James Balfour (bef. 1828 - 1886)

Born before 10 Oct 1828 in Aithsting, Shetland, Scotland, United Kingdom

Husband of Elizabeth (Anderson) Balfour — married 4 Feb 1851 in Delting, Shetland, Scotland, United Kingdom

Descendants

Died 21 Dec 1886 after age 58 in Olnafirth Voe, Delting, Shetland, Scotland

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Biography

James Balfour (1828-1886) was born in Aithsting parish, Shetland in 1828 and christened in the parish of Sandsting & Aithsting, Shetland on the 10th October 1828. He was the son of a fisherman, John Balfour & Christina Williamson ^[1] and like his father before him, he too, would become a fisherman. ^[2]

At some point, his family moved to Delting parish and they lived and worked a small farm or croft called Hubensetter (various spellings). Theirs was a household of men and he had 6 (known) brothers several of whom would go to sea. ^[3]

Early in 1851 he married Elizabeth Anderson in Delting parish ^[4] and she joined him at Hubensetter where they worked the land and he also fished. At that time, only his mother and 2 younger brothers were still living there. ^[5]

By 1861 they had 5 children ^[6] but of those 5, the only daughter, Margaret, would die of whooping cough later that year, aged 4 years. ^[7] Ten years on in 1871 they have had a further 4 children but 2 of his elder sons had died, John aged almost 18 years, of tuberculosis and Walter who fell from a boat and drowned aged 10 years.

By 1881 their family was complete with a further 2 daughter being born in 1872 and 1875. They still worked the croft and fished and James' mother was still living with them. ^[8]

James died on the 21st December 1886 when the boat he was using to take his catch to the harbour capsized during a sudden squall in Olnafirth Voe. The boat containing him and 2 of his sons sunk. All 3 drowned. ^{[2] [9] [10]}

Balfour boating deaths 1886

Sources

1. ↑ Baptism: "Scotland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950"
   Scotland, Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013
   Ancestry uk Record 60143 #10634106 (accessed 24 July 2022)
   James Balfour baptism on 10 Oct 1828, son of John Balfour & Christian Williamson, in Sandsting and Aithsting, Shetland, Scotland.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Death: "Scotland, Statutory death registers"
   Scotland's People website (https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/)
   21/12/1886. BALFOUR, JAMES 59 yrs (WILLIAMSON)
   Ref : 002/ 30 - Delting
3. ↑ 1841 Census: "1841 Scotland Census"
   Parish: Delting; ED: 6; Page: 1; Line: 970; Year: 1841
   Ancestry uk Record 1004 #148824 (accessed 17 July 2022)
   James Balfour (12) in Hubensetter, Delting, Orkney and Shetland. Born in Orkney and Shetland, Scotland.
4. ↑ Marriage: "Scotland, Select Marriages, 1561-1910"
   Scotland, Marriages, 1561-1910. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013
   Ancestry uk Record 60144 #194090 (accessed 24 July 2022)
   James Balfour marriage to Elisabeth Anderson on 4 Feb 1851 in Delting, Shetland, Scotland.
5. ↑ 1851 Census: "1851 Scotland Census"
   Parish: Delting; ED: 6; Page: 2; Line: 1; Roll: CSSCT1851_1; Year: 1851; Household Schedule Number: 4; Roll: CSSCT1851_1
   Ancestry uk Record 1076 #30745 (accessed 24 July 2022)
   James Balfour (21), Small Farmer & Fisher, head of household in Hubinsetter, Delting, Shetland. Born in Aithsting, Shetland.
6. ↑ 1861 Census: "1861 Scotland Census"
   Parish: Delting; ED: 6; Page: 6; Line: 1; Roll: CSSCT1861_1; Registration Number: 2; Household schedule number: 23; Roll: CSSCT1861_1
   Ancestry uk Record 1080 #2007841 (accessed 24 July 2022)
   James Balfour (31), Farmer Of 6 Acres Fisherman, head of household in Hubensetter in Delting registration district. Born in Aithsting, Shetland.
7. ↑ Death: "Scotland, Statutory death registers"
   Scotland's People website (https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/)
   10/08/1861. BALFOUR, MARGARET 4yrs (ANDERSON)
   Ref : 002/ 28 - Delting
8. ↑ 1881 Census: "1881 Scotland Census"
   Parish: Delting; ED: 6; Page: 14; Line: 11; Roll: cssct1881_1; Registration Number: 2; Household schedule number: 50
   Ancestry uk Record 1119 #926250 (accessed 24 July 2022)
   James Balfour (52), Farmer Of 34 Acres, head of household in Hubenster in Delting registration district. Born in Easting, Shetland.
9. ↑ Death: "UK, Registers of Births, Marriages and Deaths at Sea, 1844-1890"
   The National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; Registers of Deaths at Sea of British Nationals; Class: BT 159; Piece: 10
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 60998 #59010 (accessed 24 July 2022)
   James Balfour Senr death 21 Dec 1886 (age 58) in Houpanselter, Delting, Shetland.
10. ↑ Newspaper: "Shetland Times" - Saturday 25 December 1886, Page: 2.