Missing Family

[Raylen]

Please, please - someone help me before I go insane!

I'm trying to find any information on Robina Aitken born 1828/9 Sterling, Scotland.
Her death certificate gives her parents as Robert Aitken - occupation farmer and Jane Aitken - maiden name Bates.
Robina married Samuel Christie 28/5/1852 in Torphichen,Scotland ( I have certificate)and they came to Australia in September 1852
I've tried to find the parents on any census - no luck. I've tried to find a marriage for the parents - no luck. I've tried to find a birth for Robina and any siblings - no luck.

Please, any help would be most gratfully received.

Raylen

[SarahND]

Hello Raylen,
As I'm sure you know, if you do an IGI search for the children of Robert Aitken and Jane Bates, only one extracted entry comes up, that for Agnes born 21 Dec 1832, Christened 3 Feb 1833 in Cumbernauld, Dunbarton

A search for Agnes Aitken born 1833 +/- 1 in the 1841 census brings up an Agnes on a farm in Torpichen. Head of household is Robert, probably old enough to be her grandfather although no relations are given in 1841 and he could be her father, of course. She is born outside the county, so it works. Robina is not there, but mother Jean is and there is a gap in the children that would fit her. This is the household:

1841
Bridgehouse, Torpichen, West Lothian
Robert Aitken, 70, born Scotland, Farmer
Jean Aitken, 35, born Scotland
Jean Aitken, 15, born Scotland
Elis Aitken, 11, born Scotland
Agnes Aitken, 9, born Scotland
John Aitken, 5, born Scotland
James Aitken, 3, born West Lothian
Thos Aitken, 1, born West Lothian

Will keep looking for Robina, so please don't go insane yet

All the best,
Sarah

[SarahND]

Hi again,
And now, in 1851, searching for Aitkens in Torpichen, we find Jean with a younger Robert , who was born in Cumbernauld. Turns out Jean was born in Stirling, as was her daughter Jean, so that looks hopeful. If Jean McEwen is truly Robert's great grandchild, then surely his age is mis-transcribed in 1851!

1851
Crawhill Mill, Torpichen, West Lothian
Robert Aitken, 37, Head, born Cumbernauld, Dumbarton, Formerly Farmer
Jean Aitken, 47, Wife, born Polmont, Stirling
Jean Aitken, 24, Daughter, born St Ninians, Stirling
Thomas Aitken, 11, Son, born Torpichen, Linlithgow, Scholar
Jean McEwen, 1, Great Grandchild, born Torpichen, Linlithgow

Yes, yes... I know we haven't found Robina yet... but we're getting closer! I'm sure this has to be her family.

All the best,
Sarah

[SarahND]

Is this one close enough? It's the best I've found:

1851
16 Percy Street, Mount Pleasant, Liverpool, Lancashire
Lewis Samuel, Head, 68, Retired Watch Manufacturer, born Liverpool
Kate do, Wife, 65, born London
Ellen W, do Daur, 35, born Liverpool
Julia do, daughter, 26, born do
Robina Aitken, Servant, 25, House Servant, born Dumfries, Scotland
Elizth Askew, do, 29, Cook, born Millon, Cumberland

Regards,
Sarah

[SarahND]

The saga continues...

Hmmm. Now she is looking like the daughter of a clergyman, only this Robina was born in England. Is this the same Robina as was in Liverpool in 1851, or her cousin?

1841
Grove Street, Mount Pleasant, Liverpool, Lancashire
Robt Aitken, 40, Clergyman, born Scotland
Wilhelmina, 35, born Scotland
Robina do, 12, born outside county
Elizabeth do, 10, born outside county
Georgina do, 8, born outside county
Mary do, 7, born outside county
Robert do, 5, born outside county
Ann Gill, 40, F S, born outside county
Ellen Rogers, 25, F.S., born Scotland

Next door:
Ann Hunter, 40, Ind, born outside county
Robt Aitken, 22, C of E Clk, born outside county

Whew! It's not her... that family is in Cornwall in 1851, the above Robina included. She was born in the Isle of Man and is someone else So still haven't found your Robina in 1841, but it still looks like her in 1851 in Liverpool. One can't help but think that Robert the clergyman is a relative though, or is it a coincidence that he and Robina end up, in different years, in the same part of Liverpool?

Here's the birth for Robina, the clergyman's daughter. Exactly the same string of names as she has in 1851, but a different mother... And NOT born on the Isle of Man! This family is getting intriguing...

Robina Ann Alicia Aitken
Birth: 28 Jun 1828 Crailing, Roxburgh, Scotland
Father: Robert Aitken
Mother: Anna Elizabeth

I know I'm going off on a tangent But it looks as though this family must somehow be related?
Regards,
Sarah

[Jean Jeanie]

Hi All

I've had a look on my 1851 census disc for West Lothian and found the same family as Sarah.

However there are a couple of descrepancies.

Robert's age is shown as 89.

Jean McEwen is shown as grandaughter.

There is a birth on the IGI in 1849 for Jean McEwen or Aitken. Mother Jane Aitken, father only shown as McEwen.

No Robina Aitken shown in West Lothian at all.

Best wishes
Jean

[SarahND]

Hello all,
While I was having a grand old time going off on a fascinating tangent with the Revd Robert Aitken, his two wives, and his children who were born in three places simultaneously, Jack was gathering data behind the scenes. He proceeded to send it to me so he could go out and get the newspaper and do the crossword So I will do my best.

First of all he found these two young women with farmer Andrew Young & family:
--

1851 census. Linlithgow, West Lothian.
White Cunlks Farm. ........ [possibly Whitebaulks? Farm]
Rubacca ARTHUR, 23, House servant, b Cumerusde, STI
Agness ARTHUR, 15, House servant, b Cumerusde, STI
--
Perhaps the above birthplaces are Cumbernauld? But that is in DNB....

The 1851 WLN census CD has Rubacca & Agness as AITKEN.
But their birthplaces in STI were as illegible.
So the original census page might be rather poor for reading?
This Agness is a tad on the young side...?

Agnes is a bit young, as Jack suggested, but we have seen worse!

Then he compiled all the IGI information on the family, some extracts [EXT] and some submissions [LDS Sub]:
==
ROBERT AITKEN
JEAN BEAT
Marriage: 15 MAY 1824 Saint Ninians [LDS Sub]
--
Parents: ROBERT AIKEN & JEAN BET / BETT / BETTY / BATES.
~some children~
ANDREW AIKEN - Christening: 25 NOV 1824 Saint Ninians, Stirling [EXT]
JEAN AIKEN - Christening: 30 MAY 1826 Saint Ninians, Stirling [LDS Sub]
ROBINA AIKEN - Christening: 29 MAY 1828 Saint Ninians, Stirling [LDS Sub]
ELIZABETH AIKEN - Christening: 15 FEB 1830 Saint Ninians, Stirling [LDS Sub]
AGNES AITKEN - Birth: 21 DEC 1832: Chr: 03 FEB 1833, Cumbernauld, Dunbarton [EXT]
JOHN AITKEN - Christening: 15 FEB 1836 Torphichen, West Lothian [EXT]
JAMES AITKEN - Christening: 17 JAN 1838 Torphichen, West Lothian [EXT]
THOMAS AITKEN - Christening: 27 MAR 1840 Torphichen, West Lothian [EXT]
==
ROBERT AITKEN
MAIDY BETT
Marriage: 10 AUG 1828 Saint Ninians, Stirling [LDS Sub]
==
Parents: Robert Aitken & Jean or Marjory Bates
~some chn~
Agnes Aitken - Birth: 21 DEC 1832 Cumbernauld, Dunbarton [LDS Sub]
John Aitken - Birth: 26 FEB 1834 Cumbernauld, Dunbarton [LDS Sub]
James Aitken - Birth: 25 FEB 1836 Cumbernauld, Dunbarton [LDS Sub]
==
Thomas AITKINS - Birth: About 1843 Of, Bathgate, West Lothian [LDS Sub]
Parents: Robert Aitken & Jane Beat
Spouse: Mary Brown
Marriage: 28 APR 1865 Bathgate, West Lothian
==

So... I will leave you all to chew on that, while I get back to the Reverend in Pendeen, Cornwall. It is really fascinating I may report when I'm done, although this family belongs to the "posh" branch of the Aitkens Still, if that was Robina in Liverpool in 1851, there may be a connection.

All the best,
Sarah

[JustJean]

Wow....I just love it that when I sleep seemingly the rest of the world is wide awake and thinking!!

I had a wee peek around and then got sidetracked....but now I've returned only to find Jack has (as is typical =D> ) thrown out what I think is the best choice.

My money is riding with Jack and on this being Robina in 1851...

1851 AITHEN REBECCA F 23 LINLITHGOW /WEST LOTHIAN 668/00 009/00 025

Best wishes
Jean

[SarahND]

Hi Jean,
Did you have a peek? Does it look like the name is Robina, rather than Rebecca?

Raylen,
Looks like Jane went to live with Thomas after she was widowed. Interestingly enough, in the 1881 census she went back to her maiden name, which gives us a clue that this is the right family!

1881
Rosemount, Linlithgow, West Lothian
Thomas Aitken, 41, Head, born Torpichen, Linlithgowshire, Dairyman
Mary Aitken, 36, Wife, born Blackbraes, Stirlingshire, Dairyman's wife
Agnes Aitken, 15, Daughter, born Bathgate, Linlithgowshire
Mary Aitken, 8, Daughter, born Bathgate, Linlithgowshire, Scholar
Robert Aitken, 6, Son, born Bathgate, Linlithgowshire, Scholar
Jemimma Aitken, 3, Daughter, born Bathgate, Linlithgowshire
Thomas Aitken, 10 Mo, son, born Linlithgow, Linlithgowshire
Jane Beats, 80, Mother, born Polmont, Stirlingshire
Jane Bell, 14, Servant, born Bathgate, Linlithgowshire, Dairy Maid

Looks like she died in 1882.

All the best,
Sarah

[JustJean]

Hi Sarah

I've uploaded the image for this census record just because it's so controversial. No it doesn't look like Robina...but it doesn't look like exactly Rebecca either. There is no way to prove this one that I can find. The place of birth goes well if it is interpreted to truly be Cumbernauld. I didn't see Agnes elsewhere in 1851. I didn't find a Rebecca in 1841. Sadly I didn't find Robina in 1841 either but that's another story . The 1852 wedding took place in Torphichen and Robina was "of that district" while her groom was of St. Ninians Stirlingshire. It stands to reason they may have met years earlier when growing up. It also stands to reason that Robina was not far from Torphichen in 1851 in order to marry there a little over a year later. All speculation I'm afraid.....

http://talkingscot.com/gallery/displayi ... ?pos=-1465

Best wishes
Jean

Gallery URL added - AndrewP