Introduction / Families

Cooper

The Cooper surname does not appear in the 1810 rental, the Old Parish Records or the censuses for Pharay. However, the 1851 Westray census indicates that a Barbara Cooper who was born in Pharay, albeit it is the married name of Hewison that is given.

1851
North Hammar, Westray

	Relation	Status	Age	Occupation	Born
William Hewison	Head	Married	68 years	Under miller	Westray
Barbara Hewison	Wife	Married	62 years		Pharay
William Gray	SinL	Married	37 years	Fisherman	Westray
Margaret Gray	Dau	Married	38 years		Westray
Robert Gray	G. Son		10 years	Scholar	Westray
William Gray	G. Son		8 years	Scholar	Westray
Thomas Gray	G. Son		6 years	Scholar	Westray
Barbara Gray	G. Dau		4 years		Westray
James Gray	G. Son		2 years		Westray
Jean Gray	G. Dau		4 months		Westray

The death register recording Barbara’s death substantiates the place of birth.

She was born about 1789 to William Cooper and Christy Fergus. It should be noted that the Old Parish Records for Eday and Pharay only start in 1789.

It is thought unlikely that this is the Christian Fergus who was married to David Hourston. Their son, also David Hourston, was born around 1773. This would have been some sixteen years earlier than the birth of Barbara Cooper to William Cooper and Christy Fergus.

No other records relating to Coopers on Pharay during this early period have been found. It is not known where William Cooper and Christy Fergus lived, how long they were there, or if they had any children other than Barbara.