Margaret Cairns 1809 - 1862

Owned by Liz Hardie
Last updated: Oct 30, 2017

Margaret Cairns (1809 - 1862)

Margaret Cairns was born on 14 January 1809 in Tillicoultry, Clackmannan. She was christened there on 19 February 1809. He was the fourth child and third daughter of John Cairns and the first child and eldest daughter of his union with Margaret Morrison. It should be noted that on her death certificate her mother is noted as Janet Morison, rather than Margaret Morison. 

At the time of her birth the family were noted as living in Westerton in Tillicoultry. There is very limited information available about Margaret, she appears to have had an number of relationships through her life that resulted in the birth of children, however it does NOT appear that she married - despite references in different documentation. 

Margaret and Robert or Alexander Bain - name based on marriage and death certificates - were involved around 1834/35 which resulted in the birth of a child:

It has not been possible to find Kirk Session or baptismal records for James Bain or his purported father Robert Bain (aka Robert Alexander Bain)

Margaret and George Morgan, a shoemaker or tailor were involved and had the following children

  • Agnes Morgan - born 1839
  • Georgina Morgan - born 1844 ; married Alexander Fyfe 1875 ; died 

From census records we do know that she lived all of her life in Tillicoultry where she worked as a woollen winder.

  • 1841 Census - Cottage in West of Burn, Tillicoultry - living with her son James (6), her younger sister Jane Cairns (25) and an infant Agnes Morgan (2). It is unclear from the census record whether Agnes is Jane's child or Margaret's, 
    • NB There is a George Morgan - a Journeyman tailor - living at Toll Road in Tillicoultry with William Monteath - tailor as one of 7 tailors employed by him
  • 1851 Census - Potentially living as a Lodger with the Aikman family at Beauclerk Place, Alva Stirling
    • NB her son James is recorded as James Morgan and is living with the Murray family on Toll Road at Tillicoultry - where he is working as an apprentice blacksmith to William Murray
    • NB the child Agnes Morgan (12) is living at High St Clackmannan with William Bowie (50), Ann Bowie (40), David Bowie (18) and George Morgan (36) - a tailor. She is recorded as a niece 
    • NB the child Georgina Morgan (8) is living at Union St Tillicoultry with William Cheap (32) ; Isabella Cheap (24) and Andrew Cheap (3) where she is recorded as scholar with no relationship
  • 1861 Census - 7 Cairnton St Tillicoultry - living with her daughter Georgina Morgan (17).

Margaret died on 16 December 1862 at noon. At the time of her death she had been suffering from bronchitis for 10 days. Her death was certified by D Farquarhson MD. Her daughter - Georgina Morgan - was present at the time of her death. She is recorded as single.

He was buried on the 18th December at Tillicoultry

1881 Census - Georgina Morgan - Living 3 Green St Alva, Stirlingshire - employed as a Woollen Winder - with children John Morgan (13) and Janet Morgan (5)

1898 Georgina Fyfe - dies Alloa Clackmannan