Hugh Ross. I only needed to mention that name and my father would say something along the lines of: “He was colour blind so he never passed out higher than bosun.” Hugh (1849-1927) was his great uncle, an older brother of his grandfather, John, both children of Upper Seatter, North Walls, Orkney. Documentary evidence With | more…
All the surviving photos show John Ross as an older man with a white beard. Perhaps it was grey earlier, like the Ancient Mariner. Fishing and farming John, my great grandfather, spent his whole life in Orkney, crofting and fishing in the parish of Walls. Beyond the bare biographical details, I sadly know very little | more…
Old age, unknown – no medical attendant, phthisis (tuberculosis), these are all causes of death that I come across frequently. Old age is some times described as “senility” but whichever one is used is something of a catch-all, really meaning “we’re not sure but he/she was old”. “Unknown” has much wider application and was an | more…
