Never let it be said the Radnor Street Cemetery team never go that extra mile to bring you an interesting story?

On a recent trip to the Orkney Islands, Noel took a wander around the churchyard at St. Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall, where this headstone caught his eye.

I popped the name Robert Yorston into Google search and was amazed to discover a heap of information thanks to the family history research of Ray Millar (it’s never usually that easy).

As an introduction to his family history page Ray tells how he began his research in 2004. His family originated from the Orkney Islands before emigrating to Australia, New Zealand and Canada, so possibly Ray lives in one of these countries.

His work on Robert Yorston is pretty extensive and I hope he will not mind me using it here.

Ray includes two newspaper reports. The first published in the Rosshire Journal of December 24, 1887 following Robert’s 100th birthday.

Mr. Robert Yorston, a burgess of Kirkwall, who recently completed the 100th year of his age, was visited by Provost Reid, Bailies Peace and Irvine, and his minister, the Rev. David Webster, of the United Presbyterian Church, the other day, and was presented by the provost, on behalf of certain well-wishers, with a purse of sovereigns.

The deputation found the old man in bed, but quite able to sit up and receive his friends. He suffers no pain, is in full possession of all his faculties except hearing, which is a little impaired ; and though feeble is able with some help to leave his bed daily, and sit for a while in his old arm chair.

He is quite contented and happy, his mind clear, and his memory fairly good. On the day which closed his 100th year, Robert had shaved himself, when his face looked clean and smooth like that of a young man, with not a wrinkle on it.

Robert Yorston was born in Kirkwall on the 10th December, 1786. His father and grandfather belonged to the island of Rousay, and are said to have descended from one of three brothers who, centuries ago, came from Denmark, when two of them settled in Orkney, while the third went to the neighbourhood of Aberdeen.

When upwards of 60 years of age Robert suffered from a prolonged and mysterious weakness, which confined him to bed about a couple of years, but he gradually recovered, and has lived to see another generation of his fellows pass away.

The second account is taken from the Australian Town and Country Journal Sat. 8th Sept. 1888

CENTENARIANS.-Robert Yorston, the oldest man in Orkney (Scotland), died at Kirkwall recently. He was born on December 10,1786, so that he was within a few months of completing his 102nd year.

For the last year or so he was almost continuously confined to bed; and during the past few weeks he had grown so weak that he rarely spoke to anyone. Up to his 100th year, however, his memory was wonderfully good and he had a large store of local anecdotes regarding time and people long passed away.

Mr. Yorston had twelve of a family, six of whom survive him; the oldest being about 60 years of age. It may also be of interest to note that though Mr. Yorston’s father died when a comparatively young man, his mother reached the age of 90 years.

The inscription on the headstone reads:

In memory of Robert Yorston who died 8th July 1888 aged 101 and a half years. Also his wife Elizabeth Gorie who died 6th August 1867 aged 75 years. Also their daughter Mary Yorston who died 7th May 1911 aged 90 years.

With kind thanks to Ray Millar whose research into his Orkney family can be found here.