Living

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

1. Living
2. Living

Other Events:

• _UID: 62933B19050E4E699C8C53FDF1FF6CFEE5FD
• Residence: 1941, 14 Union St, Leith, Midlothian, Edinburgh, Scotland

Notes:

Notes from Terry Stewart
Dad was named after David Corrie, a foot runner that his father trained.
Dad had originally joined the London North Eastern Railway (LNER), in 1936, as a lad porter and gradually progressed to signalman. In March 1941 Dad became the Signalman at Dalkieth Colliery Signal Box at a wage of 4 pounds 12 shillings and six pence.
In March 1941 Dad became the Signalman at Dalkieth Colliery Signal Box at a wage of 4 pounds 12 shillings and six pence.
In 1949, when the Canadian Government called for railwayman to join Canadian Railways, Dad and Mum decided to immigrate to Canada. The family was accepted but before we could leave for Canada the quota was filled.
Just at this time a scheme opened for Railwayman to join the Victoria State Railways in Australia. Dad was accepted as a Porter at Spencer Street Railway Station in Melbourne and so we were soon off to Australia on board the SS Chitral.
Departing London on July 23 1950 we were due to arrive in Melbourne, via Suez, Port Said, Aden, Colombo and Fremantle, on the 22nd August. However we broke down, and spent 5 days in Fremantle, and so arrived at Port Melbourne on 27th Aug, where we were bussed off to our new homes in Sunshine, on the outskirts of Melbourne.
We had no sooner arrived when Dad found that the Victorian Railways were on strike. So he obtained a job at a furniture factory in Sunshine. His first job there was to brand the furniture, which was made in Sunshine, "Made In England".
The strike over he began his work in Spencer Street Station.
When we lived in Sunshine our permanent house was at 110 Wright Street.
Mum got a job in the ICI munitions works and then worked as a Shop Assistant in a fruit and vegetable shop.
Trying to assimilate into the community Mum joined the "Mother's Club" at Sunshine State School, at which I was a pupil. She became a member of their choir and appeared on radio, with the choir.
Mum was very much involved with the Order of the Eastern Star and Dad with the Masonic Lodge.
Dad was the founder of the Scottish Society in Sunshine and became their first secretary and the driving force amongst their committee.
He was quite an accomplished artist especially with pen & ink and in later life turning his hand to oil painting.
After going for a holiday to Fremantle, WA, Mum and Dad decided to sell up and head west.
We left Melbourne onbard the MV Kanimbla and survived a very rough passage, to WA, disembarking at Fremantle in 1955.
First living in a flat at 37 John Street, Mum and Dad eventually bought a house, which Mum made into a boarding house, at Hickory Street, South Fremantle, whilst Dad went to work for the Commonwealth Oil Refineries installation, at North Fremantle, as a Storeman.
On the death of Granny Stewart, Dad's Mum, in 1956 the family returned to Scotland, on-board the MV Moreton Bay.
Mum, never a good traveller, was seasick all the way, even when we were going up the English Channel she was still being sick.
Back in Edinburgh Mum went back to work for Martin's Bakers and Dad rejoined the railways, first as a cleaner and then signalman.
When I got married in 1962 and returned to WA it did not take Mum and Dad long to decide to follow us.
Mum Dad and my sister Patricia arrived back in Fremantle in 1963.
Dad went to work at the Royal Perth Hospital as an Orderly.
After living with my wife and I, at Applecross, they bought a house at Park Street Subiaco.
Wanting to be closer to the coast and to have a bit more space than their house in Subiaco, Mum and Dad moved from there to Forrest Street, Fremantle.
One very early morning Dad woke up and found Mum was not in bed. On investigating he found her sitting next to the telephone.
"What are you doing sitting there?"
"I am waiting on an obscene telephone call."
Dad looked incredulous.
Mum said "I got a phone call a couple of hours ago, from a Police Sergeant. He told me I was going to get a call from an obscene telephone caller. And would I keep him talking so they could trace the call!!!"
Always the gullible one.
In 1971 Dad had a brain aneurism for which he had to be operated on. After recovery he would sometimes be called on to talk with others suffering from the same problem and distressed before an operation. Dad always maintained that the operation never affected him but it had. Before the aneurism he was a very happy go lucky person but afterwards became very short tempered.
Dad loved classical music, which once got him into trouble with the police. Driving, on Canning Highway, the 1812 overturure belting out the highest possible volume, he stopped at the traffic lights when he realised there was someone knocking on the side of the door of the car. It was a policeman ordering him to turn the music down.
Mum never really enjoyed great health but she was a survivor.
It was whilst living at Forrest Street that she first suffered from a bad heart.
Her first set of bypass surgery followed. Six bypasses were inserted, at Royal Perth Hospital.
Some of the bypasses failed and so corrective surgery was attempted.
As the bypasses deteriorated further bypasses had to be installed.
In all she has had 3 sets of bypasses inserted.
The next move was to 12a Alcester Street, East Fremantle and then later to Rockingham.
This proved too far from hospital so they moved back into town buying a house at Myaree.
It was whilst living at Myaree that Mum had her first stroke.
She recovered from this but with a slight loss of memory which caused her to mixe up her words, sometimes with some funny consequences.
One day I was chaffing her about the Aitken's being crooks.
Her reply to that was that the Stewart's were just "sheep shitters". She meant to say sheep-hearders.
From there they moved to Virginia Avenue, Maddington.
In 1996, about 9 months before Dad died, he had a breakdown eventually having to be cared for, at Hillview Nursing Hospital.
The staff were always making mention of his good manners and courtesy to the staff.
Contracting pneumonia he seemed to be getting over it. Mum, Pat Laurie and I, visited him on the Tuesday evening where he seemed to be resting easily. By the time I got home there was a call waiting for me.
Dad had passed away. He died after having a cerebrovascular accident on 12 Aug 1997.
A service was held at Fremantle Cemetery on 15 Aug 1997. Dad was cremated at Fremantle Crematorium, and his ashes are interred at the Garden of Remembrance, Lakes Area, location CBP8 No.6.

David married Sinclairina Spence Aitken on 20 Jun 1941 in St Paul's Church, Lorne Street, Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland. Sinclairina (daughter of Thomas Barton Aitken and Catherine Manson Spence) was born on 9 Apr 1919 in 30 Arthur Street, Leith, Midlothian, Edinburgh; died on 8 May 2004 in Maddington, WA. Australia; was buried on 12 May 2004 in Freemantle Crematorium, Australia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: DB1B9948A1A740FA9835929EB70D24175565
• Residence: 1941, 14 Union St, Leith, Midlothian, Edinburgh, Scotland

Notes:

Notes from terry Stewart
Attending Lochend Road Primary School she received first prize in the "Safety First Essay Competition", in 1932.
On the 1st Sep 1933 she was awarded her "Edinburgh Lower Certificate".
After leaving school Mum got her first job, working as a as a Live-in Helper in a children's home at Gilmerton, Edinburgh.
One night her hot water bottle burst and scalded her legs. Because she could not work until her legs healed she was sacked.
Working for the Martin's bakery chain of shops she became a Window Dresser and then Shop Manager.
Mum and her sisters attended the Minerva Christian Mission, run by David Redpath, where they met a group of boys who also attended the mission. Their missionary worked involved them with visitiing the Leith docks and handing out religious tracts to the visiting seamen.
Cathy, Mum's sister, started going out with one of the boys, David Stewart. This did not last all that long and eventually Dave gave up Cathy and started courting Mum.
Following the death of husband dad, Mum continued to live by herself in Maddington.
In 1999 I promised I would take her to Scotland.
In the March, three months before we were to depart, her heart specialist said that he would not give his permission for her to fly until closer to the time.
We were due to fly out on the Sunday. But on the Monday before he had still not made a final decision. Mum was not very well. No wonder with all the procrastination of the specialist and the worry of whether he would let her go or not.
We arrived for her appointment and he sent her for more tests. That afternoon he whacked her straight back into intensive care. Her body was so short of potassium that he reckoned she would die if she went on the plane. He did say though that it would be easily rectified.
Things did not look good. It did not look like Mum would survive the night. But Mum was still fighting.
Tuesday no better. We had resigned ourselves to losing Mum.
Wednesday morning Mum rang from the hospital and told me she was going home.
Obviously Mum had had enough. She wanted to go home to her own bed. I told her I would be right out to pick her up.
"No. I am going home to Scotland."
There had been such an improvement the doctors had given their permission for her to go.
Mum had a marvellous holiday but was very tired by the time we got her back to Australia.
The week after we returned she contracted pneumonia and was ambulanced to St John of God's Hospital, Murdoch.
Late on Saturday 7th Aug 1999 she had another stroke, kidneys failed and had to be restarted.
By a.m Tuesday 10th she was at deaths door.
That evening she was sitting up and telling everyone "I have cheated them again."
Fully recovered she went home again.
Then at the beginning of October she was opening her curtains and she fell over.
Unable to move from the floor and not wearing her medi-alert either, she had to struggle to the phone where she called my sister, Pat.
Pat was unable to lift her without causing her great pain.
An ambulance was called and Mum was back in St John Of God's Hospital. It turns out she had broken her pelvis. After 4 weeks in hospital she was sent home on Tuesday 26th Oct. 1999.
In 2003 she received an invitation to her neice, Barbara's, wedding.
Mum was desperate to go.
No one was keen to see her go or to take her.
She was staying with Maureen and I this particular weekend. My travel agent was advertising a special price to the UK.
I went into Fremantle, before Mum was awake, and decided to book a couple of tickets to the UK.
When I got back home Mum was just getting up.
She came down the stairs from her bedroom still in her nightdress, walking slowly, with the aid of her walking stick. She was very tired and barely able to walk.
I told her I was going to Scotland.
"Oh please take me with you".
"I have got a ticket for you as well" says I.
On hearing this she started beaming. She dropped the walking stick and went jigging around the room.
She rushed off and disappeared up to her room.
Maureen and I were astonished at this transformation but we were concerned about her heart. We could hear movement in her room and decided to leave her to her own emotions.
Thirty minutes went by when she came rushing into the kitchen, fully dressed.
"Can you take me into Fremantle right away".
"Off course, but why?"
"I have to get some things for our trip!"
She had made a shopping list of items, new underwear, slacks and blouses.
Two weeks later she and I were in Scotland.
She made it to the wedding where she was treated like the honoured guest she was.
After a brilliant holiday I got her back to Australia, all in one piece.
When I got her home she was extremely happy but very tired. A visit to her doctor resulted in her being admitted into hospital yet again.
When the heart specialist found out about her trip he went ballistic saying that he would never have given his permission.
Mum stood up to him, for once, and said, "Well I did, I went and I am back".
A surprise birthday party was arranged for her as her 80th birthday was spent in intensive care.
All the family and her old friends attended and she was so over the moon about it you couldn't get the smile off her face.
Everything seemed well with her on Friday 7th May, when she had her hair done. On Saturday morning I was going out to take her to lunch when Pat, who lived directly opposite her, noticed her curtains were still drawn. When Pat went across Mum had passed away.
The doctor estimated she had died at about 2.30 a.m.
Always the lady even in death. She was lying on the bed in her night attire with her dressing grown carefully draped over herself.
Her funeral was held at the Fremantle Crematorium on Wednesday 12th May 2004. Mum's ashes were interred next to Dad's.
When we cleared the house we found a packet of letters to us all. She was so prepared.
Everytime she had gone overseas she had left this packet of letters in Lauries care. And it had to be returned to her when she returned home. If she did not return the letters were to be distributed.
In each envelope was a personal letter expressing her love and how much she had enjoyed our company.

Other Events:

• _UID: 68F8A8484D544C399B4697349A9A80F9CF90

Alexander married Mary Graham Kerr. Mary was born in 1886; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: B4B6591C5665450EABBB02ECE2FB292A71D5

Other Events:

• _UID: E72CE4C07CE5415D8184FEE3C3A8EB6355F6
• Residence: 1891, 10 Summerfield, Leith, Mid Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 1901; warehouseman (wine merchant)
• Residence: 1901, 29 James St, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 17 Jul 1908; Warehouseman
• Residence: 17 Jul 1908, 11 Lindsay Road, Leith, Mid Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 1909, 13 Prince Regent Street, Leith, Mid Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 1910, 13 Prince Regent Street, Leith, Mid Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 1912; labourer
• Residence: 1912, 3 Henderson St, Leith, Midlothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 1914; railway porter
• Residence: 1914, Broomhouse Cottages, Corstorphine, Edinburgh, Scotland
• Occupation: 1916; railway porter
• Residence: 1916, Broomhouse Cottages, Corstorphine, Edinburgh, Scotland
• Residence: 1919, 30 Arthur Street, Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland
• Residence: 1921, 30 Arthur Street, Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland
• Residence: 1923, 30 Arthur Street, Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland
• Occupation: 29 Jun 1957; general labourer
• Residence: 19 Mar 1960, 41 Chapelton Drive, West Calder, Mid Lothian, Scotland

Notes:

Catherine did not enjoy the best of health suffering from heart disease most of her life.
She had 9 living children and also some still births.
Many times Thoams and Catherine moved houses. Not always because of Tom's itchy feet but sometimes to move into less taxing premises for Catherine.
Catherine's mother, father and siblings, except for sister Jo, went to Canada. As Jo and Catherine were already married they stayed behind.
As Kate and Tom's family grew ever bigger they moved around Edinburgh quite a lot. After Prince Regent Street they next lived at 3 Henderson Street, Leith, where Sarah was born. At this time Tom was a Labourer.
When the next three children were born, Tom was working on the railway as a Porter and was living at Broomhouse Cottages, Corstorphine.
During WWI he served in the Scots Guards as a Private.
After the war the family moved to 30 Arthur Street, Leith, where Sinclarina, Cathy and Jim were born.
Catherine used to knit very fine shawls, in the Shetland style. The toilet would be put "out of bounds" to the family when Catherine was "smeekin" the shawls. She would hang them in the toilet. A fire would be set, on a shovel-full of sulphur, in the toilet. The toilet door would be sealed. This she called smeekin, probably smoking. This was the method used to whiten the shawls. Relatives, who were seamen on the ships sailing between the Shetlands and Leith, would collect the shawls in exchange for cases of eggs and smoked fish. The shawls would then be taken back to the Shetlands where they would be sold as Shetland Isles knitwear. The eggs and fish would be shared with friends and relatives around Leith.
Tom Aitken had many jobs but was basically a country person. Over the years he was a railway porter, railway shunter, warehouseman, horse and cart driver for Melrose Drovers and gardener.
Tom had the ability to turn a soapbox into a piece of furniture. Likewise he had the ability to turn a piece of furniture into a soapbox.
Catherine developed heart trouble and so the family was on the move again. They lived in Lochend, Craigentinny and East Thomas Street.
After his family married and moved on, Tom lived and worked on various estates.
He was a very fit man and a great walker.
In 1996 he was living in the Calders.
Terry Stewart his Mum, Dad, and sister had just returned from Australia when Tom met them at Mid Calder Railway Staion. He had walked from home to the station, a distance of about 2 miles. He gave directions to his house where Catherine would be waiting to give us our tea. Tom had to walk on into West Calder, to get his pension. From the station it was a round trip of some 3 miles. By the time we got to the house he had caught up with us.
Catherine and Tom celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary at Sinclarine and David Stewart's house at 17 Meadowbank Avenue, Meadowbank, Edinburgh, in 1958. Great aunt Nel, Catherine's sister and bridesmaid came over from Canada to help them celebrate.
Tom stayed on at Chapelton Drive until he had to enter a nursing home, about 1974.
Every so often he would disappear and go for a long walk.
It was in the nursing home where he developed gangrene. They removed a leg but very shortly after this he died.

Thomas married Catherine Manson Spence on 17 Jul 1908 in 13 Prince Regent Street, Leith, Mid Lothian, Scotland. Catherine (daughter of Sinclair Sutherland Spence and Helen Moodie Sutherland) was born on 27 Jul 1886 in Dounreay, Caithness, Scotland; died on 19 Mar 1960 in 41 Chapelton Drive, West Calder, Mid Lothian, Scotland; was buried on 22 Mar 1960 in Seafiled Cemetery, Edinburgh, Scotland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: C4F89097963546B0B38A904102D61837D982
• Residence: 1891, Westerseat, Wick, Caithness, Scotland
• Occupation: 1901; domestic servant
• Residence: 1901, 21 Couper St, Leith, Midlothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 17 Jul 1908; Domestic Servant
• Residence: 17 Jul 1908, 13 Prince Regent Street, Leith, Mid Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 1909, 13 Prince Regent Street, Leith, Mid Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 1910, 13 Prince Regent Street, Leith, Mid Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 1912, 3 Henderson St, Leith, Midlothian, Scotland
• Residence: 1914, Broomhouse Cottages, Corstorphine, Edinburgh, Scotland
• Residence: 1916, Broomhouse Cottages, Corstorphine, Edinburgh, Scotland
• Residence: 1919, 30 Arthur Street, Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland
• Residence: 1921, 30 Arthur Street, Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland
• Residence: 1923, 30 Arthur Street, Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland
• Residence: 19 Mar 1960, 41 Chapelton Drive, West Calder, Mid Lothian, Scotland

Notes:

Married:
Witnesses at the wedding of Thomas Aitken and Catherine Spence were James Aitken and Nell Spence.

Other Events:

• _UID: A1C6878FDCE84C6183338825597685A84DD6
• Residence: 1851, Silvermines Farm, Torphicen, West Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 1861, Mounteerie, Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 1871; carter
• Residence: 1871, Mounteerie, Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 1877; Master Carter
• Residence: 14 Feb 1878, Hillderston Hill Farm, Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 1881; Pier Porter
• Residence: 1881, Clifton Cottage, Boswell Road, Wardie, Leith
• Occupation: 15 Nov 1886; Warehouseman
• Residence: 15 Nov 1886, 10 Summerfield, Leith, Mid Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: Aft 1886, Melrose Drovers; Cart Driver
• Occupation: 1891; ship labourer
• Residence: 1891, 10 Summerfield, Leith, Mid Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 1901; general labourer
• Residence: 1901, 29 James St, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland
• Residence: 25 Feb 1937, 29 James St, Edinburgh, Mid Lothian, Scotland

Notes:

About 1855, with a downturn in his father's fortunes, the family had to move from Silvermine Farm to Montaree Farm. This was around the other side of the Cairnpepple hill. Every person in the family had to help with the removal by carrying furniture, goods and belongings. Young John had to carry his own chair.

When the family arrived at their new home, John was missing. A search was instituted. The elder children were sent to retrace their steps. John was eventually found fast asleep on his chair on the side of Cairnpepple hill. He had stopped for a rest, sat down on his chair and fallen asleep

Quite enjoying his drink there was many an occasion when Johns horse would bring him home whilst he was asleep lying in the back of the cart. This whilst working for Melrose Drovers.
Later on John had a gardening contracting business and he used to keep his tools under a pub in Goldenacre. Thus it was handy for his afterwork ale.

After his wife died he used to visit his son, Tom and family, at Craigmiller. Sinclairina Stewart (nee Aitken), remembers him as a small man, looking very much like Beaverbrook. Sinclairina remembers that whoever met him off the bus would always receive a silver threepenny. As a present, to the house, he would also have a packet of Abernethy biscuits and a bag of pan drops.

The informant on the death of William Aitken was John Aitken, brother

John married Sarah Barton on 14 Feb 1878 in United Presbyterian Church, Ecclefechan, Dumfries, Scotland. Sarah (daughter of Thomas Carlyle Barton and Janet Irving) was born on 26 Nov 1851 in Ecclefechan, Dumfries, Scotland; was christened on 30 Dec 1851 in Hoddam, Dumfries, Scotland; died on 11 Mar 1918 in 29 James St, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland; was buried on 13 Mar 1918 in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: 47F835D3B70744A683B188FF995D991C55D7
• Residence: 1861, Glasgow Rd Woodbine Cottage, Hoddam, Dumfriesshire, Scotland
• Occupation: 1877, Landsdowne Cres, Edinburgh, Mid Lothian, Scotland; Domestic Servant
• Residence: 1881, Clifton Cottage, Boswell Road, Wardie, Leith
• Residence: 15 Nov 1886, 10 Summerfield, Leith, Mid Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 1891, 10 Summerfield, Leith, Mid Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 1901, 29 James St, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland
• Residence: 11 Mar 1918, 3 Middlefield, Leith, Mid Lothian, Scotland

Notes:

Name: Sarah Barton
Gender: Female
Birth Date: 26 Nov 1851
Baptism Date: 30 Dec 1851
Baptism Place: Hoddam, Dumfries, Scotland
Father: Thomas Barton
Mother: Janet Irving
FHL Film Number: 1067963
Reference ID: 2:162DBFP

Sarah was quite an enterprising lady. Whilst they were living at the bottom of Restalrig Road, Leith, Sarah had a shop where she sold home made cakes, sweeties and potted heid (potted head).
After moving from there they lived behind a shop Sarah had at 3 Middlefield, Pilrig, Edinburgh.

Helen Sutherland Aitken, loved visiting her granny Sarah. Her grandad John Aitken loved mince and tatties and so whenever aunt Nelly visited she was always sure of getting a plate.



Buried:
Name: Sarah B Aitken
Register Type: Burial
Death Date: abt 1918
Burial or Cremation Date: 13 Mar 1918
Burial or Cremation Place: Edinburgh, Scotland

Notes:

Married:
Witnesses to the wedding of John Aitken and Sarah Barton were Peter Aitken and Janet Barton.

Other Events:

• _UID: F6C520CD83E9420180EBED2743691954EF63
• Occupation: 1891; farm servant
• Residence: 1891, Westerseat, Wick, Caithness, Scotland
• Occupation: 1901; labourer
• Residence: 1901, 21 Couper St, Leith, Midlothian, Scotland

Sinclair married Helen Moodie Sutherland. Helen was born in 1867; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: 354F332BBF814E5A88E5E95B40385F7ED043
• Occupation: 1891; dairy maid
• Residence: 1891, Westerseat, Wick, Caithness, Scotland
• Residence: 1901, 21 Couper St, Leith, Midlothian, Scotland