John McColl, originally Cochran, was born on 8^th March 1855 at 11^h 2^m pm, at Drumclog Schoolhouse, Drumclog, Avondale. Since he was born illegitimate his birth was registered under his mother’s surname. His father’s name was not entered but his mother was entered as Christina Cochran. The informant on 27^th March 1855 was George Cochran, the child’s grandfather.

In the 1861 census, John C. McColl, 6, scholar, appears living at Drumclog School, in the household of his grandfather, the aforesaid George Cochran.

John McColl, carter to cheese merchant (bachelor), illegitimate, 23, married Ellen Kyle on 7^th June 1878 at Ballgreen, Strathaven, After Banns according to the Forms of the Church of Scotland. Both parties were usually resident at Ballgreen. The Register was signed by Duncan Taylor, Minister of Avondale, and by witnesses William Cochrane and Maggie Hill.

At the time of the 1881 census, John McColl was living in ‘Market Place Crawford’s Land’, Strathaven, in premises having two rooms with one or more windows. He was aged 26, a cheese merchant’s vanman, born Avondale. Living with him were wife Helen, entered as aged 26, actually 28 or 29, vanman’s wife; daughter Susan, 1, and son George, eight months, all born Strathaven.

John McColl was designated as a cheese merchant’s vanman on the 1885 birth certificate of his daughter, Helen.

John McColl was designated as a fruiterer when his wife, Helen Kyle, died in 1912 and again when his daughter Helen married James Watson in 1921.

John McColl, fruit merchant, widower of Helen Kyle, died on 14^th July 1931 at 1^h 30^m pm, at 14, Barn Street, Strathaven. His age was entered as 76. The cause of death was entered as gastro-enteritis, from which he had been suffering for seven days. The informant on the same day at Strathaven was the deceased’s son, Archibald K. McColl, entered as present.

John McColl was recalled as a fruiterer (deceased) on the 1937 death certificate of his daughter, Helen Watson MS McColl.

Maternal grandfather of Helen Kyle Watson