Helen Sutherland Aitken

Other Events:

• Occupation: domestic servant
• _UID: A82A0B5AC0D945E8BCAA17A2F029B968569E

Notes:

After leaving school Nelly went into service and became a Domestic Servant, first working for Mrs Sorley at Blackie Road., Edinburgh.
Mr Sorley owned a "Furniture Emporium" in Duke Street, Leith. There Nelly managed to get her sister, Sarah (Chris) a job in the shop.
Nelly then went to work for Mr & Mrs Shiels as a Cook & Housekeeper.
Mr Shiels was a Portrait Painter and one time he was commissioned to paint a lady. This lady did not have nice hands and so Nelly was used as a stand in. Thus Nelly's hands ended up being hung in the Royal Academy in Edinburgh!

Notes from Terry Stewart
As a youngster William Kiddie Lumsden had left his family home in Perth and moved to Edinburgh. Finding work on the railways, as Clerk at Bonnington Railway Station in Edinburgh, he met my father, David Stewart, who also worked there.
Dad befriended Willie and took him to a religious meeting at David Redpath's mission and it was there that Bill met Helen (Nelly).
Bill was a member of the Territorial Army and so when WWII broke out he was called up immediately and made Corporal.
As a member of the British Expeditionary Force he was serving in Belgium when they were told to retreat.
He, his Sergeant and two men found themselves left behind in Belgium and so had to fight their way through the enemy lines to escape from Dunkirk.
The sergeant was all for protecting himself and wanted Bill to abandon "Dougie", a friend of Bill's, as Dougie was a little slow, and was retarding the sergeant's escape.
Bill sent the sergeant on his way and was never seen again.
Managing to keep the troop together and after some harrowing experiences they eventually got to the coast. Dougie was freezing cold and found a dead German. He put on his overcoat, which caused problems when they reached the beaches.
As they were being evacuated the sailors tried to beat back Dougie because they thought he was German.
Uncle Bill, a very gentle gentleman, never mentioned any of this until about 1980 when they came back to WA on holidays. And so it came as a great surprise when he started to talk of his army time.
After Nelly and Bill married they managed to get a house in the Goldenacre district of Edinburgh. It was when they were living there that their son Alistair was born. He was a sickly child and died 5 months later. Willie was still in the army at this time and so Aunt Nelly came to live with us at 14 Union Street, Leith.
As uncle Willie did not smoke he used to swap his cigarette ration for sweeties which were then given to me.
When Willie was demobbed they managed to get a house, a prefab, at Sighthill.
After a couple of misscarriages Muriel was born but 8 months later she too died.
A baby girl, Barbara, was adopted.
After the war Bill had gone back to work on the railways but studied to become a Church of Scotland minister. He never formally completed his training but became a Lay Preacher. He was appointed to the Ministry of the Church of Scotland at Camden, New South Wales, Australia, in about 1951.
We were then living at Sunshine in VIC. and so we met them at their ship when it docked at Melbourne on its way to Sydney.
Resigning from the church in about 1953 they moved to 37 John Street, North Fremantle, WA, where Bill became a Bus Conductor and then a Storeman at the Shell Oil Company.
About 1956 he was appointed to the Ministry of the Presbyterian Church at Merredin.
After Aunt Nelly was diagnosed, as having breast cancer, the family moved back to Scotland in about 1960.
He rejoined the British Railways as a Ticket Collector and later became a Left Luggage Clerk, at Waverley Railway Station. At the same time he and Aunt Nelly were Caretakers of various churches.
In 1976 Maureen, Shona and I went to Scotland on holidays, staying with Aunt Nelly and Uncle Bill at St Nicholas's Church, Sighthill, Edinburgh, where they were caretakers.
They met us at Heathrow airport and we stayed overnight at the Ariel Hotel. The next day we were driving to Scotland. Aunt Nelly was prepared for everything. She had marked out our route and out of this magical string bag she carried came everything one could need, biscuits, cake, cool drink and sweets just seemed to materialise.
On 19 Mar 1984, when they were caretaking the church at Lochend roundabout, now demolished, Bill went down to water the roses in the church garden. When he did not return, for his dinner, Nelly went looking for him. She could not find him so went to another elder's house. The elder told Nelly to stay at his house whilst he went looking for Bill. He found him slumped against the back of the garden shed. He had died of a heart attack.
After Bill died Nelly kept her flat but then found the neighbours left a bit to be desired and so moved into a retirement home, at 60 Loaning Road, Edinburgh.
In June 2001 the fire brigade had to be called twice to her flat. The alarm had gone off as twice Nelly had forgotten pans on the stove and damage had occurred due to fires. She had to be taken to The Queen Victoria Hospital where it was found she was suffering from pneumonia and a recurrence of cancer.
Nelly went downhill quickly and then seemed to pick up for awhile. The Wednesday before she passed away she seemed to rally sufficiently to say her goodbyes.

Helen married William Kiddie Lumsden on 6 Mar 1942 in St Pauls Church, Lorne Street, Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland. William (son of Henry Lumsden and Mary Watt) was born on 10 May 1917 in Perth, Perthshire, Scotland; died on 19 Mar 1984 in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Alistair William Lumsden was born on 21 Aug 1944 in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland; died on 15 Jan 1945 in Sick Childrens Hospital, Edinburgh, Mid Lothian, Scotland.
2. Living
3. Murial Helen Lumsden was born on 21 Jul 1948 in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland; died on 15 Mar 1949 in Sighthill, Edinburgh, Scotland.

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

Other Events:

• _UID: 06305AB1FF5B419C8D3F4E13A4EB2B81E078
• Occupation: 1841; Ag Lab
• Residence: 1841, Silvermines Farm, Torphicen, West Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 1851; labourer
• Residence: 1851, Silvermines Farm, Torphicen, West Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 1856; Agricultural Labourer
• Occupation: 1861; agricultural labourer
• Residence: 1861, Mounteerie, Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 1862; Builder
• Occupation: 1871; mason
• Residence: 1871, Mounteerie, Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland
• Occupation: 1881; Dyker
• Residence: 1881, Hilderston Hill House, Torphicen, West Lothian Scotland
• Occupation: 1884; Dyker
• Occupation: 1 Sep 1918; farmer, deceased

Notes:

Her first child was born illegitimate. The father was James Aitken of Silvermines farm, her cousin who she eventually married. "James confession was a masterpiece of avoidance; 'I hereby acknowledge to have had carnal connection with Marion Aitken, Torphichen, daughter of Peter Aitken there about the time she must have got with the child of which she was lately delivered.'
Things worked out , however as the couple married a couple of years later but not before making the same mistake again when their second child was born on what appears to be their wedding day. The wedding cost 2/6.

The family is supposed to have moved, at about 1854, from Silvermine Farm to Montaree, also known as Mount Eerie or Mounteerie or Montearie, also probably as Windy Wa's (Walls), because he became bankrupt.

Informant of the death of James Aitken was his son Peter Aitken

"James Aitken died 16 June 1884 aged 69, wife Marion Aitken died 6 November 1885 aged 70, daughter Catherine died 25 November 1849 aged 14 , daughter Jane died 10 May 1876 aged 32."

------ From Source Attached To: Occupation ------
Death Cert, Cit. Date: 10 May 2019.
-----------------------------------------------

James married Marion Aitken on 24 Sep 1837 in Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland. Marion (daughter of Peter Aitken and Janet Pearson) was born on 4 Sep 1815 in Torphichen, West Lothian, Scotland; was christened on 25 Sep 1815 in Torphichen, West Lothian, Scotland; died on 6 Nov 1885 in Hilderston Hill House, Torphicen, West Lothian Scotland; was buried in 1885 in Torphichen Churchyard, West Lothian, Scotland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: D354BBCAA9BD473ABDAC45265E7CCA3E4929
• Residence: 1841, Silvermines Farm, Torphicen, West Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 1851, Silvermines Farm, Torphicen, West Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 1861, Mounteerie, Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 1871, Mounteerie, Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland
• Residence: 1881, Hilderston Hill House, Torphicen, West Lothian Scotland

Notes:

Name: Marion Aitken
Gender: Female
Birth Date: 4 Sep 1815
Baptism Date: 25 Sep 1815
Baptism Place: Torphichen, West Lothian, Scotland
Father: Peter Aitken
Mother: Janet Pearson
FHL Film Number: 1066638 Reference ID: - 2:17HBSTQ
informant of the death of Marion Aitken was her son Peter Aitken

Notes:

Married:
Name: James Aitken
Gender: Male
Marriage Date: 24 Sep 1837
Marriage Place: Torphichen,West Lothian,Scotland
Spouse: Marion Aitken
FHL Film Number: 1066638

Name: Marion Aitken
Gender: Female
Marriage Date: 24 Sep 1837
Marriage Place: Torphichen,West Lothian,Scotland
Spouse: James Aitken
FHL Film Number: 1066638

The banns for James Aitken and Marion Aitken were read both in Linlithgow and at Torphichen

Other Events:

• _UID: C3ED0C225C9940D3B5AED57C1B33D2E49EA4
• Occupation: 1861; agricultural labourer
• Residence: 1861, Glasgow Rd Woodbine Cottage, Hoddam, Dumfriesshire, Scotland

Thomas married Janet Irving. Janet and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: CE234C115ACB4AEB8C2C4BEE48DA478486C6
• Residence: 1861, Glasgow Rd Woodbine Cottage, Hoddam, Dumfriesshire, Scotland