Margaret Findlay was the daughter of John Findlay/Finlay and Margaret Campbell or Jean Ewan. John Findlay was born in October 14, 1764 in Galston, Ayrshire, Scotland. Jean Ewan was born 1779 in Galston, Ayrshire, Scotland. Margaret Findlay was born on May 18, 1810 in Galston, Ayrshire, Scotland. Margaret was always called Maggie.
Margaret Findlay married William Mearns II in 1826/29 in Galston, Ayrshire, Scotland. The Mearns family were members of the Presbyterian Church. William was born on October 31, 1785 in Sorn, Ayrshire, Scotland. William Mearns II and Margaret Findlay were the parents of nine children that we know of. The Mearns family moved from Sorn, Ayrshire, Scotland to Coulterville, Randolph County, Illinois in 1854.
The first child born to the couple, stayed in Scotland, when the family moved. The second child born to William Mearns II and Margaret Findlay was James Mearns. He and his father moved to the USA first, to buy land and get a home ready for the rest of the family, to arrive from Scotland. When Margaret got on the ship for the USA,she had no idea, what was in store for her. Margaret and the youngest seven members of her family, got on a ship, and crossed the Atlantic Ocean. In New York, they got on another ship and headed south to the Gulf of Mexico. When they landed in New Orleans, They, then, got on a riverboat to go up the Mississippi River. They were almost to the Port of St. Louis, where they were planning to disembark. That morning, Margaret Findlay was found died. The trip was too much for her. At the time, it was unlawful to dock with a dead body on board. This was, because of the possibility of disease. The crew wrapped Margaret’s body in a sheet, said a prayer, then threw her overboard, down the Mississippi River. When the riverboat docked, William and James were shocked to find, that Margaret was gone, and there was no body to bury.
William Mearns II and Margaret Findlay’s first child was William Mearns III. He was born on August 20, 1830 in Sorn, Ayrshire, Scotland. William had married, and decided to stay in Scotland, when the rest of the family moved to the USA. He was christened on September 5, 1830 in Sorn, Ayrshire, Scotland. We don’t know his wife’s name. He died in Scotland. We have no further information about the life, death or burial of William Mearns III.
James Mearns was the second child born to William Mearns II and Margaret Findlay. He was born on August 14, 1832 in Sorn, Ayrshire, Scotland. James was christened on August 26, 1832. He was named for his great grandfather, James Findlay. He married is wife in Illinois, but we don’t have her name. We do know, that they were the parents of some children. We have no other details of James Mearns’ life, death or burial.
The third child born to William Mearns II and Margaret Findlay was Jean Mearns. She was born on August 31, 1834 in Sorn, Ayrshire, Scotland. Jean was christened on September 14, 1834 in Sorn, Ayrshire, Scotland. Jean was named for her paternal grandmother, Jean Tennant. She married a man named Paul. We don’t know, if that was his first or last name. We don’t know if Jean and her husband were the parent’s of any children. We have no additional record of the life, death or burial of Jean Mearns.
William Mearns II and Margaret Findlay’s fourth child was Mary Mearns. She was born on July 1, 1836 in Sorn, Ayrshire, Scotland. Mary was christened on July 10, 1836 in Sorn, Ayrshire, Scotland. She married James Reid Gibson in Illinois. We don’t have a date for their marriage. We don’t know, if they were the parents of any children. Mary died in November of 1898. We don’t know where she died. We have no further information of Mary Mearns’ life, death or burial.
George Mearns was the fifth child born to William Mearns II and Margaret Findlay. He was named after his paternal great grandfather, George Mearns. He was born on July 6, 1838 in Sorn, Ayrshire, Scotland. George was christened July 22, 1838 in Sorn, Ayrshire, Scotland. We don’t know who he married; or if he and his wife were the parents of any children. We have no other record of George Mearns life, death or burial.
The sixth child born to William Mearns II and Margaret Findlay was Elizabeth Mearns. She was born on January 1, 1841 in Sorn, Ayrshire, Scotland. Elizabeth was christened on January 21, 1841 in Sorn, Ayrshire, Scotland. As a child, Elizabeth was called Lizzie. Elizabeth was named for her aunt, Elizabeth Mearns. She was a very beautiful and very tall red head. Elizabeth married Robert Stuart Coulter on October 25, 1864 in Coulterville, Randolph County, Illinois. Robert and Elizabeth were the parents of sixth children. Elizabeth died on November 23, 1926 in Berkeley, Alameda County, California. She was buried at the Garden of Memories, Monterey County, California. Elizabeth was eighty five years old, when she died. She outlived her husband by thirty eight years.
William Mearns II and Margaret Findlay’s seventh child was Robert Mearns. He was named for his uncle, Robert Mearns. He was born on March 30, 1843 in Sorn, Ayrshire, Scotland. Robert was christened on April 16, 1843 in Sorn, Ayrshire, Scotland. He was called Robby, as a youth. We don’t know who Robert married or when. We don’t know, if he and his wife were the parents of any children. We have no additional information about Robert Mearns’ life, death or burial.
Martha Mearns was the eighth child born to William Mearns II and Margaret Findlay. Martha’s nickname was Patsy, as a child. She was named for her Aunt, Martha Mearns. Martha was born March 3, 1848 in Sorn, Ayrshire, Scotland. Martha was christened on April 9, 1848 in Sorn, Ayrshire, Scotland. We don’t know, who Martha married or when. We don’t know if they were the parents, of any children. We have no other details of Martha Mearns’ life, death or burial.
The ninth child born to William Mearns II and Margaret Findlay was Margaret Mearns. Margaret Mearns was named for her mother, Margaret Findlay. As a child, she was called Maggie. Margaret was born on April 8, 1850 in Sorn, Ayrshire, Scotland. Margaret was christened on April 21, 1850 in Sorn, Ayrshire, Scotland. We don’t know who she married or when. We don’t know, if they were the parents, of any children. We have no further details of Margaret’s life, death or burial.
Margaret Findlay died in 1854, while on a riverboat, going up the Mississippi River. She was on her way to a new life, with her family in Coulterville, Randolph County, Illinois. Margaret left several young children behind. Her husband, William Mearns II outlived her, by a few years; but he died before 1860. James, then the oldest, in the USA, was the head of the Mearns family.