| Notes |
- John Gifford, younger of Busta born 20th September 1716, was unfortunately drowned along with his brothers Robert, William and Hay, and his cousin Mr. John Fisken, minister of Delting, on Saturday 17th May 1748 while returning from a visit to their uncle, Andrew Gifford, at Weathersta. By this sad disaster the whole surviving male isuue of Thomas Gifford met their doom. At this crisis a young lady named Barbara Pitcairn, daughter of George Pitcairn, shipmaster in Lerwick, who was residing in the house as companion to Mrs. Gifford, announced that she had been privately married to John, and was soon to become the mother of a child, who might prove to be an heir to the estates. The evdence of this marriage in the shape of the marriage lines, it is alleged, was taken by Barbara Pitcairn from the pocket of John Gifford's coat when his body was brought ashore. This paper, it is said, fell into the possession of Mrs. Gifford, who suppressed it and concealed it in a drawer, where Andrew Gifford of Ollaberry pretended he found it in 1802. This document was said to be in the following terms, "At Busta, 8th Decemer 1747. These certify that this day John Gifford of Busta, younger, and Barbara Pitcairn there, were duly married in the presence of William Gifford nd Hay Gifford his brothers. John Fisken, minister." At any rate, Barbara did not maintain her claim very strongly, for she retired to Lerwick, where she lived and died 5th May 1766, always bearing her maiden name. In due time, in November 1748, her child was born, it is alleged in a garret at Busta House, and it turned out to be a boy, on whom the name of Gideon was bestowed. Whatever may have been the feelings of Lady Busta towards the child, his grandfather seemed to regard him in no unfavourable light, for he entailed his whole estates in his favour, and on his death the boy succeeded him.
[Zetland Family Histories, Sir Francis J. Grant, Lerwick 1907]
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1717 - 1748 (31 years)