The LAURENSON family in my direct tree, were born and raised in and around Lerwick in the Shetland Islands, north of Scotland.
The Laurenson family from my perspective, is headed by Fleming Laurenson born 14 July 1809 at Bressay. He married Elizabeth Janet Samuelson on the 10 February 1831 at Tingwall. Elizabeth was born on on 15 February 1809 at Yell.
Fleming was a merchant at Scalloway, Shetland from at least 1847 to 1850. After that time, he appears to have moved to Lerwick and set himself up as a Merchant. Shortly thereafter, around 1852, Fleming became The Keeper of the Prison at Fort Charlotte, which is close to the centre of Lerwick.
| Child | Born | Married | Children | Died | Notes |
| Grace Margaret | 1 Nov 1831 | 12 Nov 1857 | 6 | 16 Jun 1895 | Robertson |
| Catherine | 20 Mar 1834 | 7 Jun 1855 | 3 | 23 Feb 1902 | Peterson |
| Gilbert | 20 Mar 1836 | – | – | 1 Feb 1915 | |
| James | 16 Apr 1838 | 22 Dec 1859 1878 | 8/ 2 | 18 Jun 1884 | Hanlin/ Marshall |
| Elizabeth | 6 Jul 1840 | 17 Sep 1870 | 1 | 22 Jul 1918 | Jamieson |
| Fleming | 15 Nov 1842 | 24 Jul 1865 | 7 | 19 May 1923 | Familton |
| John Turnbull | 28 Dec 1845 | 1 Mar 1870 | 6 | 10 Sep 1880 | Morse |
| Johanna | 18 Sep 1849 | 16 Jun 1881 | 3 | 26 Jan 1931 | Dickson |
| Charles Duncan | 19 Feb 1852 | 10 Nov 1887 | – | 29 Aug 1933 | Hunter |
| Arthur | 4 Nov 1854 | 7 Aug 1863 | – | – | – |
Both Fleming and his wife Elizabeth SHEWARDSON passed away in 1879 at the Fort and are buried in Lerwick First Cemetery.
