Ann Harcus (b. 15th August 1862) was a daughter of James Harcus and Sarah Harcus.

She was brought up at South Fara House, Eday and married Robert Shearer on 24th January 1884. Robert (b. 13th October 1855) was the son of William Shearer and Jane Rousay from Dykeside, Eday.

Ann and Robert stayed at Dykeside and had seven children:

• Sarah Jane Shearer, born 4th August 1885 who married Thomas Paterson Harcus in Eday on 14th January 1910. Thomas was born in Westray on 24th April 1886 and the son of George Harcus and Elizabeth Paterson. She died on 27th July 1950 and Thomas on 14th October 1961 in Firth. They had family.

• William Shearer, born 1886

• Annie Shearer, born 1888 who married William Cock (b. 1883) at Dykeside on 8th September 1917. William was chief engineer on the steam tug Joanetta and the son of Joseph Collins Cock (master mariner) and Louisa Jane Webster.

• Margaret Shearer, born 1st January 1889 who married William Harcus (b. 1886) in 1912. William was the son of James Harcus and Jane Drever. They were cousins as William’s father was James Harcus, brother of Margaret’s mother Ann. Margaret and William had two daughters and a son. They lived most of their lives at Groatha, Eday before retiring near one of their daughters in Stenness. William lived to the age of 103.

• Robert Shearer, born 1891

• Christina Reid Shearer, born 10th June 1893 who married William Scott Miller in Eday on 21st June 1911. William was born on Sanday on 30th July 1891 and the son of Robert Candlish Miller and Mary Scott. Christina and William had family. William died on 30th September 1973 and Christina on 29th January 1978 and they are buried in the Firth cemetery.

• Elizabeth Reid Shearer, born 1898 who married James Cormack (b. 1884) in 1923. James was the son of John Cormack and Mary Omand Shearer of the Stays, Eday.

Ann was a widow when she died on 16th September 1934.