The Smith Connection

There is a series of marriages between the Smith Family of Orkney and the descendents of Robert Clouston (1709-82)of Nisthouse. Robert's daughter Margaret married George Smith in 1777. In 1815 Robert Clouston (1786-1857),her nephew, married Janet Smith daughter of George's brother William. These marriages are proven. A lot of circumstancial proof exists for the third marriage. In 1860 Joseph Matthew Clouston (1824-1904) eldest son of Robert's brother George (1788-c.1850), was in urgent need of a wife after the death of his first wife Sarah Reed. Within 9 months he married a Christiana Smith (1830-1908). According to her marriage certificate her father was Edward Smith. Later census returns give her place of birth as Orkney. Janet's brother Edward had a daughter of the same name born about 1830 who disappeared before the 1861 census and did not appear to have married in Orkney.