John Aitken Simpson

Other Events:

• _UID: 5DC9E8CE4BFF40FAA7BE880893A5BDB4FEAB
• Residence: 1901, The Square, Torphicen, West Lothian, Scotland

Notes:

Served in World War One and died in Palestine

Killed in Palestine on 8 Aug 1917, and commemorated on the Jerusalem Memorial. He was a member of the 1st/5th Bn. Argyll and Sutherland Highlinders (Service number 201682).

Death Notes: At the outbreak of the First World War, Palestine was part of the Turkish Empire and was not entered by Allied forces until December 1916. The advance to Jerusalem took a further year, but from 1914 to December 1917, about 250 Commonwealth prisoners of war were buried in the German and Anglo-German cemeteries of the city. By 21 November 1917, the Egyptian Expeditionary Force had gained a line about five kilometres west of Jerusalem, but the city was deliberately spared bombardment and direct attack. Very severe fighting followed, lasting until the evening of 8 December, when the 53rd (Welsh) Division on the south, and the 60th (London) and 74th (Yeomanry) Divisions on the west, had captured all the city's prepared defences. Turkish forces left Jerusalem throughout that night and in the morning of 9 December, the Mayor came to the Allied lines with the Turkish Governor's letter of surrender. Jerusalem was occupied that day and on 11 December, General Allenby formally entered the city, followed by representatives of France and Italy. Meanwhile, the 60th Division pushed across the
road to Nablus, and the 53rd across the eastern road.
From 26 to 30 December, severe fighting took place to the north and east of the city but it remained in Allied hands.

Other Events:

• Occupation: Steel Foundry Boiler Fireman
• _UID: 8A3D810581014DCCB9A6C1F8C210730E53A3
• Residence: 1871, Grangeville, West Calder, Midlothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 1881; Farm Labourer
• Residence: 1881, Clinto, Torphicen, West Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 1891; Coal Miner
• Residence: 1891, Torphichen, West Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 25 Nov 1895; miner
• Occupation: 29 May 1899; miner
• Occupation: 1901; Coal Miner
• Residence: 1901, The Square, Torphicen, West Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 24 Dec 1906; Coal Miner
• Residence: 8 Aug 1917, The Square, Torphicen, West Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 23 Apr 1938; Coal Miner

Notes:

The informant of the death of John Simpson was his son Alexander

John married Catherine Aitken on 3 Nov 1893 in Torphichen, West Lothian, Scotland. Catherine (daughter of John Aitken and Marion Lindsay) was born on 20 Sep 1863 in Torphichen, West Lothian, Scotland; died on 11 May 1941 in The Square, Torphichen, West Lothian, Scotland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Name: Kate
• _UID: 675BC314406D4FB99810CCA279B38E9AB88E
• Residence: 1871, Torphichen, Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 1881; Mill Worker
• Residence: 1881, The Green, Torphicen, West Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 1891; housekeeper
• Residence: 1891, Torphichen, West Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 3 Nov 1893; Housekeeper
• Residence: 1901, The Square, Torphicen, West Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 8 Aug 1917, The Square, Torphicen, West Lothian, Scotland

Notes:

Married:
Witnesses to the wedding of Catherine (Kate) Aitken and John Simpson were Kate's sister, Mary Aitken and James Simpson

Other Events:

• _UID: ECB81920C81645779BE91B0DB1414AC120AF

Alexander married Elizabeth Logan Leitch. Elizabeth was born in 1834 in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: 5836A4F30A8F435A81A85A710B789E78E897
• Residence: 1861, 6 The Square, Torphichhen, West Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 1871, Grangerville, West Calder, Midlothian, Scotland

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• _UID: BA05E6E918914558A6ACB78E62775599329D
• Residence: 1851, Torphichen, West Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 1861; limestone miner
• Residence: 1861, 22 Green Sq, Torphicen, West Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 1862; Coal Miner
• Occupation: 1871; Limestone Miner
• Residence: 1871, Torphichen, Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 1879; Limestone Miner
• Occupation: 1881; Limestone Miner
• Residence: 1881, The Green, Torphicen, West Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 1891; roadman
• Residence: 1891, Torphichen, West Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 1901; roadman (formerly)
• Residence: 1901, The Square, Torphicen, West Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 5 Apr 1903, Torphichen, West Lothian, Scotland; Roadman

Notes:

They were absolved of the sin of Antenuptial fornication, on 5 Jan 1848 by the Kirk Session at Torphichen, West Lothian and Marion was restored to the privileges of the Church but not John, because of a previous "fama"

There appears to be some vendetta against this family by the church!!

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

The informant of the death of John was his son Robert Aitken

John married Marion Lindsay on 10 Dec 1847 in Torphichen, West Lothian, Scotland. Marion (daughter of John Lindsay and Agnes Stobie) was born on 11 Oct 1824 in Torphichen, West Lothian, Scotland; was christened on 25 Oct 1824 in Torphichen, West Lothian, Scotland; died on 4 Sep 1890 in Torphichen, West Lothian, Scotland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: 20AE4D7FF124404F8677D7F8292940B854A4
• Residence: 1851, Torphichen, West Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 1861, 22 Green Sq, Torphicen, West Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 1871, Torphichen, Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 1881, The Green, Torphicen, West Lothian, Scotland

Notes:

Name: Marion Lindsay
Gender: Female
Birth Date: 11 Oct 1824
Baptism Date: 25 Oct 1824
Baptism Place: Torphichen, West Lothian, Scotland
Father: John Lindsay
Mother: Agnes Stibbie
FHL Film Number: 1066638
Reference ID: - 2:181050J
were absolved of the sin of Antenuptial fornication, on 5 Jan 1848 by the Kirk Session at Torphichen, West Lothian and Marion was restored to the privileges of the Church but not John, because of a previous "fama"

Notes:

Married:
Name: John Aitken
Gender: Male
Marriage Date: 14 Nov 1847
Marriage Place: Torphichen,West Lothian,Scotland
Spouse: Marion Lindsay
FHL Film Number: 1066638


Name: Marion Lindsay
Gender: Female
Marriage Date: 14 Nov 1847
Marriage Place: Torphichen,West Lothian,Scotland
Spouse: John Aitken
FHL Film Number: 1066638

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:

• _UID: 4F2A57541D474E4F9AA50B60A39FA4B26780

John married Agnes Stobie. Agnes and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: A8AF5EE929C0417E93A96393CBBC05525602