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| Title |
Kirkwall in the Orkneys |
| Short Title |
Book - Kirkwall in the Orkneys (Hossack) |
| Author |
Buckham Hugh Hossack |
| Publisher |
Published 1900 in Kirkwall, William Peace and Son. Online at: http://books.google.com/books?id=DRsNAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA205&dq=%22john+heddle%22&ei=wXVDR7eJOJy-swOSsYTaBg
Page 205-206 has information on a house purchased by John Heddle MD, plus family information. |
| Source ID |
S104 |
| Text |
Page 205-206:
In 1803 this property, then in a very ruinous condition, was exposed for sale by public roup, Edward Gorie being auctioneer, and was knocked down at £510 to Dr John Heddle, Surgeon of the Forces. The new proprietor at once gave his mother, Mrs Elizabeth Flett, widow of John Heddle, a liferent interest in the houses he had purchased. Dr Heddle's father was John Heddle, Town Clerk of Kirkwall. He married, 1772, Elizabeth Flett, daughter of John Flett, merchant, Cletts, South Ronaldshay, in which island the Fletts had held lands from a very remote period. John Heddle and his wife had sixteen children, the eldest being John, " Surgeon to the Forces." Dr Heddle is believed to have been he first officer who ever picked up and threw overboard a live shell, though since his time the feat has been performed more than once. In his case the margin of time was so narrow that the shell, bursting just as it struck the water, destroyed several of the Doctor's fingers. When the British garrison evacuated Goree, Heddle stuck to the place, and, with the help of the natives and a few white people who adhered to him, beat off the enemy, with the result that the Doctor negotiated the terms of the evacuation. Being a non-combatant, all he obtained from the Government was a reprimand for not being in his place in the rear with the wounded, though the British had retreated without the loss of a man. The Trustees of the Patriotic Fund, however, voted him a piece of silver plate and an address of thanks for his conduct. He died unmarried, but left three illegitimate children, one of whom was killed in Western Africa fighting under Sir Charles Macartney. There are Heddles yet on the west coast of Africa*
Dr Baikie enjoyed at Sierra Leone the hospitality of one of them :— "To Mr Heddle I stand especially indebted ; his house was during the whole time my home, a large and airy apartment was set aside for me for writing in and for receiving deputations from the coloured population, and all my enquiries were most kindly furthered." This was, in 1854, on the Doctor's way home from his first expedition to the Niger. His second expedition proved fatal to himself, and here, in Mr Heddle's house, he died, 12th Dec. 1864.
In 1817, Robert Heddle, Paymaster of His Majesty's Royal African Regiment of Foot, succeeded to the property of his brother, Dr John. Mr John Tait, merchant, bought the house in Albert Street from Robert Heddle of Melsetter, and built a new house on the site. He also erected a storehouse at the foot of his yard, and as this encroached on the Peerie Sea, he was called to account by the vigilant magistrates ; but as Mr Tait had set his house back from the frontage of the former tenement, thus widening the street, he was graciously allowed to build the sea wall of his storehouse in the water. This is now represented by the office of Mr T. S. Peace, architect.
* Information received from J. G. Moodie-Heddle, Esq. of Melsetter. |
| Linked to (6) |
David Flett, of Gruthay
Elizabeth Flett
John Flett
John Flett, , Merchant
John Flett, of Gruthay
Dr. John Heddle, Of Cletts |
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