James Balfour (1853 - 1886)

Born 15 Jun 1853 in Delting, Shetland, Scotland, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Died 21 Dec 1886 at age 33 in Olnafirth Voe, Shetland, Scotland, United Kingdom

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Biography

James Balfour was born in Scotland.

James Balfour (1853-1886) was born in Delting parish, Shetland on the 15th June 1853. He was the son of a fisherman & crofter, James Balfour and Elizabeth Anderson and he was christened in the Wesleyan chapel at Northmaven on the 17th July 1853. ^[1]

Their croft was Houbansetter (various spellings) in Delting parish. ^[2]

map of Houbansetter, Delting parish, Shetland

Theirs was a large family and in 1871 he was shown as a labourer on the croft. ^[3] He married in Delting parish in 1878 to his cousin, Mary Anderson ^[4] and started a family there.

James (and his brother Robert) became able seamen aboard their uncle Robert Balfour's vessel "Lune" which underwent foreign voyages ^[5] for a couple of years. ^[6]

James & Mary lived in the neighbouring croft of Millburn. ^[7] Their firstborn, John James, died in 1882 aged 2 yrs and by the spring of 1886, Mary had not long given since birth to their 4th child, Robert, when she became ill with phthisis (tuberculosis). She died in August 1886 leaving James to raise their 3 children. James' troubles were not over. Another son, also named John James, died a month or so later aged 2 yrs. This left him with Thomasina aged 4 years and the baby Robert.

He was with his father and younger brother John in their boat one afternoon in late December dropping off the catch when their boat was caught in a sudden sever squall and was seen by witnesses to capsize suddenly. Despite efforts from a local who had noticed their plight, all 3 were lost. ^{[8] [9]}

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 #6975894 (accessed 23 July 2022)
   James Balfour baptism on 17 Jul 1853 (born 15 Jun 1853), son of James Balfour & Elizabeth Balfour, in Wesleyan Chapel, Northmaven, Shetland, Scotland.
2. ↑ 1861 Census: "1861 Scotland Census"
   Parish: Delting; ED: 6; Page: 6; Line: 4; Roll: CSSCT1861_1; Registration Number: 2; Household schedule number: 23; Roll: CSSCT1861_1
   Ancestry uk Record 1080 #2007844 (accessed 23 July 2022)
   James Balfour (7) son, Scholar, in household of James Balfour (31) in Hubinsetter in Delting registration district. Born in Delting, Shetland.
3. ↑ 1871 Census: "1871 Scotland Census"
   Parish: Delting; ED: 6; Page: 7; Line: 1; Roll: CSSCT1871_1; Registration Number: 2; Household schedule number: 27; Roll: CSSCT1871_1
   Ancestry uk Record 1104 #3515 (accessed 23 July 2022)
   James Balfour (17) son, Lab on Croft, in household of James Balfour (41) in Hubenseatter in Delting registration district. Born in Delting, Shetland.
4. ↑ Marriage: "Scotland, Statutory marriage registers"
   Scotland's People website (https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/)
   1878. BALFOUR, JAMES / ANDERSON, MARY
   Ref : 002/ 7 - Delting
5. ↑ Crew List: "Liverpool, England, Crew Lists 1861-1919"
   Reference Number: 387CRE/545
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 2364 #1692466 (accessed 23 July 2022)
   Name: James Balfour; Age: 25; Birth Year: abt 1854; Birth Place: Shetland; Event Date: 1879; Port of Registry: Liverpool, Lancashire, England; Ship Name: Lune; Official Number: 70879.
6. ↑ Crew List: "Liverpool, England, Crew Lists 1861-1919"
   Reference Number: 387CRE/545
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 2364 #1692474 (accessed 23 July 2022)
   Name: James Balfour; Age: 27; Birth Year: abt 1854; Birth Place: Shetland; Event Date: 1881; Port of Registry: Liverpool, Lancashire, England; Ship Name: Lune; Official Number: 70879.
7. ↑ 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 #59011 (accessed 23 July 2022)
   James Balfour Jr death 21 Dec 1886 (age 34) in Millburn, Delting, Shetland.
8. ↑ Death: "Scotland, Statutory death registers"
   Scotland's People website (https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/)
   21/12/1886. BALFOUR, JAMES 33 yrs (ANDERSON)
   Ref : 002/ 31 - Delting
9. ↑ Death: "UK, Registers of Births, Marriages and Deaths at Sea, 1844-1890"
   The National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; Monthly Lists of Deaths of Seamen; Class: BT 156; Piece: 1
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 60998 #56886 (accessed 23 July 2022)
   James Balfour death 21 Dec 1886 (age 34).