Orkney Image Library

William Sinclair, this is John Cromarty's headstone, and as you can see his wife was a Fiddler fae Waas (the Heckness area I would think). As I have said on the other Brims Lifeboatmen photo John was born in Ronalsay in the district of Herston and possibly in a house that was an Inn in the small village. John was a very fine man and very proud to be known as a Brims man. He and I shared the same birth date- John was 65 the day I was born! He always gave me a small something on my birthday indeed I still have a sweetie tin given to me by John when I was about eight years old. He also gave advice later in my life that went (1) When thou starts takan ale dinna go tae pee till thou his tae or yeal be runnan all night!! (2)Make sure yea tak laughan ale an no fighting ale! (3)Keep the length o a herrin atween yersel an a lass hid stops a lot o bother! I have adhered to one and two in the John Cromarty guide to life but I am happy tae say I broke John's code on number three!!.
As stated before he was brought up as a Brims man by the Swanson Mowat family. His daughter who has lived beside us all my life does not know much of her fathers childhood so it is down to you William to unravel this mans lifestory .

Hi John
John Cromarty was a second cousin 3 generations removed. His Great Grandparents William Cromarty and Elspet Durran were my 4x great grandparents, through their daughter Barbara Cromart marrying John Sinclair from Kirkhouse. Barbara Sinclair would have been John's second cousin.