Introduction / Families / Harcus / William Harcus (Hercus) and Janet Groat / Stewart Harcus and Jane Shearer

William Harcus and Mary Wishart Cursiter

William Harcus (b. 29th November 1839) was a son of Stewart Harcus and Jane Shearer. He moved with the family from Braehead, Eday to Kirkwall around 1858/59 and was with them in the Long Wynd in 1861.

He married Mary Wishart Cursiter (b. abt. 1840) in Papa Westay on 29th November 1861. Mary was the daughter of William Cursiter and Traill Hay. The Cursiters had moved from Sanday to Papa Westray some time around 1844.

William and Mary had two children who were both born in Kirkwall:

• William Cursiter Harcus, born 7th September 1862

• Mary Ann Harcus, born 10th March 1865 who married James Miller

William was a fisherman and with the family at Dunkirk in 1871. Alongside were Jane Harcus, the widow of his first cousin William Harcus and close by were his first cousin John Harcus and his family. These cousins were sons of William Harcus and Barbara Swordie. Also alongside in Dunkirk were Robert Harcus and his wife Margaret Rousay from Eday with their family so there was quite a close community.

William’s occupation in the 1861 census and subsequent ones was fisherman.

Mary died in 1885 and in the 1891 census it was just William and daughter Mary Ann who were in Bridge St Close. By 1901, Mary Ann had married and William was living himself at 9 Bridge St although it would appear that his daughter may also have been forming a household there.

William died in Bridge St on 22nd February 1925. He was eighty five.