The following 1752 entry in the Dumfries Parish Register is a likely match for the future Reverend Roger Aitken, although it leaves unexplained the fact that he called his only known son Roger, as opposed to David:

Dumfries, 31 Jan 1752 Roger L. S. to David Aitken Mercht, Wit. David Aitken & Thos Fergufson

The ‘Reverend Roger Aitken residing at Broadford, near Aberdeen’ was a beneficiary in the 1805 Last Will and Testament of Margaret Gordon, which he himself wrote and in which was bequeathed to him ‘my Gold ring containing some of the hair of his deceased wife’. It is therefore understood that his wife, Isabella Catharine Cheyne, had died at some time after 1790.

Margaret Gordon bequeathed £5 to each of Roger and Isabella’s three children, Roger, Elizabeth-Ann and Isabella-Catherine.

Seven months after Margaret Gordon’s death, Roger Aitken wrote an acknowledgement to one of her two executors, George Catanach, dated 8^th August 1806, for £14 5/- paid in respect of the legacies in favour of three children, the funds realised having proven deficient. He also bound himself to grant a regular discharge whenever called upon to do so.

Roger Aitken to George Catanach, 08 08 1806

The following paragraph appears in An Abstract of the Proceedings of the Society (1818):

The Rev. Roger Aitken, Missionary at Lunenburgh, reached his destination about the middle of June; the Church appears to be in very good condition, but is not suffiently large to accommodate all those who wish to attend divine service; last year he proceeded to the Bay of Fundy, 170 miles distant from Moose Island, (where he had been engaged in the duty of that place) on a visit to the vacant Mission of Cumberland, where he preached, and administered the Sacrament of Baptism to several persons. His Notitia at the several places contains, Baptisms 43; Marriages 10; Burials 8.

The full inscription on the Rev. Roger Aitken’s grave stone, Old Burying Ground, Halifax, Nova Scotia, runs as follows:

IN MEMORY of the Revd. ROGER AITKEN A.M. late Rector of Saint John Lunenburgh, Nova Scotia and Missionary to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts who departed this life 21st. Novr. 1825 in the 73rd. Year of his Age and 48th. of his Minestry (sic)

Children

The births and baptisms of three known children of the Rev. Roger Aitken and Isabella Catharine Cheyne were recorded in Aberdeen.

Son Roger, in an entry headed 6^th May 1787:

The Rev.d Roger Aitken, Episcopal Mini- ster here, & Isabella Catharine Cheyne, his wife (Daughter of the deceasd Charles Cheyne, Sometime Merchant in Edinburgh) had a son born named Roger; baptized on the tenth of same month by the Rev.d M.r John Skinnar, Bishop, In presence of James Leslie & James Davidson, both Mer- chants, & Alex.r Rofs & James Morifon both Writers, all in Aberdeen.

Daughter Elizabeth Ann, in an entry headed 2^nd December 1788:

Rev.d Roger Aitken, residing here, & Isabella Katharine Cheyne, his wife, had a Dau.r born, named Elizabeth Ann; Baptized by the Revd. Mr John Skinnar, Bishop, M.r Alexr Rofs, Writer, Mefsrs James Davidson, & William Aitken, Marchts here, Witnefes.

Daughter Isabella Katharine, in an entry headed 3^rd May 1790:

The Rev.d Roger Aitken, residing here, & Mrs. Isabella Katharine Cheyne, his wife, had a Dau.r born, named Isabella Katharine, baptiz- ed by the Rev.d Mr. John Skinnar, Bishop, in presence of Mefsrs. William Aitken & James Davidson both Merchts. here.

According to Internet sources, Roger Aitken Jr. married Caroline Bolman in 1823, in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

The recipe book belonging to the Rev. Roger Aitken’s daughter, Elizabeth Ann, has been preserved:

Nova Scotia Archives

Elizabeth-Ann died in Bridgewater on 28^th February 1867. The cause of death was bronchitis; Jacob Miller was the informant.