Hi. My 3 x great grandfather was Captain James Johnson born in Mull 1804-bef 1861. He married Williamina Crawford born in Lerwick in 1814 in 1832 (Sandwick church) and they had 10 children in Shetland.
James's mother was Barbara Rendal (or numerous other spellings) 1774-1859 and she was born in Yell and buried in Sandwick. So far so good.
On the death certificate of James's wife Williamina, her mother was listed as Barbara Rendal. I have always assumed that this is a mistake and that the witness who was Williamina's son got the wrong side of the family and listed his father's mother. The family had moved to Portobello in Edinburgh and so the links back to Shetland could have got blurred.
In 1861 Williamina was a widow living in Lower Chanerwick and there was a 'pauper' lodger living with her called Jane Rendal b.1780 in Whalsay. I am now wandering if the name on Williamina's death certificate was only partly a mistake and if her mother was Jane Rendal? There wouldn't have been anything unusual if Williamina and James were cousins and their mothers were sisters, Barbara and Jane Rendal. It's a stretch but I can't stop thinking about it and wondered if anyone out there knew anything about the family.
Another link is that in 1851 Catherine Johnson b.1762 (unmarried) was living with the Rendal family in Yell.
I hope that someone recognises this family, it is driving me a bit mad!
Alison
