Orkney Image Library

Inscription reads: Erected in memory of James Drever who died Oct 1865 aged 36 years. Mary Harcus his wife died June 1969 aged 40 years. Peter their son died April 1965 aged 2 years & John died Feb 16 1877 aged 21 years.
John's actual day of death is the only one recorded; it seems odd that the others aren't. John lost his father at age nine, his mother at thirteen. Eight years later he was dead himself. I wonder if tuberculosis was the cause of death in all four cases.

Just noticed two slips in my last comment: 19 instead of 18 in two of the dates. Sorry.

According to Scotlandspeople death certificates -
James Drever - died from Rheumatic fever (after year and a half)
Mary Hercus - died from consumption after a period of time
Peter - died from a disease of the chest
John - died from what looks like 'burn' - but I'm waiting on confirmation on this one from a colleague....

Just had it confirmed that it was indeed 'burn' - there is an (a) beside the cause which indicates they might have been intending putting a related cause beside burn - something like 'shock', 'infection'....

John died on that date in the Balfour Hospital from the notes I have on this family. Could he possibly have been badly burnt in an accident? Another son, David, died in the 1918 Flu epidemic.

Thank you Melanie. I have no particular interest in this Drever family, other than being struck by their headstone while I was on a visit to Faray. A reminder of how things were a century-and-a-half ago. Looks like I may have been right about tuberculosis in two cases.