Person:Ann Flett (3)

Ann Flett was born on 11th March 1785 and baptised a week later at Kirkwall in Orkney, daughter of Catherine Eunson and her husband Magnus Flett, a farmer.

On 9th March 1811, two days before her 26th birthday, Ann married a ship carpenter called Harry Clouston from Stenness, about ten miles to the west of Kirkwall. They married at Kirkwall, but then settled in Stenness after their marriage, having four children baptised there between 1812 and 1819.

Harry died at the age of 39, being buried at Stenness on 12th February 1822. His burial notes that he had lived in the Ireland area of Stenness, to the south-west of the parish. Ann’s youngest daughter, Jean (or Jane), was just three years old at the time.

Ann returned to Kirkwall, where the 1841 census finds her living on High Street with her daughter Jean and working as a straw plaiter. It is not clear when Ann’s parents died, but her mother was still alive at the time of the 1841 census, when she was said to be 95 years old and she was living with Ann’s brother Magnus and his family who had settled on the island of Stronsay.

The 1851 census finds Ann living in Stromness with her daughter Jean, who by that time had married and had children of her own. Ann was still working as a straw plaiter. Jean and her family emigrated to Australia shortly after that census.

By the time of the 1861 census Ann was again living in her native town of Kirkwall, where she lived in one room at 5 Wellington Street with a lodger. Ann died at Wellington Street on 13th October 1861, aged 76. She had been a widow for nearly forty years.

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Scotland. Old Parish Registers, Births & Baptisms. (Edinburgh, Scotland: ScotlandsPeople (National Records of Scotland))
   021/30 20.

   1785 / Baptisms / Flett / Ann lawful Daughter of Magnus Flett & Catherine Eunson was born 11th March & baptized the 18th by Mr Barry. Witnesses James Allen and Anne Sinclair

2. ↑ General Register Office for Scotland. 1841 Scotland Census. (Edinburgh)
   021/7/5, 6 Jun 1841.

   Address: High Street, Kirkwall, Orkney
   Ann Clouston, female, 50 [1786-91], Straw plaiter, born in county
   Jean Clouston, female, 20 [1816-21], Hat dresser, born in county

3. ↑ General Register Office for Scotland. 1851 Scotland Census. (Edinburgh)
   30/3/3, 30 Mar 1851.

   Address: Louttits Pier, Stromness, Orkney
   John Louttit, head, married, male, 31 [1819/20], Blacksmith, b. Tankerness, Orkney
   Jean Louttit, wife, married, female, 31 [1819/20], b. Stenness, Orkney
   William Louttit, son, male, 8 [1842/3], Scholar, b. Kirkwall, Orkney
   Jemima Louttit, daughter, female, 6 [1844/5], Scholar, b. Stromness, Orkney
   Ann Louttit, daughter, female, 5 [1845/6], b. Stromness, Orkney
   Jean Louttit, daughter, female, 2 [1848/9], b. Stromness, Orkney
   Ann Clouston, mother in law, widow, female, 63 [1787/8], Straw Plaiter, b. Kirkwall, Orkney
   John Allan, visitor, married, male, 27 [1823/4], Hawker (Hardware), b. Kirkwall, Orkney
   Helen Allan, visitor, married, female, 20 [1830/1], b. Rousay, Orkney

4. ↑ General Register Office for Scotland. 1861 Scotland Census. (Edinburgh)
   021/1/2, 7 Apr 1861.

   Address: 5 Wellington Street, Kirkwall, Orkney
   1 room with windows
   Ann Clouston, head, widow, female, 74 [1786/7], Pauper, b. Kirkwall, Orkney
   Jean Spence, lodger, unmarried, female, 62 [1798/9], Agricultural Labourer, b. Kirkwall, Orkney

5. ↑ Death register, in General Register Office for Scotland. Civil Registration.

   1861. DEATHS in the District of Kirkwall in the County of Orkney
   No. 100
   Name and Surname: Anne Clouston
   Rank or Profession, and whether Single, Married, or Widowed: Pauper (Widow of Henry Clouston, Ship Carpenter)
   When and Where Died: 1861 October Thirteenth 3h30m P.M. / Wellington Street, Kirkwall
   Sex: F
   Age: 77 years
   Name, Surname, & Rank or Profession of Father: Magnus Flett, Farmer (deceased)
   Name, and Maiden Surname of Mother: Catherine Flett M.S. Eunson (Deceased)
   Cause of Death, Duration of Disease, and Medical Attendant by whom certified: Old age / No Medical Attendant
   Signature & Qualification of Informant, and Residence, if out of the House in which the Death occurred: Henry Meil, Nephew / Corse, Kirkwall
   When and where Registered, and Signature of Registrar: 1861 October 14th at Kirkwall / John Watson, Int. Registrar