Introduction / Margaret Gray and Thomas Reid / William Reid and Janet Wards

Margaret Cursiter Reid and Andrew James Wilson

Margaret Cursiter Reid was the youngest of the three children of William Reid and Janet Wards. She was born at West Blett, Calfsound, Eday on the 19th of August 1861. When she was barely five her father died of a spinal ailment. Life must have been difficult for the family, but her mother was a small crofter. By 1881, Margaret had moved to Kirkwall, probably for the employment opportunities. She was living and working as a servant in the household of Andrew Gold, the chamberlain, of Grainbank. In Kirkwall, she met Andrew James Wilson.

Margaret and Andrew were married in Margaret's family home at Upper Cott, Eday the 22nd of March 1882 "after Banns, according to the Forms of the Established Church of Scotland" by James S. Smith, minister of Eday. Witnesses were William Reid, the bride's brother and Stewart Wilson, probably the groom's uncle. One month later, on April 21st, Andrew and Margaret arrived in New York City aboard the steamship "State of Nevada" having sailed from Glasgow via Larne.

Andrew and Margaret had five children:

• Andrew James Wilson, born 1883

• Thomas Wilson, born 1884

• Margaret Wilson, born 1886

• William Wilson, born 1887

• Lillian Wilson, born 1892

Andrew and Margaret stayed in New York City for at least two and one half years, where Margaret gave birth to two sons. Andrew James (junior) was born 17th January 1883, but he survived only a little over a month, passing away on February 23rd. On 21 November 1884, Thomas was born. During this time Andrew was apparently working as a grocery clerk. At the time of their first son's birth and death they were living on 8th Avenue, and when Thomas was born they were living on East 25th Street.

However, they apparently were not happy with conditions or their circumstances because their next child, Maggie Jane (Margaret) was born the 12th of August 1886 in Argyle, Marshall County, Minnesota. This area of northwest Minnesota was an agricultural area and Andrew's occupation, according to Maggie's birth certificate, was farmer. The family was soon on the move again as their fourth child, William Henry was born the 20th of December 1887 in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. The family apparently quickly moved back to the U.S. as William was naturalized a U.S. citizen in 1888 or 1889. The youngest child Lillian Wallace was born in Lake Whatcom, now Bellingham, Washington the 12th of April 1892. It is not known what Andrew's occupation was during these years. Whatever it was, evidently the situation was not satisfactory as the family moved again, initially to San Francisco for about four years, where they lived on Brannan Street and Andrew worked as a roofer. By 1900 the family had settled in Petaluma, Sonoma County, California, about 50 miles north of San Francisco. Either they liked it there a great deal or they were tired moving because the family did not move again.

Petaluma was a rural community, known in the early 20th century as the "egg basket of the world." Much of Andrew's working life in Petaluma was spent in the egg industry. In the 1900 census he was listed as a derrick man, but by 1910 he was an egg layer at a feed store and in 1920 he was a candler in an egg store. He worked for many years at G. P. McNear Co., a local hay, grain and feed store; this is probably the feed or egg store referred to. The family lived in the 1000 block of G Street, and, as was not unusual, kept a small flock of chickens in the large back yard. When his oldest daughter Margaret married Emil Jessen on July 19, 1909, a home was built for them next door to the senior Wilsons. For a while their other daughter Lillian lived in a home on the other side, but she later moved around the corner. When the original Wilson family home burned down (probably in the 1920s) Andrew and Margaret moved in with daughter Margaret's family at 921 G Street where they lived for the rest of their lives. Andrew died the 28th of June 1935, and Margaret died on the 22nd of September 1939. Both are buried in Cypress Hill Memorial Park in Petaluma.

It appears that at least part of their Fair Isle and Orkney roots never left them, for they always enjoyed going to Dillon Beach where Lillian had a summer home, and where they celebrated many family occasions including their Golden Wedding Anniversary in 1932. Andrew began each morning with the one drink of whisky he allowed himself each day. (The bottle was kept in his nightstand.) Both were quiet, kind, gentle but hardworking people, who associated mostly with family, but also with neighbors and friends, particularly from their church. They were devoted to their children and grandchildren. They were clearly adventurous and courageous people to leave their homeland as young newlyweds for an uncertain new life thousands of miles away.