The Athya Twins of Bridgeton

George Dempster Athya and his twin sister Mary Glen Athya, children of John D. Athya and Helen “Ellen” Dempster, were born on May 29, 1901 in the Bridgeton district of Glasgow, Scotland. The Athya family included eight children: Edward Dempster, John Dempster, Ellen “Nellie/Helen” McKendrick, Hannah Quinn, James, George Dempster, Mary Glen, and Sarah Athya—all born in Bridgeton. Helen had two older daughters from her first marriage to James Glass: Isabella “Bella” Dempster and Jane Dempster Glass.

George and Mary are my husband’s 1st cousins 2× removed. Their nearest common ancestors are James Athya and Jane Wylie, George’s grandparents and my husband’s 2nd great‑grandparents.

Before George and Mary’s birth, the family suffered an earlier loss. Their brother Edward, only one month old, died on November 17, 1893 from “gastric catarrh,” likely a severe stomach infection that caused dehydration—often fatal in the 1890s before antibiotics and modern hydration therapy. His burial place is unknown.

George and Mary’s father worked as a goldbreaker journeyman, a skilled metal worker who broke brass or gold‑colored scrap for foundries—an East End trade not formally defined in occupational directories. The family lived at 47 Dunn Street through the births of John (1895), Ellen (1897), Hannah (1898), and James (1900).

The 1901 Scotland census, taken on March 31, shows the family at 59 Dunn Street, a crowded household that included John and Helen’s children, step‑siblings Bella and Jane Glass, and a maternal cousin, Nellie Dempster, age 16. The Athya children were all attending school; Bella worked as a harness weaver, Jane as a French polisher, and their cousin as a cotton spinner. By the twins’ birth on May 29, 1901, the family had moved a short distance to 30 Norman Street. George was born first at 10:45 p.m., with Mary following about 15 minutes later. Mary’s name was originally recorded as Sarah Dempster Athya, but later officially corrected to Mary Glen Athya.

Original birth register entry for George and Mary (listed as
Sarah Dempster Athya) in the Scotland Birth Register (June 19, 1901) 

On November 11, 1902, another daughter was born and given the name Sarah.

The year 1903 brought devastating tragedy. On June 12, 1903, two‑year‑old George died from acute bronchitis, an illness he battled for 10 days before collapsing from a sudden loss of consciousness that often occurred at the end of severe illness.

George’s death recorded in the Scotland Death Register

Four months later, on October 15, 1903, their 11‑month‑old sister Sarah died after four days of measles. Just five days after that, on October 20, 1903, two‑year‑old Mary—George’s twin—died following six days of measles and broncho‑pneumonia.

Mary’s death recorded in the Scotland Death Register

All three children—George, Mary, and Sarah—died at their home at 65 Dunn Street and were buried together in Lair 860 at the Southern Necropolis cemetery in Glasgow. The lair’s original proprietor was their great‑grandfather Isaac Athya, with their grandfather James Athya listed as co‑proprietor.

George’s burial recorded in the Southern Necropolis Cemetery
Register of Interments (page 1)

George’s burial recorded in the Southern Necropolis Cemetery
Register of Interments (page 2)

Sarah and Mary’s burial recorded in the Southern Necropolis Cemetery
Register of Interments (page 1)

Sarah and Mary’s burial recorded in the Southern Necropolis Cemetery
Register of Interments (page 2)

The correction to Mary’s name was submitted on July 10, 1903 and formally entered into the Register of Corrected Entries on November 26, 1903. This amendment officially changed her recorded birth name from Sarah to Mary Glen.

Register of Corrected Entries note documenting the official
correction of Sarah’s (George’s twin sister) name from Sarah to
Mary Glen in the 1901 birth register (November 26, 1903)

References

• Edward Dempster Athya, Statutory Registers Births 644/1 1452, National Records of Scotland, 1893.
• Edward Dempster Athya, Statutory Registers Deaths 644/1 1298, National Records of Scotland, 1893.
• Eilen McKendric Athya, Statutory Registers Births 644/1 235, National Records of Scotland, 1897.
• George Dempster Athya and Sarah Dempster Athya, Statutory Registers Births 644/1 973, National Records of Scotland, 1901.
• George Dempster Athya, Sarah Athya, and Mary Glen Athya, Southern Necropolis: Glasgow. Burial Registers 1899–1914, images 85 and 89, FamilySearch.
• George Dempster Athya, Statutory Registers Deaths 644/1 523, National Records of Scotland, 1903.
• Hannah Athya, Statutory Registers Births 644/1 1609, National Records of Scotland, 1898.
• Helen Dempster and James Glass, Scotland’s People, Statutory Registers, Marriages Search.
• Isaac Arthey, Southern Necropolis: Glasgow. Cemetery Records 1865–1943, image 27, FamilySearch.
• Isabella Dempster Glass and Jane Dempster Glass, Scotland’s People, Statutory Registers, Births Search.
• James Athya, Statutory Registers Births 644/1 500, National Records of Scotland, 1900.
• John Athya, Census 644/1 17/32, National Records of Scotland, 1901.
• John Dempster Athya, Statutory Registers Births 644/1 768, National Records of Scotland, 1895.
• Mary Glen Athya, Statutory Registers Deaths 644/1 922, National Records of Scotland, 1903.
• Sarah Athya, Statutory Registers Births 644/1 2070, National Records of Scotland, 1902.
• Sarah Athya, Statutory Registers Deaths 644/1 899, National Records of Scotland, 1903.
• Southern Necropolis: Glasgow, Scotland, Burial Registers 1899–1914, Geoge Dempster, Sarah, and Mary Glen Athya, images 85 and 89, FamilySearch.