Samuel Laing of Papdale

Today is the 150th Anniversary of the death of Samuel Laing of Papdale, who died in Edinburgh

on 23rd April 1868.

 

Samuel Laing was born in Kirkwall on the 1st October 1780 and baptized on the 2nd. His parents were Robert Laing of Strynzie and Margaret Blaw.

OPR/21/2 Birth/baptism of Samuel Laing, Oct 1780

According to Who was Who in Orkney, he was educated "at Kirkwall Grammar School and in an Edinburgh counting house. He went to Kiel to learn German and later from a London counting house became secretary to a merchant in Holland and British Consul in Rotterdam, rapidly learning Dutch."

He is described as "Norse scholar, soldier, entrepreneur, agricultural improver, linguist, author and translator."

 

In 1818 he inherited his family's estate in Orkney and settled at Papdale House, St Ola.



Papdale House (Archive Reference: TK2461)

One of his best known translations was of Snorri Sturlusson's 'Heimskringla' the saga history of the Kings of Norway in 1844, copies of which we have here in

the Orkney Room.

 

If you would like to learn more about Samuel Laing, we have a copy of his Autobiography which we keep in the Orkney Room under reference 920 Y LAI. There are also many lending copies in the Orkney Library downstairs.

 

 

In this publication which was published in 2000, it says the original manuscript has been lost. We are pleased to say that that is no longer the case. In 2003 the original manuscript was deposited in the Orkney Archive on behalf of the owner. This means the public can request to see it in the Archive Searchroom whenever we are open.

Here are a couple of pages:

 

D1/853 Original memoir/diary of Samuel Laing 1816-1855

D1/853 Original memoir/diary of Samuel Laing 1816-1855

 

A Suffrage Search

A letter in the Kirkwall Town Council Minutes from 1914 sent me on an interesting search through the archives.

Extract from ref: K1/1/17

It reads: "Orcadian Women's Suffrage Society Daisybank, Kirkwall, 13th January, 1914. To the Provost, Magistrates and Town Council of the Royal Burgh of Kirkwall, Sirs, As Secretary of the Society, I have been deputed to approach you and ask if any of your body would go to London and act as representatives of the Royal Burgh at the big demonstration being held by the National Union of Women's S.S. at the Albert Hall on February 14 and form part of the proposed deputation to Mr Asquith* at the same time.
From enclosed circular you will see that Glasgow is sending as its representatives the Lord Provost and Chief Magistrate of the City and from enclosed cutting you will observe Hawick is sending as representatives two Bailies. Cheap fares are to be arranged, and hospitality given, and in cases where expense is the only obstacle a little help may be given. I am, Sirs, Yours respectfully (s[I]g[ne]d) Bina W. Cursiter, Hon. Sec."
The circular and the cutting referred to were also produced.

After reading this letter, I instantly wanted to know all about the Orkney Women's Suffrage Society and in particular Bina Cursiter. In the Orkney Archive Catalogue I found two references to women's Suffrage and some photographs. A mention of "suffrage" in a letter to J.W. Cursiter and a Fereday Prize local history project called, "Was there an Orcadian Suffragette Movement?" By Maya Tams-Gray. Maya's project covers the subject really well and is worth a look, if you visit the Archive. It gave me a newspaper reference to an article written by Emile Flett in 1993 for the 75th Anniversary of women winning the right to vote. The opening paragraphs of Emile's article gives a good overview of the Society and its connection to the Cursiter family.

"The Orkney Women's Suffrage Society was formed on September 25, 1909. A meeting was held in the house of a Mr James Cursiter, Kirkwall where 'all the ladies present joined the association'. The following month a constitution was formally adopted and office bearers were elected.
The president of the new organisation was Mrs Baikie of Tankerness and Mrs McEwan of Kirkwall was elected vice-president. The secretary was Mrs Bina Cursiter who offered to 'supply information and pamphlets on the subject'. Also present were a Miss Cromarty of West End House in St Margaret's Hope. Annual subscription was set at one shilling."

The photographs are part of the Robertson collection and are wonderful to see but unfortunately do not give any names of the people in them. Here is one classic picture of a little girl in a street in Stromness:


Ref: RHR4866

At the end of Emile's article, he acknowledges the help of archivist Alison Fraser of the Orkney Archive "whose help in providing sources was invaluable in writing this article." Which means, there must be more information than I originally found. After further digging in the archive, I found a reference list of 82 newspaper articles from The Orkney Herald and The Orcadian from 1871-1913. The articles report the national information as well as the local news. This list was possibly created by a customer or member of staff who painstakingly trawled through all the newspapers on microfilm and found relevant articles. Thank you to whoever this was!

This list led me to an article in the Orkney Herald from 24th April 1912 when Dr Elsie Inglis, Hon. Secretary of the Scottish Federation of Women's Suffrage Societies visited Orkney to address the local Society. The event took place in the Temperance Hall, Kirkwall and..

"The platform was tastefully decorated with flags, most prominent among which was the banner of the Orcadian Society, the work of Mr Stanley Cursiter."

Many men attended the meetings. Provost Slater chaired this one and "on the platform were a number of ladies and gentlemen who are leading local supporters of the movement"

At the meeting Dr Inglis said, "Women were just as proud of the country as men, and why should they be deprived of the right of taking part in the legislation of the country? She appealed to all to join the Orcadian Women's Suffrage Society - a society which had most enthusiastic officers."

Here they are campaigning in Stromness:


Ref: RHR5171

In the Orkney Herald of 22nd June 1910, Miss Lamond from Edinburgh addressed local residents in St Marys: "The weather being fine the meeting was held at the pierhead, so that many of the men and women engaged in the herring industry were enabled to be present."

Emile's article explains the two organisations, "The WSPU (Women's Social and Political Union) motto was 'Deeds not Words' and they felt that only direct action would achieve results. The NUWSS (National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies) favoured education through pamphlets and meetings, etc. to change public opinion. The Orcadian Society adopted the tactics of peaceful and moral persuasion in line with the NUWSS."

As for the Cursiter family. Bina Cursiter was married to J. W. Cursiter (full name James Walls Cursiter). James is listed in the book Who was Who in Orkney by W.S. Hewison, "Banker, businessman, antiquarian, archaeologist; son of John Cursiter who after a sojourn in Edinburgh returned to his native Orkney to set up his own wholesale and general merchant business in partnership with his 3 brothers; uncle of Stanley Cursiter RSA."

As Bina became secretary to the Society in 1909, I looked her up in the Orkney Census of 1911. The couple were living at Daisybank in Kirkwall. By this time James is aged 59 and Bina is aged 56. They have been married for 18 years and have one child. This census entry also says they were both born in Edinburgh. The child is not living with them at this time.

I cannot find any pictures of James or Bina in the Orkney Archive. So here is another one of the campaigners in Stromness:


Ref: RHR5172

Using the information from the 1911 census, I searched the online family history site Scotlands People for information outwith Orkney. Bina Cursiter was christened Jacobina Watt on the 15th November 1854 in St Andrews Parish in Edinburgh. Her parents were Philip Butler Watt and Elizabeth Paterson. She was born on 15th October. She married J W Cursiter on 29th June 1892 in Glasgow at the age of 37. She was living with her family in Dowanhill, Glasgow at the time. Her father was a Commission Agent. James and Bina were together in the 1901 census in Kirkwall with their daughter Lizzie who was born in Kirkwall and was aged 7. In the 1911 census, Lizzie was 17 and at school in Brooklyn, Clackmannanshire.

The last piece of personal information I have found about Bina Cursiter was in a letter dated 1925 from James Shand, Broughty Ferry to her husband.



Ref: D8/4/2/5

"My wife hopes to meet Mrs Cursiter some day and discuss the Suffrage question for women."

And do you want to know the result of the letter sent to the Kirkwall Town Council? Would they attend the demonstration in London? Well, no...

Extract from ref: K1/1/17

Despite all the enthusiasm at local meetings, "It was unanimously agreed to take no action in the matter."

There is so much more information to learn about the movement and Orkney's local society. I hope you have enjoyed my brief search and findings.

References used: K1/1/17 Kirkwall Town Council Minute Book, 1912-1920; D70/20/26 Fereday Prize by Maya Tams-Gray, 2016; article by Emile Flett, The Orcadian newspaper 18th November 1993, page 16; article in the Orkney Herald newspaper, 24th April 1912 p6; two articles in the Orkney Herald, 22nd June 1910, page 8; book Who was Who in Orkney by W.S. Hewison, 1998; D8/4/2/5 - Letter to J W Cursiter, 1925; and three photos from the Robertson collection - RHR4866, 5171, 5172.

I continued my research into Bina Cursiter's life and wrote an article for the Orkney Heritage Society newsletter in 2018. The article can be found here .   

J. Storer Clouston - Treasurer of Heart and Mind

2017 marks the 100th Anniversary of the publication of The Spy in Black by  J. Storer Clouston.

He did not just write this one book though, he wrote many novels in his lifetime and his style was on a par with Compton Mackenzie and P.G. Wodehouse. His plays were performed in London West End theatres and The Spy in Black was made into a film, starring Conrad Veidt.

Orkney historian, Dr Hugh Marwick described him thus:

“He was primarily a teller of tales and a master of the art of narration”

J. Storer Clouston

P.G. Wodehouse wrote: "I have always been a tremendous admirer of your work. I think I have everything you have ever written." 

Archive Reference: D23/37 part of letter from P G Wodehouse 6th Jan 1934

Background and birth:

Joseph Storer Clouston was born in Carlisle, Cumberland on 23rd May 1870. His father was Sir Thomas Clouston of Nisthouse, Harray, Orkney. Sir Thomas became a mental health specialist and was appointed Superintendent of Garlands, the Cumberland and Westmorland Asylum in 1863. His mother was Harriet Segur Storer who came from Connecticut in USA.

His sister Augusta Maud Clouston was born in 1872 also in Carlisle. She became Lady Wallace when she married Sir David Wallace, an Edinburgh surgeon, on 5th April 1905 in St. Giles, Edinburgh.

Early Life and Education

His father became Physician Superintendent of the Royal Edinburgh Asylum in Morningside in 1873 and moved the family to live in Tipperlinn House, Edinburgh when Storer was 3 years old.

His brother Thomas Harald Clouston was born in 1876. He later married Ada Mary Stuart and lived in a house called "Langskaill" in London and was proprietor of Gairsay.

Storer was educated at Merchiston Castle, Edinburgh and later at Magdalen College, Oxford.

Merchiston Castle School

.

In the 1891 census, aged 20, he was described as "student of medicine".

In 1895 he was called to the Bar and on his marriage certificate in 1903 his occupation was "Barrister at Law", although he never practised and became a writer instead.

Marriage and Home

On the 11th March 1903 at the age of 32, Storer married Winifred Bertha Clouston, aged 21, in St Andrews and St Leonards parish church in Fife. Winifred was a distant cousin whose family also originated in Orkney. Her grandfather was the Rev. Charles Clouston minister of Sandwick and Stromness and also known as a physician, botanist and meteorologist.

From 1903, Storer is recorded in the valuation rolls as the tenant of Smoogro House in Orphir. The estate was owned by his father.

The Clouston Family on the steps of Smoogro House
Adults L-R: Harriet Storer, Winifred Clouston, J. Storer Clouston, Sir Thomas Clouston
Children L-R: Harold Thomas Storer Clouston, Marjorie Traill Clouston
Archive reference: L1340/1

In 1913, Sir Thomas Clouston transferred the ownership of the house and the estate to his son.

Sasine Abridgement 1913

 The family spent their time in Edinburgh and London and their summers in Orkney.

The Clouston Family at Smoogro House, Orphir
Adults L-R: Winifred Clouston, J. Storer Clouston
Their children L-R: Erlend Richard Storer, Marjorie Traill and Harald Thomas Storer.
The dog's name was Hunda.
Archive reference: L6697/4

Novelist

Joseph Storer Clouston grew up with a love of writing and history. He wrote many novels full of social commentary and light-hearted fun. Here is a small selection of his novels:

One of his first novels combined fiction with his knowledge of Norse history. It was reviewed by The Spectator in 1897:

"Mr Clouston gives in the story an abundance of the fighting, and a fair amount even of the drinking, that are generally associated with Viking stories. But he also introduces the rather uncommon elements of a feud and a spell, a hermit, a seer, and a mysterious maiden."

Here are a small selection of J. Storer Clouston's novels. We have about 38 volumes in the Orkney Room.

Published in 1920

Published in 1927

Published in 1932

Published in 1936

Storer wrote a series of novels about a 'Lunatic'. Here are some reviews for The Lunatic in Charge, published in 1926.

"Here is Mr Clouston with another riotous study in irresponsible lunacy." Sunday Express

"Furious farce, but a capital book for the sea-side at eighty-five in the shade." Observer

"It is very pleasant to have Mr Mandell-Essington at large again. He is still the charming companion that everyone seems to find him, and his adventures flit from one extravagance to another in quite the old way. " Daily Telegraph

The Spy in Black

This year marks the centenary of the first publication of The Spy in Black.

1918 edition

Title page of 1917 edition

Republished in 2007 with added extras

Made into a film in 1939 starring Conrad Veidt, who gives his opinion of the book here:

“It is with pleasure I write this message to say that I sincerely hope readers will enjoy J. Storer Clouston’s story “The Spy in Black” as much as I enjoyed working in the film which has been based on the book. Sincerely [sgd] Conrad Veidt” Archive reference: D23/30/6/5

Some reviews of the book here:

Field 12th Jan 1918

Glasgow Herald

Morning Post Review 14th Dec 1917



Playwright

J. Storer Clouston wrote plays which were performed in London West End theatre, such as The Pocket Miss Hercules at the New Royalty Theatre:

Archive reference: D23/30/6/4

Review

The Gilded Pill Handbill



Octo-Centenary Pageant

J. Storer Clouston co-wrote the pageant script with Eric Linklater which was performed by about 600 actors as part of the St. Magnus Cathedral Octo-centenary celebrations in 1937.

Octo-centenary pageant performed in Kirkwall in 1937
Archive Reference: L5285/4



Octo-centenary pageant performed by Orcadians in 1937
Archive Reference: L5286/4

Historian

J. Storer Clouston also wrote and edited Orkney history books and contributed articles to journals. He was founder member of the Orkney Antiquarian Society and collected old Orkney documents some of which are in Records of the Earldom of Orkney 1299-1614.

Orkney History books which J. Storer Clouston wrote or contributed to.

The Storer Clouston Archive Collection fills 39 boxes and is stored here in one of our strongrooms under reference D23.

Death and Remembrance

J. Storer Clouston died on Friday 23rd June 1944. He was buried in Orphir Churchyard on Monday 26th June.

In the Orcadian the following week, Dr. Hugh Marwick published an "Appreciation" for his friend.

Dr. Hugh Marwick. Archive reference: L2308/1

Here are a few quotes:

"he had identified himself so intimately with Orkney public life and affairs, and his name is so indissolubly associated with the written history of these islands that it is difficult for us to think of Orkney without...thinking of him."

"A more acute, penetrating and imaginative intelligence on work in which he was interested, it has never been my privilege to meet."

"to me, at least, his death seems not unlike the blowing out of a lamp, leaving me sitting in a dark room."

Magnus 900 - Research Sources

This year marks the 900th Anniversary of the death of Earl Magnus of Orkney. The Orkney Archive and Orkney Room have many sources of information in connection with Earl Magnus, some of which I will share with you below:

In Magnus Saga the Life of St Magnus, Earl of Orkney 1075-1116 Palsson and Edwards sums up the story on the back page,
  "The Norwegian's held sway in the most northerly areas of present-day Scotland for 600 years, from the 9th century to 1469. And in this earldom of Orkney, Magnus Erlendsson (St Magnus of Orkney), was in every way a central figure.
   ...His father fought on the Norwegian side at the battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066. He himself ruled as Earl of Orkney with his cousin Haakon, following an early life of piracy and Viking expeditions and a time living at the court of King Malcolm III of Scotland.
     But this biography written in Icelandic in about 1250, is particularly concerned with the execution of Magnus which took place on the island on Egilsay in 1116 or 1117 and which led to his veneration in every part of the Scandinavian world, and to the building of the great cathedral in Kirkwall.
    ...St Magnus Day is still celebrated on the 16th April."

He is described as "a man of extraordinary distinction, tall, with a fine, intelligent look about him. He was a man of strict virtue, successful in war, wise, eloquent, generous and magnanimous, open-handed with money and sound with advice, and altogether the most popular of men." (p83 of Orkneyinga Saga The History of the Earls of Orkney Translated by Palsson and Edwards)

He offered himself as a martyr to Earl Hakon, when their joint rule fell apart, "'There's still one offer left for me to make', said Magnus, 'God knows that I'm more concerned with the welfare of your soul than with saving my life. For your own sake, have me mutilated in any way you choose, rather than take my life or else blind me and lock me in a dungeon'
I'll accept these terms', said Hakon, 'and make no further conditions'"
To the man told to kill him, Magnus said, "This is nothing to weep over, a deed like this can only bring fame to the man who carries it out. Show yourself a man of spirit and you can have my clothes according to the old laws and customs. ... Stand in front of me and strike me hard on the head, it's not fitting for a chieftain to be beheaded like a thief."
 (p87-8 of Orkneyinga Saga The History of the Earls of Orkney Translated by Palsson and Edwards)

Magnus was killed and his bones left on Egilsay.

Traditions grew up around the place where he was slain. Ernest Marwick has collected a few which can be see in D31/37/1 Folder entitled St Magnus - Traditions and Pictures containing press cuttings, notes, pamphlets, photographs and correspondence here in the Orkney Archive:

"There was a legend that when Magnus was slain on Egilsay his blood stained the daisies red, and that in the place a lovely thornless rose grew which flowered each Christmas morning. If a leaf was plucked while the dew was still on it, it would cure black death and leprosy"

"That one will always find an open flower growing there."

Egilsay Kirk drawn by Dryden in 1894



On the instructions of his mother, Thora, Magnus' bones were moved from Egilsay to Birsay and buried there. They were probably taken by boat from Egilsay to Evie.

Ernest Marwick collected traditions in St Magnus Folder reference D31/37/1 regarding resting-places of the body of St Magnus on the way from Evie to Birsay. From an interview with Mrs Matches of Brochlea, Birsay in 1972 he gained this story:

"There was a Mans Stone at Crowdue between eighty and a hundred years ago. Robert Harvey of Crowdue decided to break it up because it was near the old road, and something of an impediment to the traffic on the road. He was warned by auld Ibbie o Moosakelda to desist for it was a sacred stone. A splinter of it entered his hand between the thumb and forefinger and he died a week later of lockjaw."

In the John Mooney papers, reference D49/1/11, there is a bundle of correspondence and press cuttings received by him following the publication of "St Magnus, Earl of Orkney" in 1936. It includes a letter from J. Graham Callander, National Museums of Antiquities, Edinburgh regarding discoveries at Garth, Nether Brough; and mention of a symbol stone found at the Brough of Birsay, 22 May 1936.

"Magnus Saga" says: "The body of Earl Magnus was carried to Birsay and given burial at Christ Church, which Earl Thorfinn had built."



TK3036 Photo of Birsay Village

Then "Magnus' Saga" mentions the sanctification of St Magnus on St Lucy's Day, December 13th, over 20 years after his death by Bishop William and later still: 'After Earl Rognvald Kali, nephew of the Holy Earl Magnus, had come to power in Orkney and settled down, he had the ground-plan drawn up for St. Magnus' Cathedral in Kirkwall and hired builders for the work. The structure progressed rapidly and well; it is a remarkable building, on which great pains were bestowed, and later the holy relics of Earl Magnus were transferred to it. Many miracles continued to take place there. Nowadays it is the episcopal seat, the same that used to be at Christ Church in Birsay."

More traditions collected by Ernest Marwick in the St Magnus Folder D31/37/1:

"Sigurd Tandrisson was the name of a farmer who lived at Dale in Shetland. He became so mad and violent that he had to be sewn up in a cow-hide. He was brought like that to the shrine of St Magnus, and there he got back his wits and full health, and went away quite whole."

and from Mrs Matches again:

Birsay to Kirkwall

"The procession went by the Strathyre stane. They crossed through Greeny, and there was a resting-place between the Mill of Housby and the Loch of Sabiston."

St Magnus Stone

"This broken earth-fast stone marks, according to local tradition, the first resting place of the procession, when the relics of St Magnus were brought from Birsay to Kirkwall. It is in a field below the house called Strathyre in Birsay."

[Caption to photograph above, written by Ernest Marwick, D31/37/1]

Blessing the Stones
"My old teacher, Miss Stanger of Wrangleha, who was a very careful body about her facts, often said that there was an old Birsay tradition that the stones that were set up to show the places where the body of St Magnus rested had oil poured over them and they were blessed. After that everybody looked on them as sacred and nobody would touch them."

From William Sabiston, Swartabreck, Birsay in 1968, "MANSEWAL (MANSE = MAGNUS; WAL = WELL) along public road not far from Mill Cottage on road to Wattle. Said to be a traditional resting place for the bearers of the remains St Magnus on the road to Kirkwall."

Ink drawing of St Magnus Cathedral by Alexander McGibbon from Magazine, "The Builder" Oct 7, 1893 (Orkney Room 726.6 Y)

Sources used in this blog:
Orkneyinga Saga The History of the Earls of Orkney Translated from the Icelandic and introduced by Hermann Palsson and Paul Edwards, pub 1978. Orkney Room reference 839 ORK

Magnus' Saga - The Life of St Magnus, Earl of Orkney 1075-116 Translated by Hermann Palsson and Paul Edwards, published by the Kirk Session of St Magnus Cathedral in 1996, 0952816407. Orkney Room reference: 839 ORK

Ernest Walker Marwick Archive Collection - reference D31/37/1 Folder Entitled St. Magnus - Traditions and Pictures containing press cuttings, notes, pamphlets, photographs and correspondence.

John Mooney Archive Collection - reference D49/1/11 Bundle of correspondence and press cuttings received by John Mooney following publication of St Magnus, Earl of Orkney in 1936

Papers regarding St Magnus Cathedral containing pages from The Builder, 7 Oct 1893, p261-264. Orkney Room reference: 726.6 Y

Update: Since I first wrote this blog post, a new pilgrimage route called the St Magnus Way has been created. The St Magnus Way is a 55 mile pilgrimage route through Mainland Orkney, inspired by the life and death of Magnus, Orkney’s patron saint. For more information click here.

If you are visiting the Orkney Archive and the Orkney Room and would like to see some books or archives  just ask a member of staff in the Archive Searchroom who will help you find them.