HEWISON - THE NAME
Part of the clan "MacDonald" – centered in outer isles in Hebrides. Name survives as Hewison. "Hewison" family crest found in Papa and Westray is similar if not identical to that of Howieson, Hughison, Hueson. Heart on blue background helmet on top of shield with three flowers arising on top.
Hewison – witness to transfer of estates( feudal privilege to Balfours), living in Edinburgh at turn of 15-16th century.
Howieson – of Parish of "Wa" ("Wall" – later "Pier of Waal" – "Pierowall") were part of assizes which tried Janet Drever and Katherine Biglund for witchcraft. Differences in name likely arise out of different pronunciation and general illiteracy. Clerks spelling greatly transformed during 15th and 16th and even 17th centuries. Even 18th & 19th centuries show some changes. As an example, old Parochial Church records show the spelling of Hewison, Hughison, and Hughson for the same family
Commissariat records show only "Howiesons" in Westray as of 16th century.
Family Tree
The earliest known date on the Hewison family tree flows around the traditions of the Armada. Especially an article in the Orkney Herald by Walter Traill Dennison in 1889 – mentions a certain Gilbert Hewison of Westray who escaped Earl Patrick Stewart who was executed in 1614.
In the files of the Scottish Government Records Office is mention of the christening of a Gilbart Hewison in Canongate Edinburgh on 3 May 1567, whose father is Thomas Hewison. It is possible that the Gilbert mentioned earlier is the son of the Thomas mentioned in the next paragraph.
The next mention is in the court registry mentioning a Thomas Howiesone of "Wa" (Pierowall) in June 1614. This Hewison was a member of an assyse that tried Jonet Drever and Katherene Bigland as witches. In the same entry is mention of a fellow assyse man Oliver Howiesone.
The next mention is in a family tree found at Meadow Cottage in and amongst the papers of Timothy Harcus Hewison and copied by John Stewart Hewison. It indicated that a Robert Hewison married a Jean Rendall. Among their children was a William Hewison who was married circa 1769 – making Robert’s age close to 70 at that time. Nothing is know about said Robert Hewison, although he would be three generations removed from Gilbert.
William Hewison was married to Ann Balfour Dec 29, 1769. The Balfours, of course, were the leading citizens of Westray, having descended from Sir Gilbert Balfour and Margaret Bothwell, sister of Bishop Adam Bothwell of Orkney and also James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell, Duke of Orkney and Husband of Mary Queen of Scots. Most of Westray was given as a dowry to Balfour. Noltland Castle was occupied by Sir Gilbert, but later Trenaby became the family seat, although in recent times the family built a castle in Shapinsay. The Hewison-Balfour family bible was taken possession of by Robert Hewison, eldest son who moved to England or Scotland and was last seen in 1862 in Morton by Alexander Hewison, eldest surviving son of the said Robert and grandson of William and Ann Balfour Hewison.
The second son, born 25 August 1772, was a John Hewison who was known literally as "Jock o’ the storehoose" – a clear reference to his occupation as a merchant. His business was located not far from the present (1979) Hewison’s shop, although it is now in ruins. It is unclear as to how much was passed down from his ancestors but there is no doubt the Hewisons were affluent enough to be marrying into the most influential Westray families. John married Margaret Smith, probably from the Smith’s of Buck of Waal.
A younger brother of John was Thomas who remains a mystery as to his descendants or his fate.
William Hewison, know as William of Meadowbank & Quoys, like his father was a merchant. It appears he started out from the farm of Newbigging close to his shop – then Quoys, a large Westray farm, added Meadowbank and finally "Breckowall". He underwrote the beginning of his eldest son when John (the son) was barely over twenty, into the fish trade which would make him well known in Orkney & abroad. A family bible details the births of each of William’s children.