The Hamnavoe berthed in Stromness on a fine Spring morning with ...

Issue No. 53 March 2010 NEWSLETTER OF THE ORKNEY FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY 11
Here’s a great picture from Marion Cursiter, member 597. Marion tells me that the occasion was Jack Watson’s
retiral party <strong>in</strong> April 1974. That’s when cigarettes cost 30p for a packet of 20, a p<strong>in</strong>t of beer was 15p and petrol was only
11p per litre. No wonder everyone is smil<strong>in</strong>g. Maybe you were there. Names please to the editor and all will be revealed, I hope, <strong>in</strong> the June issue.
Who can tell me about
whal<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> Orkney?
Asks Ian Corsie Member 1367
This is about Malcolm Corsie, who was born on the
17th November 1798, married Isabella Louttit on the 7th
December 1827, and was the tenant of the farm of Nears,
Rousay.
Most of my <strong>in</strong>formation about the earliest known Corsies
of Rousay came to me from Leonard Corsie, my uncle,
who spent the whole of his adult life <strong>in</strong> Canada.
When I re-read what Leonard wrote about the subject
of this note it is clear to me that he was recount<strong>in</strong>g what
he had been told by his father.
So, to put it <strong>in</strong>to context, I am pass<strong>in</strong>g on what my
grandfather (born 1858) was tell<strong>in</strong>g about his grandfather
(born 1798).
This is an extract from Leonard’s account:
“Malcolm spent many years with the Dundee whalers,
which meant that he was away from home every year
from early spr<strong>in</strong>g until late fall, while Isabella managed
the farm.
He must have been a man of strong character, and his
descendants still refer to him as if he had died ten years
ago, <strong>in</strong>stead of a hundred years ago.
When Malcolm was away, Isabella had many of her
grand-children at Nears, and practically raised some of
them, my father <strong>in</strong>cluded. (This suggests that Malcolm
was still go<strong>in</strong>g off <strong>in</strong> the 1860s).
My father told me that once a pack of gypsies had come
around the farm. <strong>The</strong>y must have thought that Isabella
was alone, as they had tried to <strong>in</strong>timidate her, and actually
laid their hands on her, just as Malcolm had come
around one of the build<strong>in</strong>gs. Malcolm took a whip and
beat them up.
On occasions, sail<strong>in</strong>g ships would seek shelter between
the islands, and signal for a pilot. As many men as could
would try to get the job, but while they were barga<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g
with the Master, Malcolm would board the ship, start
giv<strong>in</strong>g orders, and settle with the Master after the ship
was anchored.I f<strong>in</strong>d the first
sentence of the extract a tantalis<strong>in</strong>g
one, and while the history
of the Dundee Whalers must be
well documented from a home
port po<strong>in</strong>t of view, it would be
<strong>in</strong>terest<strong>in</strong>g to know if there are
Orkney tales wait<strong>in</strong>g to emerge.
If any member can add to
Ian’s tale we would be delighted
to hear from them.