Honourable Peter Rudyard Aitken

Other Events:

• Occupation: Captain, Royal Fusilliers
• _UID: 19225B945F5445FAA39F9A73AE808725454F
• Immigration: 12 Nov 1933, New York, New York, USA
• Emigration: 28 Sep 1935, London, England
• Occupation: 28 Sep 1935; journalist
• Residence: 28 Sep 1935, 29 Bury Street, London, England
• Residence: 1938, Shepherds Close, Leatherhead, Surrey, England
• Residence: 4 Aug 1947, Pilots Point, Totland Bay, Isle of Wight, Hampshire, England

Notes:

Peter's middle name is from his godfather, Rudyard Kipling, who was at that time a friend of his father's.

Educated at Westminster and then became a Stockbroker. His stockbroking career started in London, England, when he joined the Canadian firm of Wood Gundy. Later he was transferred to Canada.

A "Voiturette" driver, he raced with his own Maserati then he bought an ERA-B in August 1938 and raced it in the South African Grand Prix. At one stage he owned a Shelsley Frazer Nash which he eventually exchanged for an SS100.
During WWII he was serving as a Captain in the Royal Fusiliers when he was wounded. It was then that he met his future wife.Marie (Patsy) Maguire was the Australian nurse who looked after him when he was recovering from his injuries.

In 1947, off the coast of Sweden, he was single handedly sailing a yacht through some rough weather when he fell from the boat. He was injured in the fall but managed to get the boat back to shore. He was taken to hospital and given morphine for the pain. Tragically he was allergic to morphine and died in his hotel room in Stockholm

Immigration:
Arrived on board the Markland from Liverpool, Nova Scotia

Emigration:
Departed London onboard the Andalucia Star for Santa Cruz, Tenneriffe

Peter married Janet Ruth Murrene MacNeil on 25 Jan 1934 in St Columba's, Pont Street, Chelsea, Middlesex, England. Janet (daughter of Murray MacNeil) was born in 1912; died in 1947. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Living

Peter married Marie Patricia MacGuire on 28 Oct 1942 in Chanetonbury, Surrey, England. Marie (daughter of Living and Living) was born on 11 Nov 1916 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; died on 27 Jan 1995 in Westminster, Greater London, England; was buried in 1995 in St Michael Churchyard, Mickleham, Surrey, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Living
2. Living

Other Events:

• Occupation: Newspaper Proproetor
• _UID: 4DBF67D9497545C88015BCCF9FD64BC9C038
• Residence: 1924, 76 Hurlingham Road, Fulham, London, England
• Emigration: 2 Aug 1924, London, England
• Immigration: 3 Aug 1926, New York, New York, USA
• Residence: 1927, 76 Hurlingham Road, Fulham, London, England
• Residence: 1930, Stornoway House, 13 Clevelnad Road, St James, London, England
• Residence: 29 Jul 1931, 29 Bury Street, St James, London, England
• Residence: 1933, 13 Cleveland Row, Westminster, London, England
• Occupation: 1 Mar 1935; journalist
• Residence: 1 Mar 1935, Stormway House, Clevland Row, London, England
• Residence: 1938, Cherkley, Leatherhead, Surrey, England
• Immigration: 30 Mar 1947, Miami, Florida, USA
• Cremated: 14 Jun 1964, England

Notes:

Rahno was asthmatic, as was her brother, William
Thomas Barton Aitken, and many of the older folk at Torphichen, always maintained that Max was born in Torphichen. The birth was supposed to have taken place when William and Jane were home on leave. However the records show that Max was born in Canada.
In later life Max described himself as "conspicuously naughty and rather idle boy."
He along with the other children in Newcastle, attended Harkins Academy.
On Sundays Max pumped the pipe organ at the church, for a payment of 25 cents per week. He got the sack after falling asleep during a church service. (It was probably this memory that caused him to install an automatic pump in the pipe organ he donated to the church.)
At about the age of 13, in 1893 he produced his first paper, "The Leader", which he sold for 1 cent a copy. This was closed when his father found him working at 2.00 a.m. Sunday morning. He became a correspondent for the Saint John Sun.
When he was 16 he was sent to sit the entrance exam for Dalhousie University at Halifax. Because of having to learn Greek or Latin he did not complete the entrance. The thought of having to learn a dead language repulsed him.
Instead of going to university he went to work in a drug store. There he met an important customer, Mr Sinclair.
Mr Sinclair helped financially to allow Max to study law. Max repaid him before he made his millions. By the time he made his money, Mr Sinclair had died, Max created an Ice Rink for the young people of Newcastle and called it the Edward Sinclair Ice Rink in memory of his benefactor.
Max joined the law office of Mr Bennett later the Prime Minister of Canada. Also dabbling in stocks and shares he became a successful businessman eventually moving into newspaper publishing.
On 28 Dec 1905 the announcement of his engagement was published in the Montreal papers. Typical of the haste in which Max worked he was to be married on 29 Jan 1906, to Gladys Drury, "Gladys Drury, a girl universally liked and universally thought beautiful."
She was very young being 18 to his 26.

The wedding of Willaim and Gladys was reported in the "Halifax Morning Chronicle."The ceremony was a very quiet wedding which was attended by Max's mother, his brother Traven and 43 other guests."
After making a fortune in Canada he moved to England and became a newspaper owner.
He was the founder of The Sunday Express and owner of Beaverbrook Newspapers.
Moving into politics in England he became a Member of Parliament for Ashton Under Lyne (1910-1916). He had made his home at Cherkley, near Leatherhead, Surrey.
In 1911 he was knighted, much against the wishes of George V, becoming Sir Max Aitken.
1915 saw him with the Canadian Expeditionary Force as "Eye Witness", the Canadian Government Representative at the Front (1916). Wrote the book "Canada in Flanders" which went into its 13th print in 1916.
Created a Baronet in 1916 and in 1917 became the first Baron Beaverbrook.
He held various cabinet posts and during WWII he was Minister for Aircraft Production. He was a philanderer as well as a philanthropist and could be a proper tyrant in his dealings with people.
His marriage was not always a smooth one. Despite his proffessed love of Gladys he had many mistresses,Tallulah Bankhead actress, Rebecca West author of Sunflower, Mrs Diana Cooper wife of a fellow cabinet minister and others. Some he had affairs with over many years but he could not even be faithfull to them as he had other affairs at the same time. Principal amongst his mistresses was Mrs Jean Norton.
In 1925 he installed Jean Norton in a house on his Cherkley Court estate. She remained as his principle mistress until 1945.
In 1927 Gladys was very ill with a brain tumour. She was then residing at Stornaway House, Max's London residence.
Janet, their daughter, convinced him of the seriousness of her mother's illness. And so Max returned to London, from the south of France, where Max was living with Jean Norton.
He arrived in time for his wife's death.
True to his hyprocrisy, he wandering the hallways of Stornaway House wringing his hands and proclaiming "I have lost my harbour".
Mrs Norton took over his wife's duties after Gladys died.
When Mrs Norton died in 1945 again he was found wringing his hands and this time proclaiming "I have lost my moorings".
He was a multi millionaire making most of his money from newspapers.
As a newspaper mogul he was able to organize the British news media to impose a news blackout on the future King Edward VIII and Mrs Wallis Simpson's affair.
Max celebrated his 85th birthday by having a party for 650 people, all men. By this time he was finding it absolute agony to walk being taken everywhere in a wheelchair, but on this occasion he walked to the party and then gave a brilliant speech. Two weeks later he died.
He was often accused of some shonky deals, especially in his younger days.
He always maintained he was born in Canada so that after he died there would be a certain tax saving.
Max died on 9 Jun 1964, at Leatherhead, SRY. England, and was cremated on 14 Jun 1964, in England and the ashes taken back to Canada.
The Town Council of Newcastle wanted his ashes to be buried in the town square but he thought the pigeons would poop on him so before he died he had a cairn erected, where his ashes would be interred. There was a house blocking the view from the cairn up the Miramachi River. So he purchased the house and had it demolished.
When his ashes were interred in the cairn he had, at last, his view of the river.
Beaverbrook was determined not to leave any of his money to the government so if he could not take it with him he left his money to various charitable trusts, to minimise death duties. No money was left to his relatives but he did leave them shares in various businesses.


Emigration:
Departed on board the Empress of France for Quebec, Canada

Immigration:
Departed Southampton, England

Residence:
Also had a residence at Warren Tower, Cheveley, Cambridgeshire

Residence:
Departed Southampton for Quebec, Canada onboeard the "Empress of Britain"

Occupation:
Departed Rio de Janiero for Southampton onboard the Cap Arcona


Immigration:
Arrived onboard aircraft CF-BKE from Nassau, Bahamas

William married Lady Gladys Henderson Drury on 29 Jan 1906 in Garrison Chapel, Halifax, Canada. Gladys (daughter of Major General Charles William Drury and Mary Louise Henderson) was born on 15 Feb 1885 in Canada; died on 1 Dec 1927 in London, England; was buried in St Michael Churchyard, Mickleham, Surrey, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: 8F04949AF27242748C466FBCE3567250D34E
• Residence: 27 Apr 1891, Kingston City, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 2 Apr 1911, 23 Parkside, Knightsbridge, London, England
• Residence: 2 Aug 1924, Leatherhead, Surrey, England
• Emigration: 7 Aug 1926, Southampton, Hampshire, England
• Immigration: 14 Aug 1926, Quebec, Canada
• Residence: 14 Aug 1926, 189 St James Street, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
• Residence: 8 Apr 1927, Stornoway House, St James, London
• Residence: 1 Dec 1927, 13 Cleveland Row, Westminster, London, England
• Residence: 1 Dec 1927, 76 Hurlingham Road, Fulham, London, England

Notes:

Name: Gladys Henderson Aitken Beaverbrook
Birth Date: 14 Feb 1885
Death Date: 1 Dec 1927
Cemetery: St Michael Churchyard Burial or Cremation Place: Mickleham, Mole Valley District, Surrey, England


Emigration:
Departed onboard the Empress of Scotland for Quebec

Immigration:
Arrived onboard the Empress of Scotland from Southampton

Residence:
Arrived Southampton on board the "Majestic" from New York

Other Events:

• _UID: 30737058DC56492BAA844AD2F1B72DDE0E97
• Residence: 1841, Parkhead, Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 1851; student
• Residence: 1851, 11/1 West Adam St, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland
• Immigration: 29 Oct 1864, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
• Occupation: 19 Apr 1870; minister
• Occupation: 1871; clergyman
• Residence: 1871, Vaughan, York, Ontatio, Canada
• Immigration: 30 Nov 1874, New York, New York, USA
• Occupation: 30 Nov 1874; clergyman
• Occupation: 26 May 1879; minister, St Andrew & St Paul Church
• Residence: 26 May 1879, Maple, Vaughan, Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1881; clergyman
• Residence: 1881, Newcastle, Northumberland, New Brunswick, Canada
• Occupation: 23 Apr 1891; clergyman
• Residence: 23 Apr 1891, Newcastle, Northumberland, New Brunswick, Canada
• Occupation: 31 Mar 1901; presbyterian minister
• Residence: 31 Mar 1901, Newcastle, Northumberland, New Brunswick, Canada
• Occupation: 29 Mar 1905; presbyterian minister
• Occupation: 1 Jun 1911; Minister (Retired)
• Residence: 1 Jun 1911, Newcastle, Northumberland, New Brunswick, Canada
• Occupation: 6 Jul 1921; minister, deceased

Notes:

Between 1842 and 1850 he attended Bathgate Academy.
After graduating from there he attended Edinburgh University, to study Arts, from 1850 to 1854.
For the following four years he studied Divinity until he was licensed to preach the gospel, in the Church of Scotland, on 21 Sep. 1858.
On 2 Aug 1864 he was appointed to be minister of the Church of Scotland at Coburg, Toronto, Canada.
Sailing for the USA, in October 1864, on-board the ship "Canada" he arrived in Boston, MA, on a Saturday having taken 14 days to sail from the UK. The next three days were spent in Boston, sightseeing.
He obviously liked his food and drink making special comment of this in a letter to a friend, in March 1865.
He also had an eye for the ladies of which he commented in the same letter.
From Boston he travelled to Coburg, via Niagara Falls and Toronto, in November 1864.
The church at Coburg fell under the control of Toronto.
When he arrived at Coburg, William encountered considerable difficulties. The previous minister, the Church Officers and the congregation at Coburg had transferred their allegiances to the Free Church of Scotland. The Church Officers refused to open the church for him and so litigation was taken.
William could not afford servants so he brought out his sister Ann to look after him.
Before the year was out he was offered the Parish of Vaughan in Maple. Here he stayed for 15 years.
Soon after the move he met Jane Noble, when she was 18.
According to William "she was like a little Dresden doll."

In 1879 William received the call from St James Church, Newcastle, NB.
Newcastle was one of the best-endowed churches in New Brunswick. The post carried an annual salary of $1200.00, a free house and the use of a Glebe Lot.
Candidates, for the position of Minister, had to conduct a divine service whereupon the congregation would vote on slips of paper as to who would be their minister. William won with 129 votes. The next closest candidate received 10 votes. The Glebe Lot became the site of the Sinclair ice rink, built by Lord Beaverbrook.

William and his family were counted in the 1881 Census of Newcastle, NB.
William remained the Minister of St James for 23 years.

Beaverbrook donated a grand pipe organ to the church at a cost of $6000.00. It bears a brass plaque "IN MEMORY OF THE REV. WILLIAM AITKEN." He also later paid for the organ to be fitted with an electro-pneumatic action, so the organ did not need to be pumped by hand. Perhaps remembering when he was the one that used to have to do the pumping of the old organ. He also donated eleven new church bells to the church.

'The Rev. William certainly looked the part with his grim expression and long white beard. Beaverbrook was later to say that "When my father stood up to read the Scriptures and to preach it was as if God Almighty was speaking." His congregation found him reserved but he was well respected especially for his sermons. Sometimes he preached anti-Catholic sermons; sometimes he mocked the Baptist doctrine of total submission. Once, in his fervour, he beat the sides of the pulpit with such emphasis that a section fell off. He preached hell and damnation with a Calvinistic fervour.'
A.J.P.Taylor

Orthodox Presbyterian standards were maintained at home, prayers, no cards etc. But he was indulgent towards dancing. He played chess but more surprisingly he played with the local Roman Catholic priest.
He continued to live in Newcastle, apart from holidays paid for by his son, until he died.

His monumental inscription, at St Andrew's Presbyterian Cemetery, Maple, Ontario, reads "Aitken. In loving Memory of Rev. William Aitken, Minister of St. Andrew's and St. Paul's Churches, Vaughan, for 15 years. Born Linlithgowshire, Scotland, Died Newcastle, New Brunswick, Dec. 13th, 1913. And his wife, Jane Noble, born Maple, Ontario, died Newcastle, England, Aug. 6th, 1927. Katie, third daughter of Rev. William Aitken, died Dec. 13th, 1881, aged 7 years and 2 months."

Beaverbrook is quoted as saying; "Looking back, it is difficult to recollect any evidence of warmth in the relations of my parents and yet there is no occasion when a quarrel comes to my memory. My mother invariably spoke of her husband and to him as Mr Aitken. And I cannot recall any time when my mother was called Jane. One recollection of them, however, always remains clearly before me. An interesting ceremony was performed before church on Sunday morning. My father's collar was buttoned by my mother and his bands were carefully adjusted. He always managed to button his collar on other days, so the ceremony must have had some emotional meaning rather after the manner of the loving wife who buckles on the soldier's sword when he is about to go into battle."
"My Early Life" by Lord Beaverbrook

The Reverend retired and went on holiday to Florida, at his son's expense, but continued to live in Newcastle until he died. His monumental inscription, at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Cemetery, Maple, Ontario, #103, reads "Aitken. In loving Memory of Rev. William Aitken, Minister of St. Andrew's and St. Paul's Churches, Vaughan, for 15 years. Born Linlithgowshire, Scotland, Died Newcastle, New Brunswick, Dec. 13th, 1913. And his wife, Jane Noble, born Maple, Ontario, died Newcastle, England, Aug. 6th, 1927. Katie, third daughter of Rev. William Aitken, died Dec. 13th, 1881, aged 7 yrs. and 2 mos."

Immigration:
Arrived onboard the Bolivia from Glasgow

William married Jane Noble on 8 May 1867 in Vaughan, York, Ontatio, Canada. Jane (daughter of Joseph Vaughan Noble and Sarah McQuarrie) was born on 8 May 1846 in Ontario, Canada; died on 6 Aug 1927 in Newcastle, Northumberland, England; was buried in St Andrew. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: 4A522F3D7B0F40B88036724380B2D93E3EF5
• Residence: 26 May 1879, Maple, Vaughan, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 31 Mar 1901, Newcastle, Northumberland, New Brunswick, Canada
• Residence: 1 Jun 1911, Newcastle, Northumberland, New Brunswick, Canada

Notes:

Lord Beaverbrook maintained that "it was his Celtic strain that he inherited from his Irish mother , that gave him the side that 'gets up and dances'." However Jane was not born in Ireland, according to Beaverbrook's biography, she was born in Ontario, Canada. His biography gives her being born about 1843 however the 1881 Census says she was 32 in 1881 which would make her born about 1849. Her parents were Irish, having emigrated from County Tyrone in the 1840's.

Jane's marriage was undemonstrative but she was devoted to her husband.
Jean McLintock, daughter of Jane and William was quoted as saying "Mama was the stronger character."

"As the wife of the minister of St James she was automatically one of the town's leading citizens, and she played her full part, arranging sewing parties at the manse, giving tea parties on the lawn in summer, and organising dances in the double parlour. She was a good cook. Everyone who knew her regarded her as an efficient manager running the house and family, ambitious for her children and standing no nonsense from the congregation. Her response to whispered disapproval about dancing in the manse was to hold a special dance and send out printed invitations."
A.J.P.Taylor.
On a trip to Scotland Jane travelled from Canada, Quebec, to Southampton on board the Canadian Pacific ship "Empress of Scotland" in Oct 1924. She travelled 1st Class with her daughter Anne. The shipping documents give their contact address as the Stafford Hotel, St James's Place, London.
She survived her husband by 14 years and she wore widows weeds until the day she died. According to Beaverbrook's biography she died Jun 1927. Burke's Peerage gives her date of death as 6 Aug 1927. According to the OCFA she was buried at St Andrews Presbyterian Cemetery Maple, Vaughan, York County, ONT.

Notes:

Married:
Name Jane Noble
Spouse Rev. William Aitken
Mother Sarah Macquarry
Father Joseph
Birth 1846 - Vaughan Township
Marriage 8 May 1867 - York
Residence Vaughan Township

Other Events:

• _UID: B9B7625306444B04BAF27F2D957FCB1106E3
• Occupation: 18 Apr 1901; Army Colonel
• Residence: 18 Apr 1901, Kingston City, Ontario, Canada

Charles married Mary Louise Henderson. Mary and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: 7542285090E44AEF9E87D860198CDA41F9D3

Other Events:

• _UID: 2585986671ED4F8FA233890C23280722C24C
• Occupation: 1841; Lime Burner
• Residence: 1841, Parkhead, Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 1851; Farmer (97 acres)
• Residence: 1851, Silvermines Farm, Torphicen, West Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 1861; Limeburner & Farmer Of 90 Acres Employing 2 Men
• Residence: 1861, Silvermines Farm, Torphicen, West Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 13Mar 1862; farmer
• Occupation: 1871; Farmer Of 93 Ac Employing 1 Man & 1 Boy
• Residence: 1871, Silvermines Farm, Torphicen, West Lothian, Scotland

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.
In 1832 he must already have been a man of property.
The "List of the Electors of the County of Linlithgow" was produced in 1858. This listing states that "in 1832, 1837 and 1838, that Robert Aitken, Lime-burner, of Silver-Mine, Torphichen, Bathgate, was a tenant occupier".
Who one actually voted for was recorded. In 1832 Robert voted for Sir A. Hope and in 1837 he voted for Captain Hope, in 1838 he voted for Mr Charles Hope.
It is not surprising that Robert had voted that way. The land he leased, for farming and his lime burning business, was owned by the Hope family, the Hope's of Hopetoun, Earls of Linlithgow.
Robert's father held the lease of Wester Tartraven and the Limecraig of Silvermine until 1840.
I cannot find any record of who held the lease between 1840 and 1847, it was our Robert, according to Burke's Peerage.
In 1844 he bought a house in Bathgate. Then in 1845 he bought the grounds and buildings on the east side of Engine Street and the south side of North Street.
1847 must have been a momentous year for Robert and Ann.
That year, Robert, acquired more properties in Bathgate.
He signed a lease, for 18 years, for Silvermines farm.
His wife, Ann, also acquired property in Bathgate in 1847. So she must have been a woman of some substance as well.
Robert, Ann and their daughter Catherine all joined Torphichen Church.

Cemetery: Bathgate, Glasgow Road Cemetery
Interment Number: 2537
Date of Interment: Tuesday, 20 Oct 1874
Time: 3pm
Name: Robert Aitken
Occupation: Farmer
Residence: Silver Mines
Date of death: 17 Oct 1874
Age: 69
Cause of Death: Dropsy
How conveyed to grave: Hearse
Ground: Private
Compartment: B
Lair Number: 71
Depth: 5 feet
Charge: 5/-
Other info: two spaces No. 71 & 72

Robert married Ann Henderson on 3 Oct 1828 in Torphichen, Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland. Ann (daughter of Robert Henderson and Janet Jeffrey) was born on 3 Oct 1809 in Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland; died on 18 Jun 1880 in Wester Tartraven, Torphicen, West Lothian, Scotland; was buried on 21 Jun 1880 in Glasgow Rd Cemetery, Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: A787A0237BC54AA29F33EEB11B18923C8F2B
• Residence: 1841, Parkhead, Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 1851, Silvermines Farm, Torphicen, West Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 1861, Silvermines Farm, Torphicen, West Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 1871, Silvermines Farm, Torphicen, West Lothian, Scotland

Notes:

Name: Ann Anderson
Gender: Female
Birth Date: 3 Oct 1809
Birth Place: Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland
Father: Robert Anderson
Mother: Jaffrey
FHL Film Number: 102976, 1066612, 0102975

In 1847 Ann acquired property in Bathgate so she must have been a person of some substance.
Robert, Ann and their daughter Catherine all joined Torphichen Church.
In "The County Directory of Scotland" for 1875 it shows Mrs Aitken, & Robert's wife Ann, as being the farmers of Silvermines Farm.
The informant of the death of Ann Henderson was her son James Aitken

Other Events:

• _UID: FA84238247B04B80B9BBE94433D367A79A9B

Joseph married Sarah McQuarrie. Sarah and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: FEE6958E771F4FCB9004D792C632788EB284