Charles Millot / World Traveller / Orkney Visitor

 

Four Photos from the Tom Kent Collection sent me on a journey of discovery to find out more about this man, Charles Millot. In July 2021 we posted a couple of the photos on Twitter (now X) and they were very popular. Many people asked questions such as how did he get here? Why was he wearing those clothes? Where did the dog come from? What happened to him after he visited Orkney? So I set myself the task of finding out. 

My first clue was the captions for the photos which said that Charles Millot was French and that he was on a walking tour of the world. When these photos were taken in January 1903, he'd been walking for around two years and was passing through Orkney en route for Norway and beyond.

RESEARCH SOURCE

Where to go to find out more? I had been using the British Newspaper Archive online to research my family history, so I wondered if a Frenchman wandering the country in 1903 was newsworthy. Turns out he was! I was able to gather articles about Mr Millot and piece together his story. 

From 1902 to 1903 Charles Millot was a celebrity in the UK. Accounts of his travels appeared in local newspapers almost weekly. He purposely visited local newspaper offices to introduce himself and have his photo taken and the postcards printed, which he then sold to make money to fund his journey. 

Charles left Paris on 22nd April 1901 at the age of 20. He had no money on him. Why? Well, it was all for a bet! He had wagered with his friends that he could walk around the world in 6 years, taking no funds with him, but making enough on the way from the postcards. 

EUROPE

The articles are all from UK newspapers, and according to the Gloucester Echo of September 1902 he had been travelling for 16 months before he reached England. 

He ascended Mounts Etna and Vesuvius in Italy without the services of a guide. When in Sicily he was confined to hospital with malarial fever. 

At one point of his journey he walked through deep snow for hundreds of miles, sometimes up to the waist. He had a nasty experience at Breslau, where he slept on the bare ground. Some German toughs approached him whilst asleep and dealt him severe blows on the head. 

"I awoke," exclaimed M. Millot, dramatically throwing his arms in the air, "pulled out my revolver, and shot at them." They left him, but he was placed ten days in the local hospital, and still bears the marks of his adventure. 

From Germany he went to Holland, then Belgium, then to Ostend where he sailed for Margate in England. 

Also from the Gloucester Echo, "M. Millot carries with him a most interesting collection of consular seals, signatures of prominent men, stamps, and illustrated post-cards obtained in the various places he has visited."

ENGLAND and WALES

"He took a boat to Margate and continued his tour through the south of England to London, where he witnessed the Coronation Procession." 

This would have been the coronation of Edward VII and his wife Alexandra on the 9th August 1902. 

"He intends to visit Ireland, Scotland, America, China, Japan and South Africa." 

His intentions seem to change daily, though and so from Bristol he gets a boat to Dublin. 

According to the Northants Evening Courier he reached Dublin on the 10th September 1902. 

"He is spending a few days in Dublin to see the town and will then visit Waterford, Wexford and Cork". 

In the Wicklow Newsletter and County Advertiser dated 20th September 1902, 

"Millot who may be described as a rather peculiar looking character, arrived in Wicklow on Thursday having travelled on Shank's mare [walked] from Greystones. He stated he started from Paris with the intention of travelling round the world without a red cent in his pocket. He visited several parts of Europe and Asia, staying only in one place."

"Millot, who carries an immense pack seems little the worse from his journey. He calls at every police station and gets a document, which bears the stamp and signature of the French Consul, signed by the sergeant in charge. He speaks very little English, but otherwise is a good linguist."

"When Millot left Paris, his idea was to travel round the world in a period of six years. He is now on his way to Cork, where he will remain for a time, and then start for New York, afterwards visiting Japan and China. Millot is a wonderful individual, and his undertaking to travel round the world is undoubtedly nothing short of a fad. In all the places he has visited he has been never known to ask for anything, and pays his way like a gentleman, though when he left Paris, he did not possess a centime. How he has got along since is a mystery, as in order to travel round the globe a person would require a nice little fortune. He is known by the name “Globe-trotter,” in which he seems to take not a little pride."

Photo showing his armband

However, he does not go New York. We next find him in Scotland. According to the Dundee Courier of the 20th October, "M Millot arrived in Dundee from Edinburgh on Saturday. Twenty-two years of age, he looks older, and on his left arm he wears the tricolore of France in the shape of a broad band." 

DUNDEE

The article says he sailed from Dublin to Liverpool. 

"Mons. Millot speaks highly of the hospitality which has been shown him in Scotland. The young Frenchman, who discarded the occupation of a chef for an explorateur, looks in perfect health, and expects to resume his tour in a day or two by leaving Dundee for Christiana. He intends to traverse Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Russia, China, Japan, America, India, and South Africa, and in the completion of his colossal task, dating from when he started, he expects to occupy six years."

"In his knapsack he carries with him a collection of postcards bearing his photograph, and a valuable collection of stamps, by the sale of which he earns a livelihood. He has also a large collection of autographs of people he has met, and makes a point of obtaining a picture postcard of every place he sets foot in."

Image from Dundee Courier

Tuesday 21 October 1902 – Dundee Courier

LOCHEE

"French Traveller. – M. Charles Millot the French traveller, who is at present on a visit to this country, paid a visit to Lochee yesterday afternoon. Wherever he went he attracted a good deal of attention. Millot was conducted over several places of interest by Mr Alexander Fleming, of Messrs Fleming Brothers. He was shown the Free Library, Public Reading-Rooms, and Baths, while Mr Fleming pointed out to him the immense range of buildings which form Camperdown Jute Works. The  traveller appeared to take a deep interest in everything he saw. "

Monday 27th October 1902 - Dundee Evening Post

M. MILLOT LEAVES DUNDEE

"M Charles Millot the French explorateur, who is travelling the world, left Dundee this afternoon for Arbroath, where he intends to remain for two days. M Millot has had a pleasant stay in Dundee, extending over a week. He has added to his stock a large quantity of beautiful postcards, by the sale of which he earns funds to carry him on his journey. During his stay in the city M. Millot has been presented with a Scotch Terrier, to which he has given the name "Dundee", and this little canine companion will now accompany him amd possibly befriend him on his journey. M. Millot wished to thank the people of Dundee for the uniform kindness extended to him." 

M. Charles Millot and "Dundee" the dog

ARBROATH

In Arbroath he met some French speakers, "His visit evoked considerable interest. In the course of one evening he met several ladies and gentlemen who conversed with him in his native tongue, he being quite unable to talk English"

Wednesday 29th October 1902 - Dundee Evening Telegraph

"During his stay in Arbroath M. CM the Frenchman who is on a tour round the world has been attracting a good deal of attention... At the invitation of management, M Millot is to appear at the Theatre to-night, when no no doubt his presence will prove an attraction."

After Arbroath he went to Montrose where we finally get a good description of him

Thursday 6th November - Arbroath Herald and Advertiser for the Montrose Burghs

"gallant, boastful, vain, impudent, and merry - with small moustache and pointed beard, dark and of olive complexion, nose straight and finely chiselled, large dark and languishing eyes quite consciously 'irresistible', who expresses himself with shrugs, smiles, and expressive gesticulations - this French Puss in Boots - a merry pilgrim on the road to nowhere!"

ABERDEEN

After Arbroath, he went to Aberdeen which he did not like at all...

Image from the Press & Journal, 8th Nov 1902

Thursday 6^th November – Dundee Evening Telegraph

Of Aberdeen and Aberdonians the Frenchman writes:

"A town of granite

Houses of granite

A sky of granite

Hearts of granite

Money of granite". 

Oh dear... We have no stories about why he did not like Aberdeen, only these few lines sent to his friends in Dundee. 

PETERHEAD

When he arrives in Peterhead we learn more about the origins of his clothes...

Saturday 8^th November 1902 - Peterhead Sentinel and General Advertiser for Buchan District

"With his knapsack on his back, the tricolore badge on his right arm, his boots, easy and comfortable for walking, not long ago adorned a six-foot policeman in the town of Wexford; his gaiters he acquired in Swansea; his trousers were made in Belgium; the sweater-jersey which enables him to dispense with the refinements of linen, was fabricated in Buda Pest; and his cap came from a Dublin hatter. 

He has come to Peterhead with some idea of getting a vessel to take him to Christiana, whence he proposes to strike across Norway and Sweden to St Petersburg." 

MACDUFF AND BANFF

Next we find his in MacDuff where he is in court!

Tuesday 25^th November 1902 – Buchan Observer and East Aberdeenshire Advertiser

THE FRENCH “PEDESTRIAN” IN TROUBLE AT MACDUFF

"On Monday forenoon there was a large attendance at the MacDuff Police Court, when Charles Millot the French pedestrian was brought before Bailies Forbes and West charged with being drunk and creating a breach of the peace and assaulting one of the lieges in Skene Street on Saturday night. Mr Williams, Fife Arms, acted as interpreter. Accused said that very little Scotch beer had upset him. He was extremely sorry for his actions. The Procurator-Fiscal – "You came by train". Millot – "Sometimes walk, sometimes train, sometimes steamers". Taking the peculiar circumstances into consideration, the Bench took a lenient view of the case, and ordered the explorer to leave the burgh bounds by noon. It is understood that Millot left for Inverness." 

Saturday 29^th November 1902 - Dundee Evening Telegraph

"A letter sent to a friend in Dundee from M Charles Millot who has reached Dingwall after his expulsion from Banff. He wrote: 'M. Millot has been very badly treated at Banff where, after having been insulted, he has been abused by the police."

WICK

After Inverness and Dingwall, his next port is Wick where he is still trying to get a ship to Christiana.

Friday 12th December 1902 - John O Groats Journal

"A LONG WALK - Monsieur Charles Millot the 22 year old Parisian who is walking round the world, arrived in Wick on Saturday, where, along with his Scotch Terrier, he was the object of some attention. His tour round the world, of which he has already covered 3140 miles, is for a wager. The uncovered ground included America, South Africa, China, Japan, India and Australia. He goes from Caithness to Christiana"

LERWICK

Still not finding his way off the UK, he arrives in Shetland on Saturday 27th December 1902.

Shetland Times

"M Charles Millot, the French globe-trotter, is to arrive at Lerwick on Saturday (to-day), per SS St Ninian. He intends to cross over from Shetland with a steamer for Norway, and then goes through Norway, Sweden and Denmark thence he proceeds to Russia, and crosses Asia from west to east. From Vladivostok he will proceed to Japan. 

Steam Ship St Ninian                     TK413

"During the day on Monday he was 'the observed of all' on Commercial Street. Mallot is a little man with dark hair and eyes, and a black beard. His face is extremely pale, and hardly suggests the contact with the elements which he much have had during his 3000 mile tramp. He had intended crossing over to Norway but no vessel is available.

He carries a valise, in which are a series of albums with copious notes about men and manners in the countries he has visited, some day probably to worked into a book for the edification of his countrymen. To get wherewithal for food and lodgings he sells post cards at two pence each, bearing his portrait and autograph. He also had a large portrait of himself which he sold for a shilling. He sold a number of post cards while in Lerwick."

KIRKWALL

On his way south he visits Orkney

In Kirkwall he finally meets local photographer Tom Kent who takes the four photos which started all this research in the first place. 

Strangely, he is not mentioned in the Orcadian or Orkney Herald newspapers at all when he is in Orkney. All we have are these four photos.

Charles Millot in the Courtyard of Tankerness House, Kirkwall by Tom Kent TK3807

Charles Millot in the Courtyard of Tankerness House, Kirkwall by Tom Kent TK3808

Charles Millot in the Courtyard of Tankerness House, Kirkwall with his dog named "Dundee" by Tom Kent TK3809

Charles Millot in the Courtyard of Tankerness House, Kirkwall by Tom Kent TK3810

EDINBURGH

He then travels to Edinburgh via Dundee (carefully avoiding MacDuff, Banff and Aberdeen) With every new article, his plans seem to change slightly. 

Wednesday 21st January 1903 - Orkney Herald

WALKING ROUND THE WORLD

"Charles Millot the young Frenchman, reached Edinburgh on Friday on his return Scottish journey, which is part of his tour round the world. In Scotland he walked north from Glasgow by Perth, and after visiting Orkney and Shetland, returned by the East Coast by Dundee and Edinburgh. He sails from Berwick for Hamburg en-route for Denmark, Scandinavia, Russia, and along the line of the Trans-Siberian Railway to the extreme east, returning by China and India."

AFTER SCOTLAND

Nine months later, he writes to friends in Dundee and his news is published in the papers.

Tuesday 6th October 1903 - Fraserburgh Herald and Northern Counties Advertiser

"THE GLOBE-TROTTER AGAIN- A correspondent has received a post card from Charles Millot who, it will be remembered passed through Fraserburgh some time ago. Since then he has traversed Norway, Sweden, Finland and Siberia. His present address is Samera, Russia, and he states that he has lost all his chattels and addresses."

"He send greetings to all the folks he met last year."

APPEAL FOR HELP

Sadly we don't hear about him again in any newspaper in the UK. We don't know if he survives his epic journey or not. If you find out any more, please do get in touch. I would love to know more. You can reply to this blog post or email the Archive on archives@orkney.gov.uk 

I hope you have enjoyed this story. 

_________________________________________________________________________________

References: Tom Kent Photos: TK3807; TK3808; TK3809; TK3810

British Newspaper Archive: https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/ 

Orkney Herald Newspaper on microfilm

Memories of VE Day

 Today marks 80 years since VE day - the end of WWII hostilities in Europe. Listen below to weel kent* Orcadian Brigadier S P Robertson as he talks about his experiences of VE Day whilst stationed in Hamburg, Germany. Robertson was born in Kirkwall in 1914. His earliest memory was sitting on the shoulders of his brother John who had returned  home to recover from a shrapnel wound in 1918. In 1939, Robertson volunteered for duty, serving in France and Germany as a Major.

* well known

See here for a post from 2015, the 70th anniversary of the ceasefire.

Information and photograph taken from Orcadian newspaper obituary, 25th December 2008

Interview recorded for BBC Radio Orkney in 1985 - Orkney Archive reference OSA/RO5/461

May Day Holiday

 

Please do not come to the library on Monday the 5th as we will be closed. We are pretending it is because of the public holiday. We are actually planning a high stakes poker game with some tricksy sailors which will either make our fortunes, or ruin all our lives. Wish us luck and see you all on the other side...

Ploughing On

 

Photo L9670/1 [388.342], by Ian Tulloch, from our Copy Collection

L9477/2 [551.645]

It’s been a beautiful morning in Orkney, the sky is blue, the sun is shining, and the birds have been singing their peedie hearts out.   Even us archive staff have been whistling a merry tune as we kick our heels down the strong-room corridor.  We’ve made it to the end of the month, and we’re also celebrating adding information about February blizzards and some lovely contributions from local people reminiscing about the ‘big snows’ to our current exhibition, 'Isolation and Desolation'.

George Mackay Brown in his Islandman column describes the snow's mischief in returning again so soon.  His column had been delayed by a week as he had been unable to get his copy from his home in Stromness through to Kirkwall where the paper was published.

“It seems, looking back on it, that the first thaw was too swift and sudden to be entirely wholesome.  While most of us were congratulating ourselves  on thick snow-banks visibly disintegrating under our eyes, a few of the wiser ones shook their heads.  The snow was up to no good when it decamped so rapidly.  It was merely going away to gather reinforcements.

And so it turned out.”

The Orkney Herald, Tuesday 8th March 1955 

The county had barely had a chance to thaw out from the January snow-storms when, on the night of Wednesday 16^th February 1955, another fierce blizzard caused chaos, cutting off telephones and power, and bringing all transport to a standstill.  For ten days, hundreds of men dug tirelessly again to keep the roads clear, before gale force winds and driving snow blocked them again with deep drifts.

The Orkney Herald, Tuesday 22^nd February 1955

We are very lucky to have copies of some fabulous photos, taken by Ian Tulloch, which show the County Council workmen trying to clear channels in the roads so that the snowploughs were able to pass.  These were all taken on Wideford Brae, between Kirkwall and Grimsetter airport on the Deerness road.

L9476/2 [551.645]

L9476/4 [551.645]

 L9477/4 [551.645]

At the County Council general meeting of 29^th March, the cost of snow clearing was estimated to be £18,500 – equivalent to just over £412,000 now – and the work of these valiant souls was noted:

 

“During the emergency the number of men employed amounted to approximately 600.

They worked under very difficult conditions - often soaked to the skin - for seven days a week and usually overtime each day.  A good deal of damage had been caused to lorries and ploughs by the heavy nature of the work, and the County Garage employees had done good work in keeping the machines in service, often working at nights in order to have the ploughs ready for the following day.

CO3/1/15 - Orkney County Council Road Executive Committee, 8^th March 1955, pg 256

Although daily life was hard work for people, some were able to take time to acknowledge the beauty of the snowy scenes:

 

L9479/3 [551.645], Trees at Wideford by Ian Tulloch

 

 There is nothing to equal the pure magic of the snow… All the surface of the snow had crystallised into unbelievable ferns of microscopic dimensions, the phone wires had a tinsel sparkle of frost crystals, every twig and stem of grass projecting above the snow bore the same breath-taking perfect frosting of transient feathery foliage.  Hoy looked more Fujiyama than ever, and the Orphir hills, rising above the misty white valley, could, with a little imagination, have been Alpine peaks.

 'JBG', in The Orcadian, Thursday 3rd March 1955

We’ve been so delighted to hear memories about the snowstorms, on social media and in person, and we would love to hear more. If you would like to contribute then you can reminisce below, send us your story on archives@orkney.gov.uk or come and visit, and we’ll add it to our display.

If you’ve not been in to see our exhibition yet, it will be on display until the end of March so do come on down - the price is right (i.e. completely free)!

Happy Valentine's Day

To celebrate we share with you some heartfelt words of love written in a letter in 1808.

The letter is written by Mary, Mrs William Balfour, 1788-1820, Captain William Balfour's first wife (and first cousin, daughter of William Manson). 

'It is extremely painful for me to communicate or correspond with you while my mind is in its present distress...'

She is writing to John Balfour, 3rd of Trenaby, William's uncle, begging him to help cancel her husband William's appointment to a ship in the south of England and wishes him to stay at home. 

Letter from Mary Balfour (nee Manson) to John Balfour page 1

She goes on to say: 

'To most married People the idea of being separated for a few months, appears trifling, but few, very few indeed, are so completely happy as we have been since our marriage. His affection has seemed to increase daily, and mine for him scarcely knows any bounds...as a husband he is exemplary, as a father no less so - think then what anguish must wring my heart when I bid him farewell, perhaps for ever! My feelings are too poignant for explanation - '  

Sadly she is unsuccessful!  

Letter from Mary Balfour (nee Manson) to John Balfour page 2

The letter is from the Balfour of Balfour and Trenabie papers, and is part of bundle D2/27/12. It was written on the 31st March 1808. This letter comes to you as part of our ongoing volunteer project to record every letter in every bundle in the 47 boxes of the D2 Balfour Collection by our six amazing volunteers. 

Saturday Closure

 Many apologies dear researchers, the archive search room and Orkney room will be CLOSED tomorrow -Saturday 1st of February.

We shall be open again on Monday the 3rd.

Please accept this image of a man riding a pig taken from William Aberdeen's map of Grain, Kirkwall dated 1766 in atonement:

'Isolation and Desolation'

 No, it’s not a description of how we are all feeling as we plough on through the seventy third day of January, but a headline from the front page of the Orkney Herald of 18^th January 1955.

It’s a wild day here today as the tail end of Storm Éowyn arrived last night; some staff have commented that matchsticks might be needed to keep eyes open after a restless night worrying about roof tiles and being woken by actual real scaredy cats (and dogs!).  We are very lucky here though to be north of the worst of this ‘once in a generation storm’ and spare a thought for our friends ‘sooth’ who have borne the brunt of it. 

In our current archive display we turned our minds back to some other extreme winter weather.  Being so far north, many expect Orkney to be cold and snowy in winter, but our maritime climate and the impact of the gulf stream means that we don’t often get our sledges out.  The toboggans would have been well used seventy years ago though when Orkney was paralysed by wintry storms.  A blizzard in mid-January 1955, followed by another a month later, trapped the county beneath snow which drifted to ten feet deep.  The islands were brought to a standstill for ten days on each occasion.

On Wednesday January 12^th heavy snow fell all day, driven by 70mph winds.  By early afternoon, almost every road was blocked, cars were abandoned in deep drifts and over 100 schoolchildren were trapped at schools across the county.  The The Orkney Herald on Tuesday 18^th January 1955 painted a bleak picture:

“The general picture is one of isolation; town and country are separated from each other by deep drifts of frozen snow, and hundreds of farms have become completely detached units…

The paper reported that six snow-ploughs and 150 men struggled in vain to open the mainland roads.  The Stromness to Kirkwall road was cleared for one hour on Saturday 15^th January allowing stranded schoolchildren to return home, before being filled again with drifts. 

“First contact between Kirkwall and Stromness in two days was established by two men on Friday who foot-slogged it through the deep snow. They set out from Stromness on Thursday afternoon and reached Kirkwall 24 hours later…

…They walked right over one van without at first realising it was there.  The snow rang strangely hollow beneath their feet and on investigating they found they were on top of a Post Office van…

…The two foot-sloggers did their good turn too when they pulled to safety sheep which were smothering in drifts.”                                                                                        

In some areas, supplies were air-dropped by the RAF and the lifeboats were also put to good use taking people to hospital and work, and transporting supplies to areas which had been cut off by the snow.  The Stromness lifeboat was called out on Tuesday 18^th January to transport provisions to Sandwick in the West Mainland, which had been completely isolated for 6 days, and four men rowed out in two small boats from Skaill to meet it. 

Freddie Isbister and Jim Linklater collect supplies from the Lifeboat

L4095/4 614 

L4095/2 614 

Both photos by J S Baikie

One of the lovely things about working in the archive is the satisfaction gained when we tie threads together and although we held several photos of this event in our Copy Collection, we had no information about them.  By using the local newspapers and a school project from 1990 about the local shop (D70/12/2 Fereday Project, 80 Years of Isbister Bros by Erin Davidson) we now have the date and the names of the hardy rowers - Freddie Isbister, Jim Linklater Senior, Jim Linklater Junior and Tommy Spence.

Another chance comment helped us to gather more information about the day the first blizzard hit:

The Orcadian, Thursday 20^th January 1955

One of the Archive’s regular users and volunteers, Patricia Long, saw the display and reminisced about her mother’s experience.  Kathleen Leask was one of the passengers on this bus but wasn’t named in the newspaper report above.  We are very fortunate that Kathleen’s memories were recorded by her daughter, and serialised in Living Orkney magazine. 

“There was no sign of any snow until we were past Finstown but the sky over Stromness was jet black. I’ve never seen a sky like it. We came into the snow then and by the time we were passing Tormiston it was so thick that we couldn’t see the telegraph poles at the side of the road. Then, right at the foot of the kirk road, the bus got stuck in a drift.

“I think there were seven of us on the bus: me, John Garson, Archie Bevan, Isa Robertson, two commercial travellers and an old wife on her way home from hospital. She wasn’t going to be able to walk through the snow so two of the men walked over the field to the farm of Barnhouse and two of the servant-men there came with a blanket and carried her to the farmhouse,

“The rest of us followed and were welcomed into the house by Andrew Rendall and his housekeeper Mrs Scollay. They gave us tea, made us comfortable in the sitting-room and were making arrangements for the night when my cousin, Jean Muir at the Stenness Post Office, rang saying she had two spare beds, because her daughters, along with all the other country bairns at the academy, were stuck in Stromness.”

Kathleen’s husband-to-be, Peter Leith, walked the half-mile down the hill to the Stenness shop and Jean sent him to Barnhouse to collect Kathleen. The snow had stopped falling by then so they managed the quarter-mile walk through the drifts in the early evening without much difficulty. Archive Bevan decided to walk with them and then kept going to Stromness, arriving home very late that night.

The snow plough didn’t get through until Saturday and the bus passengers weren’t the only travellers marooned in Stenness. A cartload of wedding guests spent a couple of days at Tormiston, on their way home from waving Robbie and Elsie Sutherland off at the airport and Mrs Heywood took in a lorry load of council workmen at the Stenness Hotel.

The snow lingered for weeks and Stromness was completely cut off, as the road was thoroughly blocked at the junction where the Sandwick road meets the Kirkwall-Stromness road. A fishing boat carried passengers and supplies between Stromness and Scapa and that’s how Kathleen got back to work some days later.

            From Living Orkney, ‘A peep into the past’, Part 3

                            Pages 33-34, Issue 54, May 2010

Tying together the newspaper snippet with Kathleen’s reminiscences gives a much fuller picture of the event.  It would be lovely if we could also name the poor lady returning from hospital too!  The stranded wedding guests were also mentioned in the local papers:

Orkney Herald, Tuesday 18th January 1955

We are hoping to gather more information about these blizzards from people who remember the events or have been told stories from parents and grandparents through the years.  If you would like to contribute then you can reminisce below or send us your story on archives@orkney.gov.uk and we’ll add it to our display.

Stay safe and warm out there, and don't forget to tether your trampolines and barricade your wheelie bins!

Falling on Hard Times in the Early 19th Century

 Another day, another fascinating document... Today we found this 1801 parish assistance form pictured below:

  Return by Persons unable by their own Industry to Maintain themselves and Families, without occaisional Assistance, in the Parish of ________ and the Presbytery of _____________

This pre-printed sheet was filled out by the minister of the parish as it was generally the church which took care of the poor, ill and destitute. Those needing assistance were listed with their name, age, number in their family and any remarks considered relevant by the minister.

Orkney Archive Reference D13/5/1

As you can see, many inhabitants of Shapinsay were forced to seek support after their crops were 'ruined' or 'hurt' by sheep. Other claimants pleaded poverty, lameness, blindness, mental illness and desertion by their spouse.

Forms were filled out for every Parish in Orkney in 1801. A man on the Island of Eday was listed as being 'Under the King's Evil' which was an 'tuberculous swelling of the lymph nodes', whilst many others have the unfortunate word 'ruptured' next to their name.

People are described as sickly, infirm, frail, miserably poor, decrepit. bedfast and, in the case of one Rousay couple 'Poorman and she silly.'

This document of a tiny snapshot of time illustrates all the many ways in which ordinary folk could have the rug pulled from under them and be forced to rely on outside help.

Doors Open Orkney 2024

 It is that time of year when buildings, organisations, artists and many other interesting people throw open their doors and bid a hearty welcome to the public. This year, the theme is Routes, Networks and Connections and we thought that this called for a presentation on The Churchill Barriers using photographs and sound archives from our collection:

Hardy Island Voters in 1835 Election

Written by The Balfour Blogger #3

Thomas Balfour was elected as Conservative MP for Orkney and Shetland in 1835, thanks to a hard-fought campaign paid for by his father, Captain William Balfour RN of Elwick.

Extract from D2/29/3/69

Most of the expense was the agents’ travel, canvassing around Orkney and Shetland, and the travel and lodging of the voters. Unfortunately, Parliament had been dissolved on 29 December 1834 and the voting, in Kirkwall and Stromness, was on 5 and 6 February so all the travel was in mid-winter. This may help to explain why only 198 of the 298 electors voted, though some were determined to have their say, as demonstrated by some of the entries in a list of expenses totalling £1412 0s 5½d  Ref D2/29/3/69

Extract from D2/29/3/69

Owner and Master & crew of the Catherine, for bringing in and putting back again the Westray voters in the worst weather (16 days) £19

Extract from D2/29/3/69

Owner and crew of the Despatch for bringing in and carrying out Stronsay voters in very bad weather £20

Extract from D2/29/3/69

George Harvey, Master of the Canning, for self & crew, out five days in a perfect storm & bringing in the Eday voters at the most desperate risk, only one hour before the final close of the poll. £8.7s

At least they had something to cheer them on their way-

Extract from D2/29/3/69

James Drever bill for wine and spirits provided to the vessels sent for the voters £11 19s

South Isles voters had a slightly easier time:

Extract from D2/29/3/69

Ferrymen at Holm for carrying on shore and putting off voters of South Ronaldsay and a cart bringing one old man to town 14s 6d

And Deerness seems to have made an occasion of it

Extract from D2/29/3/69

The Deerness men proposing to walk in procession, given them to purchase flags and to drink after their return home, they having consequently agreed among themselves to taste nothing in Kirkwall – to which they strictly adhered. £5

_______________________________________________________

Extracts from archive items in D2/29/3/69 from the Balfour of Balfour & Trenabie papers 

May Day Closure

 

Much as we love your faces, please do not come into the archive on Monday 6th of May as we are CLOSED. We plan to spend the entire day like these peat-cutters from Stenness during their well earned half-yoke (break): lying back with a brew and a box of goodies. Happy May Day!

Image L10,481-1, Orkney Photographic Archive

19th Century Kirkwall

 We often put up a post when we come across an item which has not seen the light of day for a long time and we think deserves  a bit of attention. Whilst leafing through the sketchbook of Kirkwall born architect, T. S. Peace (1845 - 1934), we found these wonderful sketches of the Watergate and Kirkwall Castle, both of which were demolished in the 19th century. Peace designed many prominent buildings across Orkney, including the old Burgh school, (now housing OIC offices), the Sheriff Court, Town Hall, the old Balfour hospital building and many more. 

Watergate, 1878, 'just before removal'

'Ruins of the castle of the St Clairs, Kirkwall.'

Orkney Archive Reference: D8/1/23

RIP Billy Jolly and Dave Gray

 February was a very sad month for Orcadians as they lost two very well kent folk. Billy Jolly was a folk festival stalwart and Dave Gray was the voice of Radio Orkney. Both will be greatly missed by many. Our photographic archive yielded some photos of Billy as 1979 New Years Day Men's Ba' winner and playing music with wife Ingirid. We also found a lovely photo of Dave Gray as a lad in the mobile library van. The Sound Archive holds recordings of both men, so Orkney will always be able to hear them.

Billy Jolly, winner of 1979 New Year's Ba'

Billy Jolly, second from right

Dave Gray, far right

 

Did Captain Scarlet come from Orkney?

The Orkney Archive Palaeography Group have recently transcribed this beautiful document which is a disposition written for Magnus Baikie transferring ownership of a property in Kirkwall to his son Thomas in the event of his death, which if you read to the end, is sadly quite imminent. 

Reading through it you might think it is just a boring old legal document with lots of jargon and repetition. 

BUT 

these types of documents can sometime be very interesting and throw up some interesting names, occupations and relationships that help us to know who was who in Orkney around the time it was written. 

D14/5/1 Disposition 1660

In this document we have names such as Magnus Baikie and his son, Thomas. From other research we know that Magnus had an older brother, James, who was 78 in 1668, so we think Magnus would have been mid-seventies in 1660. He is described as skipper and burgess. Skipper means he was captain of a ship, burgess means he was able to trade in the burgh of Kirkwall. Magnus' brother John is also mentioned towards the end of the document as a witness. 

Other names shown are Patrick Watterstoun, minister in Orphir, his deceased father Michael and Patrick's wife Barbara Henrysone. Thomas Moncrieff and William Hayr, minister. William Mudy of Breckness, Sir John Buchanan of Scotscraig [in Fife], his brother Thomas Buchanan of Sound [in Shapinsay] and Thomas's son George Buchanan of Sound. David Moncrieff another skipper and his brother Harry. David Anderson was the notary public who wrote the document on behalf of Magnus Baikie. 

The most fun name for us in this document is John Skarlett, skipper in Kirkwall and tenant of Magnus Baikie. As before we know that skipper can also mean captain, which in our modern minds turns him into Captain Scarlet. Who knew?  Captain Scarlet came from Orkney.

Looking into it more logically, Scarlett IS a surname that is associated with northern Scotland. But it did make us chuckle. 

SCARLETT

"Lambertus Sclarlet de Anandia [Annan] gifted six pennies annually from the toft of Roger Pacok in the same town in the thirteenth century (Register, Priory of St Bees, p354).

Nicoll (or Richard) Scarlett had a charter from Robert I of the lands of Forgund, Inchmertein, and Velathis (or Velachis) forfeited by John Balliol (RMS., I, App.II, 478).

From the fourteenth century to the sixteenth century a family named Scarlat or Scarlet held lands in Caithness. Thomas Scarlet held the lands of Westyrclithe and Nethirgreneland there in 1377 (RMS., I, 666).

Patrick Skarlet was tacksman of Negarth in Evy, Orkney 1492 (REO., p411).

John Scarlet was servitor of Alexander Keith, captain of the Castle of Akirgill, Caithness, 1547 (OPS., II, p779).

Caution was found for James Skarlott in Blackruthven in 1589 (RPC., iv, p350)

Marion Scarlet in Watten is in record in Caithness, 1664 (Caithness) "

Surnames of Scotland by George F Black, The New York Public Library, 1946

P711-712

TRANSCRIPTION

D14/5/1

[Title: ]

Disposition be Magnus Baikie in favoure of Thomas Baikie his sone of ane tenement of land or ludging contaning the dwelling house, and of ane ruynous tenement next adjacent yrto[thereto] lyand in the Midtoun of Kirkwall 1660

In another land: 1660    Tenement at Bridge Kirkwall

[Document: ]

Be it kend till all men be thir[these] present lres[letters] Me Magnus Baikie skipper burges of Kirkwall heritable proprietar of ye[the] tenements of land and others rexive[respective] underwrittin being for the present infirme in body bot praised be to god prefyke[perfect] in mynd and memorie, and knowing nothing more certane then death and nothing more uncertane then ye[the] hour and place therof and being most willing to satle my wordly estate in my owne tyme in the persone of Thomas Baikie my only lawfull sone and to secure him yrintill[thereuntil] in my lyftyme by making and granting of thir[these] p[rese]nts, Therefore witt ꝣe me to have sauld annalied and disponned lykas I be ye[the] tennor herof sell annalie and simplr[contraction of simplicitor?] dispone from me and my aires to and in favours of ye[the] said thomas Baikie my sone his aires and assigneyis qtsoevir[whatsoever] heretably, and irredimably unto my maner of reversion redemption band promise or condition of reversion redemption or regres qtsoevir

All and haill that my tenement of land or ludgeing with houses bigings closses yairdes taill and pertinents therof sometime pertaning heretably to the deceassed Mr Patrick Watterstoun minister at Orphar after the deceasse of umqle Michael Waterstoun his father lyand in ye[the] Midtoun of Kirkwall in Orknay abone St Olais bridge their sometyme possest be umqle Thomas Moncreiff and william hayr Minister and whilk was sold and dispouned by ye[the] said umqle Mr Patrik Waterstoun w[i]t[h] consent of umqle Barbara henrysone his spouse to me my aires and assigneyis heretably and irredimably in manor speit[specified] in ye[the] lres[letters] of disposition chartor and instrument of saising following thereupon contaning tuo duelling houses on the foir gate under ane ruiff with the office houses yrof on the back part of ye[the] samen betwixt and the yaird of ye[the] said tenement and whilk is p[rese]ntly possest be me and john skarlett skipper in kirkwall my tenent respectively Bonded and having the tenement and land sometyme pertaning to umqle william mudy of breknes thereafter to umqle sir john Buchanan of scottscraig knyt[knight], thereafter to umqle thomas Buchanan of sound his brother, and now To Mr George Buchanan of sound sone to ye[the] said umqle thomas On ye[the] south, the lands of papdaill. On the east the heigh streat of Kirkwall stryt[1] and to St Olaisbridge on the west,  the said umqle Mr Patrik his other tenement possest be umqle Magnus guid couper and John Auchinleck wright in Kirkwall, And the tenement of umqle William Sklatter lyand waist and the closse entring yrto[thereto] on ye[the] north parts

And siclyk[such like] all and haill that tenement of land and houses now ruynous with ye[the] yairds and pertiments yrof sometime pertaning to Nicoll Sklaitter as air to umqle Patrick Sklaitter indueller in Kirkwall His father and was sold and disponed be ye[the] said Nicoll to me Conforme to his rights and securities granted to me of ye[the] same lyand in ye[the] Midtoun of Kirkwall Bonded and having ye[the] lands and tenement abovewritten sometyme pertaning to ye[the] said umqle Mr Patrik Watersone and now to me On ye[the] east, south and west parkes[2] and the common passage of ye[the] said burgh of Kirkwall entering to ye[the] said tenement on the north parts yrof[thereof] Within the Maineland and sherifdome of orknay

And For the said Thomas Baikie my sone and his forsaids greater and bettir security I bind and oblige me and my aires to duly and sufficiently infeft[3] and saise be charter of alienation titulo oneroso[4] w[i]t[h] precept and instrument of saising to follow thereupon the said Thomas Baike my sone his aires and assignyes forsaids heretably and irredimably as said is In all and haill ye[the] said tenement and ludgeing houses bigings back and fore under and abone w[i]t[h] ye[the] cloissis yairds parts pendicles and pertinents yrof[thereof] abovewritten

As als in all and haill the said tenement of land and houses now ruynous w[it]h ye[the] yaird and pertinents of ye[the] samen Both lyand and bounded in maner abovespe[cif]it And that be tuo several infeftments Ane yrof[thereof]  to be holdin of me and my aires in frie blensche ferme[5] and heretage for evir for payment of ane penny scots upon ye[the] ground of ye[the] saids tenements rexive[6] abovewritten at ye[the] feast of witsonday yearly in name of blensche ferme if it beis asked allanerly[7] And the other of the saids infeftments to be holdin of my laufull superior yrof[thereof] as freely as I or my precessor held or holds ye[the] samen ourselves either be resignation or confirmation as best sall[shall] please the said Thomas or his forsaids, Lykas I bind and oblige me my aires assigneyis and successors q[uha]tsoevir To warrand all and haill the said tenement or ludging As als ye[the] said ruynous tenement respectively abovewritten with houses bigings yairds parts pendicles and pertinents yrof[thereof] forsaids lyand possessed and bounded as is abovementioned To be free and saife to ye[the] said Thomas baikie my sone his aires and assigneyis abovespe[cif]it heretably and irredimably as said is from all perrells dangers and inconvenients q[uha]tsoevir bygaine present & to come from my owne propper fact and deed allanerly as accords of ye[the] law, That is to say that I have not made neither yet sall[shall] mak any uther disposition or right to ye[the] premissis to ony other persone or persones q[uha]tsoevir in hurt and prejudice herof in ony sort, And bind and oblige me and my forsaids To reiterat and renew thir[these] p[rese]nts to the said Thomas Baikie my sone & his forsaids toties quoties[8] as I sall[shall] be requyred yrto[thereto] keeping ye[the] effect and substance abovewrittin ay and whylk they find themselves sufficiently secured anent ye[the] premisses And for ye[the] more securitie I am content and consent that yir[these] presentis be insert and regrat[9] in ye[the] buikes of ye[the] court of justice sheriffe or commissers buikes of orknay To have ye[the] strenth of ane decreet of ony of ye[the] judges yrof[thereof] That lres[letters] and executorialls of horning upon ane simple chirge of six dayes only and others necessar be direct herupon And to that effect constituts My pro[curato]rs promising to ratifie & in witnes qrof[whereof] (writtin be David Andersone notar publick) and because I am unable of body by reason of my weaknes and siknes to subscrive myself the said David as notar hes sub[scrivi]t yir[these]  p[rese]ntis at my command At Kirkwall ye[the] eight day of march jmvic[10][1600] and thriescor yeeres befor yir[these] witnessis James Baikie of Tankernes David Moncreif skipper in Kirkwall Hary Moncrief his brother Patrick Traill skipper yr[there] and John Baikie merchand in Kirkwall brother to me ye[the] said Magnus Baikie abovedesigned wt[with] my hand tutching ye[the] pen of ye[the] notar undersubscriving at my command becaus I am unable for ye[the] tyme to wrat[write] in regard of my extream sicknes and weaknes of body the lord of his mercy now calling upon me out of this world to himself and yrfor[therefore] have given command to ye[the] said notar to subscrive ye[the] premissis for me So it is David Anderson notar publict at command of ye[the] said Magnus Baikie who is unable to writ himself inregard of his extream siknes and weaknes of body Have yrfor[therefore] sub[scrivi]t thir[these] p[rese]ntis for him witnessing my signe and sub’er[unknown contraction] mannall[12]

Moncrieff witnes

Pa[trick] Traill witnes

Hearie Moncrieff witness

---

[1] a narrow passageway https://dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/strait_adj definition 3

[2] could also be ‘partie’ or ‘partis’

[3] Infeft - To invest (a person) with heritable property. https://dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/infeft

[4] titulo oneroso – Latin meaning: burdensome title https://translate.google.com/?sl=la&tl=en&text=titulo%20oneroso%20&op=translate

[5] blensche ferme - A small or nominal quit-rent or duty paid in money or otherwise https://dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/blancheferme

[6] rexive – abbreviated form of respective https://dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/rexive

[7] allanerly – literally means alonely. In DSL singly https://dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/allanerly

[8] As often as necessary https://dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/toties_quoties

[9] regrat – abbreviated form of ‘registration’ or ‘registered’  https://dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/regratt

[10] can also be read as ‘jajvic’ the ‘aj’ was written instead of the roman letter ‘m’ meaning 1000.

[12] by hand, see https://dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/manuale_adj