Margaret “Maggie” Athya

Margaret “Maggie” Athya was born April 19, 1861, in Hutchesontown, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland, the daughter of James Athya and Jane Wylie. She was the fourth of eight children: James Wylie Athya, Isaac Athya, David Athya (who died at 17 months), Margaret Athya, John D. Athya, Hugh Wylie Athya, David Athya (named for his deceased brother), and Jeanie Athya (spelled Aithey on the birth register). Maggie is my husband’s second great‑aunt, their nearest common relatives being her parents.

When Maggie was born at home at 117 Hospital Street, her father worked as a clerk in a cotton factory. The 1861 census shows him as a power‑loom factory clerk, and the home had three rooms with one or more windows. Maggie was born after that census was taken, so she was not recorded.

Birth register (1861)

By 1871, the Athya family still lived at the Hospital Street address. Her father continued in the cotton trade, now as a weaver. Her brother Isaac was not listed with the family that year. All four children recorded—Jane, Maggie, John, and Hugh—were attending school.

Scotland census (1871)

In 1881, Maggie worked as a general servant in the home of Mary Allan, a 34‑year‑old widow and confectioner. The household, with two rooms having one or more windows, was located in the Barony Civil Parish of Milton, Glasgow, a heavily industrial area where domestic service was common.

Scotland census (1881)

Maggie’s mother, Jane Wylie Athya (age 51), died April 2, 1882, in Gorbals, Lanark, Scotland, of chronic bronchitis. She was buried in Lair 860, owned by Maggie’s grandfather Isaac Athya, at Southern Necropolis Cemetery in Glasgow.

Maggie married William Stewart, a widower, on November 7, 1884, in the District of Plantation, Lanark, Scotland, after publications according to the forms of the Wesleyan Methodist Church—a denomination less common in Glasgow at the time. Maggie, a spinster, was employed as a furnishing shopkeeper. William was a coach‑builder (journeyman). Both lived on Eaglesham Street in Govan—Maggie at No. 124 and William at No. 80. William’s parents were Francis Stewart and Elizabeth McKendry, both deceased.

Marriage register (1884)

Maggie died April 10, 1885, from complications of childbirth. She had a congenital physical condition that made labor impossible, and after two days of struggling to deliver, she developed fluid in her lungs (pulmonary edema) and passed away. The cemetery register recorded her cause of death simply as “child bed.” Maggie died at 124 Eaglesham Street, the same address listed on her marriage certificate. She was only 23 years old and had been married less than a year. No birth, death, or burial record could be found for a child.

Death register (1885)

Like her mother, Maggie was buried at Southern Necropolis Cemetery in Glasgow, in Lair 860.

Southern Necropolis Cemetery burial register (1885)

Nothing more is known of William after Maggie’s death.

References

• James Athya, Census 644/10 55/19, National Records of Scotland, 1861.
• Jane Athya, Census 644/10 71/20, National Records of Scotland, 1871.
• Jane Athya, Statutory Registers Deaths 644/122 239, National Records of Scotland, 1882.
• Maggie Athya, Statutory Registers Marriages 646/1 83, National Records of Scotland, 1884.
• Margaret Athya, Statutory Registers Births 644/10 723, National Records of Scotland, 1861.
• Margaret Athya, Statutory Registers Death 646/1 140, National Records of Scotland, 1885.
• Margaret Athye, Census 644/8 76/11, National Records of Scotland, 1881.
• Margaret Stewart, Southern Necropolis: Glasgow, Burial Registers 1881–1888, image 250, FamilySearch. 

Moses Wyllie

Moses Wyllie was born and baptized on August 24, 1773 in Pollokshaws, Eastwood Parish, Renfrewshire, Scotland, the son of James Wyllie and Margaret Deans, who had married the year before. He had at least one younger brother, Thomas, born in 1776. Moses is my husband’s 4th great-grandfather.

Like many Scottish families, the Wyllies repeated names across generations, so this Moses is a different man from the one I’ve written about previously. The surname appears in records as both Wyllie and Wylie, a common variation in Scottish parish registers.

Moses as recorded in the Scotland birth register (1773)

Pollokshaws in 1773 was a small village beside the White Cart Water, a clear river that powered early textile work and fed the wide bleaching greens where cloth was soaked and laid out to whiten in the sun. A few stone cottages stood near the water, and families mixed farm labor with spinning and weaving. Most residents were tenants of the Maxwell estate at nearby Pollok House, and daily life moved at a quiet, steady pace.

By 1796, Moses had left Eastwood Parish and moved about 17 miles southwest to Kilmarnock in Ayrshire. He married Janet Armour (or Armor) after proclamation on December 2, 1796, and worked as a weaver, later described specifically as a cotton handloom weaver.

Moses and Janet as recorded in the Scotland marriage register (1796)

Moses and Janet had at least five children, all born in Kilmarnock. Four of the birth records clearly identify each child’s birth order, allowing their family structure to be reconstructed even though the fourth child’s record has not been found. Their children, following traditional Scottish naming patterns, were:

1. Moses, born November 22, 1798, baptized November 25; named for his paternal grandfather, Moses Wyllie.
2. Thomas, born May 19, 1800; named for his maternal grandfather, Thomas Deans.
3. James, born August 5, 1802; named for his father, James Wyllie.
4. Unnamed daughter, birthdate unknown; likely named Mary after her maternal grandmother, possibly Mary Bowman.
5. Margaret, born August 30, 1808; named for her paternal grandmother, Margaret Deans.

Birth record for son Moses (1798)

Birth record for son Thomas (1800)

Birth record for son James (1802)

Birth record for daughter Margaret (1808)

The Wyllie children began forming their own households in the 1820s and 1830s. Son Moses married Mary Thomason in 1822; Thomas married Janet Dreghorn in 1823; James married Margaret Gilchrist in 1826; and Margaret married Robert Wyllie in 1835. All but Robert were living in Kilmarnock at the time of their marriages; Robert lived in the Low Church Parish.

In the 1841 census, Moses appeared alone on Back Street in Kilmarnock, working as a woolen‑loom weaver. This suggests that Janet had died before the census date of June 6, 1841. He was difficult to find because the enumerator wrote his name as “Mosey Wyllia” and recorded his age as 60. Adult ages in 1841 were rounded down, often by several years, which explains why he appears younger than his true age of about 67. His residence on Back Street also aligns with his daughter Margaret’s address when she married Robert Wyllie in 1835.

Moses in the Kilmarnock, Scotland census (1841)

By 1851, Moses was a widowed lodger, age 78, living in the household of Margaret McRay in Kilmarnock. The home also included Margaret’s daughter Janet Miller, her cousin Gavin Alston, an orphan named Ann Pairns, and another lodger, William Connell. The census described Moses as an “old weaver (pauper),” indicating he was no longer able to support himself through his trade.

Moses in the Kilmarnock, Scotland census (1851)

Moses likely died sometime after the 1851 census (taken March 30) but before December 30, 1854. This timing places his death just before Scotland introduced statutory civil registration on January 1, 1855. No death record for him appears in either the statutory registers or the Old Parish Registers on Scotland’s People, suggesting his death was not recorded, or the entry has not survived.

Kilmarnock in the years Moses lived there was a busy weaving town where handloom weavers worked in small shops or in the front rooms of their cottages. The narrow streets around the town center were lined with modest homes, workshops, and the steady activity of the textile trades. As mills and shoemaking grew, families like Moses and Janet found regular work in weaving while still living close to the surrounding farms and open fields. Moses likely led a simple working life, spending long days at his loom.

A handloom weaver in Kilmarnock during his lifetime would have worked at a large wooden floor loom—a sturdy, practical machine that filled much of a cottage room and produced the steady clatter that defined a weaver’s day. It would have been built mostly of oak or pine, with a wide rectangular frame standing several feet tall. Moses would have sat on a simple bench at the loom, using his feet to work the pedals that moved the threads into position. With his hands he sent a small wooden tool carrying the thread back and forth through the loom, then pulled the heavy frame toward him to press each new line of weaving firmly into place.

An example of the type of loom Moses might have used.
Catalan manual loom, photo by Enfo, licensed under CC BY SA 3.0, via
Wikimedia Commons. 

References

• 1841 census (1841 Census Questions), National Records of Scotland.
• James Wylie, Statutory Registers, Deaths 644/8/297, National Records of Scotland, 1873.
• James Wyllie, Old Parish Registers, Births 597, Kilmarnock, National Records of Scotland, 1802.
• Margaret Deans, Old Parish Registers, Births 562, Eastwood, 1752.
• Margaret Deans, Select Counties, Scotland, Church of Scotland, Marriages, 1615–1854.
• Margaret Gilchrist, Old Parish Registers, Marriages 597, Kilmarnock, National Records of Scotland, 1826.
• Margaret Wylie, Old Parish Registers, Births 597, Kilmarnock, National Records of Scotland, 1808.
• Moses Wylie, Old Parish Registers, Marriages 597/60 84, Kilmarnock, National Records of Scotland, 1796.
• Moses Wyllie, Census 597/20/30, National Records of Scotland, 1851.
• Moses Wyllie, Old Parish Registers, Births 562, Eastwood, 1773.
• Moses Wyllie, Old Parish Registers, Births 597, Kilmarnock, National Records of Scotland, 1798.
• Moses Wyllie, Old Parish Registers, Marriages 597, Kilmarnock, National Records of Scotland, 1822.
• Mosey Wyllia, Census 597/11/11, National Records of Scotland, 1841.
• Robert Wyllie, Old Parish Registers, Marriages 597, Kilmarnock, National Records of Scotland, 1835.
• Thomas Wyllie, Old Parish Registers, Births 562, Eastwood, 1776.
• Thomas Wyllie, Old Parish Registers, Births 597, Kilmarnock, National Records of Scotland, 1800.
• Thomas Wyllie, Old Parish Registers, Marriages 597, Kilmarnock, National Records of Scotland, 1823. 

William Durie

William Durie, son of George Durie and Mary Elisabeth Taylor, was born on November 20, 1820, in Inveresk and Musselburgh, Scotland. He was the oldest of six children: William Durie, James Durie, Agnes Durie, Elizabeth Durie, John Durie, and Robert Durie. William is my husband’s 3rd great uncle, with their nearest common relatives being his parents—my husband’s 3rd great grandparents.

William was baptized on Christmas Eve 1820, at Inveresk and Musselburgh. At the time, his father was employed as a weaver.

1821 Scotland birth register

On February 13, 1837, William was registered as a private by Sergeant David Henderson with the 72nd Regiment of Foot (The Duke of Albany’s Own Highlanders) in Edinburgh, Scotland, under age as a boy. He was just 14 years and 9 months old and living in Inveresk. Because he was below the standard age for enlistment, his case was forwarded to the Horse Guards for review. An extract from a letter dated February 20, 1837, shows that Lord Hill, Commander‑in‑Chief of the British Army, approved his enlistment, noting that William was “of a very promising description.” His age meant he entered in a non‑combat role, with the expectation of becoming a full soldier at 18.

Extract of a letter from the Horse Guards, February 20, 1837

William had a fair complexion and grey eyes. His hair was described as flaxen—a pale blond shade often seen among Highland recruits. At nearly 15, he stood 5 feet 5¼ inches tall, noticeably above average for boys his age in 1830s Scotland. Before enlistment, William’s trade was recorded as grocer.

William (bottom line) in the Edinburgh, Scotland Army Attestation Register

Although vaccinated as an infant in 1823, William contracted a mild form of smallpox in April 1837, shortly after his enlistment. The illness left no lasting effects, though the small vaccination mark on his arm remained.

During his time in the military, William served eight years and five months abroad, including one year and two months at the Cape of Good Hope, three years and two months at Gibraltar, three years and four months in the West Indies, and nine months in North America (Canada). William received Good Conduct Pay beginning in April 1847, but it was withdrawn in January 1849, likely due to a disciplinary infraction.

William would have worn an interesting uniform during his military career. Between 1837 and 1853, the 72nd Regiment wore a red jacket, trews (tight‑fitting tartan trousers), a Highland bonnet, and the usual soldier’s gear. The tartan used for their trews during this period was the Prince Charles Edward Stuart pattern—a bright, distinctive sett of reds and blues that the regiment adopted when it regained its Highland status in the early 19th century. It gave the unit a recognizable Highland appearance and remained the standard trews tartan throughout William’s years of service. You can see an example of the uniform here. 

Although the 72nd Regiment was stationed across the British Empire during William’s years of service, these were peacetime postings rather than wartime campaigns.

I have not located William in any of Scotland’s census records, likely due to his early entry into the military and long periods stationed abroad.

In the spring of 1852, William fractured his left ankle when his foot was accidentally stuck between the bars of his bedstead in Barbados. He was not on duty when the fracture occurred. A doctor examined him in early September and determined that he was unable to march any considerable distance and that his left ankle would not be able to bear fatigue. His discharge was approved on September 28, and he completed the formal process at the military depot in Chatham, the usual point where unfit soldiers were examined and released from service. At the time of his discharge, William was 31 years old and had served 12 years and 131 days.

 

UK, Royal Hospital Chelsea Pensioner Admission and Discharge Records

In September 1852, William was admitted to the Royal Hospital Chelsea pension rolls as a former soldier of the 72nd Regiment of Foot. At the time, he was living in the 2nd Glasgow District, likely having settled there after discharge. His pension was temporary—scheduled to last 29 weeks into 1853—and payments began on October 20. The limited term was tied to the ankle injury that led to his discharge. He remained on the rolls until his death the following spring.

UK, Royal Hospital Chelsea Returns of Payment of Army and Other Pensions

UK, Royal Hospital Chelsea Register

William died on April 8, 1853, at the age of 32, and was buried at Sandymount Cemetery in Glasgow. The cemetery burial register identified him as a pensioner of the 72nd Regiment. The entry lists his father, George Durie of 230 Holm Street, as the individual responsible for arranging the interment, and the burial order was placed the same day William died. His cause of death was recorded simply as “lungs,” a common shorthand for pulmonary disease such as tuberculosis or chronic respiratory illness. William’s funeral took place on April 12 at 3 p.m., and he was buried in Lair No. 56, a plot owned not by the Durie family but by N. W. Bell. The nature of the relationship between the Durie and Bell families is unknown. The burial was classified as Class No. 20, a modest category within the cemetery’s fee structure, with interment costs recorded as 7 shillings and 6 pence.

Sandymount Cemetery Burial Register

 When I started my research to write a sketch for James Durie, William’s brother, I knew almost nothing about William. I discovered his burial entry during that work. The register contained the names George and William Durie, both of which I was already researching for James’s sketch. The deceased man was listed as William Durie, son of George Durie of 230 Holm Street—a familiar address from past research. Although I have not yet located William in any Scottish census, the 1851 census shows his parents and several siblings living at that same address. This confirmed that the William in the burial register was indeed the son of George Durie and the brother of James. The notation that William was a pensioner of the 72nd Regiment also provided a valuable clue, allowing me to locate his military records and further document his life. William never married and had no children.

William’s signature

References

• 72nd Regiment of Foot (The Duke of Albany’s Own Highlanders), National Army Museum; https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/72nd-regiment-foot-duke-albanys-own-highlanders. 
• Agnes Durie, Census 622/87/2, National Records of Scotland, 1851.
• Glasgow, Scotland, Burial Records 1850–1854, images 207–208, FamilySearch.
• William Durie, Edinburgh, Scotland, Army Attestation Registers, 1796–1857.
• William Durie, Old Parish Registers Births 689/Inveresk and Musselburgh, National Records of Scotland, 1821.
• William Durie, UK, Royal Hospital Chelsea Pensioner Admissions and Discharges, 1715–1925.
• William Durie, UK, Royal Hospital Chelsea Returns of Payment of Army and Other Pensions, 1842-1883
• William Durrie, UK, Royal Hospital Chelsea Pensioner Service Records, 1760–1925.
• Wm. Durie, UK, Royal Hospital Chelsea Admission Books, Registers and Papers, 1702–1980. 

James Durie

James Durie, son of George Durie and Mary Elisabeth Taylor, was born on April 26, 1824, in Inveresk with Musselburgh, Midlothian, Scotland. George and Mary raised six children: William Durie, James Durie, Agnes Durie, Elizabeth Durie, John Durie, and Robert Durie. 

James is my husband’s 2nd great-grandfather, with their nearest common ancestor being James’ daughter Jemima, my husband’s great-grandmother.

James was baptized on May 30, 1824, at Inveresk with Musselburgh, in a ceremony witnessed by John Paul and John Braidfoot. The parish, situated near Edinburgh, blended village and town life and was closely tied to the region’s coastal economy.

Birth and baptism record

James’ brother William enlisted in the military on February 13, 1837, despite being only 14 years old. I will share more about William’s life and service in my next post.

By 1841, the Durie family appears across three separate census pages. James’ father, George, was living alone at the West Pans Tollhouse, where he worked as a tollkeeper. The tollhouse—a small roadside cottage built by the turnpike trust—was designed for constant duty rather than family living. With its angled frontage and bay window, George would have monitored passing traffic and collected fees for carts, horses, and pedestrians. Its cramped interior explains why he lived there alone while his family remained nearby.

Mary and the children—James, Agnes, Elizabeth, John, and Robert—lived less than a mile away on High Street in Musselburgh. James, age 16, was recorded as an apprentice “c/wright,” almost certainly a coachwright. This trade, combining woodworking with ironwork, was a natural entry point into Glasgow’s expanding transport and engineering industries. William, the eldest brother, does not appear in the household, likely absent with his military unit.

George in the 1841 Scotland census

Elisabeth in the 1841 Scotland census

James and four of his siblings in the 1841 Scotland census

James married Jane Liddell Braidwood, daughter of Andrew Braidwood and Mary Liddell, on May 13, 1849, in Glasgow. At the time, James was working as an engineer. The couple welcomed nine children: Mary Durie, Agnes Durie, Elizabeth Durie, George Durie, Jemima Durie, Andrewina Durie, John Durie, Robert Durie, and Jane Durie. Their first child, Mary, was born on September 14, 1849, with John Braidwood and John Durie serving as witnesses.

James and Jane in the Scotland marriage register

By 1851, James had transitioned fully into engineering, a natural progression from his coachwright apprenticeship. The family lived at 67–69 Carrick Street in the St. George civil parish of Glasgow. James’ sister‑in‑law, Jessie Braidwood, age 21, was also living with them, likely working as a boy’s clothing maker.

1851 Scotland census

James’ brother William, a private in the 72nd Regiment of Foot (The Duke of Albany’s Own Highlanders), died on April 8, 1853, and was buried at Sandymount Cemetery in Glasgow.

James’ father, George, died of apoplexy on February 10, 1857, at 53 Cadogan Street in the Blythswood district. He had worked as a cotton storekeeper and was buried at Southern Necropolis Cemetery in Glasgow.

In 1861, the Durie family lived at 62 Brown Street in the Clyde District of St. George Parish. James, age 36, was working as an engine smith—crafting and repairing engine parts during Glasgow’s industrial boom.

1861 Scotland census

Tragedy struck that spring when two‑year‑old Andrewina died on May 26, 1861, after six weeks of dothinenteritis (typhoid fever) and two weeks of “water in the head,” likely hydrocephalus. She was buried at Eastern Necropolis in Lair 4964, held by her maternal grandfather, Andrew Braidwood.

James continued working as an engine fitter/journeyman, and by February 6, 1863, the family was living at 22 Pitt Street in Blythswood, Glasgow, where their son Robert was born.

James’ mother, Mary, died two years later on July 13, 1865, at her Cadogan Street home at age 69. Despite searches of Southern Necropolis and other Glasgow cemeteries, her burial place has not yet been identified. A notice of her death appeared in The Herald on July 15.

Another loss followed on November 6, 1866, when James and Jane’s youngest daughter, Jane, died of croup after only two days of illness. Her burial location remains unknown.

By 1871, the family remained at Pitt Street in a two‑window tenement. James continued as an engine fitter, while daughters Mary and Jemima worked as warehouse girls. George was an iron turner, and the younger boys attended school. A Liddell family also lived at the address, possibly relatives of Jane’s mother.

1871 Scotland census

The Durie children began forming their own families in the 1870s. Elizabeth married John Alexander in 1873, and Jemima married James Athya in 1877. By 1881, the family had moved to 46 Lancefield Street in Barony Parish. James was still an engine fitter, and his son Robert had become a plumber. James’ grandson Thomas Alexander, age 8, was also living with them, and was attending school.

1881 Scotland census

James’ son John married Annie Frew in 1881 and had three children—James, Jane, and Annie. Sadly, baby Jane died before her first birthday, and his wife Annie died sometime after 1890.

In 1886, James and Jane were listed in parochial relief records when their daughter Jemima applied for assistance in Cambusnethan.

Robert married Mary Lochhead on February 15, 1889, with James recorded as a journeyman engine fitter.

In 1891, James and Jane lived at 99 Hotcross Street in Barony Parish with their widowed son John and grandchildren James and Annie. James, now a marine engine fitter, continued working well into his later years.

1891 Scotland census

James’ sister Elizabeth died on May 2, 1897, in Kelvin, Lanarkshire, after several months of declining health following what would now be understood as a stroke. She was buried in Lair 974 at Western Necropolis Cemetery. His sister Agnes died on August 22, 1900, in Helensburgh, Row Parish, and was buried in Lair 973 at Western Necropolis. She never married.

In 1901, James and Jane lived at 33 McIntyre Street in Barony Parish with their son John and his children. James, age 77, was still working as a marine engine fitter. His grandson James was apprenticed in the same trade, while Annie attended school.

1901 Scotland census

James died at home on December 13, 1902, from a cerebral hemorrhage and senile decay. His son John was the informant on the death register.

James in the Scotland burial register

James was buried on December 16 at Eastern Necropolis Cemetery in Lair 384, compartment 13, at a depth of 10 feet. The lair, purchased by his son John, became a family resting place. Those buried with him include:

• Catherine Durie (granddaughter, died 1908)
• Jane Durie (wife, died 1908)
• Elizabeth Alexander (daughter, died 1911)
• Mary Durie (believed to be John’s daughter, died 1927)
• John Durie (son, died 1928)

 

Eastern Necropolis Cemetery burial register (see John on both line of both pages)

Lair 384 register

References

• Agnes Durie, Statutory Registers Deaths 503/109, National Records of Scotland, 1900.
• Andrina Durie, Statutory Registers Deaths 644/5 442, National Records of Scotland, 1861.
• Andrwine Durie, Glasgow, Scotland, Burial Records 1855–1861, image 236, FamilySearch.
• Daily interment books, December 1897-August 1912, cemetery records for Eastern Necropolis Cemetery, Glasgow, 1861-1995, film no. 008685206, image 333, FamilySearch.
• Deaths, Mrs. George Durie, The Herald, Glasgow, Scotland, July 15, 1865.
• Eastern Necropolis: Glasgow, Scotland, Cemetery Records 1900–1995, image 41, FamilySearch.
• Elisabeth Durie, Census 689/12/5, National Records of Scotland, 1841.
• Elizabeth Durie, Statutory Registers Deaths 644/6 358, National Records of Scotland, 1865.
• Elizabeth Durie, Statutory Registers Marriages 644/9 127, National Records of Scotland, 1873.
• Elizabeth Morris, Statutory Registers Deaths 644/9 551, National Records of Scotland, 1897.
• George Durie, Census 689/9/1, National Records of Scotland, 1841.
• George Durie, Statutory Registers Deaths 644/6 86, National Records of Scotland, 1857.
• Glasgow, Scotland, Burial Records 1850–1854, images 207–208, FamilySearch.
• Glasgow, Scotland, Burial Records January 1882–March 1900, image 274, FamilySearch.
• James Athya, Statutory Registers Marriages 644/12 176, National Records of Scotland, 1877.
• James Durie, Census 644/1 47/15, National Records of Scotland, 1851.
• James Durie, Census 644/10 30/20, National Records of Scotland, 1881.
• James Durie, Census 644/5 55/7, National Records of Scotland, 1861.
• James Durie, Census 644/69/19, National Records of Scotland, 1871.
• James Durie, Census 689/12/7, National Records of Scotland, 1841.
• James Durie, Census 689/12/7, National Records of Scotland, 1841.
• James Durie, Old Parish Registers Births 689/Inveresk and Musselburgh, 1824.
• James Durie, Scotland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1564–1950.
• James Durie, Statutory Registers Deaths 644/10 734, National Records of Scotland, 1902.
• Jane Braidwood, Old Parish Registers Marriages 644/1 Glasgow, National Records of Scotland, 1849.
• Jane Durie, Statutory Registers Deaths 644/6 504, National Records of Scotland, 1866.
• Jemima Durie (or Athya), Cambusnethan. Parish Poor Law Records 1886–1887, image 180, FamilySearch.
• Jemima Durie, Census 644/5 55/8, National Records of Scotland, 1861.
• John Durie, Census 644/10 13/10, National Records of Scotland, 1901.
• John Durie, Census 644/10 17/3, National Records of Scotland, 1891.
• Mary Durie, Old Parish Registers Births 644/1 Glasgow, National Records of Scotland, 1849.
• William Durie, Old Parish Registers Births 689/Inveresk and Musselburgh, National Records of Scotland, 1821.
• William Durie, UK, Royal Hospital Chelsea Pensioner Admissions and Discharges, 1715–1925.
• Wm. Durie, UK, Royal Hospital Chelsea Admission Books, Registers and Papers, 1702–1980. 

James Athya, another puzzle piece uncovered

Recently, I shared an update to James Athya’s story after discovering a new article through Newspapers.com. Just nine days later, another alert led me to a Jacksonville, Florida newspaper that answered a lingering question: was James’ body returned to Steubenville, Ohio for burial? The article confirmed that it was, noting that Estes‑Krauss Funeral Home made arrangements to do so on March 6, 1942.

James, 22, had been killed in a head on collision near Kingsland, Georgia while riding as a passenger. The report also mentioned that both drivers survived and another passenger was treated for injuries.

James’ story has always intrigued me. A first cousin once removed to my husband, he was born in 1919 in Bellshill, Lanark, Scotland, to Robert Durie Athya and Margaret Shaw, the eldest of three siblings. He lost his mother at the age of six, then emigrated to America in 1930 with his father and siblings, settling first in Pennsylvania and later in Ohio. From newspaper reports and census records, I learned of his adventures train hopping en route to Mardi Gras, which even landed him in jail for 10 days, and of his work at a mission in West Virginia. Within the family, however, it was remembered that James may have died in an auto accident, though relatives were never entirely certain. Family lore also suggested that James may have traveled with a carnival before his untimely death. That possibility remains the last piece of the puzzle to unravel in his story, and I hope someday to learn whether he truly lived that adventure.

Reference

Body of Crash Victim Will Be Sent to Ohio, Jacksonville Journal, Jacksonville, Florida, p. 11, March 6, 1942. 

James Athya, another update

James Athya, born in 1919 in Bellshill, Lanark, Scotland to Robert Durie Athya and Margaret Shaw, was the eldest of three siblings and a first cousin once removed to my husband. After losing his mother to encephalitis lethargica at age six, James emigrated to America in 1930 with his father and siblings, settling first in Pennsylvania and later in Ohio. His brief but adventurous life included a stint in jail for train-hopping en route to Mardi Gras, work at a mission in West Virginia, and family lore that he traveled with a carnival before his untimely death in a Florida car accident around 1941.

I don’t like leaving family history sketches unfinished, but James’ story has yet to be fully uncovered—though piece by piece, details continue to emerge through online records.

I first wrote about James in 2019 (link here), when I lacked both an accurate birth record and any documentation to confirm the family’s account of his death. In 2021 (link here), I published an update after locating his World War II draft registration card, which provided a birth date but listed an incorrect birthplace. Since then, I’ve obtained his official birth record from Scotland’s People, confirming both the date and location.

Today, I can confirm at least part of the family lore: James did die in an automobile accident. In early November, I received an alert from Newspapers.com linking to an article published in The Florida Times-Union (Jacksonville, Florida) on March 4, 1942. It reported that a man identified by his Social Security card as James Athya, age 22, of Steubenville, Ohio, died at a Jacksonville hospital the night before from injuries sustained in a car-truck collision near Kingsland, Georgia. Three others were injured, though no further details were provided. James, listed as a seaman, was taken to Estes-Krauss Funeral Home while officials attempted to locate his relatives in Steubenville. I searched for additional coverage in both Florida and Ohio newspapers but found no further information.

I also discovered a Find A Grave memorial created in 2023 (after my 2021 update) indicating that James is buried at Fort Steuben Burial Estates in Wintersville, Jefferson County, Ohio. The memorial notes that his burial location was found in the cemetery’s records on page 3 of the Digital Shoebox Project, though no plot number was listed. At this point, I cannot confirm whether his remains were returned to Ohio or if the stone was placed in his memory. I submitted a photo request earlier this year but have not received a response.

I hope to one day locate an obituary or other record that confirms whether James was indeed buried in Ohio. I also continue searching for any evidence that he worked with a carnival, as family stories suggest—another chapter in his adventurous life that remains just out of reach. Until then, his story remains open—unfinished, but not forgotten.

January 9, 2026: another update!

Reference

• Auto, Truck Collision Fatal to Ohio Man, Three Others Hurt, The Florida Times-Union, Jacksonville, Florida, March 4, 1942.
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/261178523/james-athya: accessed November 2, 2025), memorial page for James Athya (3 Oct 1919–6 Mar 1942), Find a Grave Memorial ID 261178523, citing Fort Steuben Burial Estates, Wintersville, Jefferson County, Ohio, USA; maintained by Syndi (contributor 18484625).
• James Athya, Statutory Registers Births 625/3 476, National Records of Scotland, 1919. 

John McClelland Athya

John McClelland Athya, son of Isaac Athya and Elizabeth McClelland, was born on February 20, 1898, in Bellshill, Lanarkshire, Scotland. He was one of 11 children born to Isaac and Elizabeth: Elizabeth (Lizzie) Athya, Isaac James Athya, Andrew McClelland Athya, Jane (Jeannie) Wylie Athya, William McClelland Athya, Robert McClelland Athya, Mary Ann Galbraith Athya, John McClelland Athya, Margaret “Peggy” (twin) Athya, Hugh McClelland (twin) Athya, and one unnamed child.

John is my husband’s 1st cousin 2x removed. Their closest shared ancestors are James Athya and Jane Wylie, who were my husband’s second great-grandparents. Another family connection will appear later in the sketch.

At the time of John’s birth, his father Isaac was employed as a lampman at a colliery—a coal mine. A lampman was responsible for maintaining and distributing safety lamps to miners, a critical role in preventing underground accidents. Given the family’s location near Orbiston, Isaac likely worked at the Orbiston Colliery, operated by the Mossend Iron Company. Prior to this, he had worked as a coal miner.

Birth register for John (1898)

Tragedy struck the Athya family before John was born. On Christmas Day 1891, his brother William died in Bellshill from bronchitis after suffering for 14 days. His burial location remains unknown. The informant listed on the death register was Jemima (Durie) Athya, William’s aunt-in-law—wife of James Wylie Athya, who were my husband’s great-grandparents.

Another devastating loss followed when John was just 18 months old. On September 22, 1899, his six-year-old brother Robert was fatally struck by a train on the Caledonian Railway line near the Bellshill police station. Two months shy of his seventh birthday, Robert suffered a compound skull fracture. It’s believed he was walking along the tracks when a passing train hit him, the wind preventing him from hearing its approach. His body was moved to the Bellshill station waiting room and then returned to the Athya home. His burial location is also unknown.

By 1901, the Athya family was living at 59 New Orbiston Rows in Bellshill. Isaac continued working as a colliery lampman, while his wife Elizabeth was listed as a lampman’s wife. Lizzie worked as a domestic servant, and Andrew was employed as a pit pony driver—a demanding job guiding ponies through underground tunnels to haul coal. The family lived in a two-room home with one or more windows.

New Orbiston Rows, built in 1892, housed coal miners and their families. The community included one three-room dwelling and 74 two-room homes, rented annually for £9 19s, roughly equivalent to $48 to $50 USD at the time. These single-story stone structures had brick backs and lacked damp-proofing, though the walls were generally sound. Interiors featured wood flooring and ventilation, and while there were no gardens, residents had access to shared wash houses, coal cellars, and basic sanitation facilities—four ashpits and eight privies. Water came from four standpipes, and outdoor sinks served every four homes in the front row. Drainage channels ran behind the buildings, and the area was cleaned daily as part of a designated sanitary district.

1901 Scotland census

In 1911, the Athya family remained at New Orbiston. Isaac was still a lampman, and Mary worked as a pit head worker—one of the “pit brow lasses” who sorted coal and removed debris at the mine’s entrance. John, Hugh, and Margaret were attending school. Isaac and Elizabeth had been married for 29 years; Elizabeth was listed as having had 11 children, with 8 still living.

1911 Scotland census

Athya children, circa early 1900s: John is the second boy
from the right; the smaller child beside him is his younger brother Hugh.
(Image used with permission from John Sproat.)

On May 27, 1918, John’s sister Mary married her first cousin George Durie Athya, son of James Wylie Athya and Jemima Durie and my husband’s grandfather. George, was a 25-year-old riveter and Corporal with the Cameron Highlanders. The marriage later ended in divorce, and George immigrated to the U.S., where he married my husband’s grandmother, Bertha Edna Smith.

By 1921, John (age 23) was living in a two-room home at 13 Mauldslie Place in Bellshill with his parents, brother Isaac (age 37), and sister Mary (age 26). John worked as a coal miner for the Wilson and Clyde Coal Company. His father and brother were employed there as a lampman and boiler foreman, respectively. Mary and Elizabeth maintained the home. Interestingly, Mary was listed as single despite her earlier marriage to George.

1921 Scotland census

On July 14, 1922, John departed Scotland aboard the RMS Tyrrhenia, bound for Quebec and Montreal. He traveled alone. The ship had just completed its maiden voyage a month earlier and was later renamed Lancastria in 1924 due to pronunciation difficulties. 

RMS Tyrrhenia (back center with tall dark stack).
Photo from Marine Photo Service (Waterline Collection), public domain,
via Wikimedia Commons.

John declared himself Protestant and intended to settle in the U.S. He was a miner seeking work as a farmer, had never lived in Canada, and paid for his own passage. He listed his father at Mauldslie Place as his nearest relative and confirmed he was not tubercular or physically impaired.

John’s entry on the RMS Tyrrhenia passenger list

John’s youngest sister Margaret (Peggy) married Robert Bryson Curran in Toronto on July 31, 1925. The ceremony was held at the Church of God on Albion Street and officiated by Elder Robert Murray.

In May 1928, John traveled third class aboard the S.S. Letitia from Montreal to Glasgow, arriving on May 14. He listed his address as 55 Bain Street in Glasgow, his father’s home. He was employed as a laborer and was 30 years old. His country of last permanent residence was Canada. 

Passenger manifest for the Letitia (May 1928)

He returned to Canada aboard the same ship on August 10, arriving in Quebec on August 18. Records show he had lived in Canada from July 1922 to July 1928, residing in Brantford, Ontario with his sister Mrs. Jean Law at 41 Laurence Street. He listed his father Isaac at 55 Bain Street in Calton, Glasgow as his nearest relative. He had no physical or mental impairments and was not infected with tuberculosis. His passport had been issued in Ottawa on February 5, 1928, and he arrived with $200 in hand.

John’s mother Elizabeth died on June 7, 1928, at age 68, at their Bain Street home. Her cause of death was pernicious anaemia—a fatal condition caused by the body’s inability to absorb vitamin B12. Her burial location remains unknown.

On August 25, 1929, John crossed the border into Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan. He listed his sister Mrs. Law as his Canadian contact and his brother Hugh as his U.S. contact. He was traveling alone, recorded his nationality as Canadian, and his race as Scotch. His last permanent residence was Brantford, and he was destined for Detroit. He paid his own passage and had never been in the U.S. before. He was joining Hugh at 2550 Bewick Avenue and planned to stay permanently. He was 5’8”, with a medium complexion, brown hair, and gray eyes, and worked as an underground linesman.

Manifest card the Port of Detroit, Michigan

On October 4, 1929, John filed a Declaration of Intention in Detroit. He was living with Hugh on Bewick Street and was still employed as an underground linesman. He was 31 years old, single, and weighed 145 pounds. His last foreign residence was Brantford, and he had entered the U.S. via the Detroit & Windsor (D & W) Ferry under the name of John Athya (spelled Athaya on the form).

Certificate of Arrival (September 1929)

On June 15, 1929, Hugh married Mary Ellen “Nellie” Balfour in Detroit. John was one of two witnesses. Hugh had also reversed his name, using McClelland as his surname and Athya as his middle name.

John was in the wedding party for his brother Hugh
(image used with permission from John Sproat)

John does not appear in the 1930 U.S. Census, though the Detroit city directory lists him, Hugh, and Mary all living at 2550 Bewick Avenue. John was employed as an electrician, and Hugh as a sub-foreman at Detroit Edison Company. John continued using the surname Athya.

John’s sister Jeannie died on June 15, 1933, at age 44, at her home at 41 Abigail Avenue in Brantford. She likely died from a stroke caused by a cerebral embolism linked to chronic rheumatic heart disease. Her funeral was held at home and conducted by Rev. G. Deane Johnston of Central Presbyterian Church. She was buried at Mount Hope Cemetery on June 17. John and Hugh were among the six pallbearers.

Just three months later, on September 19, 1933, John’s father Isaac died at age 76 at his Bain Street home. He had retired from work as a colliery lamp cleaner. His cause of death was gangrene of the feet and broncho-pneumonia. His burial location is unknown.

By 1934, John, Hugh, and Mary had moved to 4721 Belvidere Avenue in Detroit. John worked as an electrician, and Hugh continued at Detroit Edison. By 1935, they had relocated to Ward Street.

On March 25, 1937, John formally declared his intention to become a U.S. citizen. He stated he had lived continuously in Michigan since August 25, 1929, and was residing at 13217 Ward Avenue, working as an auto worker. He was 39 years old, single, and childless, with gray eyes, brown hair, and a fair complexion.

In the 1940 U.S. Census, John (age 43) was living with his brother Hugh (age 39) and Hugh’s family at their home on Ward Street in Detroit. Hugh’s household included his wife Mary (age 39), daughters Mary (9) and Jean (8), and son Hugh (5). At the time of the census, John was unemployed and had reportedly been out of work for 140 weeks. He was seeking employment as a punch press operator in wheel manufacturing. In 1939, John had worked only 12 weeks and earned $270, while Hugh had worked the full year and earned $1,800. Both brothers had completed four years of high school, suggesting they had graduated. All three children were attending school.

By February 16, 1942, John had moved to 14400 Lauder Street in Detroit and registered for the World War II draft. He listed Hugh, still residing on Ward Street, as his next of kin. At the time, John was employed by Detroit Edison Company, located at 2000 Second Avenue in Detroit. He was described as 5’ 8½”, weighing 150 pounds, with gray eyes, gray hair, and a light complexion.

World War II draft registration card

In March 1942, while still living at the Lauder Street address, John petitioned for U.S. citizenship in Detroit. He was single and had no children. His petition was supported by two witnesses—Leland Yost and Charles Cummings—who attested to his good character and continuous residence since 1937.

That same year, on April 24, 1942, John’s sister Margaret (Peggy) passed away in Victoria, British Columbia. Her burial location remains unknown.

On May 12, 1942, John formally swore the Oath of Allegiance and renounced prior loyalties. 

Oath of Allegiance (1942)

On that same day, he legally changed his name from John McClelland Athya to John Athya McClelland, reversing his middle and surname in a manner like his brother Hugh, who had done so as early as 1930. John’s naturalization petition was approved in open court.

Naturalization Certificate Stubs certifying John’s name change

 

Naturalization Petitions Recommended to be Granted (May 1942)

Despite extensive searches, John does not appear in the 1950 U.S. Census. His brother Hugh was still living at 13217 Ward Avenue in Detroit—the same address John listed as his residence on an air passenger manifest later that year. However, John was not recorded in the household; only Hugh, his wife, and their three children were enumerated. Since the census was conducted in April, it’s possible John was in Scotland at the time.

Supporting this theory, John appears on an air passenger manifest dated June 29, 1950, traveling from Prestwick, Scotland to Montreal aboard Trans-Canada Air Lines flight 2211-29. He listed his home address as 13217 Ward Avenue—the same address he had used in 1929.

John passed away in Michigan on December 30, 1965. He was laid to rest at Glen Eden Memorial Park in Livonia, Wayne County, Michigan. No evidence has been found that John ever married.

Image used with permission of S. L. Iglesias,
Find a Grave member 46812202

John’s story was particularly challenging to research due to his name change and the many variations in spelling across records. Searches must include Athya, McClelland, McClellan, McLelland, and McLellan, and span records from Scotland, Canada, and the United States.

References

• 1137682, RG 21, Naturalization Petition and Record, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, Southern Division, Detroit: Wayne. Petitions for Naturalization 1942, images 442–446, FamilySearch.
• 18222300, RG-21, Naturalization Certificate Stubs, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, Southern Division, Detroit: Wayne. Naturalization Final Certificates, 1942, image 1133, FamilySearch.
• 18462267, RG-21, Naturalization Court Order Books, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, Southern Division, Detroit: Wayne. Naturalization Records Sep 16, 1941–May 29, 1942, image 707, FamilySearch.
• Boy Killed on the Railway, Daily Record, Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland, September 23, 1899.
• Deaths, Curran, The Expositor, Brantford, Ontario, Canada, May 2, 1942.
• Detroit, Michigan, City Directory, 1930, 1934.
• Elizabeth Athya, Statutory Registers Deaths 644/3 239, National Records of Scotland, 1928.
• Fatal Accident on Caledonian Railway, Hamilton Advertiser, Hamilton, Strathclyde, Scotland, September 23, 1899.
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/183324329/john_athya-mcclellan: accessed September 3, 2025), memorial page for John Athya McClellan (20 Feb 1898–30 Dec 1965), Find a Grave Memorial ID 183324329, citing Glen Eden Memorial Park, Livonia, Wayne County, Michigan, USA; maintained by S. L. Iglesias (contributor 46812202).
• George Durie Athya/Mary Ann Athya marriage, Statutory Registers Marriages 644/10 1036, National Records of Scotland.
• Housing Conditions of Miners, Bothwell Parish, Scottish Mining Website; http://www.scottishmining.co.uk/236.html. 
• Hugh A. McClelland, Michigan, U.S., Marriage Records, 1867–1952. 
• Isaac Athya, Census 098/33/13, National Records of Scotland, 1901.
• Isaac Athya, Census 625/112/124, National Records of Scotland, 1891.
• Isaac Athya, Census 625/310/2, National Records of Scotland, 1911.
• Isaac Athya, Census 625/311/26, National Records of Scotland, 1921.
• Isaac Athya, Statutory Registers Births 625/1 45, National Records of Scotland, 1884.
• Isaac Athya, Statutory Registers Deaths 644/3 227, National Records of Scotland, 1933.
• Isiac Athya, Census 625/314/16, National Records of Scotland, 1901.
• Jane Wyllie Athya, Statutory Registers Births 625/1 555, National Records of Scotland, 1887.
• Jeannie Wylle Law, Province of Ontario, Certificate of Registration of Death no. 306, 1933.
• John Athya McLelland, Border Crossings: From Canada to U.S., 1895–1956.
• John Athya, Canada, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1865–1935.
• John Athya, Canada, Ocean Arrivals (Form 30A), 1919–1924.
• John Athya, Canadian Passenger Lists, 1865–1935.
• John Athya, Detroit Border Crossings and Passenger and Crew Lists, 1905–1963.
• John Athya, Detroit, Michigan, U.S., Border Crossings and Passenger and Crew Lists, 1905–1963.
• John Athya, Michigan, U.S., Federal Naturalization Records, 1887–1931.
• John Athya, Statutory Registers Births 625/3 107, National Records of Scotland, 1898.
• John Athya, U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1940–1947.
• John Athya, UK and Ireland, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878–1960.
• John Athya, UK, Outward Passenger Lists, 1890–1960.
• Lizzie Athya, Census 625/314/17, National Records of Scotland, 1901.
• Married, Curran-Athya, The Expositor, Brantford, Ontario, Canada, August 1, 1925.
• Mrs. John D. Law, The Expositor, Brantford, Ontario, Canada, June 16, 1933.
• National Coal Mining Museum for England, “Pit Ponies and Their Drivers,” accessed September 2, 2025; https://www.ncm.org.uk/news/voices-in-the-coalshed-pony-drivers/.
• 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. 
• RMS Lancastria; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RMS_Lancastria. 
• Robert McClelland Athya, Statutory Registers Deaths 625/3 193, National Records of Scotland, 1899.
• To the Grave: Mrs. John Law, The Expositor, Brantford, Ontario, Canada, June 19, 1933.
• U.S. Federal Census, Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, 1940.
• Victoria Genealogical Society Burial Index Part 2, Royal Oak Burial Park, Victoria BC, 2016; https://www.interment.net/data/canada/bc/van_island/vancouver-island-burial-records-royal-oak-burial-park.pdf?highlight=WyJKYW1lcyBEZWFyaW5nIl0=.
• William McClelland Athya, Statutory Registers Births 625/1 313, National Records of Scotland, 1891.
• William McClelland Athya, Statutory Registers Deaths 625/1 453, National Records of Scotland, 1891.