Helen Stewart

1859 - 1938  (79 years)

• Name	Helen Stewart
  Born	15 Aug 1859	Kincardine, Fife, Scotland
  Gender	Female
  _UID	7FAC3B8C75534CB39B5203902C8CE23D10F7
  Died	Aug 1938	Gore, Southland, New Zealand
  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 ,   d. 18 Jul 1926, New Zealand  (Age 69 years)
  Married	26 Jul 1881	Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand   [1]
  Children	1. Mary Downie Aitken,   b. 1881, New Zealand ,   d. Pre 1938  (Age 57 years)   2. James Allison Aitken,   b. 2 Nov 1884, New Zealand ,   d. 19 Nov 1901, New Zealand  (Age 17 years)   3. Isabella Galbraith Aitken,   b. 3 Dec 1885, Gore, Southland, New Zealand ,   d. 4 Nov 1967, Gore, Southland, New Zealand  (Age 81 years)   4. Nellie Stewart Aitken,   b. 26 Nov 1887, Waikata Valley, Gore, New Zealand ,   d. 12 Feb 1942  (Age 54 years)   5. Stewart Alexander Aitken,   b. 22 Jul 1890, New Zealand ,   d. 2 Apr 1918, Belgium  (Age 27 years)   6. Edwin William Aitken,   b. 22 Jul 1890, Waikata Valley, Gore, New Zealand ,   d. 14 May 1963, Chatton, New Zealand  (Age 72 years)   7. Margaret Stewart Aitken,   b. 10 Jun 1892, New Zealand ,   d. Yes, date unknown   8. Mabel Stewart Aitken,   b. 1895, New Zealand ,   d. 1895, New Zealand  (Age 0 years)   9. Robina Christina Annie Aitken,   b. 12 Oct 1898, New Zealand ,   d. 27 Jun 1979, Gore, Southland, New Zealand  (Age 80 years)   10. Evelyn Jane Aitken,   b. 12 Nov 1900, New Zealand ,   d. Aug 1983, Gore, Southland, New Zealand  (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

  [S77] Terry Stewart (Reliability: 3).