Introduction / Margaret Gray and Thomas Reid / Ann Meil Reid and John Irvine

Thomas Irvine

Thomas was born about 1861 to Ann Meil Reid and John Irvine. He is not found in the Eday Parochial Register, so his date of birth or baptism is not known. In the 1861 census he was a five-month old infant in the household of his fisherman father and maternal grandparents. Thomas' father died in 1867, and by 1871, Thomas, his mother and brothers were living at Croyhouse.

Although Thomas' mother, stepfather and brothers all moved to Kirkwall, Thomas remained in Eday. In 1881, he was a servant living in the household of John Reid (and his wife Barbara Reid) of Backaland. These Reid families are not believed to be related to Thomas' mother's family. In 1889, Thomas married John Reid's daughter Elizabeth Harcus Reid, known as Betsy. Betsy was born in Eday the 5th of August 1858. In 1891, Thomas and Betsy were living at Quarry House, Eday with Betsy's mother, then a widow. Thomas was a labourer. It appears that Thomas had no family.

Thomas drowned in a boating accident in Calfsound. His uncle, Thomas Reid, saw the boat capsize and quickly went out in his own boat to rescue the occupants. Thomas Reid was able to save one of the occupants but was unable to reach his nephew, a fact that haunted him the rest of his life.