Alexander Aitken

[Liz Aitken]

I am trying to find information about Alexander Aitken who went to Dunedin NZ. He was a blacksmith. I want to trace his ancestry. Thank you, Liz Aitken

[CaroleW]

Hi and welcome to Rootschat

Can you tell us when and where Alexander was born?

Did he marry in Scotland or NZ

[apanderson]

Hello Liz,

Welcome to Rootschat!

Could you add some additional information - maybe some dates, places and his wife's name (if he was married) etc., so we can try to help.

This would give us an idea of when and where to start looking.

Anne 

[Liz Aitken]

I have a little more information about Alexander Aitken. He was married to Elizabeth Harvey in Larnarkshire. The date  looks like 1857. His mother was Ann and his father was James. He had a son, James who was born in 1857 in Bothwell. Alexander, Elizabeth and James sailed to New  Zealand.
I'm trying to find out Alexander's birth date and where he was born, also when he sailed to New Zealand and possibly the ship... I know it's a big ask! Thanks

[apanderson]

Have a look here Liz:

(You should arrive at 'Family Search' and listed are the births of children to James Aitken & Ann Adam, all born Bothwell (Lanarkshire).

No sign of an Alexander though.

https://familysearch.org/search/record/results?count=20&query=%2Bsurname%3Aaitken~%20%2Bbirth_place%3Abothwell~%20%2Bbirth_year%3A1850-1870~%20%2Bfather_givenname%3Ajames~%20%2Bfather_surname%3Aaitken~%20%2Bmother_givenname%3Aann~%20%2Bmother_surname%3Aadam~%20%2Brecord_country%3AScotland

Sorry about the huge long link - you might have to copy & paste it into your browser.

Has the name Adam appeared in any descendants?

Anne 

[apanderson]

Alexander married Elizabeth Harvey, 27th March 1857, see:

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XTYC-BHS

If you were to download their Marriage Certificate from Scotland's People, both sets of parents would be listed as well as Ann's maiden name.

http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/

Anne 

[Liz Aitken]

Hi Anne

Many thanks for your welcome and help. I have Alexander's and Elizabeth's marriage and death certificates. According to these certificates, Alexander was born in 1835 to James and Anne (nee Scott) and Elizabeth in 1838 to William and Marion (nee Chalmers) Harvie.

I have had no luck in finding the birth records of either Alexander or Elizabeth nor the marriage records of their parents. I would be grateful for any assistance.

Thanks so much.

Liz

[apanderson]

OK, found some more:

(Note: Census details are from transcriptions, so may not be accurate)

1841 Census, Living at Muirhead, Bothwell, Lanarkshire
James Aitken, Head, age 35, Cotton Hand Loom Weaver, born c1806, Lanarkshire
Ann Aitken, age 35, born c1806, Lanarkshire
Mary Aitken, age 15, born c1826, Lanarkshire
Robert Aitken, age 13, born c1828, Lanarkshire
William Aitken, age 11, born c1830, Lanarkshire
Alexander Aitken, age 6, born c1835, Lanarkshire
Thomas Aitken, age 4, born c1837, Lanarkshire
Daniel Aitken, age 2, born c1839, Lanarkshire

Family Search (only three of James & Ann’s children listed):
Thomas Aitken, born 12th November 1836, Bothwell, Lanarkshire
Daniel Aitken, born 11th May 1839, Bothwell, Lanarkshire
Janet Aitken, born 26th June 1841, Bothwell

1851 Census, Living at Shotts Road to Edinburgh, Bellshill, Lanarkshire
James Aitken, Head, age 45, Linen Hand Loom Weaver, born c1806, Slamannan, Stirlingshire
Ann Aitken, age 49, born c1802, Bothwell, Lanarkshire
William Aitken, age 22, Linen Hand Loom Weaver ,born c1829, Bellshill, Lanarkshire
Alexander Aitken, age 16, Blacksmith (Journeyman) born c1835, Bellshill, Lanarkshire
Thomas Aitken, age 14, Cotton Weaver. born c1837, Bellshill, Lanarkshire
Daniel Aitken, age 11, at home, born c1840, Bellshill, Lanarkshire
Janet Aitken, age 9, at home, born c1842, Bellshill, Lanarkshire
David Aitken, age 6, at home, born c1845, Bellshill, Lanarkshire

(Possible) 1861 Census, Living at Edinburgh & Glasgow Road, Bothwell,, Lanarkshire
James Aitken, Head, age 45, ‘Watter of Lennon’ (Weaver of Linen?) born c1816, ‘Stammers’, Stirlingshire (Slamannan?)
Ann Aitken, age 51, born c1810, Bothwell, Lanarkshire
William Aitken, age 32, Labourer R (?) ,born c1829, Bellshill, Lanarkshire
Thomas Aitken, age 24, Blacksmith. born c1837, Bellshill, Lanarkshire

1864, 14th July, Death. At Bellshill, Lanarkshire, James Aitken, Worsted Weaver age 59
Married to Ann Scott
Son of Robert Aitken, Worsted Weaver (deceased) and Janet Aitken nee Mains (deceased)
Cause of Death Asthma & Consumption (not certified)
Informant: Thomas Aitken, Son, Bellshill

If you go to Family Search and look for births of children to Robert Aitken and Janet MAIN in Slamannan, Stirlingshire, between the years 1795 - 1820, there's quite a squad!

On to Alexander Aitken & Elizabeth Harvie …..

1857, 27th March, Marriage. At Cambusnethan, Lanarkshire, of Alexander Aitken & Elizabeth Harvie

Family Search (two of Alexander & Elizabeth’s children listed):
James Aitken, born 27th August 1857, Bothwell, Lanarkshire
William Aitken, born 6th April 1859, Bothwell, Lanarkshire

There is one Public Tree on Ancestry which lists 9 children, but with very little details:
? Aitken b. 1857 (James)
? Aitken b. 1860, d. 1927 (William)
Anne Scott Aitken, b.1862, Dunedin, d. 1951, Brighton, NZ. (Married Joseph Outram, 1882, Dunedin)
? Aitken b. 1865
? Aitken b. 1869
? Aitken b. 1871
? Aitken b. 1873
? Aitken b. 1876
Marion Chalmers Aitken b.

So it looks like Alexander, Elizabeth & their two sons sailed to NZ sometime between April 1859 and 1862.

I’ve had a look to see if I could find anything about their voyage, but I’m not seeing anything.

Anne 

[Liz Aitken]

Hi Anne

Many thanks for the fabulous information you found on the Aitken family. I really appreciate the time and effort you spent on this. It gives my husband and I a great start to locating Alexander Aitken's forebears.

Best wishes

Liz