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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Orkney => Topic started by: ajf25 on Monday 15 June 15 07:43 BST (UK)
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Hi All,
I'm hoping someone with access to resources can help me.
On 27 Aug 1819, my ggg grandfather, Edward Rich/Ritch married Stewart (yes, female and same surname) Rich on Hoy, Orkney Islands. I know of her parents, John Rich and Janet Stout, but have a couple of possibilities as to his parents.
According to online site "Whitton and Ritch Genealogy of Scotland", he was born on 11 May 1800 in Rackwick, Hoy with parents unknown by them. According to www.cursiter.com records of Ritch Births and Baptisms of Caithness, Orkney and Shetland, Edward Rich of the same birthdate had parents, Magnus Rich and Margaret Skea.
I've been given another family tree and it lists his birthdate as 1794 in Rackwick, Hoy with parents, Edward Rich and Jannet Thomson.
Does anyone have access to parish records to see if their marriage record gives parents names?
I live in hope
Cheers,
Alison :)
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According to the 1871 census your Edward was born at Rackwick which is on the island of Hoy. He was age 75, making his birth around 1796. The birth you found on cursiter (to Magnus Ritch and Margaret Skea) is almost certainly not your ancestor as he was born on the other side of Orkney in the parish of Deerness. It looks as if his birth may be one of the many which was never recorded. Marriage records before 1855 don't usually give parents names, but as he is not listed in the 1881 census, he must have died sometime between 1871 and 1881. You would certainly get his parents names from his death record which will be available on http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/ Have you joined the Orkney Family History Society? They would very likely be able to help. You can join on their website at http://www.orkneyfhs.co.uk/
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Hi Alison
What children do you have for them? This is the family in 1841?:
Edward Rich 45 farmer
Stewart Rich 40
Isabella Rich 15
Margret Rich 9
Jannet Rich 7
John Rich 4
Charles Rich 1 https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X18H-H4F
Andrew Thomson 70 Ind
Address: Greenhill, Hoy and Graemsay
One other child showing on Family Seach:
Isaac 1826 https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X18H-7L9 A little more on him here I think www.orkneyfhs.co.uk/sfndocs/23/23.pdf on Page 5.
Sometimes you get clues as I am sure you know from the names used for children, specially the early born.
Monica :)
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Just to add to Skyran's post -
SP has an Edward Ritch death 1874 Hoy Orkney 1874 , born c1797.
ev
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That would indeed be the best next step Ev for sure.
Can't really get any clues from children's names so far that may help.
LDS trees here (link shrunk) www.rootschat.com/links/01fhg/
Alison, can I ask, have you formally confirmed Stewart's parents' names from her death cert?
Monica
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Had some spare credits so looked up the death certificate.
He died 16/2/1874 of Dropsy (3 weeks) aged 77. His parents are given as Edward Ritch, farmer (deceased) and Jessie neeThomson (deceased). Informant was son John.
Annette
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Thanks to you all for your hard work whilst I was asleep on the other side of the world :)
According to the 1871 census your Edward was born at Rackwick which is on the island of Hoy. He was age 75, making his birth around 1796. The birth you found on cursiter (to Magnus Ritch and Margaret Skea) is almost certainly not your ancestor as he was born on the other side of Orkney in the parish of Deerness.
That seems to rule them out and also explains why there are no further children in the family with Magnus as a given name.
What children do you have for them? This is the family in 1841?:
Edward Rich 45 farmer
Stewart Rich 40
Isabella Rich 15
Margret Rich 9
Jannet Rich 7
John Rich 4
Charles Rich 1 https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X18H-H4F
Andrew Thomson 70 Ind
Address: Greenhill, Hoy and Graemsay
That is the family.
One other child showing on Family Seach:
Isaac 1826 https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X18H-7L9 A little more on him here I think www.orkneyfhs.co.uk/sfndocs/23/23.pdf on Page 5.
That is my gg grandfather and the piece in the Orkney FHS document is from the lady who has given me the family tree. Certainly, the siblings of Edward Ri(t)ch have much more in common name wise than the Magnus Rich/Margaret Skea family. Siblings included Elizabeth, Andrew, Isabella, Mary and Isaac.
Having just read the article, I've now realised I've not concentrated at all on the Spence side of the family.
According to the 1871 census your Edward was born at Rackwick which is on the island of Hoy. He was age 75, making his birth around 1796. You would certainly get his parents names from his death record which will be available on http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/ Have you joined the Orkney Family History Society? They would very likely be able to help. You can join on their website at http://www.orkneyfhs.co.uk/
Have now registered with SP and will join the Orkney FHS. I'll be in the Orkneys in early August and am really looking forward to walking in a few family footsteps.
Alison, can I ask, have you formally confirmed Stewart's parents' names from her death cert?
I haven't actually done this, but will now do so.
Had some spare credits so looked up the death certificate.
He died 16/2/1874 of Dropsy (3 weeks) aged 77. His parents are given as Edward Ritch, farmer (deceased) and Jessie neeThomson (deceased). Informant was son John.
Annette
Wow, Annette, thank you so very much. :D
Cheers,
Alison
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Alison
That was a good round up ;)
Enjoy your trip to Scotland and where your research will take you.....!
Monica
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Glad to have been of help. I think I have read somewhere that some of the present day Ritch famillies living in the Stromness and Sandwick areas are descended from the Hoy and Graemsay branches. If you contact the secretary of OFHS in good time before your visit to Orkney they should be able to put you in touch with some relations!
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I have a James Cutt b. North Ronaldsay X Mary Smith b. Stronsay, 26 May, 1846, Scapay, St Ola, & lived on Eday, seven kids the youngest an Isabella Rich Cutt, wonder how that happened?
Skoosh.
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Thanks for your help. I'd love to meet some of the rellies so will definitely get in touch with the OFHS.
Cheers
Alison
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Alison, solved the Rich connection. Isabella Rich Cutt's mother Mary Smith had a sister Isabella who married an Andrew Rich, Deerness.
This from the excellent website, http://www.raymillar.co.uk/
Skoosh.
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Hi Skoosh,
Glad you solved your puzzle. I'll bookmark that site. It may come in useful at some time, although my Ritch/Rich family is from Hoy. But who knows?
Cheers,
Alison :)
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Edward Ritch died in 1874 at Mount, Rackwick, aged 77, his parents were Edward Ritch and Jessie Thomson.( Scotlands People ) On the 1841 census at Greenhill there is Andrew Thomson aged 70 living on independent means, so could be uncle ? There is a good book " Hoy The Dark Enchanted Isle" you might find interesting, it mentions some of the Ritch family and their history, ( The covenanters Memorial ) Deerness. The Ritch families in Orkney are supposedly descended from survivors of the sinking of " The Crown " off Deerness, a vessel which was chartered to take 250 covenanters to America as slaves, 50 or so survived, two of which were called Ritchie, in order to throw their enemies off the scent they shortened their name to Ritch.
Hope you get the chance to go to Rackwick when you visit Orkney, its a beautiful atmospheric place, remember to visit Betty Corrigalls grave en-route, oops I see you have already found your Edwards parents, hopefully the other info will be useful
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There is a good book " Hoy The Dark Enchanted Isle" you might find interesting, it mentions some of the Ritch family and their history, ( The covenanters Memorial ) Deerness. The Ritch families in Orkney are supposedly descended from survivors of the sinking of " The Crown " off Deerness, a vessel which was chartered to take 250 covenanters to America as slaves, 50 or so survived, two of which were called Ritchie, in order to throw their enemies off the scent they shortened their name to Ritch.
Hope you get the chance to go to Rackwick when you visit Orkney, its a beautiful atmospheric place, remember to visit Betty Corrigalls grave en-route.
Wow, thanks akc.
I must see if I can read this book. I haven't heard any of this before.
We will be going to Rackwick. Apparently there is still a cottage (or was a few years ago) on Hoy. Just a matter of finding it!
Cheers,
Alison :)