The Orkney Image Library
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This is the Robertson Family from Myre in Longhope, Hoy. William Roberton was lost with the herring boat, the 'Maggie' on June 21st 1890. My great great gran, Jacobina, at the back of the picture, was left to bring up six children on her own. Her youngest, standing on the chair, is my great gran, also Jacobina Robertson. Next to her is Sarah. The older girl sitting on the chair is Isabella and the boys are Alex, Jimmie and Malcolm.
As far as I know Sarah bacame Harkess when she married and moved to Glasgow, Bella married into the Corrigall family and moved to Ohio. Jimmie died of TB aged just 19 and Alex and Malcolm brought their families up in Longhope. I'm guessing the picture was taken around 1894.
Another contributor has a picture of the memorial to the 'Maggie', picture #23722
View Large VersionPicture added on 15 May 2011 at 18:04
Malcolm was my Great-Grandfather. I have never seen this photo before.
Added by Pauline Duncan on 27 May 2011
Oh I mind Malkie fine and we all knew about the loss o the Maggie. Malkie was whur neebour the best o freends as was his son Malcolm.
A dreadfull thing tae happen tae such a big family and there wasno the support for widows in them days.
A dreadfull thing tae happen tae such a big family and there wasno the support for widows in them days.
Added by John Budge on 29 May 2011
I can just mind him and remember the day he died. I think as school bairns at a small school we felt for class mates when they lost someone and still do as grown ups. I remember Anna being fairly chuffed later on though with her new bike and she told us "her grandad had left her money and she had bought the bike with that." Bairns are very resilient when it comes to death thank goodness!
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Added by Beryl Simpson on 30 May 2011
Hoy and Walls
