Isaac James Athya

Isaac James Athya, son of Isaac Athya and Elizabeth McClelland, was born in Bellshill, Bothwell Parish, Lanarkshire, Scotland on January 10, 1884. It appears he went by Isaac in his early years but later started going by James. 

 

James was the 2nd of 10 children in the Athya family—Elizabeth “Lizzie” Athya, Isaac James Athya, Andrew Athya, Jeannie Wylie Athya, William McClelland Athya, Robert McClelland Athya, Mary Ann Galbraith Athya, John McClelland Athya, Margaret Athya, and Hugh Athya. 

Isaac Athya's birth register (click to enlarge)

James is my husband Charlie’s 1st cousin 2x removed with their nearest common relatives being James Athya and Jane Wylie. But it is a little more complicated that meets the eye. James was also the brother-of-law of my husband’s paternal grandfather, George Durie Athya. George married James’ sister Mary Ann Galbrath Athya, his 1st cousin, in 1918. George immigrated to America in 1920 and declared his wife Mary, who he left behind in Scotland, as the “nearest relative or friend in country whence alien came.” George married his 2nd wife, Bertha Edna Smith, on June 14, 1924. Ten days later, Mary immigrated to America declaring that she was 28 years old, single, and unaccompanied by a husband. I do not know when George and Mary divorced nor did my mother-in-law, Mary Athya Murphy.

In 1891, the Athya family lived in Bellshill. James’ father worked as a coal miner. James and his sister Lizzie were enumerated as scholars.

James enlisted as Isaac Athya at Glasgow on February 25, 1901, to serve with the 2nd Battalion, Cameron Highlanders. He was 18 years old, 5’ 6 3/4” tall, and weighed 126 pounds. James had a pale complexion, gray eyes, and brown hair. He attended the Presbyterian church. James had several scars that were noted as distinctive marks on his body—a scar on his left ear, one on his left shoulder blade, and one of the left side of his back. 

James’ military history sheet shows the time he and his battalion spent in several countries:

Country                        From                           To

Home (Scotland)           February 25, 1901       August 6, 1901

Gibraltar                        August 7, 1901            April 29, 1902

Crete                             April 30, 1902              March 9, 1903

Malta                             March 10, 1903            April 15, 1904

South Africa                   April 16, 1904              May 19, 1906

 

Military History Sheet (click to enlarge)

The 1901 Inverness, Scotland census was taken after James enlisted. It in fact shows he was an 18-year-old private with the Cameron Highlanders.

 

Isaac Athya in 1901 Scotland census (click to enlarge)

 

While in Malta and South Africa, James earned two certificates of education:

3rd class: October 16, 1903 (Malta)

2nd class: March 15, 1905 (South Africa)

He also passed a class of instruction related to mounted infantry that took place in Malta from May 1, 1903 to July 31, 1903.

 

James was discharged on May 19, 1906 with permission to remain in South Africa.

 

I found a Mr. J. Athya aboard the RMS Armadale Castle, traveling from Cape Town, South Africa to Southampton, England, arriving on June 29, 1907. My guess is this was James returning to Scotland. 

RMS Armadale Castle, unsigned, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

 

James married spinster Margaret “Maggie” Mennie Kirkwood at Fullarton Hall in Tollcross, Glasgow, County Lanark, Scotland on March 6, 1908. The service was performed by Rev. Ferguson after publication according to the forms of the United Free Church. His name was recorded as Isaac on the marriage register. James, age 24, lived at Gladstone Place in Bellshill at the time. Maggie, age 22, lived in Tollcross at 5 Dunlop Street. Maggie’s father was John Kirkwood, a fireman; her mother was Helen Peters. One of the two witnesses was Andrew Athya, James’ brother. The other was Ethel Cox. 

Athya-Kirkland marriage register (click to enlarge)

 

In the blink of an eye, Maggie was pregnant, giving birth to Andrew McClelland Athya on December 4, 1908 at Old Mill Road in Uddingston, District of Bothwell, County Lanark, Scotland. James worked as a coal minter. On June 22, 1910, James boarded the HMHS Garth Castle in London, England, alone, with the destination port being Cape Town, South Africa. Maggie, very pregnant at the time, and son Andrew boarded the Norman in Southampton, England on October 1, 1910 to join James in Cape Town. The two of them were listed on the manifest as Mrs. J. Athya & Master. Maggie and Andrew made it there in time for the birth of daughter Nellie Peters Athya, born in Benoni, South Africa on November 4, 1910. 

Maggie and Andrew on the 1910 ship manifest (click to enlarge)

 

In October 1912, Maggie, Andrew, and Nellie left Cape Town aboard the SS Demosthenes. They arrived in Plymouth, a city in Devon, England on October 22, 1912. The ship manifest listed their country of last permanent residence as South Africa and their country of intended future permanent residence as Scotland. Maggie’s occupation was recorded as “housewife.” James went back to Scotland himself at some point, however, I do not know when. He was living in Scotland in 1914.

SS Demosthenes (public domain)

 

Maggie, Andrew, and Nellie on 1912 ship manifest (click to enlarge)

World War I began on July 28, 1914, and within days (August 7), James was being examined by military doctors at Inverness. He declared his age as 30 years, 210 days and his occupation as miner. James was 5’ 10 ¼” tall, weighed 139 pounds, his chest measured 39 inches with a fully expanded girth. He had a range of expansion of 2 inches. James had two vaccination marks which he had received in infancy. He had “defective teeth” but was “fitted with efficient plate.” He had a fresh complexion, blue gray eyes, and dark brown hair. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church of England. 

 

James enlisted with the British Expeditionary Force at Inverness on August 17, 1914, serving with the Queens Own Cameron Highlanders Regiment. At the time, he lived at 624 Main Street in Tollcross, Glasgow, Scotland, worked as a gold miner, and was a member of the miner’s union. James was promoted to corporal on August 28, 1914. After spending 36 days in the military, James shipped out on September 21, 1914, arriving in France on September 22. James was wounded in action in October and admitted to No. 14 General Hospital in Boulogne, France with a gunshot shrapnel wound to his right foot. He was sent to England upon discharge after spending 11 days in the hospital. James was appointed acting sergeant on July 27, 1915. 

James and Maggie’s daughter Elizabeth “Lizzie” McClelland Athya was born at their Main Street home in Tollcross on May 23, 1916. James’ occupation was recorded as coal miner and in parentheses “Sergeant, 3rd Battalion, Cameron Highlanders.

 

At some point, James, who had gone by Isaac, apparently started using James. The British Army was concerned about the difference in names so sent a form letter to Maggie in June 1916 requesting she forward a copy of their marriage certificate for explanation as to the discrepancy. On July 18, 1916, the following was entered in his service record: 

With reference to attached correspondence re: Sgt. Athya this NCO states that his proper name is Isaac Athya, but has adopted James to save confusion with his Father who is of the same name. I am quite satisfied with the above NCO’s statement.

James was appointed as acting sergeant instructor of the gymnastic staff for the Cameron Highlanders on May 5, 1917. World War I ended November 11, 1918 and James was transferred to Class “Z” Army Reserve on demobilization on April 3, 1919. On May 25, 1919, James was notified he had been awarded the 1914 Star medal. He also received the British War Medal (1914-19) and Victory Medal. James was discharged on demobilization on March 31, 1920. At the time of his discharge, he was serving on the Army Gymnastics Staff of the 7th Reserve Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment.

1914 Star Medal Roll (click to enlarge)

In 1921, James lived with his parents, sister Mary, and brother John at 13 Mauldslie Place in Bothwell, Bellshill Parish, Scotland—separate from his wife and children. He was enumerated as Isaac, age 37 years and 5 months, married, and working as a boiler fireman at Wilsons and Clyde Coal Company.

 

James in the 1921 Scotland census living with his parents (click to enlarge)

 

Maggie lived with the three children—Andrew, Nellie, and Lizzie—in Tollcross where she was enumerated as the head of the household, age 36 years and 9 months, married, and working as a school cleaner for the Glasgow School Board. Andrew was 12 years old, Nellie (enumerated as Nellie K. Athya) 10 years old, and Lizzie 5 years old. A fifth person lived in the home as a boarder—a 25-year-old single female, born in Tollcross. Her name appears to be Jeannie McClelland Dow. She was a factory worker for McDicken, a tallow merchant. Tallow is “a rendered form of beef or mutton fat, primarily made up of triglycerides” … “used mainly in producing soap and animal feed” according to Wikipedia.

 

Maggie and kids in the 1921 Scotland census (click to enlarge)

 

James and Maggie were enumerated together in the 1921 Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland, electoral register. The record lists their address as 624 Tollcross Road. He was listed as Isaac Athya and she as Mrs. Margaret Athya.

All three of James’ children left Scotland as adults, going to Canada and Australia. 

James’ sister Jeannie Athya Law died at the age of 45 in Brantford, Ontario, Canada on June 15, 1933. She was buried at Mount Hope Cemetery in Brantford.

His daughter Nellie married Ernest Gilbert Denton, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ivan Denton, in Brantford, Ontario, Canada on June 12, 1935. James and Maggie lived in Glasgow. The wedding was billed as a quiet event in the engagement announcement published in The Expositor in Brantford, Canada on May 29, 1935. Since I did not find a ship manifest for James and Maggie that year, it’s possible they did not make the trip to Canada for the wedding. They did, however, travel to Canada aboard the “Nova Scotia,” departing from Liverpool, England on March 19, 1949. The ship manifest recorded James’ name as James Isaac Athya and noted that he was a shoemaker. He and Maggie lived at 55 Bain Street in Glasgow.

 

James and Maggie on the 1949 ship manifest (click to enlarge)

 

James’ was listed as a leather merchant in the 1949 British phone book. The book recorded his address as 320 Gallowgate which is apparently in Glasgow. This is a different address than recorded on the ship manifest above. The same address was used by James’ son Andrew on a 1932 ship manifest when he traveled from Melbourne, Australia to England.

James in the 1949 British phone book

 

In March 1960, James’ son Andrew married Mary “Molly” Agnes Gibbs, daughter of Mrs. and Mrs. George Gibbs in Brantford, Ontario, Canada. James and Maggie lived in Glasgow, Scotland. 

James died from a cerebral arteriosclerosis (stroke) at Lightburn Hospital in Glasgow on December 20, 1969. He was a retired leather bag shopkeeper. He still lived at the Bain Street home at the time of his death. Unfortunately, his death certificate does not provide the location of his final resting place. 

Partial entry on James' death certificate (click to enlarge)

References

• Andrew Athya, UK and Ireland, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960.
• Cerebral Arteriosclerosis, BrainFacts.org; https://www.brainfacts.org/Diseases-and-Disorders/Neurological-Disorders-AZ/Diseases-A-to-Z-from-NINDS/Cerebral-Arteriosclerosis. 
• Demosthenes (ship) image, contributor(s): Exchange Studios, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:StateLibQld_1_115364_Demosthenes_(ship).jpg. 
• Denton-Athya, The Expositor, Brantford, Ontario, Canada, July 8, 1935.
• Elizabeth McLelland Brillinger obituary, The Expositor, Brantford, Ontario, Canada, May 15, 2003.
• Engagement Announced, The Expositor, Brantford, Ontario, Canada, May 29, 1935.
• Ernest Gilbert Denton and Nellie Peters Athya Certificate of Marriage, Brantford, Canada, June 12, 1935.
• Isaac Athya, British Army WWI Service Records, 1914–1920.
• Isaac Athya, Census 098/33/13, page 13 of 18, National Records of Scotland, 1901.
• Isaac Athya, Census 625/1 12/1 24, page 24 of 60, National Records of Scotland, 1891.
• Isaac Athya, Census 625/3 11/26, page 26 of 31, National Records of Scotland, 1921.
• Isaac Athya, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland, Electoral Registers, 1857-1962.
• Isaac Athya, Statutory Registers Births 625/1 45, National Records of Scotland, 1884.
• Isaac Athya, Statutory Registers Deaths 644/5 997, National Records of Scotland, 1969.
• Isaac Athya, UK, Royal Hospital Chelsea Pensioner Soldier Service Records, 1760-1920.
• Isaac James Athya, UK and Ireland, Outward Passenger Lists, 1890-1960.
• J. Athya, UK, World War I Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920.
• James Athya (1949), British Phone Books, 1880-1984.
• Maggie Athya, UK and Ireland, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960.
• Maggie K. Athya, Census 644/19 26/25, page 25 of 28, National Records of Scotland, 1921.
• Mr. J. Athya, UK and Ireland, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960
• Mrs. John D. Law obituary, The Expositor, Brantford, Ontario, Canada, June 16, 1933.
• Photo of RMS Armadale Castle, unsigned, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:RMS_Armadale_Castle.png.
• SS Demosthenes, 1912; UK Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960.
• Statutory Registers Births 625/1 673, Andrew McClelland Athya, National Records of Scotland, 1908.
• Statutory Registers Births 644/19 440, Elizabeth McClelland Athya, National Records of Scotland, 1916.
• Statutory Registers Marriages 652/1 34, Isaac Athya, National Records of Scotland, 1908.
• Tallow; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tallow. 
• Wedding Bells, Athya-Gibbs, The Expositor, Brantford, Ontario, Canada, March 23, 1960.