John and Mary were married in Scotland in 1847. They farmed 30 acres at Laich Croagh, Penninghame Parish, Wigtownshire in 1850. During the 1850's the family emigrated to Canada and settled on Lot 1, Con 2 of Elderslie Twp. In the 1880's they moved off the farm to Chesley where Mary died in 1890 and John worked as a gardener.