Introduction / Families / Drever

Thomas Drever and Christian Drever

Thomas Drever and Christian Drever are likely to have come to Pharay from Westray. This would have been sometime after 1818 although it could have been later. Their first four children were baptised in Westray. Subsequent children are recorded under Eday and Pharay but unfortunately, the OPR does not specifically indicate Pharay until the birth of a daughter in 1829. Coming directly from Westray is the most likely although some time on Eday cannot be ruled out.

Thomas was the son of Thomas Drever and Marion Leslie and born about 1788, almost certainly in Westray. Christian was born about 1789, the daughter of Thomas Drever and Mary Donaldson.

Thomas and Christian had nine children:

• Jean Drever c. 30th August 1813 who married Stewart Drummond

• George Drever c. 14th October 1815

• Thomas Drever c. 17th November 1817

• Thomas Drever c. 26th December 1818 who married Margaret Garrioch

• James Drever b. 13th November 1820 who married Jane Reid

• John Drever b. 26th August 1823 who married Mary Peace

• Ann Drever b. 8th April 1826

• Mary Drever b. 15th February 1829 who married James Laughton

• Marion Stewart Drever b. 16th June 1831 who married David Garrioch

Margaret and David Garrioch where brother and sister.

The family were staying at Holland at the time of the 1841 and 1851 censuses. Christian’s mother, Mary Donaldson, was still alive and staying with the family in Pharay in 1841.

1841
Holland

	Age	Occupation	Born
Thomas Drever	50 Years	Farmer	Orkney
Thomas Drever	20 Years		Orkney
James Drever	20 Years		Orkney
John Drever	15 Years		Orkney
Ann Drever	15 Years		Orkney
Mary Drever	12 Years		Orkney
Mary Donaldson	80 Years		Orkney

It is not known where Christian was at the time of this particular census but she was certainly at Holland in 1851. At this time Thomas’s occupation is given as weaver and farmer of 10 acres arable and 45 acres pasture.

The family had moved to Southhouse in Eday by 1861 with Thomas and Christian forming separate households from their sons, Thomas Drever and John Drever.

Thomas Drever Snr died at Southhouse on 5th May 1869. He was eighty five. Christian moved in to Kirkwall and was with her daughter Mary Drever and her family by 1871. She died there on 30th June 1880 at the age of ninety one.