Living

Living married Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: 2E121AE919554394AA356BEFB1F8EE2D8579
• Occupation: 1939; Seaman, Merchant Navy
• Residence: 21 Apr 1945, Vellore Cottage, Maddiston, West Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 9 Nov 1946; Chauffeur
• Residence: 9 Nov 1946, 13 Priory Rd, Whitecross, West Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 21 Jul 1961, 85 Chapelton Drive, Polbeth, West Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 1 Jul 1972, 85 Chapelton Drive, Polbeth, West Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 13 Aug 1985, 85 Chapelton Drive, Polbeth, West Lothian, Scotland

Notes:

Being an epilectic when he was young did not stop him from joining the Merchant Navy.
During the war he served on convoys to Russia, mainly on tankers, the most dangerous ships of all. He served in many different capacities, Cook, Carpenter, Seaman, anything to get a berth.
Two seperate occasions he was on ships that were torpedoed and sunk.
On the second sinking it was feared that he and all his shipmates were lost at sea.
Sinclairina, his sister. saw a newsreel of "torpedoed Canadian seamen" being unloaded at Nova Scotia. She was sure she saw Jim amongst the survivors. This was the first the family knew of Jim still being alive.
This was the one and only time Jim ever went to jail. Celebrating his good fortune, he had got drunk, broken the curfew and was arrested.
After the war Jim worked on various large house estates, as a Chauffeur/ Handyman and Bessie worked as the Cook or Housekeeper.
Later Jim joined Smith Crisps and became factory shift-foreman.When the firm decided to close down the factory, Jim and other employees bought the firm. Jim was the first employee shareholder of the new firm.
Jim had not enjoyed very good health since his war-time ship sinkings. Despite this Jim cared for Bessie's every need, even to the extent of carrying her and Bessie was a big lady.
On November 1 1995 he was attending a birthday party for one of his grandchildren when he had a heart attack. Taken to St John's Hospital at Broxburn where he died.

James married Elizabeth Sharp Morton on 21 Apr 1945 in Muiravonside Church, Whitecross, Stirlingshire, Scotland. Elizabeth (daughter of Robert Morton and Thomasina Bavis) was born on 1 Aug 1920 in Causwayend, Muiravonside, Stirling, Scotland; died on 29 Jul 2000 in St John's Hospital, Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Occupation: Housekeeper / Cook
• _UID: 40CBA33EEAB6400896DD67F3A3A6A98F22CA
• Occupation: 21 Apr 1945; Machinist at Brickworks
• Residence: 21 Apr 1945, 6 Avon Road, Whitecross, Stirling, Scotland
• Residence: 9 Nov 1946, 13 Priory Rd, Whitecross, West Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 21 Jul 1961, 85 Chapelton Drive, Polbeth, West Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 1 Jul 1972, 85 Chapelton Drive, West Calder
• Residence: 13 Aug 1985, 85 Chapelton Drive, Polbeth, West Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 29 Jul 2000, 85 Chapelton Drive, Polbeth, West Lothian, Scotland

Notes:

In the 1980's she had a stroke which left her partially paralysed.

Following the death of her husband James AItken, Bessie lived on at Chapelton Drive, being looked after by her daughter Irene.


(Medical):In the 1980's Bessie had a stroke which left her partially paralysed

Living married Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: E72CE4C07CE5415D8184FEE3C3A8EB6355F6
• Residence: 1891, 10 Summerfield, Leith, Mid Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 1901; warehouseman (wine merchant)
• Residence: 1901, 29 James St, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 17 Jul 1908; Warehouseman
• Residence: 17 Jul 1908, 11 Lindsay Road, Leith, Mid Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 1909, 13 Prince Regent Street, Leith, Mid Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 1910, 13 Prince Regent Street, Leith, Mid Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 1912; labourer
• Residence: 1912, 3 Henderson St, Leith, Midlothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 1914; railway porter
• Residence: 1914, Broomhouse Cottages, Corstorphine, Edinburgh, Scotland
• Occupation: 1916; railway porter
• Residence: 1916, Broomhouse Cottages, Corstorphine, Edinburgh, Scotland
• Residence: 1919, 30 Arthur Street, Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland
• Residence: 1921, 30 Arthur Street, Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland
• Residence: 1923, 30 Arthur Street, Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland
• Occupation: 29 Jun 1957; general labourer
• Residence: 19 Mar 1960, 41 Chapelton Drive, West Calder, Mid Lothian, Scotland

Notes:

Catherine did not enjoy the best of health suffering from heart disease most of her life.
She had 9 living children and also some still births.
Many times Thoams and Catherine moved houses. Not always because of Tom's itchy feet but sometimes to move into less taxing premises for Catherine.
Catherine's mother, father and siblings, except for sister Jo, went to Canada. As Jo and Catherine were already married they stayed behind.
As Kate and Tom's family grew ever bigger they moved around Edinburgh quite a lot. After Prince Regent Street they next lived at 3 Henderson Street, Leith, where Sarah was born. At this time Tom was a Labourer.
When the next three children were born, Tom was working on the railway as a Porter and was living at Broomhouse Cottages, Corstorphine.
During WWI he served in the Scots Guards as a Private.
After the war the family moved to 30 Arthur Street, Leith, where Sinclarina, Cathy and Jim were born.
Catherine used to knit very fine shawls, in the Shetland style. The toilet would be put "out of bounds" to the family when Catherine was "smeekin" the shawls. She would hang them in the toilet. A fire would be set, on a shovel-full of sulphur, in the toilet. The toilet door would be sealed. This she called smeekin, probably smoking. This was the method used to whiten the shawls. Relatives, who were seamen on the ships sailing between the Shetlands and Leith, would collect the shawls in exchange for cases of eggs and smoked fish. The shawls would then be taken back to the Shetlands where they would be sold as Shetland Isles knitwear. The eggs and fish would be shared with friends and relatives around Leith.
Tom Aitken had many jobs but was basically a country person. Over the years he was a railway porter, railway shunter, warehouseman, horse and cart driver for Melrose Drovers and gardener.
Tom had the ability to turn a soapbox into a piece of furniture. Likewise he had the ability to turn a piece of furniture into a soapbox.
Catherine developed heart trouble and so the family was on the move again. They lived in Lochend, Craigentinny and East Thomas Street.
After his family married and moved on, Tom lived and worked on various estates.
He was a very fit man and a great walker.
In 1996 he was living in the Calders.
Terry Stewart his Mum, Dad, and sister had just returned from Australia when Tom met them at Mid Calder Railway Staion. He had walked from home to the station, a distance of about 2 miles. He gave directions to his house where Catherine would be waiting to give us our tea. Tom had to walk on into West Calder, to get his pension. From the station it was a round trip of some 3 miles. By the time we got to the house he had caught up with us.
Catherine and Tom celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary at Sinclarine and David Stewart's house at 17 Meadowbank Avenue, Meadowbank, Edinburgh, in 1958. Great aunt Nel, Catherine's sister and bridesmaid came over from Canada to help them celebrate.
Tom stayed on at Chapelton Drive until he had to enter a nursing home, about 1974.
Every so often he would disappear and go for a long walk.
It was in the nursing home where he developed gangrene. They removed a leg but very shortly after this he died.

Thomas married Catherine Manson Spence on 17 Jul 1908 in 13 Prince Regent Street, Leith, Mid Lothian, Scotland. Catherine (daughter of Sinclair Sutherland Spence and Helen Moodie Sutherland) was born on 27 Jul 1886 in Dounreay, Caithness, Scotland; died on 19 Mar 1960 in 41 Chapelton Drive, West Calder, Mid Lothian, Scotland; was buried on 22 Mar 1960 in Seafiled Cemetery, Edinburgh, Scotland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: C4F89097963546B0B38A904102D61837D982
• Residence: 1891, Westerseat, Wick, Caithness, Scotland
• Occupation: 1901; domestic servant
• Residence: 1901, 21 Couper St, Leith, Midlothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 17 Jul 1908; Domestic Servant
• Residence: 17 Jul 1908, 13 Prince Regent Street, Leith, Mid Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 1909, 13 Prince Regent Street, Leith, Mid Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 1910, 13 Prince Regent Street, Leith, Mid Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 1912, 3 Henderson St, Leith, Midlothian, Scotland
• Residence: 1914, Broomhouse Cottages, Corstorphine, Edinburgh, Scotland
• Residence: 1916, Broomhouse Cottages, Corstorphine, Edinburgh, Scotland
• Residence: 1919, 30 Arthur Street, Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland
• Residence: 1921, 30 Arthur Street, Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland
• Residence: 1923, 30 Arthur Street, Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland
• Residence: 19 Mar 1960, 41 Chapelton Drive, West Calder, Mid Lothian, Scotland

Notes:

Married:
Witnesses at the wedding of Thomas Aitken and Catherine Spence were James Aitken and Nell Spence.

Other Events:

• _UID: 1621B0C799484AF7AC895A96B6110822E647
• Occupation: 29 Jul 2000, Loco Driver (Deceased)

Robert married Thomasina Bavis. Thomasina and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: 3778C1447F8F41D29BE8B6FE7B628FAF27C8