Situated just 400 miles south of the Arctic Circle the earliest prehistory of the Shetlands recorded though archaeological sites traces Neolithic human activity, notably Pictish people on the Islands back to 4300 BC. From 800 AD the Islands were dominated by the Vikings who raided and traded from Scandinavia. It would be another 500 years before the Islands came to rely upon firstly the Kingdom of Scotland and then the United Kingdom.
In 1266 King Alexander 3rd of Scotland and the King of Norway signed the Treaty of Perth, this gave Scotland the Isle of Man and the Hebrides but kept Orkney and Shetland under Norwegian control.
200 years later, Orkney and Shetland were “pawned” to the King James 3rd by King Christian 1st of Norway to raise part of the dowry for the marriage of his daughter Margaret. The only obligation was to retain the language and laws of Norway. Whilst attempts were made over the next 120 years by Norway (and later Denmark) to redeem these arrangements, Scotland simply avoided the issue and eventually England's Queen Anne incorporated Scotland (including Shetland) into Great Britain under the 1707 Act of Union.
While fishing underpinned the Shetland economy, farming continued too. Despite all their hard and productive work Shetlanders found themselves in constant debt to landlords who controlled every aspect of the economy and of life in general: the land, crofts, shops, boats and even the fish catches themselves.The whaling industry grew in the second half of the 19th century and the kelp industry (seaweed burnt to make potash and soda for soap, glass and other products) was introduced.
British rule though came at price. Shetlander's nautical skills were sought by the Royal Navy and some 3,000 men served or were press ganged during the Napoleonic Wars (1800 to 1815). Then, and between 1861 and 1881 more than 8,000 Shetlanders emigrated. With the passing of the Crofters Act in 1886, crofters were set free from the rule of the landlords enabling many to become owner-occupiers of their own small farms. Fishermen befitted from the herring industry that boomed from around 1880 until 1920 by which time World War 1 had destroyed the market. Emigration increased once more during the next 20 years.
The Second World War brought another temporary economic boom so that by 1960 prospects for the Shetlander's were improving because of fishing, agriculture, knitwear and tourism. When oil and gas were discovered offshore in the early 1970's the community used the revenues to improve social care, conserve the environment and promote the arts, sport and economic development.
In 1266 King Alexander 3rd of Scotland and the King of Norway signed the Treaty of Perth, this gave Scotland the Isle of Man and the Hebrides but kept Orkney and Shetland under Norwegian control.
200 years later, Orkney and Shetland were “pawned” to the King James 3rd by King Christian 1st of Norway to raise part of the dowry for the marriage of his daughter Margaret. The only obligation was to retain the language and laws of Norway. Whilst attempts were made over the next 120 years by Norway (and later Denmark) to redeem these arrangements, Scotland simply avoided the issue and eventually England's Queen Anne incorporated Scotland (including Shetland) into Great Britain under the 1707 Act of Union.
While fishing underpinned the Shetland economy, farming continued too. Despite all their hard and productive work Shetlanders found themselves in constant debt to landlords who controlled every aspect of the economy and of life in general: the land, crofts, shops, boats and even the fish catches themselves.The whaling industry grew in the second half of the 19th century and the kelp industry (seaweed burnt to make potash and soda for soap, glass and other products) was introduced.
British rule though came at price. Shetlander's nautical skills were sought by the Royal Navy and some 3,000 men served or were press ganged during the Napoleonic Wars (1800 to 1815). Then, and between 1861 and 1881 more than 8,000 Shetlanders emigrated. With the passing of the Crofters Act in 1886, crofters were set free from the rule of the landlords enabling many to become owner-occupiers of their own small farms. Fishermen befitted from the herring industry that boomed from around 1880 until 1920 by which time World War 1 had destroyed the market. Emigration increased once more during the next 20 years.
The Second World War brought another temporary economic boom so that by 1960 prospects for the Shetlander's were improving because of fishing, agriculture, knitwear and tourism. When oil and gas were discovered offshore in the early 1970's the community used the revenues to improve social care, conserve the environment and promote the arts, sport and economic development.
The beginning of the Laurenson Line.
Family bible records show that the "Laurensons" had been living in the Quoys, Catfirth, Nesting area since 1688, although from Shetland Island records it is 1745 before a Laurence Lawrenson appears. He is a fisherman and in 1765 marries Catherine Dempster. They have at least 3 children Arthur b 1774, Laurence b 1776 and Magnus b 1785.
Magnus Laurenson (1785 - 1851) was the youngest son of Laurence and Catherine - he too lives his whole life in Quoys, Catfirth, Nesting. During his lifetime the 1841 census arrives and from those recorded details it can be seen that his marriage in 1799 (as a 14/15 year) was also to a local girl, Janet Hunter. Their children are Catherine b 1801, Dempster b 1802, Margaret b 1804, Barbara b 1807, Peter b 1810, John b 1811, Bruce Inches b 1812, Christina b 1814 and Janet b 1818. Most of his life Magnus is a farmer on his own small-holding. He dies aged 66 on 3 January 1851.
Dempster Laurenson (1802 - 1892) again of the Quoys, Catfirth, Nesting and eldest son of Magnus and Janet Laurenson (nee Hunter) was born in September 1802. After his schooling, and in his early teens, he becomes a fisherman, not locally but at at Far Haaf, a dangerous deep-sea fishing ground off Shetland and Orkney Islands. When just 15 years old he found himself shipwrecked at Out Skerries (some 25 miles from Lerwick) but was rescued by another boat captained by Robert Robertson from Lunnasting. He took Dempster home with him and that is where he meets Janet Robertson who later became his wife.
By 1828 Dempster had given up the sea and began boat building. Self-taught he built over 400 boats. He also made spinning wheels, one of which was displayed in John White and Co., Edinburgh.
Following his marriage to Janet Hunter on Christmas Eve 1829 they have a son John b 1831, but sadly he dies as an infant. Next came Magnus born in June 1837. Tragically Dempster loses his wife Janet in late 1841 but in August 1842 re-marries to Barbara Wishart, twenty years his junior and one of the two servant girls employed by his father Magnus. Barbara goes on to give Dempster nine children; Janet b 1843, Elizabeth b 1844, John b 1846, Agnes b 1850, William b 1853, Magnus b 1855, Bruce b 1857, Mary b 1858 and Barbara b 1860.
Each census return gives a little glimpse of the Laurenson's life after that, and in 1861 the complete family (eleven souls) are at home including baby Barbara, all in the one crofters cottage. Over the next ten years Dempster sees his children leave home and marry; Agnes in 1871, Elizabeth in 1872, John in 1873, William in 1874, Bruce in 1877 and Mary in 1881. In between these children (who all marry in Shetland) is Magnus who, because of his seafaring career, has moved away to the English mainland where in July 1878 he marries Mary Ann McNamee in South Shields, a port on the River Tyne. Whatever profits boat building might have earned Dempster it can be assumed that much of it went on contributing to these many weddings!
In 1891 the census shows that now, in Quoys, three residences alongside each other are all owned, rented and occupied by the Laurenson's. Remarkably Dempster is still working at his trade at the age of 89 although it seems he is trying to pass the business on to his son John, his next door neighbour. On Tuesday 20 September 1892 the ninety year old Dempster passes away at home. The community are all effected and have a small and touching obituary written up for him in the Shetland Times. His 68 year old widow Barbara survives him by another 22 years until 1914.
Following his own schooling, Dempster's third son Magnus Laurenson (1855 - 1914) would have been well aware of his father's reputation as a boat-builder and other than following him or becoming a crofter or fisherman, it is doubtful there was much other work to choose. As a Shetlander it was his nautical skills that were highly sought after and so aged 18, he says goodbye to his Shetland family (the only one to do so in recent times) and joins the merchant navy. The port of South Shields on the River Tyne drew many men from Shetland and it's there, apart from his job, that he meets Mary Ann Mcnamee. They marry in July 1878.
As happens so many times and to so many people, Magnus and Mary Ann suffer the loss of a child, their first, a girl they named Mary Ann, born in January 1879 and who at 10 months, dies in October 1879. Two years later another daughter Agnes Marie is born whilst Magnus is serving as a seaman onboard the collier ss Charles Mitchell en-route to London. More children follow; Catherine b May 1883, May b May 1885 (dies January 1887), John William b May 1887 and Alfred b April 1889. The family are living in Robertson Street - part of South Shields' 19th century grid of terraced streets near the Lawe Top with its two up two down houses, the shared backyards (and middens), back lanes, cobbles, corner shops, ale houses and pubs and always the neighbours close by.
Five more children arrive, Ethel b 1891, Barbara b 1893, May b 1895, Robert b 1897 and Nora b 1900. They move to Heugh Street, not because of better accommodation but because it has more rooms albeit still a place of overcrowding, poor sanitary facilities and where poverty was no stranger. Magnus retires from seafaring to work in the local dockyard. Sadly Magnus dies because of complications in his illness on 31 January 1914. He was just 57.
Family bible records show that the "Laurensons" had been living in the Quoys, Catfirth, Nesting area since 1688, although from Shetland Island records it is 1745 before a Laurence Lawrenson appears. He is a fisherman and in 1765 marries Catherine Dempster. They have at least 3 children Arthur b 1774, Laurence b 1776 and Magnus b 1785.
Magnus Laurenson (1785 - 1851) was the youngest son of Laurence and Catherine - he too lives his whole life in Quoys, Catfirth, Nesting. During his lifetime the 1841 census arrives and from those recorded details it can be seen that his marriage in 1799 (as a 14/15 year) was also to a local girl, Janet Hunter. Their children are Catherine b 1801, Dempster b 1802, Margaret b 1804, Barbara b 1807, Peter b 1810, John b 1811, Bruce Inches b 1812, Christina b 1814 and Janet b 1818. Most of his life Magnus is a farmer on his own small-holding. He dies aged 66 on 3 January 1851.
Dempster Laurenson (1802 - 1892) again of the Quoys, Catfirth, Nesting and eldest son of Magnus and Janet Laurenson (nee Hunter) was born in September 1802. After his schooling, and in his early teens, he becomes a fisherman, not locally but at at Far Haaf, a dangerous deep-sea fishing ground off Shetland and Orkney Islands. When just 15 years old he found himself shipwrecked at Out Skerries (some 25 miles from Lerwick) but was rescued by another boat captained by Robert Robertson from Lunnasting. He took Dempster home with him and that is where he meets Janet Robertson who later became his wife.
By 1828 Dempster had given up the sea and began boat building. Self-taught he built over 400 boats. He also made spinning wheels, one of which was displayed in John White and Co., Edinburgh.
Following his marriage to Janet Hunter on Christmas Eve 1829 they have a son John b 1831, but sadly he dies as an infant. Next came Magnus born in June 1837. Tragically Dempster loses his wife Janet in late 1841 but in August 1842 re-marries to Barbara Wishart, twenty years his junior and one of the two servant girls employed by his father Magnus. Barbara goes on to give Dempster nine children; Janet b 1843, Elizabeth b 1844, John b 1846, Agnes b 1850, William b 1853, Magnus b 1855, Bruce b 1857, Mary b 1858 and Barbara b 1860.
Each census return gives a little glimpse of the Laurenson's life after that, and in 1861 the complete family (eleven souls) are at home including baby Barbara, all in the one crofters cottage. Over the next ten years Dempster sees his children leave home and marry; Agnes in 1871, Elizabeth in 1872, John in 1873, William in 1874, Bruce in 1877 and Mary in 1881. In between these children (who all marry in Shetland) is Magnus who, because of his seafaring career, has moved away to the English mainland where in July 1878 he marries Mary Ann McNamee in South Shields, a port on the River Tyne. Whatever profits boat building might have earned Dempster it can be assumed that much of it went on contributing to these many weddings!
In 1891 the census shows that now, in Quoys, three residences alongside each other are all owned, rented and occupied by the Laurenson's. Remarkably Dempster is still working at his trade at the age of 89 although it seems he is trying to pass the business on to his son John, his next door neighbour. On Tuesday 20 September 1892 the ninety year old Dempster passes away at home. The community are all effected and have a small and touching obituary written up for him in the Shetland Times. His 68 year old widow Barbara survives him by another 22 years until 1914.
Following his own schooling, Dempster's third son Magnus Laurenson (1855 - 1914) would have been well aware of his father's reputation as a boat-builder and other than following him or becoming a crofter or fisherman, it is doubtful there was much other work to choose. As a Shetlander it was his nautical skills that were highly sought after and so aged 18, he says goodbye to his Shetland family (the only one to do so in recent times) and joins the merchant navy. The port of South Shields on the River Tyne drew many men from Shetland and it's there, apart from his job, that he meets Mary Ann Mcnamee. They marry in July 1878.
As happens so many times and to so many people, Magnus and Mary Ann suffer the loss of a child, their first, a girl they named Mary Ann, born in January 1879 and who at 10 months, dies in October 1879. Two years later another daughter Agnes Marie is born whilst Magnus is serving as a seaman onboard the collier ss Charles Mitchell en-route to London. More children follow; Catherine b May 1883, May b May 1885 (dies January 1887), John William b May 1887 and Alfred b April 1889. The family are living in Robertson Street - part of South Shields' 19th century grid of terraced streets near the Lawe Top with its two up two down houses, the shared backyards (and middens), back lanes, cobbles, corner shops, ale houses and pubs and always the neighbours close by.
Five more children arrive, Ethel b 1891, Barbara b 1893, May b 1895, Robert b 1897 and Nora b 1900. They move to Heugh Street, not because of better accommodation but because it has more rooms albeit still a place of overcrowding, poor sanitary facilities and where poverty was no stranger. Magnus retires from seafaring to work in the local dockyard. Sadly Magnus dies because of complications in his illness on 31 January 1914. He was just 57.
Magnus' eldest daughter, Agnes Marie Laurenson (1881 - 1966) was baptised on 1 June 1881 at St Stephens Church and in her early days lived at Robertson Street, South Shields which ran between Baring Street and Mile End Road and as it would turn out, close to Heugh Street where many years later the family would reside. Whilst at St. Stephen's National School Agnes would have had to help her mother with the four younger siblings. Perhaps it was just as well that Agnes learnt Dressmaker skills to help keep them clothed.
On the 13 July 1902, Agnes marries Alfred Walker and they take rooms in 56 Heugh Street, home for the next 25 years. Children soon arrive, Alfred in February 1903, Harry in October 1905, Madge in April 1907, Lily in July 1908, and Joseph in November 1909. Sadly Madge dies in June 1911 aged 4 years. In 1912 another son Roy is born.
As husband Alfred is in a job considered vital to the war effort (Shipyard work), he is spared a call-up for WW1 but Agnes' brother John who is of a similar age is not as fortunate and joins the Durham Light Infantry to fight in the Second Battle of the Somme. He dies there on 27 August 1918 from injuries sustained in battle and is buried in the Bagneux British Cemetery at Gezaincourt. Thankfully in November 1918 the war ends - but of course life and times remain hard. Husband Alfred is still in good work and although they have cramped and somewhat derelict rooms to lodge in, it is home. This is where the twins Olive and Jack are born on 12 October 1921 but with sadness Jack dies before he is 3 months old. Unexpectedly and 6 years later, in March 1926, another son Robert (Bobbie) is born.
Sometime in the mid 1930's the whole area around Heugh Street is demolished. Agnes and the family move to new housing at Harton. This move to Highfield Drive added to the matriarchal standing she already enjoyed. Agnes, as was Alfred, were both thankful and proud of their family for producing thirteen grandchildren, six of whom (at one time) lived in the same street. as them. On 15 April 1961 Alfred died - he was 82. Five years later on 5 December 1966 Agnes Marie Walker nee Laurenson also passes away.
On the 13 July 1902, Agnes marries Alfred Walker and they take rooms in 56 Heugh Street, home for the next 25 years. Children soon arrive, Alfred in February 1903, Harry in October 1905, Madge in April 1907, Lily in July 1908, and Joseph in November 1909. Sadly Madge dies in June 1911 aged 4 years. In 1912 another son Roy is born.
As husband Alfred is in a job considered vital to the war effort (Shipyard work), he is spared a call-up for WW1 but Agnes' brother John who is of a similar age is not as fortunate and joins the Durham Light Infantry to fight in the Second Battle of the Somme. He dies there on 27 August 1918 from injuries sustained in battle and is buried in the Bagneux British Cemetery at Gezaincourt. Thankfully in November 1918 the war ends - but of course life and times remain hard. Husband Alfred is still in good work and although they have cramped and somewhat derelict rooms to lodge in, it is home. This is where the twins Olive and Jack are born on 12 October 1921 but with sadness Jack dies before he is 3 months old. Unexpectedly and 6 years later, in March 1926, another son Robert (Bobbie) is born.
Sometime in the mid 1930's the whole area around Heugh Street is demolished. Agnes and the family move to new housing at Harton. This move to Highfield Drive added to the matriarchal standing she already enjoyed. Agnes, as was Alfred, were both thankful and proud of their family for producing thirteen grandchildren, six of whom (at one time) lived in the same street. as them. On 15 April 1961 Alfred died - he was 82. Five years later on 5 December 1966 Agnes Marie Walker nee Laurenson also passes away.