THOMAS MCWILLIAM - CHRISTINA FLEMING

THOMAS BALFOUR MCWILLIAM was born in Cambuslang about 1841 or 1842. He was baptised on the 9th of January, 1842. (OPR Ref. 627/2, FR281). The origin of his middle name, Balfour, is unknown.

Son of Thomas McWilliam and Margaret Thom.

Thomas is in the village of Lightburn, Cambuslang, on the 1851 census. At the time of his marriage in 1865 he was living at Wheatlandhead Farm, Blantyre.

CHRISTINA FLEMING was born in Blantyre about 1841 or 1842. No entry can be found for her birth in the OPR indexes.

Daughter of James Fleming and Agnes Hamilton.

Christina is supposedly in the village of Low Waters, Hamilton, on the 1851 census. However, the entry describes her as being born in Glassford, she is described as a 'House Servant' (at 10 years of age!) and living with the Mather or Mathers family. At the time of her marriage in 1865 she was living in Stonefield, Blantyre.

Thomas and Christina were married in Low Waters on the 23rd of June, 1865.

Witnessed by Alexander McWilliam and Elisabeth Fleming.

Officiated by John T. MacFarlane, Minister of Brandon Street United Presbyterian Church, Hamilton.

Thomas and Christina are at Greenhall Coachman's House, Blantyre, on the 1871 census and at Greenhall Farm on the 1881, 1891 and 1901 census. Although Thomas is generally described as a farmer, on his son Thomas' marriage certificate, and on various children's registrations, he is described as a 'Coachman' or 'Coachman (Domestic Servant)'.

Children:

  1. Agnes McWilliam, born in Hunthill, Blantyre, on the 2nd of June, 1866. (GROS Ref. 1866, 624, 48)

    Agnes never married. She died at Greenhall on the 27th of January 1888.

  2. Margaret McWilliam, born in Hunthill on the 16th of March, 1868. (GROS Ref. 1868, 624, 24)

    Margaret married John Pettigrew (born at Malcolmwood, Blantyre, on the 18th of June 1865), son of William Pettigrew and Elizabeth Imrie, from the neighbouring Malcolmwood Farm, on the 29th of December 1885. They had nineteen children, of which three are at Greenhall on the 1901 census. Margaret died at Malcolmwood on the 6th of October 1923.

    This information is taken from Douglas Clark's web-site at http://www.dgdclynx.plus.com/bath/findings.html. Douglas is a descendant of John and Margaret.

  3. Christina McWilliam, born at Greenhall on the 26th of April, 1869. (GROS Ref. 1869, 624, 24)

    Christina never married. She worked as a Shopkeeper. Christina died in the County Hospital, Cleland, on the 13th of November 1950. Her usual place of residence was 107 Stonefield Road, Blantyre.

  4. THOMAS MCWILLIAM, born at Greenhall on the 7th of February, 1872. (GROS Ref. 1868, 624, 39)

    Married Margaret Jane Imrie, daughter of Alexander Imrie and Janet Howie.

  5. James McWilliam, born at Greenhall on the 22nd of December, 1873. (GROS Ref. 1874, 624, 5)

    James was witness to his brother Thomas' marriage in 1900. He is at Greenhall on the 1901 census. He married Johanna Fraser (b. Inverness c.1870) of Ardmore House, Cardross, daughter of John Fraser, Wood Sawyer, and Isabella McKay, at 143 Norfolk Street, Glasgow, on the 3rd of June 1903. James died at Greenhall Cottage on the 10th of November 1940.

  6. Janet McWilliam, born at Greenhall on the 13th of May, 1876. (GROS Ref. 1876, 624, 139)

    Janet married John Scott (b.c.1866) of Torland(?), East Kilbride, son of William Scott and Margaret Johnston, at Greenhall on the 17th of June 1925. It is possible that this Margaret Johnston is the daughter of Alexander Johnston and Agnes Dick. Janet died at 22 Brouster Hill, East Kilbride, on the 20th of April 1959.

    All births except Janet's are registered as 'McWilliams'.

Thomas died at Greenhall on the 28th of August, 1917.

Christina died at Greenhall on the 28th of March, 1932.