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Balfour Tree

All the genealogical information on the early generations of Orcadian Balfours i.e. starting with Michael Balfour of Garth and his wife Margaret Sinclair, appears to be based on a typed document entitled "Orcadian Families - Balfour of Balfour and Trenabie", a copy of which resides in Kirkwall Library. This data is replicated in all the Balfour trees that I have seen, and also features in David Scott's article which appears in this site. However, during a recent visit to the Kirkwall Library, I came across a genealogical notebook written by Colonel David Balfour of Balfour and Trenabie which is at variance with this perceived wisdom. Having regard to the detailed research apparent in this notebook, I have opted to follow Colonel Balfour's notes and this is reflected in the Balfour Tree gedcom file on this site. I have appended both sources, and would appreciate any guidance in determining the true position:

"Orcadian Families"

 David Balfour's Notes

Michael Balfour of Garth m Margaret Sinclair of Quandale  

  1. Patrick of Pharay

  2. Ursilla m James Fea

Patrick of Pharay m Barbara Moodie

  1. George of Pharay

  2. John of Garth m Janet Alexander

  3. Robert of Clouster

  4. Michael in Banks

  5. Barbara m Nicol Moncrieff

  6. Janet m James Kinnaird

George of Pharay m 1. Marjorie Baikie

  1. Patrick of Pharay - predeceased his brother

  2. William of Pharay  - had issue, but no male heir

George of Pharay m 2. Mary Mackenzie

  1. John of Trenabie m Elizabeth Traill

  2. Barbara

  3. Janet

  4. Katherine

  5. Marie

  6. Katherine

Michael in Banks m ?

  1. Patrick of Langskaill

  2. Robina

  3. Rebecca

 

 

 

Michael Balfour of Garth m Margaret Sinclair of Quandale

  1. Patrick of Pharay

  2. Robert of Trenabie, later of Clouster

  3. Michael - ancestor of the Balfours of Langskaill - went to Shetland

  4. John of Garth m Janet Alexander

  5. George

  6. Ursilla m James Fea

  7. Elizabeth m James Sinclair of Gott

Patrick of Pharay m Barbara Moodie

  1. George of Pharay

  2. Robert

George of Pharay m 1. Marjorie Baikie

  1. Patrick of Pharay - predeceased his brother 

  2. William of Pharay - had issue, but no male heir

  3. Barbara m William Traill of Westness

  4. Marjorie m  John Laing in Lopness

  5. Katherine

  6. Elizabeth

  7. Isabella

George of Pharay m 2. Mary Mackenzie

  1. John of Trenabie m Elizabeth Traill

  2. James - went to Bruges

  3. Murdoch - died abroad

  4. George - died abroad

  5. Alexander - died abroad

  6. Thomas - died abroad

 

 

 

There are several obvious differences, the main one being the relationship of Patrick of Pharay with Michael, Robert of Trenabie/Clouster and John of Garth. I am also tempted to believe that Michael in Banks and the Michael who went to Shetland are one in the same, particularly as both sets of data link Michael with Langskaill. The farm of Banks is in Rousay but I have come across nothing in David Balfour's notes to suggest that any Balfour possessed  property in this island at that time.  

Probably the most glaring error in all the family trees - including my own - is the assumption that Siward, the first known ancestor of the Balfours, was Earl of Northumbria. After some early research I began to suspect that this could not be the case as I was unable to establish a link between the Earl and the early Balfours. It is more likely that our Siward came in to Scotland during the reign of Duncan (1033 - 1039), probably in the train of his countrywoman Queen Sybil the daughter of Siward, Earl of Northumbria.

I have generated four ancestor trees from the one gedcom file in an attempt to represent the following lines:

  1. The Balfours who removed from Westray to the farm of Breck in Rendall (a mainland Orkney parish).
  2. The senior line - Balfour of Balfour and Trenabie. I believe that this line has no male issue.
  3. Edinburgh.
  4. Canada.

Please click on the "Balfour Tree" icon to access the tree itself.