Introduction / Families / Hourston / David Hourston and Christian Drever / David Hourston and Janet Miller

David Hourston and Catherine Petrie

David Hourston (b. 28th March 1828) was the fourth of the seven children of David Hourston and Janet Miller. He is thought to be the David Hourston who married Catherine Petrie in Eday on 7th February 1850.

This was before the introduction of the statutory recording of birth, marriages and deaths in 1855 and the Old Parish Records in which the marriage is recorded does not give parents of those married. It does indicate that David was residing in Eday while “Catherine Petry” was residing in Kirkwall. The Petrie surname is otherwise unknown in Eday.

Examination of the 1841 census for Kirkwall indicates Catherine Petrie staying in Bridge St.

1841
Bridge St., Kirkwall

	Age	Occupation	Born
Barbara Petre	40 years	Seaman's wife	Orkney
Elizabeth Petrie	15 years		Orkney
Catherine Petrie	14 years		Orkney
Ann Petrie	8 years		Orkney
George Petrie	2 years		Orkney

David was at this time living with his parent at Wellhouse in Eday.

It is not known what became of David and Catherine after they married in Eday. David’s sister, Elizabeth Hourston, was staying with the Petries in Bridge St at the time of the 1851 census. This helps to confirm that it was the son of David Hourston and Janet Miller who married Catherine Petrie.

1851
Bridge St., Kirkwall

	Relation	Status	Age	Occupation	Born
Barbara Petrie	Head	Widow	53 years	Seamstress	Sanday
Barbara Petrie	Dau	Unmarried	30 years	Straw Bonnet Maker	Kirkwall
Ann Petrie	Dau	Unmarried	18 years	Dressmaker	Kirkwall
James Petrie	Son		8 years	Scholar at home	Kirkwall
Elizabeth Hourston	Visitor	Unmarried	19 years	Dressmaker	Eday

From this, it can be deduced that Catherine Petrie was the daughter of James Petrie and Barbara Linklater.