The birth of Margaret McAulay was recorded at Cardross, Dunbartonshire, on 22^nd January 1791:

MacAulay – Margaret Daughter to Aulay McAulay and Katherin Leith in Renton was born 22d Janry 1791

She was still in Cardross at the time of her marriage to John Steele in 1816.

Margaret appears to have been widowed at some time between 1824 and 1829, when she married again. Her second husband was another baker, Archibald Clark, creating the impression that Archibald was an employee who stepped into his former boss’s shoes. Archibald and Margaret had four known children, Malcolm, born 1830; Margaret, 1831; Archibald, 1833 and Ann, 1834, all in Renton.

In 1851, the family was still in Main Street, Renton, but by 1861 they had moved to 34, Clermont Street, Glasgow.

Margaret was widowed a second time when Archibald died in 1866.

In 1871, Margaret McAulay or Clark, head, widow, 72, annuitant, born Dunbartonshire, Renton, was residing at 52, Windsor Terrace, Glasgow. Living with her were unmarried daughters Margaret and Anne Clark, 33 and 30 respectively, both born in Renton.

‘Margaret Clark Widow of Archibald Clark, Baker, master, and formerly Widow of John Steele, Baker, master’ died on 11^th November 1871 at nine in the evening, at 20, Windsor Street, Glasgow. She was 80 years of age. The cause of death was certified as pneumonia, from which she had been suffering for eight days. The informant at Glasgow on 16^th November 1871 was Aulay Steele, her son.

Testimentary Writings

The mutual Deed and Settlement subscribed by Archibald Clark and Margaret McAulay or Clark at Dumbarton on 17^th October 1853 delineates the following heritable property, belonging to the latter spouse (pp. 538-9);

in fee the benefit of a Tack of 99 years from & after the term of Martinmas 1787 years of all and Haill that piece of Ground measuring 16 falls being part of the westmost 6 Acres or thereby of these parts of the Lands of Nether Dalquhurn called the Monument Park, lying in the Parish of Cardross & County of Dumbarton and marked 13th on a Plan of the said 6 Acres or thereby made & laid out for buildings by William Wallace Land Surveyor in Dumbarton with the whole houses buildings and erections on the said piece of ground, which plan was subscribed by Alexander Smollet of Bonhill and Aulay McAulay residing in Renton, and set by the said Alexander Smollett to the said Aulay McAulay by Tack dated the 28th day of May 1791 years & Recorded in the Burgh Court Books of Dumbarton the same day for which the said Aulay McAulay was Bound to pay the Rent & perform the other obligations therein mentioned which Tack and subjects thereby set were assigned by the said Aulay McAulay to me the said Margaret McAulay by Disposition & Deed of Settlement dated the 10th day of August 1825 and Codicil annexed dated the 27th July 1832 years.

A ‘Tack’ in the present context signifies a long lease of land and constitutes the Scottish equivalent of leasehold.

Forebears

Margaret McAulay’s parents were Aulay McAulay and Catherine Leitch, whose marriage was recorded at Cardross on 2^nd January 1785:

Cardrofs Jany 2d Aulay McAulay in Renton and Catherine Leitch at Cardrofs Manse Gave in their names to be proclaimed for marriage

The precise nature of Catherine’s connection with the Manse has yet to be established. She was probably in service there.

The spellings of their names appear with significant variations in connection with the births and baptisms of their various children, born between 1786 and 1799. In connection with the birth and baptism of daughter Mary in 1786, Aulay and Catherine were described as ‘being in Renton’. This becomes ‘at Renton’ in connection with the birth and baptism of son Aulay in 1789. They were ‘in Renton’ in connection with the birth of daughter Margaret in 1791, son Duncan in 1792, a second Mary in 1796, son John in 1798 and daughter Janet in 1799, all described as ‘born in Renton’.

Something more of Aulay’s personal history and activities can be deduced from the conveyancing description of the Tack quoted at length above, which indicates that he was still living in 1832.

Aulay McAulay was recalled as a grocer (master) (deceased) on the 1871 death certificate of his daughter, Margaret. Catherine McAulay MS Leitch was likewise deceased at that time.

Brothers and Sisters

Margaret was the third of seven known children. Her siblings, all recorded in the Cardross Parish Register, were as follows:

Mary, born 16^th April 1786, baptised 20^th. Her parents were described as ‘being in Renton’. From the existence of a second Mary, born in 1796, it may be inferred that the first died at an age not exceeding ten; Aulay, born 22^nd March 1789 and baptised 29^th. In this connection, the parents were described as being ‘at Renton’; Duncan, born 7^th December 1792; Mary, born 12^th December 1796; John born 10^th July 1798 and Janet born 24^th September 1799. These final four were described as ‘born in Renton’.