Where is/was Crya, Ontertown, Orkney, Stromness? COMPLETED. Thanks Ruskie

[tedscout]

In the 1851 Census I have a family who lived at the above address.
John Isbister head of the family was a Farmer of 6 acres and his sons' were also farm workers from what I can make out.

John and his wife Jessie and their 9 children emigated to Australia in 1852. I am trying to picture what they left behind and get some idea of the life they lived before they emigrated.

I know nothing about Scotland and even less about Stromness. I have googled extensively but cannot find this address or any part of it except of course Orkney and Stromness.

I was wondering if there was a house or a farm still there. I am doing this research on behalf of a friend who has even less knowledge of the UK than I have.

Thank you for reading this, and thank you in advance for any help offered.

Cheers, Ted

[Ruskie]

Ted, as this their address in the 1851 census, you may need to take misspellings into account. Did this come from a transcription or have you viewed the original census on Scotland's People? Do you have them in 1841 as well?

Do you have the birth entries of any or all of their children to see where they were living at that time? THis may give you a better idea location wise.

Have you looked at the NLS maps?
http://maps.nls.uk/

I may be wrong, but it does sound like 'Crya' was the name of the farm and 'Ontertown' the nearest village. It is quite possible that the farm no longer exists, or has changed name. I will have a look to see if I can find anything. 

[Ruskie]

Right Ted, I have just found this family in the 1851 census and see that this is transcribed information. I have found some extremely dodgy transcriptions from the Scottish records, so Crya Ontertown probably does not exist. I would check the children's births if I were you in case addresses are given.

[Ruskie]

Address is 'Innertown' in 1841 .... this seems to exist.

http://www.britishplacenames.co.uk/hy2408-innertown-orkney-islands

[tedscout]

Thanks for helping Ruskie.

I have now purchased the original from Scotlands people and it is actually "Outertown" which does exist, but there is not a lot there according to Google maps.

This is the family that emigrated

John born abt 1805 Sandwick, Orkney, wife Jessie born abt 1807 also b Sandwick. children Margaret 1833 b ?? John 1835 Orkney, Alexander 1836 b Steamin?, Jessie b 1838, Peter b 1840, Ann b 1842, Jane b 1845, Mary b 1847, James b 1850 all born Stromness.

In 1841 they were in Smogarth, Firth and John was a stonemason See later post this is an error

[Ruskie]

Um, maybe there is an Outertown and Innertown and the family moved from one to the other. 

[tedscout]

2 red posts. Thanks Ruskie.

Innertown was a different place to Outertown. I wonder how he managed to go from stonemason to farmer 6 acres. I wonder if he inherited it. They didn't seem to have much money when they got here to Australia.

And another red post. Yes Outertown and Innertown - how original LOL

[Ruskie]

In 1841 they were in Smogarth, Firth and John was a stonemason

I have found who I think is your family in Innertown in 1841. John is a farmer.

[tedscout]

This is the original house names. with the Isbisters' living in the middle one 55.

Can anyone work out if it really is Crya?


Red post: how did you find that one Ruskie? Your's makes more sense than mine.