James Fea and Jean Cooper

James Fea and Margaret Sinclair

James Fea was the first son of James & Jane, born 23rd November, 1797 at Stronsay. He was baptised there on 26th November.

It seems likely that James had an affair with Betty Goar and an illegitimate son was born.

• David Fea (1818 - 1908).  David married Elizabeth Clarke Hepburn and migrated to Adelaide, South Australia in 1854.  There were four children

James married Margaret Sinclair on 27th July, 1824 at Stronsay. Margaret was baptised c1810 in the Sanday & Eday Parish.  They lived at Newbigging (1841 and 1851 Census) and Burrogate (1881?) in Stronsay. James' occupation was given at different times as Tenant Labourer, Quarryman, Fisherman.

James and Margaret had six children:

• Janet Fea; (1825-1897). Janet married James Sinclair
• John Hadden Fea (1827-1911). John married Eliza Tough and they had eleven children.
• James Fea (1830-1893). James married Mary Kemp and they had four children.
• Barbara Fea (1832 - ). Barbara married Josiah Shurie and they migrated to Canada
• Peter Fea (1836 - ).
• Margaret Fea was baptised 19th July, 1840 at Stronsay. She was at Newbigging (a scholar) for the 1851 Census.  By 1903 her address was care of Mr S. Walker, 341 South 7th Avenue, Mount Vernon, New York, USA

James died in March 1881. The date is quoted as 25/3/1881 in the IGI but possibly 10/3/1882 on his grave. When the 1881 census was taken on 4th April, Margaret Sinclair is described as a widow.

James is buried in Burrogate Cemetery  with Margaret, whose headstone gives her date of death as 16th March, 1888, aged 85 years