Thomas Slater died on 6 May 1868 in Kirkwall, Orkney, as the result of “a gunshot wound, tetanus 4 days”, according to his death registration. He was just 18 and a younger brother of one of my maternal great grandfathers, William H Slater. It is from newspapers that I learned more about the circumstances of | more…
“Stick in”, a phrase I associate with James Slater, Pa as we called him, my maternal grandfather. Born in poverty, he crossed the globe, returned to Orkney, bought and grew his own farm, working hard and innovatively. (It should also be said that I write from the perspective of the first child of his favourite | more…
There were several teachers in my family tree but I’m focusing on one this time: Auntie Mimie. Tomima Slater (1892-1956) Auntie Mimie was born at Gara, Orphir on 18 January 1892, the ninth child of William H Slater and Tomima Groundwater. The family was poor, work was scarce. My maternal grandfather, James, one of her | more…
