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[Date etimated- John, do you have a bigger scan of this? - Steven]
This is probably the only photograph of "Geordie o Wills".
Geordie Johnston was the tenant of the holding of Wasbister, in the parish o "Waas" a man of some amusement in the area. Geordie took life at an easy pace unlike his father William or "Will", who his title was derived from who was an excellent farmer so much so that Wasbister won an award as the best run croft in Scotland.
I have heard "Will" even had a tank to catch the water fae the midden he then spread it onto the land with an early form of horse drawn "slurry tanker"!!.
Son "Geordie" was not so go ahead as his father had been and liked nothing better than a lie in of a morning and took life at a very slow pace!!
Geordie never married and it was said folk told him when the SWRI was formed it was to "ensnare" the likes of himself into marriage!!.
"Geordie o Wills" lived a simple life and died during the war from untreated diabetes it was said.
I hope somone comes onto the site with more information on his life as my folk were very fond and helped tae look after "Geordie o Wills".
Picture added on 15 April 2011 at 12:32
John,
just trying to identify Georgie as a George Johnston I have in my tree...can you help me narrow down the location...where is "Wasbister, in the parish o "Waas". Is it near your farm in South walls?
Did Geordie have any siblings you know of...
thanks
Richard
just trying to identify Georgie as a George Johnston I have in my tree...can you help me narrow down the location...where is "Wasbister, in the parish o "Waas". Is it near your farm in South walls?
Did Geordie have any siblings you know of...
thanks
Richard
Added by Richard Johnston on 16 April 2011
Yes Richard Wasbister is just above us infact Grandad would have taken the tenency after "Geordie o Wills" died and later bought the holding along with Burnhouse around 1948.
Not sure what leg o the Johnston clan Geordie belonged nor do I know if there were others in his family, I suspect not but there might be a conection to Neil Johnston from Kirkwall.
Not sure what leg o the Johnston clan Geordie belonged nor do I know if there were others in his family, I suspect not but there might be a conection to Neil Johnston from Kirkwall.
Added by John Budge on 16 April 2011
Hi again John,
figured out the location of Wasbister from an older map...between Aithsdale and Sandsdale in South Walls.
fairly certain Geordie was George S Johnston, B 1875, son of william J.and Sarah Thomson
his listed siblings:
Sarah, James, Thomas, Margaret, John and Mary.
John is listed as born at Wasbister...Mary was born in South Ronaldsay.
Richard
figured out the location of Wasbister from an older map...between Aithsdale and Sandsdale in South Walls.
fairly certain Geordie was George S Johnston, B 1875, son of william J.and Sarah Thomson
his listed siblings:
Sarah, James, Thomas, Margaret, John and Mary.
John is listed as born at Wasbister...Mary was born in South Ronaldsay.
Richard
Added by Richard Johnston on 17 April 2011
Sorry John..I forgot to mention..George is from Neil Johnstone's family line
..you had that one absolutely right!
..you had that one absolutely right!
Added by Richard Johnston on 09 March 2013
George is also Captain John's brother...from picture #25193
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Added by Richard Johnston on 11 March 2013
Hoy and Walls
Once a young man dressed as a seed merchant and visited Geordie in the evening saying he was taking orders for "Niver bed oats" and "niver shoot neeps" Geordie placed an order for the seed that he thought would be a god send to all who grew a crop that widna go down or a neep that would never spoil in the spring!!
Another time he came down tae me grandfather and said "Kin yae help me wae me ploo James"- "Certenly Geordie, whit dae yae need done wae yir ploo" "Weel James the young bu**ers hiv pitten her doon the Lum o the hoose and aam damned if I can get her oot"!!
Now although funny it was not a nice thing to do tae the man was it.