Introduction / Families / Burgher / Thomas Burgher and Elizabeth Seatter / Robert Burgess and Elizabeth Hercus

William Burgar and Mary Stewart Groat

William Burgar was born in 1868, the only son of Robert Burgess and Elizabeth Hercus of Cott. He married Mary Stewart Groat at Fersness, Eday on 27th February 1896. Mary was the daughter of John Groat and Stewart Seatter, born 13th January 1869 at Clifton, Westray, but whose family had recently moved to Fersness. William and Mary had two children, born at Cott:

• Mary Stewart Burgar, b. 1897 who lived at the Ruah, Southend, Eday and died there on 12th May 1981

• Robert George Burgar, b. 1898 who married Daisy Scott, daughter of David Scott and Margaret Reid, and lived at Shoehall, Eday. They had two children.

William, called Billy, lived at Cott with his parents. He began hauling cod and haddock as soon as he was able, and at about age 20 he went in the summer with Robert Harcus of Eday to fish for herring off Stronsay. By about the mid-1890s cod fishing was no longer possible because the large trawlers took all the fish. Billy made his living from farming and from lobster fishing. He was a successful lobster fisherman, along with his cousins, in part because they were very fine sailors and could go for lobsters even in bad weather. William was one of the skilled sailors who was a Pharay Hero.

In about 1915, Billy and Mary moved to the farm at Fersness, Eday that had become available. Billy farmed at Fersness until he retired in about 1936. He then lived in a small house at the corner of the farm and still enjoyed shore fishing and going out for lobster. He died at Fersness 7th December 1952, at age 84. Mary had predeceased him on 28th October 1948.