Baptist church in SA Archives

[Danchaslyn]

Hello Pasdlm

Findmypast.com doesn't appear to have any specific sea voyages by a T Aitken to the Cape Verde Islands, (listed on their site as 'Cape Verde').

To help us pinpoint "our" Thomas Aitken exactly, he was born 4 April, 1871 and died, 7 January, 1935.

He was at his birth home, in West Linton, on the Census of 1881, and a Boarder in a home, in Wishaw on the Census of 1891.

He went to London to study at Spurgeon's.

From September, 1896 (age 25 yrs, 5 mths), until March, 1897 he ministered in his first post as a missionary, on the Island of St Vincent, Cape Verde Islands.

I don't know if he returned to the UK, after his posting on ST Vincent, before his next posting, in South Africa?

[pasdlm]

Dear Danchaslyn,

It is true that there is no T Aitken to the Cape Verde Islands specifically. However, Cape Verde is off the west coast of Africa and there are several ships that route in that direction. There is one African destination country nearby - Nigeria - could he have got off in Nigeria and got another boat to Cape Verde? Also ships going to SA, Australia and even the far east would have gone down the west coast of Africa. It is very possible that they might have stopped off at e.g. Cape Verde before going on to their final destination. As I see it, there are several possibilities on findmypast.co.uk. that would fit into this possibility using the surname Aitken and T, Thomas, Thos or without initial between the dates of 1894-1897.
He might not have returned to UK before going on to SA - just joined a ship calling at Cape Verde, if they called in at that port - who knows?
This is all just speculation because in actual fact ship travel in those days was quite sophisticated and they may not have needed to call somewhere before the final destination. My grandfather emigrated to SA in 1901 and the journey was only 3-4 weeks. This is not easy...................

[Danchaslyn]

Dear Pasdlm

Again, thank you, and, well, a new twist to the tale, is that very recent family discussion has resulted in a memory that Thomas Aitken, en route to the Cape, South Africa, to take up his first posting as a Baptist Missionary, departing the UK, possibly August, 1896, was actually, 'shipwrecked' onto the Island of St Vincent, Cape Verde Islands!

Therefore St Vincent,  Cape Verde Islands, might never have been his intended destination.

I wonder if and where, there might be records on Cape Verde, of mid-19C Christian Missionaries?

If indeed, Thomas Aitken, was  'shipwrecked', it could explain his quite short period, on St Vincent, as a Missionary, i.e. from September, 1896 - March, 1897?!

[Danchaslyn]

Dear Pasdlm

Once again thank you for your suggestion that I contact the Metropolitan Tabernacle, London, for possible information on Thomas Aitken, as a congregant

I've received a very speedy reply to my enquiry.  Most unfortunately, the Metropolitan Tabernacle do not have an Archivist and are not in a position, nor have the resources necessary, to assist me with my enquiry.

Of course, they are predominantly a place of worship and not a museum, nor archive.

Upon researching further, the Met Tab was actually burned to the ground, twice, once in 1898, and a second time, during bombing May, 1941, WWII!  On both occasions only the front portico, and the basements were left standing, so, let's hope all records were stored in the basements!

[pasdlm]

Hi Danchaslyn,

I did a free search on findmypast for ship passengers from UK ports to any part of the world. I did not include first name, initials nor any definite gender and several possibilities were given. In my limited experience of genealogy research, I have found transcriptions errors to be a big problem, especially because of my own surname. I have become suspicious of any transcribed record and must see the original. Could the initial T be erroneously transcribed as J? There is a J Aitken fitting the birthdate and year of travel going to East London, South Africa, in the year 1896. The first stopping point in SA would be Cape Town where he might have disembarked. Again this is pure speculation. I don't have a subscription to findmypast to verify or see the original. The prospect of a 'shipwreck' had never entered my mind! The ships then were steam driven so maybe they had serious engine problems, or maybe they ran aground!

Well I hope that the records at Met Tab were kept in the basement or else they would be gone forever!

Finally, did Thomas ever come back to the UK? Maybe before leaving for SA after being on Cape Verde. Ancestry.co.uk have passengers lists for incoming passengers. I am not a subscriber to this either.

Hope this helps.

[Danchaslyn]

Dear Pasdlm

Absolutely concur, have found on previous records of all sorts, that the "scribes" don't always necessarily transcribe folk's details, accurately.

Your suggestion of the "J" Aitken, travelling in 1896 to East London, South Africa, sounds to me like a stroke of pure genius!

Once I have a little more time, I'm also going to investigate how one finds out about maritime disasters?  Shipwrecks, especially in such an unusual and notable part of the world, such as Cape Verde Islands, must surely have been noteworthy?

And, yes, Thomas and his wife Edith Mary did travel from at least South Africa, back to the UK, and maybe even from their posting on the Island of St Helena, to the UK.  They spent one long furlough back in the UK, I'll have to try to find my dates for this, or perhaps, "baitken" and "weech" may well have them instantly to hand?

[Danchaslyn]

From "Missions Time Line" (Christian Mission History);

1876  -  'In September, a rusty ocean steamer arrives at a port on the
              Calabar River, in what is now known as Nigeria.

             That part of Africa was then known as the "White Man's Grave"!

             The only woman on board that ship is 29 year old Mary Slessor, a
             Missionary.'


Could there have been other missionaries on board? Would this be one of the regular shipping routes, used to transport missionaries, all over Africa, and beyond?

To date have not been able to discover the name of the ship, or it's intended destination etc?

[Danchaslyn]

No further details on Thomas Aitken's voyage from the UK - Cape Verde Islands, as a bachelor missionary, as yet.......but;

After several years, on the Island of St Helena, by now a married Baptist Pastor, on 2 August, 1901 Pastor & Mrs Aitken and baby sailed on the SS "Corn Exchange", from Jamestown, St Helena, to Cape Town, on three months leave.

On 21 November, 1901, Pastor & Mrs Aitken and baby arrived at Jamestown, from Cape Town, in the "Donolly Castle", only to find they had to observe four days quarantine on the hulk "Howden", before they could go ashore, on Monday, 25 November, 1901.

[pasdlm]

Hi Danchaslyn,

Good for you finding details about the dates and ships that the Aitken family travelled between St Helena and Cape Town!!!

Mary Slessor did sail for Nigeria in 1876 as you say. However, I understood that Thomas Aitken would have sailed for South Africa, or St Helena, in 1896?

As regards to furlough of Thomas and Edith - it seems as if dates are very important because many people with the name of Aitken travelled by ship during the early part of the last century. I hope that you will be able to identify the dates more accurately.