Living

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

1. Living
2. Living

Other Events:

• _UID: B0D5611769564FAEB1C9923B4CE07AC369E7
• Occupation: 1995, Alabama, USA; Minister, Presbyterain Church
• Residence: 2004, Birmingham, Alabama, USA

Notes:

He became a Minister of the Presbyterian Church. I do not know whether he emigrated to the USA before or after he was ordained.
He married Jean Thomas on 7 Dec 1941, but do not know whether he married Jean before or after he emmigrated
In 1995 he visited James Aitken Smith in Bo'ness. At this time he was a Minister in Alabama, USA. Most of the information concerning the Blair family comes from him.

Peter married Jean Thomas on 7 Dec 1941 in Wylam, Birmingham, Alabama, USA. Jean (daughter of E L Thomas and Velma) was born on 24 Oct 1921 in Dora, Alabama, USA; died on 15 Nov 2008 in Birmingham, Alabama, USA; was buried on 19 Nov 2008 in Elmwood Cemetery, Alabama, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: 589E4FADB6A94F6B9E15D81E634E0BB727ED

Other Events:

• _UID: F47B9321388C4DC5BE60E6CD4E35D39CBCCD
• Occupation: 5 Mar 1915; Shovel Worker
• Residence: 5 Mar 1915, Gateshield, Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland
• emmigration: 28 May 1915, 23 James Nisbet Street, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland
• Occupation: 28 May 1915; sawyer
• Occupation: 1919; Motor Mechanic

Notes:

emmigration:
Departed onboard the "Cameronia" for New York

Robert married Marion Aitken on 5 Mar 1915 in Ballencrief Nursery, Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland. Marion (daughter of Peter Aitken and Janet Laurie Russell) was born on 3 Jul 1892 in Merchiston Bank Avenue, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland; died on 13 Feb 1984 in USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: 00260623ED5E4B688863C777E078FA17DFF6
• Residence: 1901, Ballencrief Nursery, Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 5 Mar 1915; Clerkess
• Residence: 5 Mar 1915, Ballencrief Nursery, Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland
• emmigration: 28 May 1915, 23 James Nisbet Street, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland

Notes:

Marion and Robert had a large family in the USA.

emmigration:
Departed onboard the "Cameronia" for New York

Notes:

Married:
Her sister Jessie was her bridesmaid. His best-man was James W. Smith

Other Events:

• _UID: D9EE606ABBDD49158D2C7F937BA732BF6577

E married Velma. Velma and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• _UID: A3306BD744B742DB95A9AFDD7C8CC16F2F50

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• _UID: BF08ED16E8CE4F3ABA4D5F8A1AD051E01487
• Occupation: 1891; Railway Yardsman
• Residence: 1891, Bathgate Junction, Kirkliston, West Lothian, Scotland

James married Maragret Swan. Maragret was born in 1854 in Corstorphine, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: 60E27A2B485342888CEB1C0C3B8D13ECB2BC
• Residence: 1891, Bathgate Junction, Kirkliston, West Lothian, Scotland

Other Events:

• _UID: 59B874A067D54A48BD354B78C34F669CBC0D
• Residence: 1861, Mounteerie, Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 1871; carter
• Residence: 1871, Mounteerie, Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 1901; nurseryman
• Residence: 1901, Ballencrief Nursery, Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 4 Oct 1917, Bughtknowes Farm, Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 17 Aug 1921, Ballencrief Nursery, Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland

Notes:

Most of the information I have on Peter is from a write up in the local newspaper after his death. He did most of his training, as a gardener, at Wallhouse and held posts at Tyninghame Gardens, the home of the Earl of Haddington, and other posts.

He set up his own business, as a nursery gardener, at Morningside, Edinburgh in about 1887. Aproximately 10 years later he moved to Ballencrief nursery where he continued until his death.
He was famous for his growing of Alpines. It was said that "Amongst his Alpines, Peter was at home. He handled them and looked on them as a lover looks on the charms of his mistress." He won many medals at all the big shows. The Kirkton Public Bowling Greens, Bathgate, were laid out by him. Regularly asked to be a judge at local shows. Peter was a very quiet and modest man.

James Aitken Smith, in 2006, remembers his house at Ballencrief Nursery and described it thus; "The house at Ballencrieff Nursery looks , from the gate, back to front as the back of the house is facing you. The original intention had been to have the entrance on the hill road, where the gate of 'Sunniside' now is. Instead the present entrance on the Gateshields road was opened. The house had a scullery , large kitchen with 2 built-in beds, 2 bedrooms and large lounge, 'The big room'. Half of the loft was an attic which was where the boys slept. The rest was open space. The toilet was a dry closet and water came from a spring on the hill above, to an outside tap, which had branches to the greenhouse and washouse. Cooking was on a range in the kitchen. It had the usual oven on one side of the fire, but on the other was a boiler which had to be filled with pails carried from the outside. At least it had a tap which meant there was a supply of hot water for face, hand and dish washing. Baths were had in the washouse. Lighting was by oil lampalthough for as long as I knew the house it was the more advanced Tilley lamp which has a mantle and uses paraffin vapourised under pressure.
He grew many different plants. The one most associated with his name was the Gentian, especially Gentian Acaulis, the spring flowering blue trumpet variety.
In a catalogue he was advertising small Gentian Acaulis at 9d in 3" pots. However the rarer Acualis Alba was 7/6d. This would equate to about 30 pounds at todays prices.
Peter showed his wares at not only local shows like Linlithgow, and Falkirk, but also nationally at Waverly Market, Edinburgh, and Kelvin Hall, Glasgow.
His other big interest was fiddle and Scots music. being an accomplished violin player and along with his pianist daughter, Bethia, many a Saturday evening parlor concert was held.

Peter married Janet Laurie Russell on 3 Sep 1885 in Hilderston Hill, Torphichen, West Lothian, Scotland. Janet (daughter of George Burns Russell and Janet Stein) was born on 3 May 1856 in Torphichen, West Lothian, Scotland; died on 13 Jun 1934 in Torphichen, West Lothian, Scotland; was buried in 1934 in Bathgate Paulville Cemetery, Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: 2B309A9961E54FF2A774FC3F42E7A08ABEBA
• Residence: 1861, 3 Glebiside, Torphicen, West Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 1881, Hilderston Hill Farm, Torphichen, West Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 3 Sep 1885; domestic servant
• Residence: 1901, Ballencrief Nursery, Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 17 Aug 1921, Ballencrief Nursery, Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland

Notes:

Janet and Peter had three of their sons killed in the Great War, (WWI).

Notes:

Married:
Witnesses at the wedding of Peter Aitken and Janet Russell were John Pender and Janet Roberts