Teachers of Shetland 1771 - 1852

Shetlopedia - The Shetland Encyclopaedia

OLD TEACHERS OF SHETLAND - 1771-1852

61. ANDERSON, JOHN. For two or three years about 1830 was S.P.C.K. Teacher in Papa Stour; Salary, £18 ; Scholars, 50. In 1832 he was removed to Kirkwall (which see).

62. BAIN, JOHN. Was S.P.C.K. Teacher in Uyea, Unst, from 1838 to 1843, and may have been two or three years longer at this station; Salary, £15; Scholars, 64.

63. BAINE, ROBERT. Was S.P.C.K. Teacher at Weisdale from 1818 to 1833; Scholars varied from 84 to 99. In 1834 the station was removed to Dalsetter, Island of Fetlar, where he had 60 Scholars. In the following year the station was again removed to Still, where he continued for 10 or 12 years, being succeeded by Peter Inkster in 1847; Scholars, from 72 to 106; Salary, £15.

64. BRUCE, JAMES. Succeeded David Towers as S.P.C.K. Teacher about 1842 in Whiteness, and was probably for four or five years at this station; Salary, £15; Scholars, 68.

65. BUCHAN, JAMES. Schoolmaster in Bressay, was licenced by the Presbytery of Lerwick, 1733, and ordained minister of Walls and Sandness, 1735; died 1778. He mortified 40s. per annum to the Parish School in Walls in addition to the legal salary, no doubt out of sympathy from his early experience as a miserably paid Teacher. Vide Scott's Fasti, Ecc. Scot., Part V., p. 432. See No. 75.

66. CHEYNE, GEORGE. Succeeded George Greig (whom see) as S.P.C.K. Teacher in Sandness, Walls; when appointed in 1775 he received as salary £5, but from 1777 to 7787 it was raised to £7 yearly; Scholars at first number 76, but latterly numbered only 33.

67. CHEYNE, JAMES. Was S.P.C.K. Teacher in Fair Isle from 1822 to 1853. From the date of his appointment until 1848 he received £15 yearly, which was afterwards increased to £18. He is stated to have had the large number of from 50 to (?) 77 scholars. In 1853 he removed to Foula, and was superannuated on £12, but continued to teach there for some years.

68. CLUNIE, or CLUNIES, GEORGE. Was S.P.C.K. Teacher in Weisdale for about 30 years, from 1781 to about 1809. For the first period his salary was only £6, which was increased to £9, £10, £12, and in 1809 was £15 ; Scholars varied from 47 to 56. He married a daughter of W. Ross of Sound, a family now locally extinct. From this marriage is understood to be descended the family of Clunies-Ross, now "Kings" of the Cocos-Keeling Islands.

69. CRAIGIE, WILLIAM. Was S.P.C.K. Teacher in Dalsetter, Fetlar Isle, from 1814 to 1826 ; Salary, £15; Scholars about 63.

70. DALZILL, PETER. Was for about twenty-two years S.P.C.K. Teacher in Sandsound, Sandsting; from 1873 to 1820 his salary was £12, and from 1821 to 1834 was £15 ; Scholars, 23 to 34.

71. FEA, WILLIAM. Was for two years S.P.C.K. Teacher in Whiteness; Salary, £12 ; Scholars, from 77 to 84. In 1836 he was removed to North Ronaldsay, Orkney.

72. FRASER, JOHN. Was for upwards of a quarter of a century, from 1823, S.P.C.K. Teacher in Foula Isle; Salary, £12, which was increased for one year, 1848, to £18, when he was superannuated at £12; Scholars, about 36.

73. GAUDIE, ROBERT. For nearly forty years S.P.C.K. Teacher in Conningsburgh or Cunningsburgh, Dunrossness ; from 1809 to 1847 his salary was £15, when he was superannuated on £12. Rev. T. Barclay, minister of Dunrossness parish, in a Parliamentary return in 1826, reports that the Fees, in addition to the above salary, may be estimated at £1 . Scholars, from 45 to 80 ; vide Appendix to "Diary of Rev. John Mill," p. 204 ; Scot. Hist. Soc. Pub. Edited by Gilbert Goudie, F.S.A., Scot.

74. GRAY, GILBERT. The last S.P.C.K. Teacher in Burra Isle, from about 1851 to 1853, and probably for two or three years later; Salary, £18.

75. GREIG, GEORGE. The first S.P.C.K. Teacher in Walls. He was there in 1773, and had probably been in the same station for a few years previously. The population of Walls in 1773 was 756, and he had 33 Scholars ; Salary, £4 10s. "This school was endowed with 4 1/2 acres of land in perpetuity, by the Rev. Mr. James Buchan, minister of this parish," vide S.P.C.K. Reports. This plot was named Happyhansel, on which was the Parochial School. The School Board did not build their school on it because there was no one able to give a Title to the ground. See No. 65.

76. HENDERSON, ANDREW. For two or three years, between 1818 and 1821, S.P.C.K. Teacher in Fair Isle ; Salary, £12.

77. HENDERSON, LAWRENCE. For about twenty years S.P.C.K. Teacher in Weisdale ; from 1834 to 1848 his salary was £15 during the remaining period it was £18 ; Scholars, from 55 to 89.

78. HENRY, GEORGE. Succeeded his father, John Henry (No. 80), as S.P.C.K. Teacher in Skeld, Sandsting, where he continued for about 30 years; from 1824 to 1848 his salary was £15, and during the remainder of his tenure £18; Scholars, from 40 to 58.

79. HENRY, GiLBERT. Was S.P.C.K. Teacher in Whiteness in 1773, and had probably been at that station for a few years previously ; Salary, £3; Scholars, 29. In 1775 he was stationed at Weisdale, Tingwall ; Salary, £4 ; Scholars, 35.

80. HENRY, JOHN. For fourteen years, between 1809 and 1823, S.P.C.K. Teacher in Skeld, Sandsting ; Salary, £15 ; Scholars, 50 to 72. He was succeeded by his son, George (No. 78). Trinity, Edinburgh. ^[1]

81. HENRY, THOMAS. (?) Son of William Henry, whom he succeeded as S.P.C.K. Teacher in Foula Isle, from 1802 to 1821; Salary, £9, raised in 1820 to £9; Scholars, 28 to 31.

82. HENRY, WILLIAM. Was stationed in Foula Isle probably earlier than 1773 as S.P.C.K. Teacher, and continued to 1800; during the whole of that period his salary was only £3; Scholars, 21 to 32. See Thomas Henry.

83. HENRY, WILLIAM. (?The same as the preceding.) Was S.P.C.K. Teacher in Papa Isle from 1802 to 1827; Salary at first, £7, increased to £10, and latterly to £12; in 1827 he was superannuated on £12, which he only enjoyed for one or two years; Scholars, 48 to 58.

84. HENRY,or HENDRY, WILLIAM. Was S.P.C.K. Teacher in Brew, Dunrossness, from 1809 to 1828; Salary, £14 to £15; in 1828 he was superannuated on £10, which he received until 1835; Scholars for many years numbered about 80, but latterly fell to 40. [A little man, known locally as "The King of the Fairies."]

85. HOSEASON, MAGNUS. Was the S.P.C.K. Teacher in Dalsetter, Fetlar Isle, from 1802 to 1813; Salary at first, £10, increased to £15; Scholars in 1802 numbered 111, but, through the opening of other schools, the number fell to about 40.

86. INGRAM, JOHN, M.A. Parish Schoolmaster of Unst in 1835. In 1838 was ordained assistant and successor to his father, the Rev. Dr. James Ingram, M.A., minister of Unst. In 1843 he and his father joined the Free Church, and continued in the same parish. He married Margaret Blair Hutchison; see Scott's Fasti Eec. Scot., V., p. 443.

87. INKSTER, PETER. Succeeded Robert Baine as S.P.C.K. Teacher in Still from 1847 to 1853, and probably for some years later; Salary, £15, increased to £16.

88. IRVINE, or IRVING, JAMES. For fully forty years S.P.C.K. Teacher, first at Whiteness from 1813 to 1833, and afterwards at Papa Stour from 1834 to 1853, or probably a few years more; Salary, £10, increased to £12, £15, and in 1849 to £18; Scholars varied from 39 to 68.

89. IRVINE, JOHN. For the long period of thirty-four years was S.P.C.K. Teacher in Fair Isle, Dunrossness; from 1780 to 1789 his salary was £7, then raised successively to £8 and £10, and from 1809 to 1813 was £12; Scholars, from 28 to 44.

90. JAMIESON, ROBERT. Was S.P.C.K. Teacher in Whiteness from 1848 to 1853, or longer, and subsequently removed to Sandness. He was a grand old man; sent three sons to the University, and they are now occupying important positions.

91. JAMIESON, THOMAS. Was S.P.C.K.. Teacher in Scalloway from 1848 to 1853, or longer; Salary, £18.

92. LAING, ROBERT. Was S.P.C.K. Teacher in Gulberwick, Lerwick, from 1838 to 1853, or longer; Salary, £15, increased in 1849 to £18; Scholars, about 55.

93. LAURENSON, JAMES. Teacher at Vatcheley, Dunrossness, on the retirement of George Stewart (No. 113) in 1854. Shortly afterwards he was appointed to the school at Grutten, Sandsting, but in a few years gave it up in favour of a small sheep farm, where he continued for some time. He is now Inspector of Poor for the parish of Walls.

94. LAW, ROBERT. Was S.P.C.K. Teacher for a short time about 1809 at Sandsound, Sandsting; Salary, £12; Scholars, 43.

95. MCCLELLAND, HELEN. Was the S.P.C.K. Teacher in Lerwick, on the second patent for teaching spinning, sewing, and other branches of female industry. She appears to have been only one year, 1802; Salary, £5; Scholars, 26. ? Did she become Mrs. Moncrieff (see No. 101).

96. MACPHERSON, ROBERT. Was the first S.P.C.K. Teacher at Bremer, Dunrossness. He was probably stationed here before 1773, but in that year his salary was £3, raised in 1775 to £5; Scholars, about 40.

97. MANSON, MAGNUS. Was S.P.C.K. Teacher in Vatcheley, Dunrossness, between 1837 and 8849, but with some years absence between 1844-47; Salary at first, £15, increased to £18; Scholars, about 69.

98. MANSON, THOMAS. S.P.C.K. Teacher in Foula Isle from 1850 to 1853; Salary, £18. He became a colporteur, from which appointment he recently (1899) retired, at the age of So. He was succeeded in Foula Isle as Teacher by James Cheyne (No. 67).

99. MATHEWSON, A. The Parish Teacher in Yell School in 1823. He wrote a letter, dated 6th September, 1823, on the condition of Yell parish to the Inverness Society for the Education of the Poor in the Highlands, and it is printed in the Appendix, p. xxxiv. of that Society's "Moral Statistics, &c.", published in 1826. He writes:-"No School, either Parochial or Society (i.e., S.P.C.K.), was ever established in Yell Parish before 1822, when the Parochial School was first opened, and I am led to believe that in this particular we are one of the last in the Church of Scotland."

100. MONCRIEFF, LAURENCE. For twenty-eight years was S.P.C.K. Teacher in Sandness, Walls, from 1802 to 1830; Salary at first, £10, increased to £12, and in 1821 to £15; Scholars, 50 to 69. His wife kept a sewing school, on a small salary. See No. 101.

101. MONCRIEFF, Mrs. (See No. 95.) Wife of the preceding (No. 100). Was S.P.C.K. Teacher of spinning, sewing, &c., at Sandness, Walls; from 1802 to 1820 her salary was £3, and from 1821 to 1830 was £4. She retired on the death of her husband, and was superannuated by the Society till 1852.

102. M00DIE, CHARLES. Was S.P.C.K. Teacher at Trondra, an island near Scalloway; afterwards he, conducted a school at Sand, Sandsting; subsequently he became pastor of the Baptist Church there, and died about 1860.

103. M00DIE, JOHN. Succeeded Peter Daiziel, and was last S.P.C.K. Teacher at Sandsound, Sandsting, from 1838 to 1853, or longer; Salary, £15, and latterly £18; Scholars, about 43.

104. OMAND, JOHN. For a short time about 1847 S.P.C.K. Teacher at Whiteness; Salary, £15.

105. PATON, SIMON. For four or five years S.P.C.K. Teacher in Weisdale, from 1813 to 1818; Salary, £15; Scholars, from 76 to 83.

106. POLE, WILLIAM. Was S.P.C.K. Teacher, first in Lunnasting, from 1830 to 1835; and next in Sandness, Walls, from 1836 to 1853, or longer; Salary, £15, increased in 1849 to £18; Scholars, about 44.

107. REDLAND, ROBERT. Was S.P.C.K. Teacher in Gulberwick, Lerwick, from 1818 to about 1824; Salary, £5, and he appears to have had a subsidy from the Rev. John Menzies of Lerwick, of £5 while at this station. From 1825 to 1831 he was stationed in Lerwick; Salary, £5; and from 1831 to 1848 was superannuated.

108. RITCHIE, DAVID. For three or four years S.P.C.K. Teacher in Dalsetter, Fetlar, from 1828 to 1831; Salary, £15; Scholars, about 60.

109. ROSS, JAMES. Schoolmaster of Lerwick about 1800; married Catherine, daughter of Rev. Andrew Dishington, minister of Stronsay and Eday; he was famous for teaching writing.

110. SANDISON, CHRISTOPHER. For a long period in the service of the S.P.C.K., first as Teacher in Urray Firth, Northmaving, from 1818 to 1822; Salary, £15; Scholars, about 40; and next at Tangwick from 1823 to 1853, or longer; Salary at first, £15, increased in 1849 to £18; Scholars fluctuated, at one time he had 140, but latterly about 64. "The fees and perquisuites amount to £1" --vide "New Stat. Acc. of Scot.," xv., p. 81.

111. SINCLAIR, ROBERT. For a short period about 1802 the S.P.C.K. Teacher in Brew, Bressay; Salary, £12; Scholars, 92.

112. SMITH, JAMES. The last S.P.C.K. Teacher in Lunnasting, from 1849 to 1853, or longer; Salary, £18.

113. STEWART, GEORGE. For two or three years in Vatcheley, Dunrossness, between 1850 and 1852. On his retirement, was succeeded by James Laurenson (No. 93). Mr. Stewart was afterwards a merchant in Leith, and now (1900) resides in Victoria, British Columbia. He is author of "Shetland Fireside Tales; or, the Hermit of Trosswickness." By G. S. L. [George Stewart, Leith]; Edinburgh, 1877.

114. STRONG, JAMES. Was S.P.C.K. Teacher in Ridewick, Dunrossness, from 1785 to 1792; Salary, £10; Scholars, from 43 to 74. In the Appendix, p. 201, of Mill's Diary (Scot. lust. Soc.) the editor, Mr. Gilbert Goudie, writes in a footnote: "Ridewick, or Ridwick. There is no place of this name in the parish. The Society's schools were changed occasionally to different suitable centres, and this may have been Rerwick, on the west side of the parish."

115. SUTHERLAND, ALEXANDER. For two or three years S. P. C. K. Teacher in Sandness, Walls, from 1831 to 1834; Salary, £15; Scholars, from 44 to 50.

116. SUTHERLAND, JOHN. For a year or two S.P.C.K. Teacher in Lerwick about 1792; Salary, £14; Scholars, 54.

117. THOMASON, MAGNUS. For about twenty-seven years was S.P.C.K. Teacher at Burra Isle. In i1818 his salary was £12, but from 1821 to 1843. was £15. Amount of school-fees, £1 (vide "New Stat. Acc. of Scot.," Vol. xv., Bressay, p. 17). Scholars, from 37 to 57.

118. THOMSON, JOHN. Was the last S.P.C.K. Teacher in Coningsburgh, or Cunningsburgh, Sandwich, from 1847 to 1853, or later; Salary at first, £15, increased to £18.

119. THOMSON, MICHAEL. For thirty years S.P.C.K. Teacher in Lunnasting, Nesting; from 1802 to 1829 he was actively employed, and from 1829 to 1832 was superannuated; Salary, £10, increased to £13, and in 1821 to £15; Scholars, from 28 to 38.

120. THOMSON, ROBERT. Was a remarkable man. In 1773, or probably earlier, he was appointed S.P.C.K. Teacher in Fair Isle, where he continued until 1777 or ‘80; Salary, £4, increased to £5; Scholars, 22 to 26. About 1780 he was removed to Queendale, and remained there till 1784; Salary, £10; Scholars, from 45 to 76. In the "Old Stat. Acc. of Scot.," Dunrossness, Vol. vii., p. 398, the Rev. John Mill writes, about 1793: "Of late, a small sloop that goes upon the fishing, and to different parts of the country, was built by one Robert Thompson, a native of Fair Isle, and who was for several years a schoolmaster there, under the Society for Propagating Christian Knowledge. He is now a farmer and mariner, an excellent cooper, a wright and mason, by the force of a mechanical genius, without having ever been an apprentice to any of these professions. His sloop was built from the keel, and completely rigged and equipped by himself." The vessel was named "Fair Isle Mary." Also vide Mill's Diary (Scot. Hist. Soc.), p. 163.

121. TOWERS, DAVID. For two or three years S.P.C.K. Teacher in Whiteness, from 1837 to about 8839-40; Salary, £15; Scholars, 68 to 77. In 1840 was removed to Lopness, North Isles, Orkney (which see).

122. TULLOCH, ROBERT. For twenty-seven years S.P.C.K. Teacher in Scallaway, from 1821 to 1847; Salary, £15; Scholars, from 81 to 106.

123. YORSTOUN, W. Was removed by the S.P.C.K. from Evie and Rendall parish, Kirkwall Presbytery (which see), on 1st May, 1776, to Weisdale, but he appears to have remained only a year or two; Salary, £6; Scholars, 24.

Daniel William Kemp Trinity, Edinburgh, 1900. ^[2]

References

1. ↑ Scottish Notes and Queries, Vol. 1, July 1899 to June 1900, ed. John Bulloch, A Brown & Co., Aberdeen, 1900. p. 181
2. ↑ "Scottish Notes And Queries", Vol. II, ed. John Bulloch, A. Brown & Co., Aberdeen, 1901 (pp 7-9)