Barbara Fea (1689 - 1737)

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 30 Mar 1737 at about age 48 in Leith, Midlothian, Scotland

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Biography

Barbara Fea was born about 1689, daughter of Patrick Fea, Ist of Whitehall and his wife Barbara Traill.^[1][2]

Barbara had intimate relations with Patrick Traill of Elsness. No marriage ceremony took place and Patrick tried to distance himself from the relationship, but Barbara pursued Patrick to Edinburgh where she had him imprisoned. He was only released after making a verbal promise of marriage; no further ceremony was required under Scots law. This led to one of the longest running law suits in Scots history. Eventually the Traill family accepted the marriage.^[2]

Patrick and Barbara had one child, a daughter Jean Traill born in 1702 who married Thomas Neill.^[3][2]

Patrick died in 1726. Barbara was living in Kirkwall until 1735, then moved to South Leith where she passed away on 30 Mar 1737.^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ Hugh Marwick, The Feas of Clestran, Proceedings of the Orkney Antiquarian Society, Vol. XI. Pages 31-42.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3} Mike Rendall et al. Northern Skies Genealogy, page for Barbara Fea
3. ↑ William Traill of Woodwick, MD. A Genealogical Account of the Traills of Orkney. Kirkwall: J. Calder, 1883. Pages 45-47.