Introduction / Families / Drummond / William Drummond and Barbara Groat / John Drummond and Janet Reid

Thomas Reid Drummond and May (Marjory) Miller

Thomas Reid Drummond (b. 12th August 1829) was the second of the nine children of John Drummond and Janet Reid.

He was brought up at the Ness, Pharay and was subsequently in Papa Westray, marrying May (Marjory) Miller from Peatwell on 22nd December 1855.

May (c. 19th October 1823) was the daughter of Benjamin Miller and Mary Keldie from Papa Westray.

Their first three children were born on Papa Westray with the others following their move to Westray:

• George Drummond, born 14th September 1856 who drowned in Pierowall Bay on 12th August 1867

• John Stewart Drummond, born 30th August 1858 who also drowned in Pierowall Bay. This was on 24th January 1895. He was a seaman and thirty six.

• Emma May Woolfe Drummond, born 1861 who married James Scott

• Jessie Ann Drummond, born 3rd May 1865. Jessie was with her sister Emma in 1891.

• Thomas Traill Drummond, born 22nd July 1867 who married Catherine McDonald

Thomas is noticeably absent from the 1861 to 1881 censuses with May being variously described as a “ship master’s wife” or “sailor’s wife, merchant service”. They were both at Gaird, Westray in 1891 and 1901.

Thomas died on 13th November 1906 and May on 17th November 1909.