William Aitken

Other Events:

• _UID: E58D16E384724549A824065BFAB4234A3762
• Residence: 1871, Mounteerie, Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 1881; carter
• Residence: 1881, Clifton Cottage, Edinburgh, Scotland
• Residence: 14 Mar 1919, 85 West Port, Edinburgh, Scotland

Notes:

The story is told, within the family, that "Unc" a notorious black sheep of the family, had his own still, distilling illegal whisky, which he would load onto his buttermilk cart and take to Edinburgh to sell. At one time he found out the Customs men were on his trail. He disposed of the still by throwing it into one of the limestone quarry ponds. It was found by the Customs but they could not prove it belonged to "Unc".

"Unc" became a tramp and at one time James Lind Aitken and Ann Eliza Aitken found him asleep in their barn. He was in such a mess that Ann took all his clothes and burnt them. After he was given a bath and new clothes he disappeared again

The informant on the death of William Aitken was John Aitken, brother


Residence:
Living with his brother John

Family/Spouse: Elizabeth McCallum. Elizabeth died after 1919. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: 06305AB1FF5B419C8D3F4E13A4EB2B81E078
• Occupation: 1841; Ag Lab
• Residence: 1841, Silvermines Farm, Torphicen, West Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 1851; labourer
• Residence: 1851, Silvermines Farm, Torphicen, West Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 1856; Agricultural Labourer
• Occupation: 1861; agricultural labourer
• Residence: 1861, Mounteerie, Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 1862; Builder
• Occupation: 1871; mason
• Residence: 1871, Mounteerie, Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 1881; Dyker
• Residence: 1881, Hilderston Hill House, Torphicen, West Lothian Scotland
• Occupation: 1884; Dyker
• Occupation: 1 Sep 1918; farmer, deceased

Notes:

Her first child was born illegitimate. The father was James Aitken of Silvermines farm, her cousin who she eventually married. "James confession was a masterpiece of avoidance; 'I hereby acknowledge to have had carnal connection with Marion Aitken, Torphichen, daughter of Peter Aitken there about the time she must have got with the child of which she was lately delivered.'
Things worked out , however as the couple married a couple of years later but not before making the same mistake again when their second child was born on what appears to be their wedding day. The wedding cost 2/6.

The family is supposed to have moved, at about 1854, from Silvermine Farm to Montaree, also known as Mount Eerie or Mounteerie or Montearie, also probably as Windy Wa's (Walls), because he became bankrupt.

Informant of the death of James Aitken was his son Peter Aitken

"James Aitken died 16 June 1884 aged 69, wife Marion Aitken died 6 November 1885 aged 70, daughter Catherine died 25 November 1849 aged 14 , daughter Jane died 10 May 1876 aged 32."

------ From Source Attached To: Occupation ------
Death Cert, Cit. Date: 10 May 2019.
-----------------------------------------------

James married Marion Aitken on 24 Sep 1837 in Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland. Marion (daughter of Peter Aitken and Janet Pearson) was born on 4 Sep 1815 in Torphichen, West Lothian, Scotland; was christened on 25 Sep 1815 in Torphichen, West Lothian, Scotland; died on 6 Nov 1885 in Hilderston Hill House, Torphicen, West Lothian Scotland; was buried in 1885 in Torphichen Churchyard, West Lothian, Scotland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: D354BBCAA9BD473ABDAC45265E7CCA3E4929
• Residence: 1841, Silvermines Farm, Torphicen, West Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 1851, Silvermines Farm, Torphicen, West Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 1861, Mounteerie, Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 1871, Mounteerie, Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 1881, Hilderston Hill House, Torphicen, West Lothian Scotland

Notes:

Name: Marion Aitken
Gender: Female
Birth Date: 4 Sep 1815
Baptism Date: 25 Sep 1815
Baptism Place: Torphichen, West Lothian, Scotland
Father: Peter Aitken
Mother: Janet Pearson
FHL Film Number: 1066638 Reference ID: - 2:17HBSTQ
informant of the death of Marion Aitken was her son Peter Aitken

Notes:

Married:
Name: James Aitken
Gender: Male
Marriage Date: 24 Sep 1837
Marriage Place: Torphichen,West Lothian,Scotland
Spouse: Marion Aitken
FHL Film Number: 1066638

Name: Marion Aitken
Gender: Female
Marriage Date: 24 Sep 1837
Marriage Place: Torphichen,West Lothian,Scotland
Spouse: James Aitken
FHL Film Number: 1066638

The banns for James Aitken and Marion Aitken were read both in Linlithgow and at Torphichen

Other Events:

• _UID: 2C88A443A33E4CBB95988683D5DF0038A59C
• Occupation: 11 Nov 1798; Farmer
• Residence: 8 Oct 1803, Tartraven Farm, Torphicen, West Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 21 Apr 1879; farmer (deceased)

Notes:

The lease of Wester Tartraven Farm was granted to John in 1802, at a rent of 35 pounds. This lease was renewed for 20 years in 1820. This then takes us to 1840 when John died. There are no records as to who leased it from 1840 until 1847 when records show John's son, Robert, in possession.

------ From Source Attached To: Occupation ------
Death Cert, Cit. Date: 29 Dec 2012.
-----------------------------------------------

John married Elizabeth Donaldson on 11 Nov 1798 in Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland. Elizabeth (daughter of Thomas Donaldson and Catherine Arbuckle) was born about 1777 in Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland; died on 31 Jan 1857 in Silvermines Farm, Torphicen, West Lothian, Scotland; was buried in 1857 in Torphichen Churchyard, West Lothian, Scotland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: 178EE266F41A4FF289B2660A33BD80EA411B
• Residence: 8 Oct 1803, Tartraven Farm, Torphicen, West Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 1841, Tartraven Farm, Torphicen, West Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 1851, Silvermines Farm, Torphicen, West Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 1851; domestic servant

Notes:

Informant of death of Elizabeth Donaldson was son Peter Aitken

Notes:

Married:
Name: John Aiken
Gender: Male
Marriage Date: 11 Nov 1798
Marriage Place: Linlithgow,West Lothian,Scotland
Spouse: Elisabeth Donaldson
FHL Film Number: 102990

Name: Elisabeth Donaldson
Gender: Female
Marriage Date: 11 Nov 1798
Marriage Place: Linlithgow,West Lothian,Scotland
Spouse: John Aitken
FHL Film Number: 102990

Other Events:

• _UID: 74DA5E471C4D4801B9A3A2A6A6922734DC54
• Occupation: 1841; Agricultural Labourer
• Residence: 1841, Torphichen, West Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 1851; Labourer
• Residence: 1851, Torphichen, West Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 1856, 6 Bowyett, Torphichen, West Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 1861; Limestone Miner
• Residence: 1861, 6 Bowyett, Torphichen, West Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 1871; Dyker
• Residence: 1871, Bowyett, Torphichen, West Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 23 Aug 1875, Torphichen, West Lothian, Scotland; Stone Dyker
• Residence: 23 Aug 1875, Bishopry Cottage, 7 Bowyett, Torphicen, West Lothian, Scotland

Notes:

On 17 Jul.1814 Peter paid for the banns to be read. "Proclamation of Peter Aitken, in this parish (Torphichen) and Janet Pearson, in Linlithgow, twice in one day".

In 1832 he paid 6/8 for the use of the "best mortcloth used to the deceased Marion Liddell", his mother-in-law.

On the 1st Dec 1837, he was absolved by the Kirk Session at Torphichen, of the sin of drunkenness, using profane language and riotous behaviour but not before having held out for quite a while against the Session.
The following comes from the research of Graham Marshall, with great thanks.
" Peter was charged with the offences when he went to the minister, in Feb 1833, to arrange to have his son Robert baptised. The minister took the opportunity to report him to the Session ' in consequence of certain complaints as to the repeated instances of drunkenness as of late'.
Peter Aitken initially refused to play their games which led to the Session appointing a committee comprising the Minister, the Session Clerk and four Elders to sort him out.
Thus it was that Peter appeared before this Church Court in Torphichen on 25th March 1833 charged with one specific instance of his alleged offences and that on the night of New Years Day he had been in widow Arthur's house 'in a state of intoxication and of then or there having uttered profane oaths and of having conducted himself both in the said house and about the door in a riotous manner.'
He admitted that he had been in the house but denied that he had been intoxicated or uttered profane oaths or behaved in a riotous manner. The Session then called witnesses to prove their case.
First came widow Arthur (Agnes Walker widow of the late Thomas Arthur) who remembered Peter Aitken coming to her house about ten or eleven o'clock and that while he had been drinking he was in control of himself. It appears he sent her for a bottle of whisky and that she had brought him half a bottle and was sent for and found another, there is no mention of where she found them.
It seems the company were willing to share Peter's first bottle of whisky but not so the second, referred to in the Session Minutes as 'spirits in a bottle'. He appararntly tried to persuade Norman McQueen to take a drink but there was something about it that persuaded Norman to throw it on the back of the fire which displeased Peter Aitken who threatened to ' pit him up in the reek'.
There seems to have been a scuffle after that but there was conflicting evidence from the widow Arthur and others as to exactly what happened. John Brodie and Norman McQueen seemed to be involved asn so it seems was Peter. There seems to have been an attempt to take the disagreement outside which resulted in Norman being pulled into the house and Peter, being outside, hammering on the door to be let back in. John Brodie clearly had remained inside since he, it was claimed, had gone to the door and asked if they wanted him. It sounds as if William Aitken was also outside although the evidence hardly mentions him. Peter apparently answered 'No it was old Nany and young Nanny and Mary and that them to put them in the dam.'
The second witness, Paul McFail refused to take the oath so the proceedings were postponed until the following day to hear more witnesses; Agnes Arthur the widow's daughter, John Marshall and Margaret, his daughter.
Agnes seemed clearer than her mother about who was in their house on New Year's night. She told how Mary Gunn, Norman McQueen one of their lodgers, John Brodie another lodger and her mother were there when Peter Aitken came in with William Aitken (possibly his brother) but supported her mother's view that he was not drunk. She was also clearer about who left, listing Peter Aitken, William Aitken, Paul McFail and John Brodie. She, her mother and Mary Gunn then went to bed, however she later said she had been in bed all of the time and couldn't see all that happened. It seems that John Marshall came in towards the end of the incident and had the poker taken to him by Agnes who had risen from her bed to clear the house. His testimony added a touch of farce when he claimed to remember meeting Peter Aitken and going with him to James Aitken's (probably another brother) house then on to Philip Gunn's house but that he could not remember being in widow Arthur's house. His daughter Maggie cleared that one up when she told how she had collected her father from there and took him home.
There is something ironic in the choice of date to hear the evidence for the defence - April first.
Peter went first and he admitted using intemperate language but not fighting or being drunk. He called Philip Gunn who described Peter Aitken as 'except for himself, the soberest man in the company in his house on the night of the 1st of January'.
The evidence seemed to have little effect on the Session Committee who referred it to the Presbytery who met two days later at Linlithgow where Peter argued that the evidence given for and against him was contradictory. But did acknowledge that he 'had in face of much provocation spoken one unguarded word for which he was sorry and resolved to be on his guard'. But that was not enough for the Presbyters who 'resolved without a vote to appoint a committee of three to examine the extract minutes of the Kirk Session of Torphichen and report to next meeting of Presbytery what facts appeared to them to be substantiated by the evidence.'
The committee reported back in three weeks with a neat summary of what they saw as the evidence. They were 'clearly of the opinion that the evidence proves that Peter Aitken had been drinking freely in the house of Philip Gunn, that he came with others to the house of Widow Arthur and sent for whisky. But it does not seem proved that Peter Aitken was very much intoxicated; that it seems true that Peter Aitken did then use profane language and behaved in a riotous manner in the Widow Arthur's house and after outside of her door demanding admittance and that the witnesses brought by Peter Aitken do not in any respect rebut the evidence on the part of the prosecution.'
The Presbytery agreed with the findings and referred it back to the Session for action who in their turn referred it to the Minister, His success in dealing with Peter Aitken was complete. He took only another two an a half years to persuade Peter to apologise to session. Whether Robert and his sister " (Roobert and Catherin children of Peter who were born in this time)" were then baptised is not recorded but normal service was resumed with the baptism of the next child, Mary Ann in 1938."

In the 1861 census two grandchildren, William aged 5 and John aged 7 months were living with Peter and Janet
In the 1871 census, grandchild William aged 18 was living with Peter and Janet

His daughter-in-law, AINNIE Aitken, reported his death.


Residence:
In 1856 the family resided at 6 Bowyett in the parish of Torphichen, along with William Aitken the illegitimate son of their daughter Janet and Andrew Cape

Peter married Janet Pearson on 17 Jul 1814 in Torphichen, West Lothian, Scotland. Janet (daughter of John Pearson and Marion Liddell) was born in 1792 in Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland; was christened on 11 May 1794 in Torphichen, West Lothian, Scotland; died on 9 Jul 1888 in Torphichen, West Lothian, Scotland; was buried in 1888 in Torphichen Churchyard, West Lothian, Scotland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: 2A35A9C662254443BD0CC49B09F7FB717084
• Residence: 1841, Torphichen, West Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 1861, 6 Bowyett, Torphichen, West Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 1871, Bowyett, Torphichen, West Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 1881, Bow Yett, Torphicen, West Lothian, Scotland

Notes:

John Aitken was the informant on his mother's death certificate, in 1888.

Notes:

Married:
Banns were called at Torphichen and once at Linlithgow. i.e. Torphichen where Peter was residing and Linlithgow parish where Janet resided.

Name: Peter Aitken
Gender: Male
Marriage Date: 17 Jul 1814
Marriage Place: Torphichen,West Lothian,Scotland
Spouse: Janet Pierson
FHL Film Number: 1066638


Name: Janet Pierson
Gender: Female
Marriage Date: 17 Jul 1814
Marriage Place: Torphichen,West Lothian,Scotland
Spouse: Peter Aitken
FHL Film Number: 1066638

Other Events:

• Occupation: Farmer
• _UID: F8AE4EB0B3654C439269FBDED4DC77FA4067
• Occupation: 23 Dec 1857; gardener, deceased

Notes:

The lease of Wester Tartraven was granted, to John, in 1802 at a rent of 35 pounds. This lease was renewed for 20 years in 1820. This then takes us to 1840 when John died. There are no records as to who leased it from 1840 until 1847 when records show John's son, Robert, in possesion.

------ From Source Attached To: Occupation ------
Death Cert, Cit. Date: 30 Dec 2012.
-----------------------------------------------

John married Alison Walker on 5 May 1770 in Carriden, Bo'Ness, West Lothian, Scotland. Alison (daughter of John Walker and Elizabeth Pollock) was born on 25 Mar 1750 in Carriden, Bo'Ness, West Lothian, Scotland; was christened on 1 Apr 1750 in Carriden, Bo'Ness, West Lothian, Scotland; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: 2DC962A68285483CB916E244314417606A3C

Other Events:

• _UID: DC021D0761434D9A8659E75A2D550255867F

Thomas married Catherine Arbuckle. Catherine was born about 1750; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: 0EBDA66A957D4DF7A7DBDA29C172491A4C99

Other Events:

• _UID: 101C0E20101C4EF2B3ADD37D146DD7915F16
• Occupation: 5 Dec 1779; Carrier
• Residence: 8 Aug 1780, Silvermine, Torphicen, West Lothian, Scotland

Notes:

When William died his son James Aitken paid 6/8 for the use of the best mortcloth to bury William, on the 5 Mar. 1821.

William married Margaret Little on 5 Dec 1779 in Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland. Margaret was born about 1755; died in 1832 in Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: B43714474F8741E58E9230FA4BA5D59BEC14
• Residence: 8 Aug 1780, Silvermine, Torphicen, West Lothian, Scotland

Notes:

Married:
The marriage of William Aitken to Margaret Little is given as 26 Jul. 1787, in the "Johnston Journal" but 5 Dec. 1779 in the OPR.

Name: William Aitken
Gender: Male
Marriage Date: 5 Dec 1779
Marriage Place: Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland
Father: James Aitken
Spouse: Margaret Little
FHL Film Number: 102990

Name: Margaret Little
Gender: Female
Marriage Date: 5 Dec 1779
Marriage Place: Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland
Spouse: William Aitken
FHL Film Number: 102990

Other Events:

• _UID: A533858C11F045E587A4D6ECF76ED7EB289D

John married Marion Liddell. Marion and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: 0964EBED2B274E079E39420AAF815D1EBA9F