Introduction / Families / Drever / William Drever and Barbara Shearer

Thomas Drever and Margaret Thomson

Thomas Drever was the eldest son known to William Drever and Barbara Shearer. He was born on 29th March 1807, probably in Eday although it is possible that his parents were living in Pharay at the time.

He would have moved from Pharay to Westray with his parents around 1815.

Thomas married Margaret Thomson, the daughter of John Thomson and Margaret Drever, in Westray on 28th November 1834. She was baptised on 4th December 1807.

Thomas and Margaret are known to have had four children:

• David Drever c. 29th November 1835 who lived at Ramsay, Westray with his sister

• John Drever c. 7th July 1839 who married Catherine Seatter

• James Drever b. 13th September 1843. It is not known what happened to James although he does appear in the 1861 census with the family at Claybraes.

• Margaret Drever born on 3rd March 1851 and who lived at Ramsay, Westay with her brother David.

Thomas and Margaret were at Claybraes in Westray from the 1841 census through to 1861 census and subsequently at nearby Ramsay. Margaret’s mother was with them in 1851 and 1861, being 90 years old in the latter.

Thomas’s occupation is variously described as farmer and agricultural labourer. By the time that they were at Ramsay, the head of the household is shown as their son David Drever who is stated to farm 37 acres.

Thomas died at there on 4th March 1884. He was seventy seven. Margaret died on 8th August 1887 at the age of seventy nine.