1793

The Rev John Menzies recorded statistics for the united parishes of Bressay, Burra & Quarff. The population had increased from 1098 in 1775 to 1225 in 1792-93. Bressay & Noss had 117 families with 670 members (309 males & 361 females). Quarff had 36 families with 178 members (77 males & 101 females). Burra, Havera & Papa had 63 families with 377 members (173 males & 204 females). Bressay had 26 fishing boats, Quarff 5 and Burra, Havera & Papa 28 smaller boats. In the whole of the parish there were 6 plows, 5000 sheep and 500 milk cows, 2 kirks, 1 school. There were 70 servants, 11 tailors, 2 smiths, 4 shoemakers, 2 carpenters, 1 joiner and 1 wheelwright.

April

20th
Orkney & Shetland Battalion of Fencible Men installed by Major Cmdt. Thomas Balfour. Of the originally three companies two were dissolved in 1799 with the Shetland company being kept until 1802.

26th
The De Jonge Cornelius, a fishing vessel, of The Netherlands, en route for the fishing grounds off Iceland, drove from anchor in Bressay Sound and wrecked on the coast of Bressay. All of the crew were saved.

2nd
The Elizabeth (1793), a sloop registered in Leith, Scotland, wrecked on Linga, while in passage through Bluemull Sound. All of the crew were saved.

19th
The Enterprise (1793), a brigantine registered in Dundee, Scotland,in passage laden with a cargo of timber from Norway, for Sligo, Ireland, drove from anchor and wrecked in Gloup Voe, Yell. All of the crew were saved.

The Hero (1793), a privateer registered in the UK, laden with a cargo of timber and alcohol wrecked at Channerwick, Dunrossness. All of the crew were lost.

The Alexander, a sloop of Gardenstown, Banff, Scotland wrecked in St Ninian's Bay, Bigton.

1792 < - > 1794