Introduction / Margaret Gray and Thomas Reid

Maria Dobbin Davidson Reid

Maria Dobbin Davidson Reid was born the 10th of September 1843 and was baptized a month later on the 10th of October "in the home of the parents." This location was somewhat unusual for the times as most baptisms were performed in "presence of the congregation." Maria was probably named after a daughter of Charles Davidson, farmer and resident of Carrick House, the historic Eday laird's house built in 1633. The Reids were probably neighbors of the Davidsons as their residence Little Ha was listed immediately following Carrick House in the 1841 census. To give an idea of Carrick House, most residences in Calfsound had one or two rooms with windows according to the 1861 census: Carrick House had 22.

Maria never married, but lived all her life on Eday. She generally worked as a dairymaid. In 1861, she was living at Greentoft on the South end of Eday where she was one of three servants in the household of George Davidson (a farmer of 300 acres). Maria was a "cattle woman." In 1871, she was a dairymaid, still living at Greentoft, but in a separate residence with other farm servants. In 1881, she was again living next to Carrick House, in a "Servant House." She was described as a dairymaid and the head of the household; also living in the house were two farm servants. By 1891, Maria was living at Dickside (Dykeside) with her widowed sister Lilly. They were still living there in 1901 when their occupation was given as knitters. It is believed they lived together at Dykeside or nearby until Maria's death the 25th of January 1925. She died from influenza during an epidemic that struck many of the elderly residents of Calfsound at the time. Maria is buried in the old Eday Kirkyard in the same plot with her parents.