John Balfour (1869 - 1886)

Born 14 Dec 1869 in Delting, Shetland, Scotland, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Died 21 Dec 1886 at age 17 in Olnafirth Voe, Shetland, Scotland, United Kingdom

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Biography

John Balfour (1869-1886) was born in Delting parish on the 14th December 1869. He was the son of a crofter & fisherman, James Balfour and Elizabeth Anderson and he was christened in the Wesleyan chapel at Northmaven on the 6th November 1870. ^[1]

Their croft, Hubensetter (various spellings) was worked by the family which was fairly large. ^{[2] [3]}

Life was harsh in their community and the family had already been through several bereavements of children. The worst was in December 1886 just before Christmas when John along with his elder brother James and their father were delivering their fishing catch when their boat was hit by a sudden severe squall in Olnafirth Voe and capsized. All 3 died. ^{[4] [5] [6]}

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 #5140698 (accessed 23 July 2022)
   John Balfour baptism on 6 Nov 1870 (born 14 Dec 1869), son of James Balfour & Elizabeth Balfour, in Wesleyan Chapel, Northmaven, Shetland, Scotland.
2. ↑ 1871 Census: "1871 Scotland Census"
   Parish: Delting; ED: 6; Page: 7; Line: 6; Roll: CSSCT1871_1; Registration Number: 2; Household schedule number: 27; Roll: CSSCT1871_1
   Ancestry uk Record 1104 #3520 (accessed 23 July 2022)
   John Balfour (1) son in household of James Balfour (41) in Hubenseatter in Delting registration district. Born in Delting, Shetland.
3. ↑ 1881 Census: "1881 Scotland Census"
   Parish: Delting; ED: 6; Page: 14; Line: 16; Roll: cssct1881_1; Registration Number: 2; Household schedule number: 50
   Ancestry uk Record 1119 #926255 (accessed 23 July 2022)
   John Balfour (11) son, Scholar, in household of James Balfour (52) in Hubenster in Delting registration district. Born in Delting, Shetland.
4. ↑ 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 #59012 (accessed 23 July 2022)
   John Balfour death 21 Dec 1886 (age 17) in Houpanselter, Delting, Shetland.
5. ↑ Death: "UK, Registers of Births, Marriages and Deaths at Sea, 1844-1890"
   The National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; Registers of Seamen Deaths; Class: BT 157; Piece: 8
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 60998 #168270 (accessed 23 July 2022)
   John Balfour death 21 Dec 1886 (age 17).
6. ↑ Death: "Scotland, Statutory death registers"
   Scotland's People website (https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/)
   21/12/1886. BALFOUR, JOHN 17 yrs (ANDERSON)
   Ref : 002/ 32 - Delting