Peter Thomas Aitken

1870 - 1896  (26 years)

• Name	Peter Thomas Aitken
  Born	29 May 1870	Bush Rd, Mosgiel, Otaga, New Zealand
  Gender	Male
  Occupation	Marine Engineer
  _UID	0E3D20D67D4E46709D364AC94C6F5F39FB72
  Died	14 Oct 1896	Bolobo, Congo, Africa   [1]
  	Cause: Malarial Fever
  Person ID	I7127	My Big Tree
  Last Modified	16 Oct 2016

  
  

  Father	Thomas Aitken,   b. 12 Jan 1835, Torphichen, West Lothian, Scotland ,   d. 22 Oct 1922, Mosgiel, Otago, New Zealand  (Age 87 years)
  Mother	Christine Redpath Aitken,   b. 8 Mar 1843, Lasswade, Midlothian, Scotland ,   d. 24 Aug 1924, Mosgiel, Otago, New Zealand  (Age 81 years)
  Married	13 Sep 1864	East Taieri, Otago, New Zealand
  Family ID	F2310	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  He trained as a Carpenter and then became a Marine Engineer and worked for the firm of Messrs William Cable & Sons Ltd., of Wellington. Peter wanted to further his studies and so he worked his passage to Scotland on board the ship "Tainui". Here he worked on many ships and jobs at Glasgow docks whilst he furthered his studies.. The 1st of January 1896 saw him in Edinburgh. Thomas was "brought to a knowledge of Christ in the Carruber's Close Mission, Edinburgh. His conversion was pronounced and led to a deep desire to consecrate his life to his Master's service. His training as a carpenter and mechanic will make him of peculiar value on the Congo, where his sunny temperament will stand him in good stead." He joined the East London Missionary Training Institute and sailed to the Congo, now Zaire, onboard the S.S. Leopoldville. Here he was to be responsible for the erection of the new steamer and steel canoes, which were being sent out to the Upper Congo River. Peter was in Bolobo, on the Upper Congo River when he took ill with malarial fever and died there aged 26, on 14th Oct. 1896. C. A. Aitken, 62 Main Road. Athenree, RD1 Katikati, NZ holds his diary. There is a photo of Peter taken from the Mission Books of the East London Missionary Training Institute held by Robert Carlyle Aitken, 6 Brinkley Road, Otumoetai, Tauranga.

  
  

• Sources

  [S77] Terry Stewart (Reliability: 3).