AITKEN to WHAITE - Person Sheet
AITKEN to WHAITE - Person Sheet
Birth Date2 Jul 1796
Birth PlaceWest Lothian, Scotland
MemoLinlithgowshire was where James was born according to 1851 census. This could include villages / parishes in West Lothian. The 1861 census gives his birth place as Falkirk. The only source of James' birth date is census and death certificate information which all indicate his birth year was circa 1796 or 1797.
Chr Date17 Jul 1796473 Age: <1
Chr PlaceLinlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland
MemoAs James AIKEN son of John Aiken, a workman and Lilias Barcley, born 2 July.
Busi Date1841480 Age: 44
Busi PlaceFalkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland
MemoJourneyman Brewer, James may have worked as a Journeyman Brewer in Aitken's Brewery and lived in Lint Riggs, which was virtually all owned by the Aitken Brewery family, no ties with the owners have been found. If so James left the Brewery and went on to be a successful grain merchant (1851 census), living in Bank Street some 250 metres from Lint Riggs.
Valu Date1855481 Age: 58
Valu PlaceFalkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland
MemoOwner occupier of granary, house and Garden in Bank Street. Valuation house and Garden as £22.
Valu Date1865482 Age: 68
Valu PlaceFalkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland
MemoOwner occupier of granary, house and Garden in Bank Street. Valuation house and Garden as £12 and Granary £10.
Will Date22 Feb 1865483 Age: 68
Will PlaceFalkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland
MemoThis is date of will as shown in the "Deposition and Deed of Settlement" witnessed by Robert Henderson and John Lithgow his clerk both of Falkirk.
See extracts of will in Testament entry at date of probate of 28 April 1866 where Harriet was sole Executrix and James’ Personal Estate and Effects were valued at £352/7/4 which was under £450 , being the amount above which death duty was payable.
See extracts of will in Testament entry at date of probate of 28 April 1866 where Harriet was sole Executrix and James’ Personal Estate and Effects were valued at £352/7/4 which was under £450 , being the amount above which death duty was payable.
Death Date2 Sep 1865474 Age: 69
Death PlaceFalkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland
MemoJames' son William was informant of death and he was present at time of death., (a) glandular fever 18 weeks (b) general Dropsy 5 days.
Will Date28 Apr 1866484 Age: 69
Will PlaceFalkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland
MemoExtracts as follows, P317 from "Fallows Disposition and Settlement of James Aitken Grain Dealer in Falkirk considering it to be a duty unincumbant on me for the welfare of my family to settling affairs in case of my death have therefore in the first place given granted assign and disposes to .. and in favour of Harriet Ritchie or Aitken ....... and to John Aitken, James Aitken, Thomas Aitken, Adam Aitken all in New Zealand or elsewhere abroad William....... P318
presently with us Elizabeth Aitken wife of James Robb dealer in Glasgow Lilias Aitken wife of William Miller farmer , Bouliard, Linlithgow and Isabella Aitken wife of Colin Morrison , Smith (y) , Bainsford, any children conjunctly and their heirs and assignees whosoever in fee all and whole that all a of ground see? the north side of the town of Falkirk grounded and extending as follow right of the north leg this piece of ground hold by Mrs Agnes Henderson or Brooke wife of William Brooke Esquire merchant in Glasgow to Robert Muirhead Cloth Merchant Falkirk and extending from east to west thirty six feet or thereby bounded on the west by the property of the said Robert Muirhead and extending from north to south sixty five feet thereby .......... "
P319 (2/3 down page)
" ... of the said Harriet Ritchie or Aitken in life rent for her life rent use .... and to the said John Aitken, James Aitken, Thomas Aitken, Adam Aitken, William Aitken Elizabeth Aitken, Lilias Aitken and Isabella Aitken equally according their share and share alike in fee all and whole all other lands and veritable estate of every description which shall belong at the time of my death as after my whole moveable ... and estate ............."
presently with us Elizabeth Aitken wife of James Robb dealer in Glasgow Lilias Aitken wife of William Miller farmer , Bouliard, Linlithgow and Isabella Aitken wife of Colin Morrison , Smith (y) , Bainsford, any children conjunctly and their heirs and assignees whosoever in fee all and whole that all a of ground see? the north side of the town of Falkirk grounded and extending as follow right of the north leg this piece of ground hold by Mrs Agnes Henderson or Brooke wife of William Brooke Esquire merchant in Glasgow to Robert Muirhead Cloth Merchant Falkirk and extending from east to west thirty six feet or thereby bounded on the west by the property of the said Robert Muirhead and extending from north to south sixty five feet thereby .......... "
P319 (2/3 down page)
" ... of the said Harriet Ritchie or Aitken in life rent for her life rent use .... and to the said John Aitken, James Aitken, Thomas Aitken, Adam Aitken, William Aitken Elizabeth Aitken, Lilias Aitken and Isabella Aitken equally according their share and share alike in fee all and whole all other lands and veritable estate of every description which shall belong at the time of my death as after my whole moveable ... and estate ............."
OccupationJourneyman Brewer (1841), Corn merchant (1851), grain merchant (1861), grain dealer (at time of death)
FatherJohn AITKEN (1755-<1841)
MotherLillias BARCLAY (1765-<1841)
Spouses
1Harriet RITCHIE 
, GGG Grandmother
, GGG GrandmotherBirth Date26 Dec 1807
Birth PlaceBo'ness, West Lothian, Scotland
MemoDate from baptism record.
Chr Date10 Jan 1808467 Age: <1
Chr PlaceCarriden, West Lothian, Scotland
Reside Date2 Apr 1871468 Age: 63
Reside PlaceFalkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland
MemoLiving at 104 Bank Street were HARRIET AITKEN, head, 64, widow and her son William, 27, merchant. Staying there were two granddaughters of Harriet namely Harriet Robb, 10 and Mary Robb, 8. A Thorton Sharp,26 a domestic servant also lived there.
Death Date26 Dec 1878470 Age: 71
Death PlaceFalkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland
Memo Harriet Aitken lived at 4 Banks Street, Falkirk. Cause of death was heart disease,
FatherArchibald RITCHIE (<1771-<1841)
MotherElizabeth MILLER (<1770-<1841)
Marr PlaceCarriden, West Lothian, Scotland
Marr MemoAt time of marriage James was a resident of Falkirk Parish and marriage also recorded in Falkirk.
Marr Date2 Dec 1828476
Marr PlaceFalkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland
MemoMarried in each other's parish.
Reside Date6 Jun 1841477
Reside PlaceFalkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland
MemoLiving in Lint Rigs Street were James Aitken, 44, Journeyman Brewer, his wife Harriet, 32 and their children Elizabeth,11, Lillian,9, John, 7 and Isabella, 3 months.
Reside Date30 Mar 1851478
Reside PlaceFalkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland
MemoLiving at 6 Bank St. were James Aitken , 54, Corn Merchant, his wife Herriet, 44 and their children Adam, 5, Elizabeth, 21,Isabella, 10, James, 12, Lillias, 19, Thomas, 7 and William Aitken, 1. Their daughter Harriet, 4 who was born 1847 and son John was staying with their Uncle John & Aunty Agnes Ritchie in Carriden.
Reside Date7 Apr 1861479
Reside PlaceFalkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland
MemoLiving at 6 Bank Street were James Aitken, head, 64, Grain Merchant, his wife Hearriet (Harriet), 53, their daughter Isabella, 20 and son William,11, a scholar.
Notes for James AITKEN
Although the 1841 census shows James as a Journeyman brewer in later census he is a grain merchant. James’ father John was a distiller, presumably of Whisky, and a grain merchant seems are more natural path for James from his father’s profession.