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

Stewart Harcus and Jane Shearer

Stewart Harcus (b. 24th February 1817) was a son of William Harcus and Janet Groat.

He probably married Jane Shearer around 1838/39. Jane was the daughter of James Shearer and Mary Liddle.

Stewart and Jane formed a separate household at Wantonbrae, Eday from his parents in 1841.

They had ten children:

• William Harcus, born 29th November 1839 who married Mary Wishart Cursiter

• Mary Harcus, born 22nd January 1842

• Elizabeth Shearer Harcus, born 17th May 1844

• Jane Peace Harcus, born 16th March 1847

• James Fraser Harcus, born 16th October 1849

• Margaret Harcus, born 20th June 1853

• Janet Harcus, born 10th August 1855

• Isabella Harcus, born 9th October 1857

• Anne Harcus, born about 1859/60; died 1868

• Stewart Harcus, a daughter born 19th March 1863

They family were at Braehead, Eday in 1851 but had moved into Kirkwall and were in the Long Wynd in 1861. Their daughter Anne Harcus was born in Kirkwall according to that census.

1861
Long Wynd, Kirkwall

	Relation	Status	Age	Occupation	Born
Stewart Hercus	Head	Married	44 years	Labourer	Eday
Jane Hercus	Wife	Married	41 years		Eday
William Hercus	Son		21 years	Labourer	Eday
Jane Hercus	Dau		13 years	Scholar	Eday
Margaret Hercus	Dau		8 years	Scholar	Eday
Janet Hercus	Dau		6 years		Eday
Isabella Hercus	Dau		3 years		Eday
Anne Hercus	Dau		1 year		Kirkwall

Stewart drowned when a boat foundered off Kirkwall Bay about 4.00pm on 23rd March 1863. Also lost were John Peace (aged 44) and his son George Peace (aged 11). The occupation of Stewart and John was given as boatmen.

Jane died there on 21st May 1871.