LEDINGHAM, Jane (Jeannie) (Jennie)

". . . Banns of Marriage betwixt William Smith, Bookkeeper in Gileomston
and Jane Ledingham the daughter of John Ledingham, late weaver residing
in Aberdeen. . . . 11 June 1877"

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112.
We now come to the last chapter of our Chronicles, and the second lady of
our annals comes on the scene in Jennie Ledingham, or Mrs Smith, as her
married name was. She was the only daughter of John and Elizabeth
Ledingham, of the Skene Square family. Her early years were spent
assisting her mother in the little shop, and attending the little penny
school of those days.

113.
They were humble schools in the sixties of the last century, but they
produced many splendid men and women, who were a credit to the Scottish
race. A great advance has taken place to the palatial schools of the
present day, with every adjunct necessary to the carrying on of the work
of educating the rising generation, and it is to be hoped that the young
folk of these times will grasp the opportunities that lie to their hand.

114.
Jennie Ledingham in 1875 was about fourteen years of age, a useful
working lass, helping her mother in every way possible. When sixteen
years she went to work in a tape factory where also cloth weaving was
carried on, and quite a business was done. Jennie was only a short time
in this employment when she was made a forewoman, and held that position
for some years. The work was hard and the hours long - from six o'clock
in the morning to six at night - but even then Jennie's work did not end,
for she helped her mother in the shop and house, but she found time to
attend the night school, and by that means helped out the meagre
education which she had obtained in her girlhood. George Ledingham, of
America, who paid a visit to his native city, at this time, described
Jennie as "a good-looking handsome woman." The little home and shop where
Jennie and her mother worked was only a short distance from the house
where John Philips, the famous artist was born, and in which he died in
1867. His house has now disappeared, and a new one built on the site and
a tablet is placed on the front of the house to perpetuate the memory of
this talented son of Aberdeen. When Jennie Ledingham had reached
womanhood she married William Smith, who served his apprenticeship as a
clerk with A. Ogston & Sons, the famous soap and candlemakers, and
afterwards was for many years a clerk in the employment of the "Free
Press," Aberdeen.

115.
He was a man of excellent character, clever and capable, with
considerable ability. Mr and Mrs Smith had a family of three daughters
and six sons, and Mrs Smith had her work cut out to care for their large
family, but she faced her duties as wife and mother in a noble and
self-sacrificing spirit, and overcame her difficulties. . . After the
death of her husband Mrs Smith was left with a family of five sons and
three daughters, but she nobly faced the task and the duties of educating
the younger members of the family. . . .

118.
The family owe a debt of gratitude to their mother who, left a widow,
faced the responsibility of bringing up a large family with courage and
determination. The newsagency business was sold as Mrs Smith had not
time to attend to it. The eldest son, William John, before he went to
America, was very kind to his mother and assisted her in every way
possible. As time went on the song and daughters grew to be men and
women all respectable in their different spheres in life.

119.
Mrs Smith had a very serious illness, from which she unexpectedly
recovered, and a few years after she moved from the old home to Skene
Terrace, but from the room window she could still see the old landmarks
of her girlhood days. She was a true daughter of the city of Aberdeen
and loved the ancient history and lore of our forefathers. Through the
care of her daughter, Lizzie, and the kindness of a son, Alfred, she had
a comfortable time in her old age. As the result of an accident she died
suddenly, to the great regret of all the family and numerous friends,
among whom she will long be remembered as an noble example of Scottish
life and character.

120.
It was her wish that a history of the Family should be written, but all
records have been lost, and it is entirely from memory that the author
has grouped the stories for building the chronicles for the benefit of
future generations, with the hope that they may be a source of pleasure
and information in days to come.

She was blind, and died in a fire