Jeanie Aithey

Jeanie Aithey, daughter of James Athya and Jane Wylie, was born on June 26, 1869 in Hutchesontown, Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland. She was the oldest child of eight—James Wylie Athya, Isaac Athya, David Athya, Margaret Athya, John D. Athya, Hugh Wylie Athya, a second son named David Athya, and Jeanie Aithey (per her birth certificate). Jeanie is my husband’s 2nd great-aunt with their nearest common relatives being her parents. 

Jeanie’s birth certificate shows she was born at home at 117 Hospital Street in Glasgow. Technically, her last name was “Athya,” not “Aithey” but that is how it was spelled on her birth certificate, as was the last name of her parents. Her father worked as a cotton yarn twister at the time. Her birth was registered in Glasgow on July 16. 

Birth register (click to enlarge)

Two of Jeanie’s brothers did not survive infancy and died before her birth. Both of them were named David. The first, born in Hutchesontown on April 9, 1859, contracted measles and died in Hutchesontown on September 14, 1860 at 17 months of age. The second was born in Hutchesontown on June 2, 1867 and died at home in Hutchesontown on April 25, 1868 at the age of 10 months. His cause of death was hydrocephalus, “the buildup of fluid in the cavities (ventricles) deep within the brain” according to the Mayo Clinic. This disease is also known as water on the brain. 

Jeanie did not survive infancy herself, dying on January 11, 1871 at the family home on Hospital Street in Hutchesontown at the age of 18 months. The cause of death listed on the death register was double pneumonia. She had been attended by Dr. J. Barrie during her illness. Once again, the registrar spelled hers and her parents last name “Aithey” vs. “Athya” so at least they were consistent. 

Death register (click to enlarge)

Jeanie was buried on January 14, 1871 in Lair 860 with her two brothers at Southern Necropolis Cemetery in Glasgow. The proprietor of the Lair was her grandfather, Isaac Athya. For the final time, her last name was spelled incorrectly.

Southern Necropolis burial register (click to enlarge)

References

• David Aithey, Statutory registers Births 644/10 1073, National Records of Scotland, 1867.
• David Athya, Statutory registers Births 644/10 608, National Records of Scotland, 1859.
• David Athya, Statutory registers Deaths 644/1- 976, National Records of Scotland, 1860.
• David Athya, Statutory registers Deaths 644/10 494, National Records of Scotland, 1868.
• Hugh Wylie Athya, Statutory registers Births 644/10 1366, National Records of Scotland, 1865.
• Hydrocephalus, The Mayo Clinic; https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hydrocephalus/symptoms-causes/syc-20373604. 
• James Athya, Statutory registers Marriages 644/12 176, National Records of Scotland, 1877.
• Jeanie Aithey, Southern Necropolis Cemetery burial register.
• Jeanie Aithey, Statutory registers Births 644/10 1297, National Records of Scotland, 1869.
• Jeanie Aithey, Statutory registers Deaths 644/10 70, National Records of Scotland, 1871.
• John Athya, Statutory registers Births 644/10 858, National Records of Scotland, 1863.
• Margaret Athya, Statutory registers Births 644/10 723, National Records of Scotland, 1861.
• Registration district Hutchesontown, Civil parish Glasgow Govan, County Lanarkshire, Scotland census, 1861.