Margaret Stewart Aitken

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• _UID: CE3044F53AAE4911BB3E17B0E1126EE98381

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• _UID: 532BD108DD86499D8D19E8AC095B9F2B0889

Notes:

James and all his brothers, excepting Andrew, the youngest, took up farming at Kaihiku, Waikaka Valley and Mataura Island areas.

According to "The Aitken's of Mosgiel": "James was born (on the 7 Sep 1856,) at East Taieri and educated at the local school. Working on his father's property he heard that land was available for settlement from the 'Knapdale run', he managed to secure section 13 of the Chatton survey district block 1. His two brothers, William and Peter, bought adjoining sections, 11 and 15. It took them three days from Kahiku to the Waikaka Valley where they found their land was covered with red tussock. He called his property Hawthorn Den. Breaking in the land immediately they sowed their first wheat crop. When harvested they carted the wheat to Tapanui where they waited whilst some of the wheat was ground into flour and taken back home. James was a very tidy farmer and a first class agricultururalist and stockman."

After Helen and James were married they travelled to Gore by train and then by dray to James's block.
James and Helen were prominent in their local Presbyterian Church, where James was the choir leader. James possessed a fine tenor voice and family and friends were encouraged to gather round the piano or tuning fork, which James preferred.
James purchased his brother William's property in 1882, when William went to farm at Longbush.
When James died his son William (Bill) took over the property.

James married Helen Stewart on 26 Jul 1881 in Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand. Helen (daughter of Alexander Stewart and Mary Downie) was born on 15 Aug 1859 in Kincardine, Fife, Scotland; died in Aug 1938 in Gore, Southland, New Zealand. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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Daughter of Alexander Stewart & Mary Downie. Helen & her younger sister Annie emigrated to Dunedin, NZ after their parents' deaths. Helen & her husband were prominent in their local Presbyterian Church where James was Choir Leader. Helen died in August, 1938

Helen and her sister left for Dunedin, Otago, NZ, from Stirling, STI. They were joining their brother who later became the Hon. Downie Stewart, MP.

After Helen and James were married they travelled to Gore by train and then by dray to James's block.
James and Helen were prominent in their local Presbyterian Church, where James was the choir leader

"Helen was renowned for her deep thinking and had lively discussions about religion and politics. She was very small in stature and had to leave a good 10 minutes before other family members to walk the mile to worship each Sunday."

After her husband died, of cancer, on 18 Jul 1926, his son William (Bill) took over the property.
"On James' death in 1926, Helen retired to Gore accompanied by her daughter Evelyn, until Evelyn's marriage.
In her retirement she maintained an interest in her church and the politics of the day, in which she was well read.

There is a "little red book" chapter XII probably written by David Falconer
which has a few paragraphs on Helen Stewart and James Allison Aitken, from
which I got most of her information.
Helen's parents lived at Westwood Lane Farm, Blairdrummond. After her parents
deaths Helen and her younger sister, Annie, emigrated to Dunedin, New Zealand,
to join their brother, William Downie Stewart.
"When she was visiting her married sister, Margaret Downie Aitken nee Stewart,
at Waikaka Valley, she met James Allison Aitken. (No relation to Margaret's
husband)
In July 1881 Helen and James were married in Dunedin. Soon after they
travelled by train to Gore and from there to Waikaka Valley by dray. There was
much to do in establishing a home and developing a farm, and Helen was an able
partner, helping out on the farm when needed as well as raising a family of
eight. Their farm and home, still in use, were a credit to their abilities."
Helen was an excellent hostess giving much help to those in need.
Together James and Helen had 10 children.
Helen was renowned for her deep thinking and had lively discussions on religion and politics."
Being very small of stature she would leave for church a good 10 minutes
before the rest of the family to travel the mile to worship, so that she would
arrive at church at the same time.
"On James' death in 1926, Helen retired to Gore, accompanied by her daughter
Evelyn, until Evelyn's marriage. In her retirement she mainained an interest
in her church and the politics of the day, in which she was well read. She
died in August 1938, four of her children - Mary, James, Nellie and Stewart
having predeceased her." (Nellie died in 1942 and so did not predecease her
believe Nellie should read Mabel))

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• Occupation: Farmer
• _UID: 2543982B2D6D44F0A52BD186B987F6439920
• Emigration: 1851, Scotland
• Occupation: 1851; gardener
• Residence: 1851, Lasswade, Midlothian, Scotland
• Immigration: 23 Nov 1851, Otago, New Zealand

Notes:

James, his wife, and three children sailed to NZ, on board the "Simlah", They departed from London and travelled via Wellington, on the north island of NZ, then on to Dunedin, Otago, in the south island. They travelled steerage class and arrived at Port Chalmers, (Dunedin), 23 November 1851.
Taking up land at East Taieri they called it Woodside. This was just off Bush Road, on the Riccarton Road, towards Silverstream

When the McNab Run was available for settlement in 1875, James and his two sons Peter and Thomas took up "Hawthornden".

.

James married Isabella Galbraith on 15 Mar 1842 in Scotland. Isabella was born in 1819 in Birse, Aberdeenshire; died on 14 Jan 1903 in New Zealand. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• _UID: D6AA73D279944E6D9E819BA13CF5AF5C24FA
• Residence: 1851, Lasswade, Midlothian, Scotland

Notes:

Isabella, her husband, and three children sailed to NZ, on board the

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• _UID: 2B299B3C5F29479D8219C84BFF216FF5C937

Alexander married Mary Downie. Mary and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• _UID: 3D0DD677C92E44B8A5C9202EA45131E450EE

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• _UID: BA34BBFFCC8C405A9258783F5E3BD968155D
• Occupation: 14 May 1833; joiner

Notes:

Name: William Aitken
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 26 Jul 1787
Birth Place: Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland
Father: William Aitken
Mother: Margaret Aitken
FHL Film Number: 1066632, 0102988

William married Ann Allison on 1 Jan 1813 in Canongate, Edinburgh, Scotland. Ann (daughter of William Allison) was born on 10 Aug 1793 in Cannongate, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• _UID: 317EB029C63B45C287052FBBFE03D1B58DF0

Notes:

Married:
Name: William Aitken
Gender: Male
Marriage Date: 1 Jan 1813
Marriage Place: Canongate, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland
Spouse: Ann Allison
FHL Film Number: 1067744

Name: Ann Allison
Gender: Female
Marriage Date: 1 Jan 1813
Marriage Place: Canongate, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland
Father: William Allison
Spouse: William Aitken
FHL Film Number: 1067744