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John Fea VII of Clestrain

John Fea succeeded his brother to the estate. He had been managing the properties during James's absences in Edinburgh and London. His letters suggest that he had a quieter disposition.

He never married although there is an unspecified reference to intent by his brother in a letter in December 1741. James writes "I think you have no time to delay and I wish you all success and happiness." John's response is that this is "entirely out of his power" due to some difficulty due to what the lady might "deservedly expect or would certainly obtain from another."

John did have one liaison with a Christian Manson which resulted in illegitimate twin sons, Henry and Alexander Fea who were born in 1747.

There is suggestion that Christian Manson may have been weak minded and the sons, likewise. This may have come in part from reference to her in the case of Traill v Rev Thomas Lyell although these were calculated to blacken her character as a witness.

While away from Stove in Sanday on his brother's business after his death in 1756, John makes reference to his sons in correspondence with his sisters back at Stove. In a letter from London dated 6th April 1757, he writes:

Tell my boys if they learn well their books it shall endear them to me and their mother also to me. The Real Captain Cleveland (1912), Allan Fea - page 196

And on 15th March 1758 from London:

May blessings to you all and to my boys. Tell them if they be good boys that they shall want nothing that is in my power to bestow upon them. Pray be good to their mother and to my nurse. The Real Captain Cleveland (1912), Allan Fea - page 196

He also interested in the well being of this servants. In another letter to his sisters, he bid them:

Be kind as you can to the cottars and servants under your care, especially such of them as serv'd our parents. The old ones such as John and James Scott may retire to the Park of Kirkabister, to sit rent free. The Real Captain Cleveland (1912), Allan Fea - page 197

Shortly before his death, he was to despone the gift of Seatter in Sanday to John Fea, his manager at Stove.

John provided for his sons in his will although, it is clear that by the time of his death, he did have grave concerns about their ability to cope and amended his will accordingly, while ensuring that they were provided for.

He died on 30th August 1760 after a lingering illness which predated his earlier will.

John's sisters were to receive life rent of a third of his lands with a value of 12,000 merks Scots. The other two thirds were to go to his sons, whose upbringing was to been overseen by his sisters.

The estate passed to James Fea of Whitehall, who was to become the James Fea VIII of Clestrain and the last of the Feas of Clestrain.