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

Elizabeth Hercus and Robert Burgess (Burgar)

Elizabeth Hercus was born about 1842, the youngest child of John Hercus and Jane Drummond. She married Robert Burgess on 2nd November 1865. Robert was born on Westray about 1843, the son of Thomas Burgess and Elizabeth (Betsy) Seater. The Burgess family moved to Cott, Pharay about 1851. Elizabeth and Robert had three children:

• Tomima Burgar, b. 5th Feb 1866 who married James Burghar or Burgess.

• William Burgar b. 1868 who married Mary Stewart Groat

• Catherine Ann Burgar, b. 1872 who married her cousin James Drever of Hammar on 1st May 1890. Catherine died 17th Jan 1892 at Cott of tuberculosis; she was only 20.

Elizabeth and Robert also raised her orphaned nephew William Drever, and her niece Eliza Hercus whose father Peter had died. They lived at Cott where Robert was a crofter. (The Burgess name evolved into Burgar, or sometimes Burghar or Burgher, for some branches of the family. When Robert and Elizabeth were married in 1865, his name was Burgess, but his death certificate indicated Burgar. Their children used the spelling Burgar.) Robert drowned in a boating accident on 11th December 1895 which also almost took the life of his son. Robert and William were returning from Westray in the dark, and in an attempt to avoid strong current they went close to the point on Pharay Holm and the boat was overturned by the rough seas. Billy (William) was rescued by neighbors who heard him calling for help, but his father could not be saved. The keel of the boat was still visible in the water in 1956.

Elizabeth remained at Cott until 1915 when she moved with her son's family to the farm at Fersness, Eday that had previously been occupied by William's in-laws. Eliza died there 30th June 1933, at age 91.