Helen Mitchell Shanks

Other Events:

• _UID: 0A145E4B7B1F4EF39C985BB1110CE8F3DA39
• Residence: 29 Jul 1929, Hilderston Glebe, Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 10 Aug 1990, Blackbraes, California, West Lothian, Scotland

Notes:

Helen, "Nellie" helped organise the Aitken family get together at Silvermines Farm.

Helen married William Taylor Aitken on 29 Jul 1929 in 6 Bank St, Edinburgh, Mid Lothian, Scotland. William (son of John Cunningham Aitken and Margaret Taylor) was born on 24 Jul 1904 in Hareburn Farm, Muiravonside, Stirling, Scotland; died on 26 Apr 1978 in Marjoribank Street, Bathgate, West lothian, Scotland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
They were "married by declaration" in the presence of James Johnston of Ballencrief and Catherine Shanks of Hilderston Glebe

1. John Cunningham Aitken was born on 21 Feb 1930 in Ballencrieff Cottage, Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland; died on 22 Oct 1988 in Strathcarron Hospice, Denny, Stirling, Scotland.
2. Alexander Shanks Aitken was born on 12 May 1933 in Gateshiels, Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland; died on 1 Jun 2011 in Strathcarron Hospice, Denny, Stirling, Scotland.

Other Events:

• _UID: 4B552FE9E1E04CC6BE04FDBE27350BE04F0D
• Residence: 1891, 16 Marjoribank St, bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 1901; stone mason
• Residence: 1901, 7 Drumcross Rd, Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 11 Jun 1906; mason
• Residence: 11 Jun 1906, 66 Gairloch Street, Falkirk, Scotland
• Residence: 1911, Tartraven Farm, Torphicen, West Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 11 Jun 1936; Mason
• Residence: 1938, Hilderstone Glebe, Torphicen, West Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 8 Nov 1961, Roserraon Terrace, Blackness, West Lothian, Scotland

Notes:

Alexander W Shanks and Nelly M B Aitken were married "by declaration" in the presence of "Helen Aitken, widow of a Farmer and Annie Anderson, her daughter."

The informant of the death of Helen A Mitchell was Alexander W Shanks, son in law

In 1938 Alexander was the informant on the death of his sister in law Annie Anderson Aitken

Buried:
PLOT A-287

Alexander married Nelly Margaret Bailey Aitken on 11 Jun 1906 in 35 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh, Mid Lothian, Scotland. Nelly (daughter of James Aitken and Helen Auld Mitchell) was born on 31 Jan 1883 in Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland; died on 17 Mar 1974 in 23 St Ninians Way, Blackness, West Lothian, Scotland; was buried in 1974 in Boghead Cemetery, Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: B0B398B8E06045708E857B7C0C5B3FFC5483
• Residence: 1891, Cathlaw Hill, Torphicen, West Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 11 Jun 1906, Silvermine, Torphicen, West Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 1911, Tartraven Farm, Torphicen, West Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 17 Mar 1974, 23 St Ninians Way, Blackness, West Lothian, Scotland

Notes:

Nelly is the spelling on her Birth Certificate but at other times her name was given as Nellie and Helen.
She was born illegitimate according to her Birth Certificate. Her parents married in 1888 which would then legitimise the birth.

There is a picture of her sitting outside her house at Windy Wa's She was a 23 year-old spinster at the time she married Alexander Wright Shanks

Alexander W Shanks and Nelly M B Aitken were married "by declaration" in the presence of "Helen Aitken, widow of a Farmer and Annie Anderson, her daughter."

Nelly was at the reunion at Silvermine farm, which was held on 17 Aug. 1968. In the newspaper, 'The Scottish Sunday Express Glasgow', of 18 Aug. 1968, it gives her name as Ellen.

The obituary for Nelly M B Aitken appeared in "The Courier" of 22 Mar. 1974.

Buried:
PLOT A-287

Other Events:

• _UID: 7CA7460343D842E3A0FA6581A6CACD329BFA
• Occupation: 1891; blacksmith
• Residence: 1891, 16 Marjoribank St, bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 1901; blacksmith
• Residence: 1901, 7 Drumcross Rd, Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland

James married Catherine Wright. Catherine was born in 1863 in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: 907574ECDC6C46A4BD0E1D43070D6389C27C
• Residence: 1891, 16 Marjoribank St, bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 1901, 7 Drumcross Rd, Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland

Other Events:

• _UID: 7312469B5BEE4E1ABF641F883485B1E63122
• Residence: 1861, Silvermines Farm, Torphicen, West Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 1871, Silvermines Farm, Torphicen, West Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 2 Mar 1881; Gamekeeper
• Residence: 2 Mar 1881, Engine Street, Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 1891; dairyman
• Residence: 1891, Cathlaw Hill, Torphicen, West Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 11 Sep 1894, Drumcross, Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland

Notes:

When James married, in 1882, he was aged 32. Thus he would be born about 1856, which would fit in with his siblings.
In the 1891 Census his age is given as 35, thus born about 1856.
When he died, in 1894, his age was given as 40 thus born 1854.
There is so much conflicting information with James that I doubt a great deal of it and find previous researchers findings as suspect.

The informant of the death of Ann Henderson was her son James Aitken

According to the Beaverbrook researcher, James took over Wester Tartraven Farm about 1874. But he did not make a success of it. He would have only been about 19 at that time.
He seems to have over extended himself and had multiple houses and farms.
Once his mother died, in 1880, he became the farmer of Silvermine Farm.
According to the 1881 Census, the Silvermine Farm was 120 acres, and James was employing 1 man and 1 girl.

He must have been working both Wester Tartraven and Silvermine because he did not hand over Wester Tartraven's lease until 1884.

Informant on the death of Geaorge mackay was his brother in law James Aitken

James married Helen Auld Mitchell on 2 Mar 1881 in Knock Hill Farm, Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland. Helen (daughter of David Mitchell and Margaret Baillie) was born on 22 Apr 1856 in Shellsburn, Shotts, Lanarkshire, Scotland; died on 23 Feb 1944 in Royal Infirmary Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland; was buried in 1944 in Boghead Cemetery, Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: 3FB2B7F208FC467CAC5BF159869481BE0ACA
• Residence: 1861, Shottsburn, Shotts, Lanarkshire, Scotland
• Residence: 1871, Knock Farm, Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 2 Mar 1881, Knock Hill Farm, Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 1891, Cathlaw Hill, Torphicen, West Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 23 Feb 1944, Hilderston Glebe, Torphicen, West Lothian Scotland

Notes:

The informant of the death of Helen A Mitchell was Alexander W Shanks, son in law

Buried:
PLOT A-287

Notes:

Married:
Robert A. MacKay and Mary S. Mitchell were witnesses at the wedding of James Aitken and Helen Mitchell

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: 5D9D528098F94E98A9A6AD9D2D1CA1642AD5
• Occupation: 1861; farmer
• Residence: 1861, Shottsburn, Shotts, Lanarkshire, Scotland
• Occupation: 1871; farmer
• Residence: 1871, Knock Farm, Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 1891; farmer
• Residence: 1891, Knock Farm, Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 1901; farmer
• Residence: 1901, Knock Farm, Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland

David married Margaret Baillie. Margaret and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: 183BD06EE6844A54931B0EFBD77E29FECCED