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Helen Stewart

Helen Stewart

Female 1859 - 1938  (79 years)

Personal Information    |    Notes    |    Sources    |    All

  • Name Helen Stewart 
    Born 15 Aug 1859  Kincardine, Fife, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Female 
    _UID 7FAC3B8C75534CB39B5203902C8CE23D10F7 
    Died Aug 1938  Gore, Southland, New Zealand Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I6844  My Big Tree
    Last Modified 15 Feb 2017 

    Father Alexander Stewart,   b. 1805,   d. 1879  (Age 74 years) 
    Mother Mary Downie,   d. Yes, date unknown 
    Family ID F2229  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family James Allison Aitken,   b. 7 Sep 1856, East Taieri, Otago, New Zealand Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 18 Jul 1926, New Zealand Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 69 years) 
    Married 26 Jul 1881  Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Children 
     1. Mary Downie Aitken,   b. 1881, New Zealand Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Pre 1938  (Age 57 years)
     2. James Allison Aitken,   b. 2 Nov 1884, New Zealand Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 19 Nov 1901, New Zealand Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 17 years)
     3. Isabella Galbraith Aitken,   b. 3 Dec 1885, Gore, Southland, New Zealand Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 4 Nov 1967, Gore, Southland, New Zealand Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 81 years)
     4. Nellie Stewart Aitken,   b. 26 Nov 1887, Waikata Valley, Gore, New Zealand Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 12 Feb 1942  (Age 54 years)
     5. Stewart Alexander Aitken,   b. 22 Jul 1890, New Zealand Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 2 Apr 1918, Belgium Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 27 years)
     6. Edwin William Aitken,   b. 22 Jul 1890, Waikata Valley, Gore, New Zealand Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 14 May 1963, Chatton, New Zealand Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 72 years)
     7. Margaret Stewart Aitken,   b. 10 Jun 1892, New Zealand Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     8. Mabel Stewart Aitken,   b. 1895, New Zealand Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1895, New Zealand Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 0 years)
     9. Robina Christina Annie Aitken,   b. 12 Oct 1898, New Zealand Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 27 Jun 1979, Gore, Southland, New Zealand Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 80 years)
     10. Evelyn Jane Aitken,   b. 12 Nov 1900, New Zealand Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Aug 1983, Gore, Southland, New Zealand Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 82 years)
    Last Modified 2 Jul 2015 
    Family ID F2228  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • Daughter of Alexander Stewart & Mary Downie. Helen & her younger sister Annie emigrated to Dunedin, NZ after their parents' deaths. Helen & her husband were prominent in their local Presbyterian Church where James was Choir Leader. Helen died in August, 1938

      Helen and her sister left for Dunedin, Otago, NZ, from Stirling, STI. They were joining their brother who later became the Hon. Downie Stewart, MP.

      After Helen and James were married they travelled to Gore by train and then by dray to James's block.
      James and Helen were prominent in their local Presbyterian Church, where James was the choir leader

      "Helen was renowned for her deep thinking and had lively discussions about religion and politics. She was very small in stature and had to leave a good 10 minutes before other family members to walk the mile to worship each Sunday."

      After her husband died, of cancer, on 18 Jul 1926, his son William (Bill) took over the property.
      "On James' death in 1926, Helen retired to Gore accompanied by her daughter Evelyn, until Evelyn's marriage.
      In her retirement she maintained an interest in her church and the politics of the day, in which she was well read.

      There is a "little red book" chapter XII probably written by David Falconer
      which has a few paragraphs on Helen Stewart and James Allison Aitken, from
      which I got most of her information.
      Helen's parents lived at Westwood Lane Farm, Blairdrummond. After her parents
      deaths Helen and her younger sister, Annie, emigrated to Dunedin, New Zealand,
      to join their brother, William Downie Stewart.
      "When she was visiting her married sister, Margaret Downie Aitken nee Stewart,
      at Waikaka Valley, she met James Allison Aitken. (No relation to Margaret's
      husband)
      In July 1881 Helen and James were married in Dunedin. Soon after they
      travelled by train to Gore and from there to Waikaka Valley by dray. There was
      much to do in establishing a home and developing a farm, and Helen was an able
      partner, helping out on the farm when needed as well as raising a family of
      eight. Their farm and home, still in use, were a credit to their abilities."
      Helen was an excellent hostess giving much help to those in need.
      Together James and Helen had 10 children.
      Helen was renowned for her deep thinking and had lively discussions on religion and politics."
      Being very small of stature she would leave for church a good 10 minutes
      before the rest of the family to travel the mile to worship, so that she would
      arrive at church at the same time.
      "On James' death in 1926, Helen retired to Gore, accompanied by her daughter
      Evelyn, until Evelyn's marriage. In her retirement she mainained an interest
      in her church and the politics of the day, in which she was well read. She
      died in August 1938, four of her children - Mary, James, Nellie and Stewart
      having predeceased her." (Nellie died in 1942 and so did not predecease her
      believe Nellie should read Mabel))

  • Sources 
    1. [S77] Terry Stewart (Reliability: 3).