Introduction / Families

Moar

James (Jeemie) David Moar and his wife Helen Wilson Leslie lived at Lakequoy, Pharay from about 1937 to 1942.

He was born in 1913 in Yell, Shetland to James William Moar and Williamina Williamson and was the only non Orcadian head of household to farm on Pharay.

He was a ploughman at Cleat, Westray when he married Helen of Neathergarth in 1935. Helen, born about 1910, was a daughter of Robert Leslie and Mary Wilson. (See Leslie Genealogy)

During their time at Lakequoy Helen returned to her home at Neathergarth for the birth of their first child. The family left Lakequoy in December 1942. Although the last families did not leave Pharay until 1947, Lakequoy remained vacant after departure of the Moars with the land being farmed for the last years along with Windywa.

The family went to Grimbister in the Bay of Firth outside of Kirkwall. Sadly, within two years Jeemie died of pneumonia, on 17 September 1944. He was only 31.