The Quakers in Shetland.

Perhaps a less well known aspect of the aftermath of the 1881 disaster is the interest and active involvement of the Quakers. The most complete, yet tantalising incomplete account, is contained in the Shetland News of the 25^th September 1930, and in some subsequent editions. A Mr William Whiting, a descendant of Mr John Whiting of Leeds ( a prominent citizen, committed quaker and carpet manufacturer) visited Shetland and had brought with him some of his farther's letters written in the 1880s. The Society of Friends in many areas of England committed funds to the relief, but the Yorkshire quakers appear to have been particularly seized of the need to act. Two quakers from Birmingham are mentioned – one of which was a Joel Cadbury. Further research would be necessary, but Joel is a common name in THE Cadbury family who came from Birmingham – and were quakers.

The letters tell of the poverty and suffering of the people, and they seem to have travelled widely to visit the needy. A couple of extracts -

We (travelled) about 6 miles when we had to take a boat for about 3. It was a very rough shore and the sea (was) such as would have frightened many, but having 4 strong men to row we got on well. In one place we had to cross through a narrow channel(1/2 mile) (Bluemell Sound?), the tide from both oceans met boiling and seething as I never saw before, but we soon after came into smooth water before Cullivoe, where we are now, at the house of Mr Sandison who is postmaster, Clerk to the School Board, Parish Board, and general factotum.

I am unsure as to whether Duncan Sandison, who kindly showed us the Unst Boat Haven (see previous post), would appreciate being descended from a “general factotum”. I suspect it was a more flattering phrase when used in the 1880s.

…..having been engaged from 10until 6 making calls on the 19 families in Gloup. They were widely scattered and involved on the part of John Cass and myself a walk with a guide over rough and broken ground of about 5 miles –7 visits –Annie C. (the wife of John Cass) and John Wilson had 11 of those near our quarters. The calamity was more felt in this neighbourhood (Colvaster, North Yell, near Gloup Voe) Within one mile from one of the families we visited, 19 men had been lost and mostly young men who were the hope of their parents.

Undoubtedly dedicated and sincere in their desire to help. There are follow up stories along the same vein, and accounts of how the quakers funded new decked boats for the men. At the time of the 1881 visit, the quakers made contact with the Relief Committee to which a total of £12,500 was donated by subscription from the general public. The Committee seem to have been quite prescriptive in their allocation f the funds. Indeed, of the £12,500 raised it appears that only £7000 was allocated to the annuities and immediate relief. The quakers appear to have been less constrained. On one visit they gave £6 on the spot to a widow who had lost a husband and eldest son, so that the 3 remaining sons could purchase a replacement boat.

One other extract points to a frustration that the quakers felt with the stance of the Relief Committee -

Our interview with the Committee was not as satisfactory as we should have liked. They were not able to give us anything definite as to the scale or mode of relief to be given …...We were with them about an hour and a half. It ended with our not entering any alliance with them, reserving it for consideration with our friends at home.

It is difficult many years later to understand the various positions taken, but one bone of contention is clear. Fishermen, in the main, rented their boats from landowners, merchants and lairds. The rental was usually paid at the end of the season against receipts for catches. The boat owners pressed for payment from the widows left behind. They were obviously not in a position to raise such funds (estimated at £10 per year) and so were left with an unpayable debt. The Relief Committee refused to allow such debts to be paid from the fund, and this led to evictions, despite the widows allowance of 2/6d (12 ½ pence in new money) a week. Children up to 14 and other dependants usually received 1/6d per week. Not ungenerous, but not enough to repay the inherited debts.

In conversations with today's locals, some of older generation remember their forebears praising the work of the quakers. Most of the music I am attempting to create for the production is of a local flavour. But I was so inspired by reading of the work of the quakers, and the Yorkshire connection (despite my Lancastrian roots) that I have composed a brass band tune. It is in fairly embryonic form, but it might just, with some improvements and re-recording, play as a backdrop to the story of the quakers and the Gloup 1881 disaster.