AITKEN to WHAITE - Person Sheet
AITKEN to WHAITE - Person Sheet
NameJames Hudson AITKEN 
, Grandfather
, GrandfatherBirth Date7 Aug 189216
Birth PlaceInvercargill, Southland, New Zealand
Memoat parents home in Crinan Street, Invercargill.
Reside Date189217 Age: <1
Reside PlaceInvercargill, Southland, New Zealand
Memo to 1904 in Elles Road with his parents.
Reside Date190518 Age: 12
Reside PlaceSydenham, Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand
Memoto 1913 with his parents in Waltham Road until the death of his mother Emily in 1907. After this the family moved to Hutcheson Street and by 1911 to 7 Crohane Street.
Reside Date191319 Age: 20
Reside PlaceAddington, Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand
Memo to 1914 at the time of the marriage of his father to Maud Scott.
Migration Date28 Apr 191420 Age: 21
Migration PlaceSydney, New South Wales, Australia
MemoJames Hudson Aitken was married in May 1914 at Randwick, a Sydney suburb. The only J H Aitken found in Shipping arrivals at Sydney was the Willochra from Wellington which arrived in Sydney on the 28 April 1914 only 4 days prior to his wedding. There is a high probability that this was him.
Reside Dateaft 197021 Age: 77
Reside PlaceHornsby, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Memo“Primrose Court”, 23 Muriel St. - a retirement home established by the United Grand Lodge of N.S.W.
Death Date2 Jun 197422 Age: 81
Death PlaceHornsby, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
MemoAt Hornsby & District Hospital. Cause of death was due to the effects of multiple injuries sustained on 1st June 1974, when he was walking across George Street, Hornsby and was struck by a car.
Burial Date6 Jun 1974
Burial PlaceNorth Ryde, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
MemoCremated at Northern Suburbs Crematorium, North Ryde on 6th June 1974.
OccupationMoulder then from 1915 Army Officer [Rank of Major when retired circa 1950 although found record dosn’t show this]
Alias/AKAJim
FatherThomas Hudson AITKEN (1867-1935)
MotherEmily Beatrice HART (1864-1907)
Spouses
1Elizabeth Ruth ARGENT , Grandmother
, GrandmotherBirth PlaceSteeple Bumpstead, Essex, England
MemoFather, Thomas Argent, labourer, mother, Sarah Argent (Lewsey). Informant mark of Sarah Argent, mother. Registered on 24 Feb 1877.
Chr Date8 Jul 187725 Age: <1
Chr PlaceSteeple Bumpstead, Essex, England
MemoSt Marys Church.
Reside Date31 Mar 190126 Age: 24
Reside PlaceHackney, London, England
MemoLiving with Aunt Annie Blayney at 3 Chapman Rd. Annie, 33 was head but married. Elizabeth Ruth her niece , 24. Both were dressmakers and both born Steeple Bumpstead.
Reside Date19 Jul 190927 Age: 32
Reside PlaceLondon City, London, England
MemoElizabeth was still working in London as she sent a postcard to her sister Emma
Migration Date6 Aug 190928 Age: 32
Migration PlaceLondon, England
MemoTo New Zealand. Elizabeth Ruth left England prior to 1911 with her aunt Annie Blayney. No confirmed passenger record of a Miss Argent travelling to NZ or Australia was found. What emerged was a Miss A Blayney travelled with a Miss N Blayney from London to Wellington, both were dressmakers. The latter was Elizabeth Ruth, who was known as Nellie. Annie Blayney returned to the UK in June 1912.
Reside Date190929 Age: 31
Reside PlaceChristchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand
MemoUntil 1913 Elizabeth Ruth was on the domestic staff to the Bishop of Christchurch. Evidence of this is a postcard showing Bishop Churchill Julius and another mentioning Bishop’s Court.
Reside Date191130 Age: 33
Reside PlaceChristchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand
MemoElizabeth is also on the electoral roll of 1911 as spinster at “Bishops Court in Victoria Street, Christchurch North electorate. She is also on the 1914 electoral roll at the same address although by this time she had left for Australia.
Migration Date17 Jun 191331 Age: 36
Migration PlaceSydney, New South Wales, Australia
MemoElizabeth Ruth was a witness at the wedding of Thomas Hudson Aitken to Maud Scot in April 1913 but had moved to Sydney prior to her marriage in May 1914. The only likely Argent from New Zealand to Sydney during this period is recorded as Miss T or L Argent (Lizzy!) on the “Willochia” arriving Sydney on the 17 JUN 1913. L Argent could have been Lizzie which is the name she used around that time.
Reside Datebef May 191432 Age: 37
Reside PlaceDarling Point, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
MemoAt the time of her marriage in May 1914 Elizabeth Ruth stayed in Darling Point. It may be a coincidence but the Archbishop of Sydney was John Charles Wright, and there is a possibility that Elizabeth Ruth knew the Wright family. A photo of some domestic staff including possibly Elizabeth Ruth is held by the Argent family in England. The photograph was printed in England so may have been taken there. It is quite possible that Elizabeth stayed for a short time at the Archbishop’s residence in Darling Point after she moved from New Zealand to Sydney. Further the Wright family were well known to the Archbishop of Christchurch’s family and it is known that Mrs Wright visited Christchurch on at least one occasion. Perhaps Mrs Wright meet Elizabeth Ruth whilst at the Christchurch Archbishops residence.
Archbishop Wright, Mrs Wright & children (3 girls, age one over 12, 11 & 5 plus a boy age 7) arrived in Sydney on the Otranto on the 13th November 1909. The passenger list on this trip also had Archbishop Clarke of Melbourne, the Bishop of Newcastle and other clergy.
On an historic note this ship also carried, from Fremantle to Sydney, Sir Edmund & Lady Barton, Justice Richard O’Conner and Sir Samuel Griffiths, all founding fathers of the Australian Constitution and after 1903 Judges of the High Court. Edmund Barton was also Australia’s first Prime Minister.
It is interesting to also note that the Wright family frequently visited Bishops Court, Christchurch NZ.
Archbishop Wright, Mrs Wright & children (3 girls, age one over 12, 11 & 5 plus a boy age 7) arrived in Sydney on the Otranto on the 13th November 1909. The passenger list on this trip also had Archbishop Clarke of Melbourne, the Bishop of Newcastle and other clergy.
On an historic note this ship also carried, from Fremantle to Sydney, Sir Edmund & Lady Barton, Justice Richard O’Conner and Sir Samuel Griffiths, all founding fathers of the Australian Constitution and after 1903 Judges of the High Court. Edmund Barton was also Australia’s first Prime Minister.
It is interesting to also note that the Wright family frequently visited Bishops Court, Christchurch NZ.
Death Date7 Jul 196333 Age: 86
Death PlaceMosman, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
MemoMyocardial degeneration 3 months and Arteriosclerosis 3 years 2. senility at All Saints Hospital.
Burial Date8 Jul 1963
Burial PlaceNorth Ryde, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
MemoNorthern Suburbs Crematorium, Delhi Road. W. Hayward Church of England minister, Assistant Registrar Neville Solomon Lazarus
OccupationDress Maker & domestic service
Alias/AKANellie, Lizzie
FatherThomas ARGENT (1853-1932)
MotherSarah LEWSEY (1855-1939)
Marr PlaceRandwick, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Marr Memoat the Presbyterian Church in Randwick. Witnesses Martha Cosgrove & John Olson,
Reside Date191535
Reside PlaceRandwick, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Memo to 1916 in a house named "Liko" in Avoca Street Randwick. James' profession was a "moulder" and Elizabeth's was "home duties".
Reside Date191736
Reside PlaceLiverpool, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Memoin Passfield St., Liverpool. James was listed as a "Staff Sargent Major" and Elizabeth "home duties". This home is not far from the Army's training ground at Holsworthy.
Reside Date191937
Reside PlaceManly, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Memoto 1922 in a house called "Windsor" in Collingwood St., Manly. James was listed as a "military Instructor" and Elizabeth as "home duties".
Reside Date192338
Reside PlaceMosman, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Memoto 1950 at 37 Bond St. Mosman. In 1928 James was listed as "military Instructor" and Elizabeth as "home duties".
Reside Date195139
Reside PlaceMount Colah, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Memoin a house called “Alma” in Colah Road. James Hudson (no occupation - retired) and Elizabeth Ruth (home duties). Colah Road west of the railway line was soon after rename no. 1 Werombi Road.
ChildrenThomas Herbert (1915-1990)
Janet Argent (1919-1996)
Notes for James Hudson AITKEN
(Medical):According to his daughter, Janet, he had a minor heart condition which stopped him from playing Rugby. This condition became apparent after he joined the Army and may explain why he was posted to a training roll.
Notes for James Hudson AITKEN
John THAIN Through Scottish Regiment. John was a sergeant and acted as bandmaster in the late 1930s. During the late 1950s and 1960s John looked after my family’s optical needs. This include me going to Rockdale (wh40ere John had his shop) once a week for eye exercises. He never charged for this service. John often asked me “How is the Major ?” referring to my grandfather James Hudson Aitken. On a number of occasions he also repaired watches that we brought to him.
Military notes for James Hudson AITKEN
James’ army record shows discharged 1936. However her actually retired circa 1950. He was stationed at HQ Victoria Barracks during WW2. This record also has an entry dated 7 May 1948 as Capt. (quartermaster) but doesn’t show a later discharge date. In retirement he was referred to as “the Major” but nothing on record shows this rank.41
Notes for Elizabeth Ruth (Spouse 1)
“A postcard dealer had a Card to a Miss E Argent of 55 Stamford Hill dated 1904. I sent for the card unfortunately it had been claimed already.” 42 Stamford Hill is in the Hackney Borough which fits well with her residence in 1901.