Living

Family/Spouse: Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Living
2. Living

Other Events:

• _UID: F6077B6B1946435A826DE6DEDC800AECE49D

John married Helen Aitken Smeaton in 1933. Helen (daughter of Robert Smeaton and Margaret Aitken) was born on 29 Aug 1911; died on 14 Nov 1998 in Taieri Court, Mosgiel, Otaga, New Zealand. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• _UID: 24E64B35A1724A1A80009B1636FBA1070BE7

Notes:

Informant on the death of Helen Smeaton was her son

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• Occupation: Blacksmith
• _UID: F5EF06C335F6485FA636FA0838E3D40A56AA

Robert married Margaret Aitken on 19 Feb 1908. Margaret (daughter of Thomas Aitken and Christine Redpath Aitken) was born on 28 Dec 1879 in Bush Rd, Mosgiel, Otaga, New Zealand; died on 23 Dec 1949. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• _UID: C482D1C987494663BDB0979EEA8D3BD88524

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• _UID: 9B11F4CA2E604EF2983649BCCEF8E2C47763
• Residence: 1841, Torphichen, West Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 1851; Cobbler / Shoemaker
• Residence: 1851, Torphichen, West Lothian, Scotland

Notes:

Name: Thomas Aitken
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 12 Jan 1835
Birth Place: Torphichen, West Lothian, Scotland
Father: Peter Aitken
Mother: Janet Pearson
FHL Film Number: 1066638
1858 he emigrated to NZ, on board the Strathallen.
He was one of the earliest carpenters in the Otago district. His workbook covering the period 1864 -1875 shows that he turned his hand to many jobs, mainly farm work. It also recorded that he worked for many people including James Aitken, his future father-in-law.
Prior to 1872 most of Tom's work had been seasonal but now he was almost permanently working at the Mosgiel Woollen Mills and a number of houses in the locality.
In 1874 and 1875 he was engaged on the new railway station and goods shed. In the village there were new opportunities as the town began to develop.
Tom bought land in Bush Road, Mosgiel where he built his family home, at what is now 114 Bush Road.
The Timber for the house was hewn in an area known as Mosgiel Bush in Carlyle Road. The timber was pit sawn and the pits were still visible in the 1930's.
Thomas was a pillar of the community being involved with many good works in and around Mosgiel.
A school committee was elected in 1873. Two of the members were J. Smeaton and T. Aitken. In 1883 there was a big hotel fire. This highlighted the need for a good water supply. Tom served on the Mosgiel Borough Council from 1885 to 1917. Nothing eventuated, about the water supply until 1892 when the council appointed a sub-committee to investigate the best method of obtaining the water.
Tom became the Mayor of Mosgiel in 1900, serving as mayor until 1905-6.
As mayor he chaired patriotic meetings held for the purpose of raising funds to support the cause in the Boer War. Over 100 pounds were raised and within the week the figure had exceeded 250 pounds.
In 1903 he was president of a committee to form the Taieri Pipe Band.
Tom was a member of the Freemason and Druid Lodges, also a member of the Burns Club Choir and the Racing Club.
In July 1906 a public meeting was convened by the Mayor, Thomas Aitken, to form a Fire Brigade.
He died, at his home in Mosgiel, on 22 Oct. 1922.
A lot of the above information was from "The Pulse of the Plain - A history of Mosgiel", by W. R. Kirk, written in 1985.

Thomas married Christine Redpath Aitken on 13 Sep 1864 in East Taieri, Otago, New Zealand. Christine (daughter of James Allison Aitken and Isabella Galbraith) was born on 8 Mar 1843 in Lasswade, Midlothian, Scotland; died on 24 Aug 1924 in Mosgiel, Otaga, New Zealand; was buried on 26 Aug 1924 in Mosgiel, Otaga, New Zealand. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: DBB193A3962C4118A54460B103807FB992AA
• Residence: 1851, Lasswade, Midlothian, Scotland

Notes:

Christina was 8 years old when she arrived in NZ, with her parents and siblings, on board the Simlah

Christina was a member of the East Taieri Presbyterian Church from the time it was founded in 1854. Later she joined the Mosgiel Presbyterian Church as it was closer. She was also associated with the East Taieri School from its beginning in 1854.