Introduction / Families / Drever / David Drever and Ann Reid

James Drever and Mary Hercus

James Drever was born about 1829 at Hammar, the son of David Drever and Ann Reid. He married Mary Hercus who was born on 23rd February 1828 and baptised 16th March 1828. She was from Doggerboat, the daughter of John Harcus and Jane Drummond. The marriage took place on Pharay on 2nd December 1852.

James was a fisherman. Mary and James had seven children, born at Hammar:

• James Drever, b. 2nd Oct 1853 who married Annie Scott Michie

• John Drever, b. 12th July 1855, who lived with his uncle David Drever after the death of his parents. He died 16th Feb 1877 at Balfour Hospital, Kirkwall, as a result of burns from an accident. At the time he was a fisherman living on Eday.

• David Drever, b. 17th May 1857 who went to Invercargill, New Zealand. He and his daughter Margaret died in 1918 as a result of the flu epidemic.

• Gillies Drever, b. 9th Apr 1859 who married Georgina Stevenson

• William Drever, b. 21st Mar 1862 who married first, Elizabeth Fairly and second, Mary Fleming

• Peter Drever, b. 10th Apr 1863 and d. 8th Mar 1865

• Mary Drever, b. 16th June 1864 who married George Blamy

James and Mary both died young and are buried in the graveyard on the west side of Pharay. James died on 11th October 1865 at Hammar of rheumatic fever after having been ill for about a year and a half, and Mary died about four years later on 26th June 1869, at Hammar, of tuberculosis. She left six children ages 14 and under, many of whom were raised by relatives before immigrating to New Zealand, Australia or North America.