Magnus Twatt

MAGNUS TWATT

Magnus Twatt is the son of John Twatt and his wife Ann Manson. He was born in 1751, probably at Kirbister in the Orkney parish of Orphir, in Scotland. [Full Circle: An Orkney family Reunited after 200 Years Separated by Distance and Culture. By Kim Twatt, (Herald Printshop, Kirkwall,2007), p. 3]

Hudson's Bay Company Servant, 1771-1801

Magnus Twatt entered the service of the Hudson's Bay Company in 1771. He was employed at York Factory during the years 1771-93, as a labourer at first but afterwards as a carpenter and canoeman. During the years 1794-1800 he was employed at the York Infland post in similar capacities but after his return from Orkney he was employed as a Trader. Hudson's Bay Company Biographical Sheets

Orkney 1795-6

Magnus Twatt returned hom to Orkney for a visit in 1795. He travelled home on the ship King George and arrived in Orkney on 3 November 1795. While he was at home he made his last will and testament. The deed was signed on 24 June 1796 and it was witnessed by David Geddes and Mary Cruikshanks, merchants in Stromness. He left his widowed mother Ann Manson a lifetime annuity of ten pounds sterling, which was to pass to his sisters Helen and Jean after her decease. The residue of his estate was to be used to establish a school at Kirbister in his home parish of Orphir, and, in the event that there was any surplus it was to be distributed among the poor of the parish. [Kim Twatt, Full Circle: An Orkney family Reunited after 200 Years Separated by Distance and Culture (Herald Printshop, Kirkwall,2007), p. 10]

Death

Magnus Twatt died on 23 October 1801 during a trip to Carrot River. Hudson's Bay Company Biographical Sheets The master of Cumberland House made the following entry in his journal on 21 October 1801: "at eleven p.m. by the arrival of Magnus Twatt's two sons and their mother I received the melancholy news of that worthy servant being in a delirious state having lost the power of all the lower part of his body and what is to be more lamented I cannot get him to this place the distance being too great, and was almost gone two days ago [Kim Twatt, Full Circle: An Orkney family Reunited after 200 Years Separated by Distance and Culture (Herald Printshop, Kirkwall,2007), p. 11]

Marriage

Magnus Twatt married a canadian First Nation woman named Margaret.Hudson's Bay Company Biographical Sheets She was a Cree woman. [Kim Twatt, Full Circle: An Orkney family Reunited after 200 Years Separated by Distance and Culture (Herald Printshop, Kirkwall,2007), p. 13]

Children

1. Elizabeth Betsy Twatt
2. Mansack Twatt
3. Willock Twatt

Orkney Sasine Abridgements

                   1

13 December 1806: Magnus Twatt of York Factory in Hudson’s Bay, seised 12 December 1806; - in two acres of ground being part of the South Mill Breck of Orphir in the town of Kirbuster, parish of Orphir, on feu disposition by Sir William Honyman of Armadale and Graemsay, one of the Senators of the College of Justice, 27 September 1806. P.R. 10. 10. [Orkney Library and Archives: Printed Sasine Abridgements for 1806, sasine abridgement number 695]

Note: The school provided for by Magnus Twatt's last will and testament was built upon the ground mentioned here. It was known as the Twatt Mortification School. Magnus Twatt died on 23 October 1801 but the ground was purchased by his Trustees. [Kim Twatt, Full Circle: An Orkney family Reunited after 200 Years Separated by Distance and Culture (Herald Printshop, Kirkwall,2007), pp. 14-15]

                   2

5 June 1807: The Trustees of Magnus Twatt of York Factory in Hudson’s Bay, seised 19 March 1807; - in the lands and island of Graemsay, and other lands, in security of £700, on bond and disposition by Sir William Honyman of Armadale and Graemsay, one of the Senators of the College of Justice, 16 March 1807. P. R. 10. 97. [Orkney Library and Archives: Printed Sasine Abridgements for 1807, sasine abridgement number 715]

Note: The income from the bond for £700 was used for the maintenance of the school and to pay the teacher. The Twatt Mortification Trust was re-named The Orkney Education Trust in 1933. [Kim Twatt, Full Circle: An Orkney family Reunited after 200 Years Separated by Distance and Culture (Herald Printshop, Kirkwall,2007), pp. 14-15]