William Houston (c1838 - 1904) William Houston was born ca 1838 in Kilmarnock, the son of William Houston and Margaret Spence. I have been unable to find details of their relationship but William’s father was possibly in the British Army - Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment) - 1st Foot. 1841 Census In the 1841 Census William, aged 4, was living with his grandparents Samuel and Margaret Spence and their family in Gargieston, Kilmarnock. Gargieston is a small hamlet south-west of Kilmarnock just to the west of Riccarton. Samuel Spence was a coal miner. In various official records the surnames Spence and Spencer seem to have been used interchangeably. Samuel Spence 50 Miner coal Margaret Spence 45 Samuel Spence 20 John Spence 15 Adam Spence 15 Douglas Spence 10 George Spence 9 James Spence 2 William Houston 4 All people listed were born in Ayrshire. In the 1841 census, the age of persons over 15 was supposed to be rounded down to the nearest multiple of 5. 1851 Census In 1851 the family were located at Springside Colliery, Dreghorn, Ayrshire. William Houston, aged 14, had started his working life as a coal miner. Samuel Spence Head Married 56 Coal Miner Dundonald, Ayrshire, Scotland Margaret Spence Wife Married 55 - Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland George Spence Son Unmarried 18 Coal Miner Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland James Spence Son Unmarried 11 Coal Miner Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland William Houston Grandson Unmarried 14 Coal Miner Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland William Houston met and married Anne McCrae/McCray in Dreghorn in 1856. Five years previously (1851 Census) Anne had been working as a farm servant in New Cumnock. Their story continues on the next page. The story of Samuel and Margaret Spence is detailed via this