To whom it may concern,

Many greetings from Australia - I was wondering if you may be able to assist me with finding information on my 3x great grandfather, William Leggat!

William Leggat was born in St. Nininan's, Stirlingshire, in 1818, to James Leggat and Isabella White. In 1845, William married my 3x great grandmother, Martha McPherson, in Culross. During their marriage, they had at least one issue, being my 2x great grandmother, Isabella Leggat (who migrated to Australia).

In the following years, William and his family seem to disappear from all records - I have been unable to find them on the 1851 census.

Around 1853, William married a Rachel Mace at Barnard Castle, Durham. No mention of his first wife, Martha, or daughter, Isabella.

In the following years, William and his new family returned to Scotland, specifically Blantyre, Lanarkshire.

This whole time, William was listed as a 'pit sinker', 'coal miner', 'stone miner', and 'shanker' (as per his children's birth records).

Most notably, these birth records are from Blantyre and state that he was working in the mines in the 1860s and 1870s.

I am wondering if there may be any information on his time in the mines? I note the 1877 Blantyre mine disaster, and wonder if he was a witness, or present in any way?

As far as I know, he was a coal miner for most of - if not all - his life. I am fascinated in learning about his time in the mines, and know they would have been quite gruelling. He survived until the age of 77, and was sadly a victim of Black Lung.

I appreciate any info you may be able to provide me with, and thank you for the voluntary work you do for the Blantyre Project!

Kind regards from Australia,

Isabella