John Aitken (1873 - 1959)

Born 4 Nov 1873 in Carnwath, Lanarkshire, Scotland, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Husband of Ellen (Brown) Aitken — married 9 Jan 1897 in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Descendants

Died 5 Mar 1959 at age 85 in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Erin Breen [send private message] and Kelly Aitken [send private message]

Biography

Mayne Store, John Aitken's home and business on Georgina Point road in Miners Bay, Mayne Island John Aitken, Photographer, from the Collection of the Mayne Island Museum. (Image ID: 2017.1.048) With permission.

John was born in Carnwath, Lanarkshire, Scotland on 14 Nov 1873, the son of Alexander Aitken and Janet Chalmers.^[1] Their family lived in Carnwath, Lanarkshire, Scotland; his father was a shepard.^[2]

"By 1896 John was living in Sooke and courting Ellen, daughter of Agatha (nee Quijack) and Alec Kimsquit, who was living at the time with her mother and stepfather George Brown. The story goes that George did not want Ellen to marry John Aitken and during an altercation, the stepfather was shot and injured. George pressed charges and the case was sensationalized in the Victoria Daily Colonist during the last half of 1897."^[3]

John and Ellen Brown were married in Victoria, British Columbia on Jan 9, 1897.^[4][5]

"By this time John had acquired a camera and some of his early photographs show him dressed in arctic attire ready for a journey to the Klondike gold rush. Family legend has it that John returned from the Klondike with one gold nugget that he gave to his baby daughter.

John and Ellen moved to the Gulf Islands, living on Moresby and Galiano, and in the early 20th century they settled on Mayne Island. They had 6 children. Ellen died in 1909 due to complications from childbirth. She was 30. John settled permanently on Mayne Island and purchased a house on in Miners Bay from Eustace Maude from which he operated a store."^{[3][6][7][8][9]}

"John bought Highfield Farm at Horton Bay in the 1920’s, clearing the forest to to make farm fields on which to raise sheep, plant an orchard and grow peas, hay and other produce. He lived at Highfield Farm until 1955 when he moved back to Miner’s Bay." -- Mayne Island Agricultural Society.^[3]

He passed away in Victoria, British Columbia on 5 Mar 1959.^[10][11]

John Aitken, self portrait as woodcutter and logger. John Aitken, Photographer, from the Collection of the Mayne Island Museum. (Image ID: 2017.1.322) With permission.

Census Records

Scotland Census, 1881

Carnwath, Lanarkshire, Scotland

Household Role Sex Age Birthplace

Alexander Aitken Male 33 Lanarkshire

Janet Aitken Wife Female 33 Lanarkshire

Marrion Aitken Daughter Female 11 Lanarkshire

Margrate Aitken Daughter Female 9 Lanarkshire

John Aitken Son Male 7 Lanarkshire

Thomas Aitken Son Male 5 Lanarkshire

David Aitken Son Male 3 Lanarkshire

George Aitken Son Male 1 Lanarkshire^[2]

Canada Census, 1901

Vancouver (District), British Columbia

Household: Name, Gender, Age, Relationship, Birth Date, Birthplace, Year of Immigration, Occupation

John Aitken M, 28, Head, 2 Nov 1872, Scotland, 1890, Farmer

Ellen Aitken F, 22, Wife, 20 Sept 1878, British Columbia

Nellie Aitken F, 2, Daughter, 4 Sept 1898, British Columbia

Dorthe Aitken F, 11/12, Daughter, 7 April 1900, British Columbia^[6]

Canada Census, 1911

Mayne Island, British Columbia

FamilySearch image

Household: Name, Relationship, Gender, Marital Status, Age, Birth Month\Year, Birthplace, Year of Immigration, Occupation

John Aitken Head, Male, 36, Nov 1875, Scotland, 1899, Store keeper

Nellie Aitken Daughter, Female, 13, Sep 1898, British Columbia

Dorothey Aitken Daughter, Female, 12, Apr 1899, British Columbia

John Aitken Son, Male, 8, Feb 1903, British Columbia

Roy Aitken Son, Male, 6, Feb 1905, British Columbia

Annie Aitken Daughter, Female, 4, Jun 1907, British Columbia^[7]

Census of Canada, 1921

Mayne Island, British Columbia

Image PDF

Household: Name, Age, Marital Status, Relationship, Birthplace, Year of Immigration, Occupation

John Aitken: 47, Widowed, Scotland, 1889, Logger

Dorothy Aitken: 21, Single, Daughter, BC

John B P Aitken: 18, Single, Son, BC

Roy M Aitken: 16, Single, Son, BC

Annie L Aitken: 13, Single, Daughter, BC, Student

Kenneth G Aitken: 12, Single, Son, BC

Kenneth is also showing at the household of uncle, George Aitken.^[8]

Census of Canada, 1931

Mayne, Nanaimo (District), British Columbia

Household: Name, Gender, Age, Relationship, Marital Status, Birthplace, Year of Immigration, Occupation

John Aitken M, 56, Head, Widowed, Scotland, 1889, Farmer (Sheep farm)

Roy Aitken M, 24, Son, Single, BC, Helper (Father's farm)

Gertrude Aitken F, 9, Granddaughter, Single, BC^[9]

Research Notes

Birth:

Birth record: 4 Nov 1873

1881 census: age 7, birth year estimate 1874

1901 census: age 28, 2 Nov 1872

1911 census: age 36, Nov 1875

1921 census: age 47, birth year estimate 1874

1931 census: age 56, birth year estimate 1875

Death certificate: 4 Nov 1873.

Sources

1. ↑ Birth: "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950," database, (FamilySearch Record: FQFM-WG8 : accessed 14 August 2023), John Aitken born on 4 Nov 1873, son of Alexander Aitken & Janet Chalmers, in Carnwath, Lanarkshire, Scotland, United Kingdom; citing Digital film/folder number: 008136874; FHL microfilm: 300174.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} 1881 Census: "Scotland Census, 1881," database, (FamilySearch Record: KM2L-S86 : accessed 14 August 2023), John Aitken (7) son, Scholar, in household of Alexander Aitken (33) in Carnwath, Lanarkshire, Scotland, United Kingdom. Born in Lanarkshire; citing Piece/Folio: 6/632; Page: 1; Affiliate Publication Number: 5; Line: 8; Digital film/folder number: 004551405; FHL microfilm: 203623.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} Mayne Island Agricultural Society. "John Aiken Historic Photographs." January 2018. http://www.mayneagriculturalsociety.com/mias/john-aiken-historic-photographs/.
4. ↑ Marriage: "British Columbia Marriage Registrations," online database with images. Entry for John Aitken and Ellen Brown; Registration Number: 1897-09-008957, Victoria, 1897-01-09, Groom's parents: Alexander Aikens & Jane Chambers, Bride's parents: George Brown & Agatha Grayack. Marriage certificate Royal British Columbia Museum: BC Archives (royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/genealogy : accessed October 07, 2018).
5. ↑ Marriage: "Canada, British Columbia Marriage Registrations, 1859-1932; 1937-1938," database with images, (FamilySearch Record: JD8H-XFR : accessed 14 August 2023) FamilySearch Image: S3HY-6M8D-HY Image number 00440, John Aitkens (23) marriage to Ellen Brown (18) on 9 Jan 1897 in British Columbia, Canada; Groom's parents: Alexander Aikens & Jane Chambers, Bride's parents: George Brown & Agatha Grayack; citing British Columbia Archives film number B11368, Vital Statistics Agency, Victoria; FHL microfilm 1,983,525.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} 1901 Census: "Canada Census, 1901," database with images, (FamilySearch Record: KHVK-XTT : accessed 14 August 2023) FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CSS1-LX5R, John Aitken (28), married head of household in Vancouver (District), British Columbia, Canada. Born in Scotland; citing Page: 2; Digital film/folder number: 101692780; Image number: 1627.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} "Recensement du Canada de 1911," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV9P-YRB6 : 16 March 2018), John Aitken, 1911; citing Census, Nanaimo Sub-Districts 1-28, British Columbia, Canada, Library and Archives of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario; FHL microfilm 2,417,660.
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} 1921 Census: "Census of Canada, 1921," online database with images. Entry for John Aitken; Province: British Columbia. District Name: Nanaimo. District Number: 19. Sub-District Name: Cowichan. Sub-District Number: 21. Sub-District Description: James Island, Sydney Hill, Coal, Krapp, Piers, Russel, North and South Pender, Portland, Moresby, (Mayne), Prevost, Parker, Saturna, Hope Bay, D'Arcy Islands, Samuel and Jumbo Island. Family Number: 13. Page Number: 1. Reference: RG31, Statistics Canada, Item Number: 4539068. Library and Archives Canada: Censuses (https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/census/1921/Pages/item.aspx?itemid=4539068 : accessed May 04, 2019).
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} 1931 Census: "1931 Census of Canada," database with images, Ancestry Sharing Link - (Ancestry ca Record 62640 #6734473 : accessed 14 August 2023), John Aitken (56), widowed head of household in Mayne, Nanaimo (District), British Columbia, Canada; citing Library and Archives Canada; Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Seventh Census of Canada, 1931; Folder Number: T-27370; Census Place: Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada; Page Number: 8.
10. ↑ Death: "British Columbia Death Registrations," online database with images. Entry for John Aitken; Registration Number: 1959-09-004298, Victoria, 1959-03-05, Age at Death: 85, Birth: 4 Nov 1873, Lanark, Scotland, Spouse: Ellen Brown, Parents: Aitken and unknown. Death certificate. Royal British Columbia Museum: BC Archives (royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/genealogy : accessed October 07, 2018).
11. ↑ Death: "Canada, British Columbia Death Registrations, 1872-1986; 1992-1993," database, (FamilySearch Record: FLRV-219 : accessed 14 August 2023), John Aitken death 5 Mar 1959 (born 4 Nov 1873 in Lanark, Scotland), son of Aitken, husband of Ellen Brown, in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada; citing Affiliate Film Number: B13241; Digital film/folder number: 004437679; FHL microfilm: 2033298; Record number: 1327.

See also:

• Mayne Island Museum. eHive. https://ehive.com/collections/6550/mayne-island-museum.
• Elliott, Marie. "John Aitken - Amateur Photographer." BC Historical News, 1984, 7-10. http://www.library.ubc.ca/archives/pdfs/bchf/bchn_1984_02.pdf.
• Memorial: "Find a Grave," database with images, (Find A Grave: Memorial #115222825 : accessed 14 August 2023), Memorial page for John Aitken (4 Nov 1873-5 Mar 1959), citing Maple Bay Pioneer Methodist Cemetery, Duncan, Cowichan Valley Regional District, British Columbia, Canada (plot: PC Block 1 Plot 32); Maintained by Dedicated ~ Aurorae Little ♥UE ✞ (contributor 48644964).

Acknowledgments

• Photos courtesy of Mayne Island Museum. eHive: Collection of John Aitken photographs