tulloch, lived in Finstown, Orkney and had two daughters.

Sadly, James died of tuberculosis and measles on 25th February 1891 before the birth of his younger daughter and just days shy of his 27th birthday. Jessie remained in Kirkwall and in 1901 was running a boarding house at 60 Victoria Street.