Mary Ann Athya, long lost first wife of George Durie Athya

Mary Ann Athya, daughter of Isaac Athya and Elizabeth McClelland, was born in Bellshill, County Lanarkshire, Scotland about 1896. She had at least 10 siblings—Elizabeth Athya, Isaac Athya, Andrew Athya, James Athya, Jeannie Wylie Athya, William McClelland Athya, Robert McClelland Athya, (Mary Ann Athya), John McClelland Athya, Margaret Athya (twin), and Hugh Athya (twin). 

In 1901, the Athya family lived in Bellshill at New Orbiston Rows, apartment housing built in 1892 for the coal miners. According to the Scottish Mining Website, the housing community consisted of “1 three-apartment house, 74 two-apartment houses with rental of £9 19s, one storey [sic], stone built, brick back, erected about 18 years ago – no damp-proof course – walls strapped and lathed – wood floors, ventilated – condition of walls generally good; no overcrowding – apartments large; no garden ground – wash houses – coal cellars; 4 ashpits and 8 privies, between front and rear row; outside sinks for front row – one for every 4 house; surface channels for back row; gravitation water from 4 standpipes; and was scavenged daily – within a special district.” Her father’s occupation was “Cothery Lampman.” Mary was a scholar.

On May 27, 1918, Mary married George Durie Athya (pictured left), son of James Wylie Athya and Jemima Durie, in an “irregular” marriage by declaration that took place at 50 Wellington Street in Blythswood, Glasgow, County Lanark, Scotland. In an irregular marriage, the couple would make a declaration in front of two witnesses, in this case, George’s sister Elizabeth Durie (Athya) Anderson and her husband Alexander Anderson. Once they provided proof of the marriage to a sheriff or sheriff-substitute, they could obtain a warrant “to have the marriage registered by the local registrar.” According to ScotlandsPeople, “Churches disagreed with these marriages in principle, but accepted them for fear that couples would otherwise ‘live in sin’.” Mary and George’s marriage was registered at Glasgow on May 29, 1918 after obtaining a warrant from a sheriff-substitute. Mary was a 22-year-old spinster; George a 25-year-old bachelor, riveter, and Corporal with the Cameron Highlanders. Mary and George were first cousins—their fathers Isaac and James were brothers. I don’t know, but this may have been a common practice at the time.

On October 30, 1920, George sailed from Bellshill, Glasgow aboard the S.S. Columbia headed for Steubenville, Ohio in the United States of America. He declared his wife Mary, who he left behind in Scotland, as the “nearest relative or friend in country whence alien came.”

S.S. Columbia manifest (click to enlarge)

On June 24, 1924, Mary set sail aboard the S.S. Montlaurier headed for Canada. A passenger declaration form showed that Mary was 28 years old, single, and unaccompanied by a husband. She traveled 3rd class, planning to settle permanently in Canada and look for suitable work as a domestic. She declared her religion as Baptist. Mary paid her own passage at £5, spoke the English language, and had never been to Canada. Mary’s sister Jeannie (Athya) Lay lived in Montreal, which was where Mary was going. She listed her father Isaac Athya of 13 Mauldslie Street in Crossgates, Bellshill, Scotland as the nearest relative in the country from which she came. Mary further declared that she had no mental, tubercular, or physical detects. 

Ten days prior to Mary leaving Scotland, George married Bertha Edna Smith in the Ingram Borough of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania on June 14, 1924. George and Bertha are my husband’s grandparents. 

So, the big question for our family is—what happened to George and Mary’s marriage. Did they divorce? Was the marriage dissolved? We don’t have a clue. When my mother-in-law shared her father’s immigration papers with me years ago, I remember asking her if she knew what happened to Mary. She didn’t. Now thanks to a hint another researcher posted on her ancestry.com tree and who then shared where she got the information when I contacted her, I’ve been able to solve the mystery of the wife George left behind in Scotland. But there are still questions to answer so the search isn’t over. By the way, George and Bertha named their only daughter Mary.

References

• 1891 Scotland census, registration district Bothwell, civil parish Bothwell, County Lanarkshire.
• 1901 Scotland census, registration district Bellshill, civil parish Bothwell, County Lanarkshire.
• Athya-Smith marriage license no. 20342, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 
• Flag of Scotland, none known, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Scotland.svg.
• George Athya, List or Manifest of Alien Passengers for the United States Immigration Officer at Port of Arrival.
• George Durie Athya/Mary Ann Athya marriage, Statutory Registers Marriages 644/10 1036, National Records of Scotland.
• John Athya, Canada, Ocean Arrivals (Form 30A), 1919-1924.
• John McClelland Athya, U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947.
• Mary Athya, Declaration of Passenger to Canada, Ocean Arrivals (Form 30A), 1919-1924.
• New Orbiston Rows, Housing Conditions of Miners, Scottish Mining Website; http://www.scottishmining.co.uk/236.html.
• Our Records: Irregular Marriage in Scotland, ScotlandsPeople; https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/article/irregular-marriage-scotland.
• William McClelland Athya, Scotland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950.