Martha Cheyne

     Martha Cheyne was born, 24 March 1866, in Lerwick Parish, Shetland Islands, Scotland.^1,2,3

William L. Cheyne, Grierson Cheyne, Elizabeth Cheyne and Martha Cheyne were listed as children in the household of William Cheyne and his wife, Martha Cheyne on the 1871 Scotland Census, at Loch Side, in Lerwick & Gulberwick Parish, Shetland Islands, Scotland. She was 5 and born in Lerwick.⁴

Catherine Cheyne, William Laurence Cheyne, Elizabeth Cheyne and Martha Cheyne were listed as children in the household of William Cheyne and his wife, Martha Cheyne on the 1881 Scotland Census, at Charlotte Cottage, in Lerwick Parish, Shetland Islands, Scotland. She was employed as a draper's shop girl.⁵

The attached is a studio photograph of the family of William Cheyne and Martha Smith. All five of their children were present, but the only known child is Martha Cheyne in the back row. Her brother to her right was said to have liked his profile.⁶

Martha Cheyne married Thomas Laurence Arcus 28 March 1889, at Stanhope Wesleyan Chapel, in Liverpool, Lancashire, England. At the Wesleyan Chapel, on the 28th inst., by the Rev. P. Callier, assisted by the Rev. R. Philipson, Thomas L. Arcus, carpenter, to Martha, youngest daughter of Wm. Cheyne, Tailor, Lerwick. (Shetland Times 30/3/1889).^7,3

Martha Arcus and her husband, Thomas L. Arcus, were listed on the 1891 Scotland Census, at 18 Saint Magnus Street, in Lerwick & Gulberwick Parish, Shetland Islands, Scotland. They were listed as the head of household and wife. Also present listed as their child was, James Arcus. Attached is a photo of Saint Magnus Street, including number 18.. She was listed as a carpenter's wife, 25 years old and born in Lerwick Parish.²

Martha Arcus and her husband, Thomas L. Arcus, were listed on the 1901 Scotland Census, at 18 Saint Magnus Street, in Lerwick, Lerwick Parish, Shetland Islands, Scotland. They were listed as the head of household and wife. Also present listed as their children were, James Arcus, Thomas L. Arcus, Emma Arcus, William George Arcus and Alexander Arcus. She was listed as 35 years of age and born in Lerwick Parish.⁸

The attached is a photo of Tom and Emma Arcus with their youngest children, Bert and Eva, taken in Lerwick, circa 1920.⁹

Emma Arcus resided at Hope Villa, Saint Olaf Street, Hillhead, Lerwick, about 1930..¹⁰

The attached is a photograph of the family of T. L. Arcus and his wife Martha nee Cheyne (who he called Emma) on the occasion of their golden anniversary party with their children, their spouses. Back row from the left: Tom, Alec, Bill, George Johnson (husband of Emma), Bertie, Don and Jim Hunter (husband of Eva). Front row: wives in front of their husbands, Mollie, Dolly, Maisie, Emma nee Arcus, Martha (aka Emma nee Cheyne), T. L. Arcus, Judy, Elsie, Eva Hunter nee Arcus. Martha is holding a picture of her son James and his family, who are in Canada.¹¹

The attached is a photo of Martha (Emma) Arcus, second from the right, great grandmother of newborn son of Laurence Johnston, her left, Emma Johnston, grandmother of the child, her right.⁹

Martha Cheyne died 1952.¹²