Hi Jill
Jane v. Jean doesn't really matter. Scots (and Irish too) loved chopping and changing first names by often using variants. Great site here for background on first name and variants (particularly strong for Scotland although expanding too) see
www.whatsinaname.net/female-names/Jane.html
...I'm trying to chase up Margaret's brother now who was born in 1832. I could really do with a little help on this...
What sort of help are you looking for on him? Is this his entry here
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/X18W-JJC There looks to be a number of online family trees for him on A/try.
He left for Australia? The death index gives his death in 1920 in Queensland, with full parents' names. Married Olivia Lavinia Hicks in Queensland in 1858?
There are two Johns it seems born around the same time in Birsay. This must be the right entry for him with what you and Ev mention (another wife for Andrew?):
Margt Linklater 40
John Linklater 8
Margt Linklater 6
May Linklater 3
Address: Langshaill, Birsay
Do you know what John's occupation was in later years? Just thinking of trying to find him in 1851. Can't easily see him then. I think the only John Linklater showing may the other one showing as below for 1851:
John Flet 84, widowed b. Sandwick
Jannet Flet 34 servant b. Sandwick
John Linklater 18 lodger mason b. Birsay
Address: Newhouse, Birsay
I thought this John in 1851 would be the one from 1841, showing as an 8yr old, living with a John and Mary Flett in Beaquoy, Birsay.
Can't easily see Margaret's brother John in 1851...
Monica