My Inkster Great Grandparents
Susie Harrison----------Joanna Inkster----------Lyall Inkster----------George Inkster & Helen Inkster
George Inkster (1864 - 1947) born Houss, East Burra, and Helen Inkster (1871 - 1949) born Norbister, East Burra
Burra island, one of the Shetland Islands, far north of the Orkney Islands and the Scottish mainland, was home for hundreds of years to my Inkster ancestors. Both George and Helen were Inksters of this small island and so would have been at least distantly related. The Inkster name comes from early Viking settlers, of the 9th century, being the descendants of a Viking chieftain called Ingsgar. All the Inksters upon Burra lived the crofting lifestyle, mostly sustained by the womenfolk as their men would be away at sea for long periods of time fishing. As one observer had reported, when struck with the 'energy and industry' of the women of Shetland, 'Carrying, digging, knitting, they seemed never to be a moment idle' and he believed there was not another place on the face of the earth where such a large share of the business of life fell to the fairer sex.
The Burra men profited well from their fishing as they had near access to the Burra Haaf fishing grounds, and there were good harbours and beaches upon which to dry the caught fish. In the classic Shetland tradition the men would also fish at great distances, as far as Iceland and Greenland, into the Baltic, and down as far as English East Anglia, gathering haddock, cod and ling. In their open boats, and with their great bravery, they were not without a fair amount of drownings. Both George and Helen's father's died in the waters while away on fishing trips.
The Burra men profited well from their fishing as they had near access to the Burra Haaf fishing grounds, and there were good harbours and beaches upon which to dry the caught fish. In the classic Shetland tradition the men would also fish at great distances, as far as Iceland and Greenland, into the Baltic, and down as far as English East Anglia, gathering haddock, cod and ling. In their open boats, and with their great bravery, they were not without a fair amount of drownings. Both George and Helen's father's died in the waters while away on fishing trips.
At the time of my great grandparents there was no searoad, as now, linking Burra to the mainland, so that they and other islanders had to travel by boat for three miles whenever they wanted to go to the nearest mainland town of Scalloway.
There are two parts to Burra island, west and east, with the west having the ancient spiritual centre of Papil, after which the island used to be named - Papil Island. The east, where both my great grandparents were born, was made up of no more than a few hamlets and scattered croft houses. Neolithic remains are be found there, including a burnt mound at Houss (where George was from) the rocks of which were anciently heated in fire and then used to heat water in a trough. |
George Inkster, who was born at Houss on November 26th 1864, was ever after known by locals, according to his place of origin, as Geordie the Houss. George's father, Arthur Inkster, grew up just a little around the bay from Houss, at North House, and carried in his blood not only the ancient Viking lineage but also, through his mother, Catherine Christie (and in turn through her own mother, Lilias Scott) descent from Scottish royalty. This maternal ancestry, made up of much intermarrying of Scott's, Stuarts and Sinclairs, can be traced back to two illegitimate sons of King James V who made Shetland their playground and ruled it in a tyrannical fashion.
As for George's mother, Margaret Christie, who was daughter to an Inkster mother, she was from the pilgrimage centre of Papil in the west of the island. Living by the church, near which anyway there were only two other crofts, Margaret as a teenager was servant to the church minister, John Inkster, he being another of our relatives (naturally). There had been an early Christian monastery at Papil, it having been considered a sacred island. Missionaries had preached there and a wealthy Norwegian lady had long ago overseen the building of Papil's St Lawrence church. It was still the only church in the whole of Burra.
As for George's mother, Margaret Christie, who was daughter to an Inkster mother, she was from the pilgrimage centre of Papil in the west of the island. Living by the church, near which anyway there were only two other crofts, Margaret as a teenager was servant to the church minister, John Inkster, he being another of our relatives (naturally). There had been an early Christian monastery at Papil, it having been considered a sacred island. Missionaries had preached there and a wealthy Norwegian lady had long ago overseen the building of Papil's St Lawrence church. It was still the only church in the whole of Burra.
The Old Haa of Houss, now in ruin, was our family's ancient ancestral manor. There had been grander times when connections to Scottish royalty were still recalled, for which there was some respect and pride, but such had passed and now life was one of practical survival, as it was for everyone on the island, living off the land in crofts and fishing in the seas.
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From illustrious wealthier times and plenty of inbreeding of such royal descendants in a confined space, the family had become humbled into a peasant lifestyle. Shetland was no longer attractive to the Scottish nobles, as once it had been, and life had become challenging for those that remained.
By the age of 6 we see George Inkster recorded in the 1871 census as living with his family in a croft at Newton (North House), likely where his father had grown up.
1871 Census Newton, East Burra, Shetland Islands
Arthur Inkster, age 36, fisherman and crofter, and Margaret his wife, age 34
George Inkster, son, age 6
Other children of the family: Charles, 12; Catherine, 10; John J, 4; Lilias, 2
(all the family was born in Burra)
1871 Census Newton, East Burra, Shetland Islands
Arthur Inkster, age 36, fisherman and crofter, and Margaret his wife, age 34
George Inkster, son, age 6
Other children of the family: Charles, 12; Catherine, 10; John J, 4; Lilias, 2
(all the family was born in Burra)
It was in only the year after the census, in 1872, that George's father died at sea. His fishing smack (boat), named the Turquoise, sank with the entire crew, of Arthur himself and twelve companions, near to the Faroe Islands. A fund was set up by the Shetland people, collecting money for the widows and families of the drowned men, and it is listed that George's Inkster family was given from this fund the amount of £15.
From 1883 till 1892, according to the Shetland Times, George was living on a croft at New Grunasound, renting at a cost of £3 and having no arrears. He owned two cows, seventeen sheep, and three lambs. He had spent out £55 on buildings.
George fell in love with Helen, a girl seven years younger than him, who was also an Inkster of Burra Island. Not only had her father, Lawrence Inkster, like his, died at sea, but so also had her paternal grandfather, John Inkster.
Helen was born in Norbister on July 6th 1871, in east Burra. Helens mother, Philadelphia, was also an Inkster. When Helen was older the family went away for a while, to Lerwick, the capital of Shetland, which they appear to have done to care for aging grandparents. So Helen had an insight into what was life away from the island, what a town was like and a world where not everyone worked hard on their crofts. This would plant a seed in her, by which one day she would decide to leave the crofting life altogether. And besides, having suffered the deaths of the men of her family this was not something she wanted replicated for her own husband and sons. Her father, Lawrence, I discovered to have had quite a freak death. Having gone off on a fishing trip as far as the German coast, he stopped at the port of Swinemunde (now part of Poland) and while painting his boat fell off it into the water and there drowned.
Helen was born in Norbister on July 6th 1871, in east Burra. Helens mother, Philadelphia, was also an Inkster. When Helen was older the family went away for a while, to Lerwick, the capital of Shetland, which they appear to have done to care for aging grandparents. So Helen had an insight into what was life away from the island, what a town was like and a world where not everyone worked hard on their crofts. This would plant a seed in her, by which one day she would decide to leave the crofting life altogether. And besides, having suffered the deaths of the men of her family this was not something she wanted replicated for her own husband and sons. Her father, Lawrence, I discovered to have had quite a freak death. Having gone off on a fishing trip as far as the German coast, he stopped at the port of Swinemunde (now part of Poland) and while painting his boat fell off it into the water and there drowned.
The 1881 census shows Helen as a 9 year old, living in Norbister with her parents and their other children.
1881 Census Norbister, Burra
Lawrence Inkster, age 35, fisherman and crofter, and his wife Phyllis, age 38
Helen Inkster, daughter, age 9
Other children: Betsy, 14; John, 12; Barbara, 7; Robina, 5; Margaret J, 3; Lawrence, 1
(all born Burra)
1881 Census Norbister, Burra
Lawrence Inkster, age 35, fisherman and crofter, and his wife Phyllis, age 38
Helen Inkster, daughter, age 9
Other children: Betsy, 14; John, 12; Barbara, 7; Robina, 5; Margaret J, 3; Lawrence, 1
(all born Burra)
By the next census the family was staying with Helen's grandparents on the Shetland mainland at Lerwick.
1891 Census Lerwick, Shetland 3 Reform Lane Lawrence Inkster, age 45, fisherman, and his wife Phyllis, age 49 Helen Inkster, age 24, fisherman's daughter (all born in Burra) John Inkster, age 75, retired seaman, born Burra, and his wife Elizabeth, age 76, born in Cunningsborough |
George and Helen married at the old ancestral Haa of Houss in the winter of 1893, one room of which became their first home together. Family memories tell of how the minister had to come by boat to perform the ceremony, after which the couple sat in bed, Helen with cake and George with wine, and as each family member walked by they were fed a piece of the cake and a taste of the wine.
Marriage at Houss, Burra Isle, on the 31st January:
GEORGE INKSTER, fishermen,
and HELEN INKSTER, daughter of the late Laurence Inkster.
(Announced in the Shetland Times on the 11th of February 1893)
Marriage at Houss, Burra Isle, on the 31st January:
GEORGE INKSTER, fishermen,
and HELEN INKSTER, daughter of the late Laurence Inkster.
(Announced in the Shetland Times on the 11th of February 1893)
In their new life together at Houss Helen was soon pregnant and in 1894 a son Lawrence Arthur (named after his two dead grandfathers) was born. The family talk is that as a baby Lawrence was dropped on his head and was everafter 'simple'. Moving to Helen's mother's croft at Norbister, a second son was born, in 1895, named John (in honour of Helen's grandfather who had recently died at Norbister). John would eventually die too young, at the age of 19, fighting in the first world war. I have a little information about the family croft at Norbister. For more than 20 years Helen's family had run this croft and it had a dwelling house, a barn, a share of a watermill, two cows, one calf, twelve sheep and two lambs.
George and Helen found their own croft to settle in, which was at Duncansclett overlooking the beautiful beach of Bannamin Bay on the west half of the island. It is at Duncansclett that traditional thatched croft was in more recent times restored for use by the local history group. The cottage featured in a BBC television series called Restoration. This may even have been George and Helen's home.
So it was that following in the footsteps of their parents George and Helen would live the crofting way which was one of self sufficiency. George would go out to sea fishing with the other men, while Helen stayed at home looking after her growing brood of children, the home and the land. This was a full on experience, tilling the land by hand, looking after sheep, cattle and chickens, and walking for miles with peat in a big basket, called a cushie, slung over her back. Family members would walk up on the hills to cut the peat, stack it and leave it to dry in the summer months, and then transport it in a rowing boat laden down to the water edge. The croft not only had to keep everyone well fed, but had to provide wool to knit clothes, and straw as a thatching material to provide adequate shelter from the rugged elements.
Helen was often pregnant and had 13 children. Her third son was named George after his father, then came a daughter Phyllis Margaret, named after both her grandparents. By the time of the 1901 census another son had been born called Robert.
1901 Census Duncansclett, West Burra, Shetland
George Inkster, age 36, crofter and fisherman, born Burra
Helen Inkster, wife, age 29, born Burra
Children:
Lawrence A, 7; John, 5; Phyllis M, 1; Robert, 6 months - all born in Burra
Robina Inkster, servant girl, aged 17, born in Burra (Robina was Helen's younger sister)
George Inkster, age 36, crofter and fisherman, born Burra
Helen Inkster, wife, age 29, born Burra
Children:
Lawrence A, 7; John, 5; Phyllis M, 1; Robert, 6 months - all born in Burra
Robina Inkster, servant girl, aged 17, born in Burra (Robina was Helen's younger sister)
Three more children were then born in Burra - Charles, Helen Barbara, and Catherine.
In the summer of 1907, George Inkster had a narrow escape with his life at sea, when his boat Bruckley Castle, of Burra Isle 481 which he was the skipper of for the Lerwick Fishing Fleet, was cut down and sank off the Bressay lighthouse. The Brucklay Castle had already taken to land 15 cran herrings the evening before, after which they set sail again for the fishing ground.
The wind was blowing a full sail breeze from the north east and the boat had a free run out past the southern end of Bressay. Out near the lighthouse, a number of boats were close together, some tacking in from the fishing and others standing out.
The lookout man of the Bruckley Castle had gone into the hold of the boat to do some work and the boat was held on her course, when a boat that suddenly was passing, the Unity of Hopeman INS 450, was on a tack and came so close to the Bruckley Castle that nothing could prevent a collision.
The skipper of the Unity was able to altar its course slighty, in an effort to avoid striking midships, for this would for sure led to the perishing of the men. Instead he struck the Bruckley Castle stem on, close to the mast. The impact was so great that the boats side was torn open and at once filled with water.
The crew managed to safely get onto the Unity, and George Inkster returned to his boat to try to save the bushrope and some of the nets. He only got out one or two of the nets, the bushrope broke, and practically everything else went down with the boat. The crew lost all their effects, being saved just as they stood.
The Unity escaped without damage.
George's crew were all energetic men and deep regret was felt for them losing their boat, especially as this was during the most important season of the year. It was the third boat to have been lost in the same season, the others being the King Harold and the Shamrock.
The wind was blowing a full sail breeze from the north east and the boat had a free run out past the southern end of Bressay. Out near the lighthouse, a number of boats were close together, some tacking in from the fishing and others standing out.
The lookout man of the Bruckley Castle had gone into the hold of the boat to do some work and the boat was held on her course, when a boat that suddenly was passing, the Unity of Hopeman INS 450, was on a tack and came so close to the Bruckley Castle that nothing could prevent a collision.
The skipper of the Unity was able to altar its course slighty, in an effort to avoid striking midships, for this would for sure led to the perishing of the men. Instead he struck the Bruckley Castle stem on, close to the mast. The impact was so great that the boats side was torn open and at once filled with water.
The crew managed to safely get onto the Unity, and George Inkster returned to his boat to try to save the bushrope and some of the nets. He only got out one or two of the nets, the bushrope broke, and practically everything else went down with the boat. The crew lost all their effects, being saved just as they stood.
The Unity escaped without damage.
George's crew were all energetic men and deep regret was felt for them losing their boat, especially as this was during the most important season of the year. It was the third boat to have been lost in the same season, the others being the King Harold and the Shamrock.
I know much from family about the island way of life for George and Helen. Helen was always singing to herself (I have this singing habit from her) and so loved singing that she was a singer in the church choir (I also sang a long time in a choir). At that time the people of the island had a craze for singing Sankey's hymns. The composer Sankey was extremely popular during his lifetime, having inspiringly declared 'I never touch a song that does not speak to me in every word and phrase. Before I sing I must feel, and the hymn must be of such a kind that I know I can send home what I feel into the hearts of those who listen.' In Helen's youth there were more people singing from Sankey's song collection than all the people who heard or performed Bach in the whole 19th century.
On Saturday nights everyone in the croft would work right up till midnight, and then on Sunday no work at all would be done, not even cooking. Sunday was a day of rest and they were very church conscious people. The main diet was oatcakes called bannocks, as well as the fish they caught.
On Saturday nights everyone in the croft would work right up till midnight, and then on Sunday no work at all would be done, not even cooking. Sunday was a day of rest and they were very church conscious people. The main diet was oatcakes called bannocks, as well as the fish they caught.
It was a matriarchal world and Helen was boss of the family and George was fine with that. The time would come, when by Helen's decree they would leave Shetland. By the time Helen reached her late 30's she'd had enough of the hard toil of a crofting existence. One of George's cousin's, Thomas Inkster, had moved to the Scottish mainland, to the town of Grangemouth, and was doing rather well for himself, working as a cashier and bookkeeper. Helen wanted that kind of future for her children so she wrote to Thomas requesting he find her husband a job there. And so came the day when they departed for the Scottish mainland and left the Shetland crofting world far behind. Helen left for Grangemouth while George was at sea, and when he returned the choice was there for him, to join her, which he did, or stay in his homeland.
The workload was less in a town than in the countryside, but no way was George's situation lucrative once he got there. The only work found for him was working down at the docks for the Caledonian Railway, spending his days in a bothy, which was a railway hut. And this new environment was an unhealthy one tainted by factory pollution. From all directions there were whiffs on the wind, from the oil refinery, the soap works, and the dyeing works. The children got their better education there though and attended Sunday Schools and youth clubs. The church they attended was the West Church in Old Town which was of the United Free Church of Scotland. They lived at 28 Forth Street, 28 Grange Street, 4 North Basin Street in the Old Town, 152 Kerse Street, and 10 Paris Street, and meanwhile more children were born, all sons, Thomas Ward, William Aitken, James, Jacky, and my grandfather Lyall Compton. Jacky was a very weak child and died when he was about three years old.
1911 - son George Harrison the younger, aged 13, was given six strikes with a birch rod for ' wilfully and maliciouosly' destroying a geographical globe in the Zetland School. Note was made of him already being on probation from the Sheriff Court.
In the summer of 1915, on June 2nd, family tragedy struck with George and Helen's second son John, who was in the Gordon Highlanders during the 1st World War, dying at Ypres. He was only 19 years of age and had volunteered for the war in the previous summer along with his brother George, both leaving for France on the 3rd January. Befiore going off to war John had been working as a dock labourer. In the battle of Ypres he was in the very thick of the fighting, being bombarded for 17 hours and it was a direct German shell explosion that would kill John.
The first George and Helen heard of their sons demise was through a letter explaining what had happened from a fellow soldier to his mother, Mrs McKerracher, who lived on Lumley Street.
Two Gordon Highlanders from Grangemouth were killed in this same battle and two were wounded. Those wounded were Andrew Martin and William Dick. Those killed were our John Inkster and James Smith.
Two Gordon Highlanders from Grangemouth were killed in this same battle and two were wounded. Those wounded were Andrew Martin and William Dick. Those killed were our John Inkster and James Smith.
A fellow soldier, William Dick, who was with John Inkster at the time, recalled what happened in exact detail. The Gordon Highlanders had safely got through their first experience of the trenches and reached Hill 60 which had been captured by the British. From there they went to Ypres, passing through the town which was in a state of ruinous desolation. After passing Ypres they got into the trenches and it was on the fatal date of the 2nd June that the bombardment was the heaviest they had yet known. This was a terrible day for the Gordon's, with 22 men dying and 46 wounded, mostly as a result of the shelling. The shells burst all around, throwing up the air with terrific noise and were landing so dangerously close that they decided to shift along in the trench. As they moved along a couple of shells burst and knocked the parapet in upon them, burying them head and all. Two Grangemouth men died in this incident, the other being James Smith. William Dick survived because his rifle was positioned in such a way as to get air to him.
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The Gordon Highlanders lost 1,000 officers and 28,000 men during that war. Johns younger brother George was one to survive and return home. John Inkster is commemorated at the Ypres War Memorial at Menin Gate. The memorial is at Leper, West Vlaanderen, in Belgium, Leper being the modern name for what was Ypres.
INKSTER, JOHN
Rank: Private
Service No: S/3573
Date of Death: 2nd June 1915
Age: 19
Regiment - Service: Gordon Highlanders 1st Bn.
Panel Reference Panel 38.
Memorial YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Additional Information:
Son of Mr. and Mrs. George Inkster, of 28, Forth St., Grangemouth.
Rank: Private
Service No: S/3573
Date of Death: 2nd June 1915
Age: 19
Regiment - Service: Gordon Highlanders 1st Bn.
Panel Reference Panel 38.
Memorial YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Additional Information:
Son of Mr. and Mrs. George Inkster, of 28, Forth St., Grangemouth.
The Inksters attended a summer carnival in 1917 in the Matthiesons Rooms and the number of their admission ticket won them a bag of meal - gifted to Mr G Inkster, 152 Kerse Road
1926 Son Robert Inkster, of 28 Forth Street, who was working at the docks in waggons, was wounded when a sling of battens swinging above his head, two of the battens falling out and brusing his left knee and foot.
1928 William Inkster, George and Helen's teenage son, who was by now an apprentice butcher, was in the local newspaper for being beaten up by a 20 year old man called John Grant. William had gone to get chips at the Kerse café and was reaching out along the counter for the sauce, when John challenged him, 'You should ask for the sauce if you want it'. William replied what business was it of his!, at which John threatened to 'give him a slap on the mouth'.
When they then went to the café door John struck him a blow with a clenched fist, right in the left eye, which knocked William to the ground. William went straight to the police. When charged John admitted, 'Yes, I struck him, but he shouldn't have spoken back to me.' He said that anyway William had laid down his chips to challenge him back. John went out of the entrance and William followed and that's when John hit him, believing he was up for a fight anyway. Two other men then got hold of John and one punched him on the jaw. At court John was told off for fighting over such a trifle and fined 7s 6d or five days imprisonment. He paid the fine.
When they then went to the café door John struck him a blow with a clenched fist, right in the left eye, which knocked William to the ground. William went straight to the police. When charged John admitted, 'Yes, I struck him, but he shouldn't have spoken back to me.' He said that anyway William had laid down his chips to challenge him back. John went out of the entrance and William followed and that's when John hit him, believing he was up for a fight anyway. Two other men then got hold of John and one punched him on the jaw. At court John was told off for fighting over such a trifle and fined 7s 6d or five days imprisonment. He paid the fine.
1930 George and Helens grandson, just a baby and named after George died on 30th January, he being the child of Robert and his wife Minnie who were living at 215 Dundas Street, which ran into Kerse Street.
At around this time the Inkster's had a family photo taken:
Top row, from the left: William, Robert, Lawrence, Kate, Charles, George and James
Lower row, from the left: Tommy, Phyllis, Lyall, mother Helen, Helen, and father George
The stories of these various children and their futures I have mostly only brief notes on.
William, who had trained in as a butcher's assistant, abandoned that and became a jack of all trades. He moved down to London, and worked as handyman for the Hampstead college. The family actually left Scotland to join him in London for a while. Then, with his Welsh wife, Elizabeth, and their daughter Ann, he moved to Corby and there started up a garage business.
Robert was in the Black Watch Scottish regiment. It is said in the family that he was a bigamist. His youngest son, Hugh, died in a car crash.
Lawrence was never able to be independent enough to look after himself, being the son dropped on his head as a baby. Luckily his sister Kate was devoted to him and played such a role. Upon her death he had to go into a home and was about 75 when he died.
Kate was a lovely, hard working person, who never married but rather devoted herself to caring for not only Lawrence but also the rest of the family. For a while, when the family lived in London, she got a job in service and is recorded in 1936 and 1937 as living in the home of Denise Leonie Eugenie Gluckstein with another domestic Kate Walsh. Kate died from throat cancer.
Charles worked for the sawmills Messrs Inkster, Dunn and Co in Grangemouth and in 1931 leaving to manage a sawmill back in Shetland, belonging to Heyam Co. For 13 years he managed this sawmill in Lerwick, then left to emigrate, firstly to America and then Canada. In Canada he married Nancy and had two children with her, Nancy and George. He died in Canada in 1983.
George was like his brother John in the Gordon Highlanders during the 1st World War, though unlike him survived the trenches. He became a police constable and in such a capacity, at the age of 26, travelled to Bermuda, via America, with a neighbouring lad, Robert Corson, who was also a police constable. In Bermuda George married an English nurse, Agnes Hamilton, with whom had had daughters Doreen and Georgina. By the age of 29 George had taken up work as a first class steward on ship journeys between Bermuda and New York, after which he became a clerk. He and his family eventually emigrated to Australia.
James, it is said in the family, deserted his duty as a soldier while in Italy during the 2nd world war to be with his Italian mistress. The army found him and put him in Dover prison. On release he brought his Italian mistress to live with him in Grangemouth, living but a street away from his legal wife and three children.
Tommy, I don't really know how to say anything positive about, as he was not safe to have around the children of the family, being a sexual predator. Most of the family would not know this about him, other than the children he picked on, but who never reported him. Like his brother, Charles, he returned to Shetland and worked in the Heyam Sawmills. In old age he married a Shetland lady.
Phyllis married Thomas Anderson and had two children with him, John and Eleanor.
Lyall was my grandfather. While still in Grangemouth he won medals for his athletic skills, particularly excelling in the high jump. He joined the Customs in London, at the Pool of London between Tower Bridge and London Bridge and in 1937 was transferred to the port of Harwich in Essex where he met and married my granny Isabelle Bane. The rest of the family came to live with him at this English seaside town.
Helen married Robert Little and by 1961 was living with one of her daughters, also named Helen, in Lewisham in London. Her other children were John and Margaret. Helen's daughter, Helen, alias Lena, married Hector Cunningham who worked as a saw doctor in Ghana, and who tragically died when he drove smack bang into the back of a lorry that was parked with no lights on. Lena didn't know about this till after he was buried as she'd gone to England for her childrens school holidays and no-one could contact her. She had seven children and they all attended English boarding schools.
Lower row, from the left: Tommy, Phyllis, Lyall, mother Helen, Helen, and father George
The stories of these various children and their futures I have mostly only brief notes on.
William, who had trained in as a butcher's assistant, abandoned that and became a jack of all trades. He moved down to London, and worked as handyman for the Hampstead college. The family actually left Scotland to join him in London for a while. Then, with his Welsh wife, Elizabeth, and their daughter Ann, he moved to Corby and there started up a garage business.
Robert was in the Black Watch Scottish regiment. It is said in the family that he was a bigamist. His youngest son, Hugh, died in a car crash.
Lawrence was never able to be independent enough to look after himself, being the son dropped on his head as a baby. Luckily his sister Kate was devoted to him and played such a role. Upon her death he had to go into a home and was about 75 when he died.
Kate was a lovely, hard working person, who never married but rather devoted herself to caring for not only Lawrence but also the rest of the family. For a while, when the family lived in London, she got a job in service and is recorded in 1936 and 1937 as living in the home of Denise Leonie Eugenie Gluckstein with another domestic Kate Walsh. Kate died from throat cancer.
Charles worked for the sawmills Messrs Inkster, Dunn and Co in Grangemouth and in 1931 leaving to manage a sawmill back in Shetland, belonging to Heyam Co. For 13 years he managed this sawmill in Lerwick, then left to emigrate, firstly to America and then Canada. In Canada he married Nancy and had two children with her, Nancy and George. He died in Canada in 1983.
George was like his brother John in the Gordon Highlanders during the 1st World War, though unlike him survived the trenches. He became a police constable and in such a capacity, at the age of 26, travelled to Bermuda, via America, with a neighbouring lad, Robert Corson, who was also a police constable. In Bermuda George married an English nurse, Agnes Hamilton, with whom had had daughters Doreen and Georgina. By the age of 29 George had taken up work as a first class steward on ship journeys between Bermuda and New York, after which he became a clerk. He and his family eventually emigrated to Australia.
James, it is said in the family, deserted his duty as a soldier while in Italy during the 2nd world war to be with his Italian mistress. The army found him and put him in Dover prison. On release he brought his Italian mistress to live with him in Grangemouth, living but a street away from his legal wife and three children.
Tommy, I don't really know how to say anything positive about, as he was not safe to have around the children of the family, being a sexual predator. Most of the family would not know this about him, other than the children he picked on, but who never reported him. Like his brother, Charles, he returned to Shetland and worked in the Heyam Sawmills. In old age he married a Shetland lady.
Phyllis married Thomas Anderson and had two children with him, John and Eleanor.
Lyall was my grandfather. While still in Grangemouth he won medals for his athletic skills, particularly excelling in the high jump. He joined the Customs in London, at the Pool of London between Tower Bridge and London Bridge and in 1937 was transferred to the port of Harwich in Essex where he met and married my granny Isabelle Bane. The rest of the family came to live with him at this English seaside town.
Helen married Robert Little and by 1961 was living with one of her daughters, also named Helen, in Lewisham in London. Her other children were John and Margaret. Helen's daughter, Helen, alias Lena, married Hector Cunningham who worked as a saw doctor in Ghana, and who tragically died when he drove smack bang into the back of a lorry that was parked with no lights on. Lena didn't know about this till after he was buried as she'd gone to England for her childrens school holidays and no-one could contact her. She had seven children and they all attended English boarding schools.
But back to the present life in Grangemouth where we see that in 1931 on 2nd May an advert had been posted in the local newspaper by the family:
Organ, in first class condition, 11 stops; cheap. - Apply Inkster, 10 Paris Street, Grangemouth
In this year son Lyall won the medal for the YMCA Indoor Athletics for Under 16's.
Organ, in first class condition, 11 stops; cheap. - Apply Inkster, 10 Paris Street, Grangemouth
In this year son Lyall won the medal for the YMCA Indoor Athletics for Under 16's.
In 1932 Laurence Inkster, who was Helen and George's mentally handicapped son, was prosecuted for stealing wood, another man Ure having paid him a shilling to do it. For this they were both fined 40 shillings.
In 1933 son Lyall won the YMCA High Jump record for youths.
In 1933 son Lyall won the YMCA High Jump record for youths.
George and his sons George and Charles all went into business together, dealing with scrap metal, and taking on contracts to demolish buildings, though this came to an abrupt end, in 1934, when they were prosecuted for removing scrap metal from a ruin. One of the sons, George, being at fault in this, his father took the flack for it to give him a clean slate for his future, presenting that he had been responsible. Really no-one had realised they were doing anything wrong.
1934 9th June Saturday report in the Falkirk Herald
Theft Of Scrap Metal From Docks
At Grangemouth Police Court on Thursday
Bailie Drysdale on the bench. An elderly man named George Inkster, labourer, 10 Paris Street, was charged with having on 25th May, from No. 3 berth, Grange Dock, stolen 7 and 3 quarter cwts of scrap metal, value 19s. He tendered a plea of not guilty and was defended by Mr Tom Cassells, solicitor, Falkirk. Evidence was given by John Campbell, permanent way inspector, that in the police office he examined a quantity of scrap metal. It consisted of various pieces of scrap, two small pieces of rail, and two fish plates. The scrap metal, which was lying about the docks, belonged to the Railway Company and no one had any authority to remove it. William Fraser, railway constable, said that he went on duty on Friday, 26th May, at 6 am. He met Inkster on the north side of the dock at 8 am. He had a small handcart with the metal and Inkster was accompanied by his son. He asked Inkster where he got the metal, and he said that he had got it down at the dock. He said he had authority to take it from a scavenger. Witness asked Inkster to accompany him to the police office. William Watt, railway constable, corroborated. Constable James Valentine said that when charged, Inkster said that he took responsibility for taking the scrap. For the defence, Robert Inkster, Hostel, Falkirk, son of the accused, said that he was with his father the previous day when the scavenger mentioned that they could lift the scrap. Accused, in the witness box, said that he did not think the man had any authority to tell him, but he certainly did tell him to take the metal. It was about five years since he stopped working at the docks, and he had been employed there for a period of 8 years. Mr Cassells contended that there was not a bit of evidence to show that there had been any felonious intent on the part of the accused when he took the metal, and he moved for acquittal. Bailie Drysdale said that he had no hesitation in finding the accused guilty of the theft. This was a very painful case in view of the fact that accused was 69 years of age and had not been previously in trouble. He was loath to send him to prison, and in view of all the circumstances he would dismiss him on this occasion with an admonition.
Theft Of Scrap Metal From Docks
At Grangemouth Police Court on Thursday
Bailie Drysdale on the bench. An elderly man named George Inkster, labourer, 10 Paris Street, was charged with having on 25th May, from No. 3 berth, Grange Dock, stolen 7 and 3 quarter cwts of scrap metal, value 19s. He tendered a plea of not guilty and was defended by Mr Tom Cassells, solicitor, Falkirk. Evidence was given by John Campbell, permanent way inspector, that in the police office he examined a quantity of scrap metal. It consisted of various pieces of scrap, two small pieces of rail, and two fish plates. The scrap metal, which was lying about the docks, belonged to the Railway Company and no one had any authority to remove it. William Fraser, railway constable, said that he went on duty on Friday, 26th May, at 6 am. He met Inkster on the north side of the dock at 8 am. He had a small handcart with the metal and Inkster was accompanied by his son. He asked Inkster where he got the metal, and he said that he had got it down at the dock. He said he had authority to take it from a scavenger. Witness asked Inkster to accompany him to the police office. William Watt, railway constable, corroborated. Constable James Valentine said that when charged, Inkster said that he took responsibility for taking the scrap. For the defence, Robert Inkster, Hostel, Falkirk, son of the accused, said that he was with his father the previous day when the scavenger mentioned that they could lift the scrap. Accused, in the witness box, said that he did not think the man had any authority to tell him, but he certainly did tell him to take the metal. It was about five years since he stopped working at the docks, and he had been employed there for a period of 8 years. Mr Cassells contended that there was not a bit of evidence to show that there had been any felonious intent on the part of the accused when he took the metal, and he moved for acquittal. Bailie Drysdale said that he had no hesitation in finding the accused guilty of the theft. This was a very painful case in view of the fact that accused was 69 years of age and had not been previously in trouble. He was loath to send him to prison, and in view of all the circumstances he would dismiss him on this occasion with an admonition.
Having had enough of Grangemouth the family now moved down to London, following son William down there, joining him at a flat in West Hampstead.
After a few years the families verdict on London was that it was too unfriendly.
They then moved to the English seaside at Harwich and Dovercourt where son Lyall had found good work as a customs officer. They were happy at last, staying at the seaside.
They then moved to the English seaside at Harwich and Dovercourt where son Lyall had found good work as a customs officer. They were happy at last, staying at the seaside.
The family is to be seen in Dovercourt in the 1939 Registry living at 1 Elm Terrace, Fronks Road.
George Inkster, born 26th November 1864, railway labourer retired
Helen Inkster, wife, born 6th July 1871, unpaid domestic duties
Laurence A Inkster, son, born 11th February 1894, general labourer
Kate Inkster, daughter, born 31st July 1905, domestic servant
Lyall C Inkster, son, born 20th March 1915, APO Customs & Excise, waterguard department
George Inkster, born 26th November 1864, railway labourer retired
Helen Inkster, wife, born 6th July 1871, unpaid domestic duties
Laurence A Inkster, son, born 11th February 1894, general labourer
Kate Inkster, daughter, born 31st July 1905, domestic servant
Lyall C Inkster, son, born 20th March 1915, APO Customs & Excise, waterguard department
My mother, who was their granddaughter, recalls George and Helen Inkster living on the Main Road, Dovercourt, opposite the Vine garage, in a home with a long garden. On their lounge wall was a painting of Scottish mountains and highland cattle. George would be sitting in a chair. Helen would all the time be knitting, in the Shetland style with four needles, making everything for the family, their jumpers and socks and all else. Helen spoke with the lovely soft Shetland accent and was friendly, like a granny should be.
At the age of 82 George Inkster passed away and was buried in the Dovercourt cemetery, after which Helen and her remaining children, Kate, Lawrence and Tommy, moved up to Edinburgh, to a tenement flat at 9 Roxborough Street. Before leaving she made the others of the family promise that when she died they would bury her in the same grave as her beloved George. As per Helen's wishes, when she died two years later, at the age of 78, her body was transported by train back to Dovercourt and together they lie buried.
In loving memory of a beloved husband and father George Inkster who died 23rd March 1947 aged 82
"Thy will be done"
Also our dear mother Helen Inkster who died 30th November 1949 aged 78
"Thy will be done"
Also our dear mother Helen Inkster who died 30th November 1949 aged 78
My own deeply researched historical look at the Shetland way of life
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It is through my Shetland ancestors that I am descended from the Scottish King James V
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The story of my Shetland grandfather Lyall Inkster