by Roberta McGee
Margaret Mackervail, the fourth child of shoemaker Robert Mackervail and Lillias Bryden, was born in 1823 in Cumnock. Robert and Lillias had six children. Margaret's siblings seemed to be content to spend a settled life in Cumnock but for Margaret life turned out a little bit different.
She met James Urquhart, who was a railway contractor, and they married in 1846 in Old Cumnock. After their marriage they lodged in Main Street, Auchinleck. James's brother William, who was a blacksmith, lived in Main Street so perhaps they lodged with him. Four of their children were born in Auchinleck, James, Lillias, Janet-Jessie and Robert.
By 1861 the family had moved to Lochans Village, Inch, Wigtownshire and two more children had been born, George and Alexander. In 1871 the family were living in Springbank, Neilston with the addition of another two children, William and Margaret. The 1881 census shows the family at 44 Apsley Place, Glasgow Gorbals. James is now a contractor (waterworks). James sadly died in Glasgow in 1889.
So, in total, James and Margaret had eight children. Like Margaret's siblings, all of their children, with one exception, were content to live their lives in Scotland. George was the exception.
