Jemima Athya Anderson

Jemima Athya Anderson, daughter of Alexander Anderson and Elizabeth Durie Athya, was born on October 1, 1905 in Cambuslang, Lanarkshire, Scotland. She was the oldest of seven children born to Alexander and Elizabeth—Jemina Athya Anderson, Helen “Nellie” Hamilton Anderson, Alexander Athya Anderson, James Athya Anderson, Mary Brown Anderson, Janet Lambie Anderson, and Elizabeth Athya Anderson. Jemima is my husband’s 1st cousin 1x removed with their nearest common relatives being James Wylie Athya and Jemima Durie, my husband’s great grandparents.

Jemima was born just over five months after her parents’ marriage on April 28, 1905. Her first name likely honors her maternal grandmother, Jemima Durie, while her middle name is derived from her mother’s maiden name. At the time of her birth, the family lived at 1 Richmond Terrace in Cambuslang and her father worked as a blacksmith (journeyman).

When Jemima’s sister, Helen, was born in July 1907, their family resided at 111 Petershill Road in the District of Garngadhill, Scotland, located approximately three miles from Cambuslang. Jemima’s father continued to pursue his trade as a blacksmith at the West Greentees Water Works in Cambuslang. 

By the time Jemima’s brother, Alexander, was born in January 1910, the family had relocated to the Special Drainage District situated at 1 Avenue Street in Rutherglen, County Lanark, Scotland. The towns of Rutherglen and Cambuslang were quite close geographically, approximately 2.2 miles apart. They continued to live in the same home into 1911. Two rooms in the home had one or more windows. Jemima’s father remained dedicated to his work as a blacksmith, and specifically, he was noted to be engaged in tube work. The census enumerator referred to Jemima’s mother, Elizabeth, as Lizzie, and noted that she had given birth to three children, all of which were living. He referred to Jemima as Minnie and Helen as Nellie.

1911 Scotland census

Two years later, in January 1912, Jemima’s brother James was born. The family continued to reside in the house on 1 Avenue Street in Rutherglen. However, by the time sister Mary arrived in September 1914, they had relocated to another street in Rutherglen—1 Baronflat Street. They remained in this home through the births of two more children—sisters Janet in January 1917 and Elizabeth in September 1919. Jemima’s father continued his employment as a blacksmith.

The Anderson family continued to reside in the Baronflat Street home in 1921. The dwelling consisted of just two rooms, which meant that it must have been quite cramped with nine people sharing the space. Jemima’s father, still employed as a blacksmith, worked at Stewarts and Lloyds as a tube maker. Jemima herself, enumerated as Minnie and aged 15, worked as a carpet weaver at Templeton’s Weaving Factory. The other six children, listed as scholars, were attending school, although I have my doubts about Elizabeth (aged 1) and Janet (aged 4) being students.

 

1921 Scotland census

Jemima married Andrew Wilson Glen on February 15, 1924 in Rutherglen after publication according to the forms of the Salvation Army. The registrar listed Jemima, aged 19, as working as a power loom weaver and a spinster. Andrew, born May 1, 1904 in Bridgeton, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland, was the son of Alexander Glen, a general laborer, and Annie Montgomery. Like his father, Andrew, aged 19, also worked as a general laborer. Interestingly, the usual residence for both Jemima and Andrew were the same—1 Baronflat Street—the Anderson family home in Rutherglen. Andrew’s brother, Thomas, and Jemima’s sister, Nellie (Helen), witnessed the marriage. Thomas lived in Glasgow, while Nellie still lived in the Anderson family home. 

Jemima’s grandmother Jemima (Durie) Athya was alive for the wedding, however, she passed away from a cerebral hemorrhage in Dennistoun, Glasgow, Scotland on November 19, 1925. She was buried at Southern Necropolis Cemetery along with other family members.

I have only been able to identify one child born to Jemima and Andrew: a daughter they named Elizabeth Athya Glen, born in Bridgeton in January 1931. Tragedy struck when Elizabeth was just nine years old: her father, and Jemima’s husband, passed away at the Royal Infirmary in Townhead, Glasgow, Scotland on January 13, 1940. The cause of death was a generalized peritonitis perforation of a malignant ulcer. I have been unable to identify Andrew’s final resting place. Andrew worked as a carpet cropper at the time of his death.

After two years as a widow, Jemima found new love. On July 17, 1942, she took a second husband—John McGregor, son of Robert McGregor and Agnes Henderson. The marriage, solemnized after publication in the Office of the Registrar for the District of Blythswood, Glasgow, Scotland, was witnessed by William B. and Clara Johnston, both of Duke Street in Glasgow. Prior to her marriage, Jemima resided at 105 Arcadia Street in Glasgow. John, a widower and road transport foreman, resided at 4 Beltane Street in Glasgow.

Less than two months after her wedding, Jemima suffered a heart-wrenching loss. On August 30, 1942, her mother, Elizabeth, aged 60, succumbed to cardiac failure at the Royal Infirmary in Townhead. Prior to her passing, Elizabeth had battled cholecystitis (inflammation of the gall bladder) for three months. The exact location of her final resting place remains a mystery.

 

On September 1, 1951, Jemima, aged 46, passed away in Kelvingrove, Glasgow, Scotland. She had battled cancer of the descending colon for 11 months prior to her death. Like her mother, the exact location of her final resting place remains a mystery.

References

• Alex Anderson, Census 654/41/4, National Records of Scotland, 1921.
• Alexander Anderson, Census 654/40/27, National Records of Scotland, 1911.
• Alexander Anderson, Statutory Registers Births 654/49, National Records of Scotland, 1910.
• Alexander Anderson, Statutory Registers Marriages 625/3 49, National Records of Scotland, 1905.
• Andrew Glen, Statutory Registers Births 644/1 882, National Records of Scotland, 1904.
• Andrew Wilson Glen, Statutory Registers Deaths 644/6 88, National Records of Scotland, 1940.
• Elizabeth Anderson, Statutory Registers Deaths 644/6 1019, National Records of Scotland, 1942.
• Elizabeth Athya Anderson, Statutory Registers Births 654/412, National Records of Scotland, 1919.
• Helen Hamilton Anderson, Statutory Registers Births 644/5 852, National Records of Scotland, 1907.
• James Athya Anderson, Statutory Registers Births 654/70, National Records of Scotland, 1912.
• Janet Lambie Anderson, Statutory Registers Births 654/44, National Records of Scotland, 1917.
• Jemima Athya Anderson, Statutory Registers Births 627/651, National Records of Scotland, 1905.
• Jemima Athya Anderson, Statutory Registers Marriages 654/8 34, National Records of Scotland, 1924.
• Jemima Athya Glen, Statutory Registers Deaths 644/9 529, National Records of Scotland, 1951.
• Jemima Athya, Register of Interments in Southern Necropolis, Glasgow, Scotland, 1925.
• Jemima Glen, Statutory Registers Marriages 644/8 1256, National Records of Scotland, 1942.
• Mary Brown Anderson, Statutory Registers Births 654/576, National Records of Scotland, 1914.