Introduction / Families

Sinclair

The first person who can be reasonably documented to have lived on Pharay is Mary Sinclair, born about 1763, who married William Harcus. They were living at Old Green, Eday by 1841 but would appear to have died before the statutory recording of deaths commenced in 1855. It is not known which Harcus family he is from, or if he was born on Pharay.

Isabella Sinclair, who married George Stevenson, had sons born on Pharay in 1800 and 1802. It is not known if she was born there, as she also died pre 1855. The family moved to Windywa, Eday probably in the mid 1820s.

A William Sinclair at Windywa, Pharay appears in the 1810 rental. It seems quite probable that the Robert Sinclair at Windywa in 1841 was a son.

Robert Sinclair moved with his family to New Green, Eday by 1851. He was born on Pharay about 1786. Based on the census enumeration New Green was adjacent to Old Green where Mary Sinclair (b. abt 1763) was living, so perhaps they were related in some way. Robert Sinclair apparently died before 1855 and his parents are not known.

Robert Sinclair’s son, William Sinclair, was still at Windywa in 1851, but then he also moved to New Green, Eday, and the Sinclair surname was not on Pharay for some time. The Mary Sinclair who appears at Lakequoy in the 1891 census is in fact Mary Groat, William Sinclair’s wife. She was then eighty one and staying with her nephew, James Groat.