Midgarth, Mossbank

A fairly calm day, mostly sunny all day too.  There has been a couple of showers this evening. 

Up early, and some house chores done.  Walkies around Scalloway with Sammy after.  Met up with mam mid morning.  More walkies in the afternoon, and this evening, and popped by Madeline's to say hello.  A movie and feet up now.

Me and mam have been working on a different family tree branch, and have been investing this morning and early afternoon.  My 4x great granduncle Peter Blance was born in 1800 at Caldback, Delting. When he was about 15 years old he moved to the peerie island of Samphray with his mother Catherine, father John and his brothers and sisters. Peter eventually occupied Hay's farm on Samphray but he also went to the fishing and to sea. In 1831 Peter married a Samphray lass, Helen Murray, and they had 5 bairns there. Peter and his family moved from Samphray some time after 1851. There had been a tragic boating accident just before this when a number of Samphray men lost their lives while travelling home from Mossbank in a boat after attending a wedding. It is said that hardly a man who lived in Samphray was buried in Samphray such was the toll of death at sea from there. The family moved to Spence's Farm at Midgarth, Mossbank. Around 1854 Peter joined the ship Mossrose. The ship floundered and Peter helped the Captain (Hoseason) greatly during the incident. Sadly, he was badly injured and he never recovered. Peter died at home in Midgarth in 1857. Peter's father John (my 5x great grandfather on my grandad Mitchell's side) is believed to be the first ferryman in Yellsound. Samphray is the isle to the centre left, and this is the new (probably built late 1800s) Midgarth house, with the original house being behind the sheds and cars, Mossbank.