James (Fea) Fea IIIrd of Clestrain (abt. 1606 - abt. 1667)

Ancestors

Husband of Ursilla Balfour — married after 17 Jun 1632 in Orkney, Scotland

Husband of Jean Groat — married 1651 in Orkney, Scotland

Descendants

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Biography

James Fea, 3rd of Clestrain, was the son of James Fea 2nd of Clestrain and wife Margaret Sinclair. Clestrain is a small property on the island of Stronsay, Orkney; it should not be confused with the Hall of Clestrain on Orkney's mainland.^[1]

Although James' father lived until 1652, it appears that he passed on the lands of Clestrain to his son in 1632, while maintaining a liferent for himself and his wife.^[2]

That same year James married Ursilla Balfour, daughter of Michael Balfour of Garth in Westray (marriage contract signed at Noltland on 17 June 1632). Their children included:

• James Fea, 4th of Clestrain; married Isabel Traill
• Margaret Fea; married James Rousay, son of Oliver Rousay of Dishes, Stronsay
• Patrick Fea, 1st of Whitehall; married Barbara Traill daughter of Thomas Traill, 1st of Holland
• Mitchell Fea

Ursilla passed away before 1651 when James married, secondly, Jean Groat, daughter of John Groat of Elsness. There seems to be no children from this marriage.

James died in 1667 or 1668. His second wife Jean later married John Mowat in South Ronaldsay.^[1]

Research notes

Was Ursilla's father this Michael Balfour of Garth? Seems a bit too old tho; perhaps he had a son who was also Michael Balfour of Garth?

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Hugh Marwick, The Feas of Clestran, Proceedings of the Orkney Antiquarian Society, Vol. XI. Pages 31-42.
2. ↑ Mike Rendall et al. Northern Skies Genealogy, page for James Fea II of Clestrain, citing National Archives of Scotland GD 31/39 30 June 1632.