Introduction / Families / Harcus / James Harcus and Marion Allan / John Harcus and Jane Drummond

Gillies Hercus and Mary Chalmers

Gillies Hercus was born about 1840 on Pharay, to John Harcus and Jane Drumond of Doggerboat. He was named after John's employer, a fish-curer from Stronsay named Gillies Bonneton. In her compilation, Dorothy Drever noted that at the baby's birth Mr. Bonneton drank a toast of whisky from the rim of his bowler hat. Gillies married Mary L. Chalmers on 5th December 1862 on Stronsay. Mary was born 29th December 1833 to Peter Chalmers and Ursilla Miller. Gillies and Mary had two sons born on Stronsay:

• Gillies Hercus, b. 21st Aug 1863 who immigrated to the US about 1895. He was found in Oklahoma in 1910, a dry goods salesman, age 44, the only record found for him in the States.

• Peter P. Hercus, b. 1875 who married Joan Leslie of Kirkwall in 1899. He was a sailmaker, then a seaman with Flett & Sons of Kirkwall. After those ships were disposed of he worked in marine salvage operations. He died 15th Jan 1961. He had one son.

Gillies was a fisherman. He and Mary lived on Stronsay for several years. In addition to their two sons, they also raised Gillies' orphaned nephew and namesake, Gillies Drever. By 1881, the family had moved to Scapa Road, Kirkwall. Gillies died of tuberculosis 10th September 1889, at age 49, when he was living in Main Street. Mary was living with her son Peter in Kirkwall in 1901.