Introduction / Families / Harcus / William Harcus (Hercus) and Janet Groat

William Harcus (Hercus) and Barbara Swordie

William Harcus (c. June 1801) was the eldest of the children of William Harcus and Janet Groat and born on Pharay.

He married Barbara Swordie (b. 1st April 1801) in Stenness on 28th December 1828. Barbara was the daughter of Alexander Swordie and Jean Drever and born in Sanday.

Their six children were born in Eday:

• Jean Harcus, born 16th August 1829. She appears in the 1841 census but not subsequently.

• Margaret Harcus, born 16th October 1831. She didn’t marry and remained with her mother while she was alive. Margaret died in the Clay Loan, Kirkwall on 18th January 1899. The informant was her niece, Mary Harcus of East Road, Kirkwall

• Jessie Harcus, born 16th March 1834 who married widower Oliver Scott

• William Harcus, born 16th January 1837 who married Jane Harcus

• Elizabeth (Betsy) Harcus, born about 1839/40 and appears in the 1851 census

• John Harcus, born about 1843 who married Margaret Scott. Margaret was the daughter of Oliver Scott who married John’s elder sister Jessie Harcus.

William and Barbara were at Wantonbrae, Eday but left some time after 1861 and were at Lathaber, St Andrews with their daughter Margaret in 1871. William died there later that year on 7th November.

Barbara was in School Place, Kirkwall with Margaret in 1881 and died at Gallowhall, Kirkwall on 12th August 1882.