The present Robert Cunningham vaguely recalls his mother, Isabella Paton, talking about 'Young Abe'. It is probable that she was referring to Abram Yeudall, a son of Abram Yeudall and Grace Kay, who was born on the 26th of May 1872. He appears as Abram Yeudall, son, 8, scholar, b. Galston, in the 1881 census.

Abram Yeudall, then a bachelor aged 24, designated as a '(Clerk) Lace Manufacturers' and resident at 20, Barr Street, married Margaret (Maggie) Galloway Mercer, a lace binder (spinster) aged 23, and resident at 26, Barr Street, on the 22nd of January 1897, at the Templars' Hall, Galston, after Banns according to the forms of the Church of Scotland. Maggie's parents were entered as John Mercer, a coal miner, and Isabella Hamilton.

Abram and Margaret had a son, Abram, born on the 17th of February 1904, at 7.00 a.m., at 30, Duke Street, Galston. Abram, the child's father, who was also the informant, having been present at the birth, was by now designated as a 'Lace Manufacturer'.

According to a 'BSI ADM.' record dated 'Detroit, Michigan 11/11/11', Abram Yeudall made at least one transatlantic crossing. Travelling alone, he arrived at Detroit by way of Quebec, Canada, on the 29th of October 1911. He was a commercial traveller, aged 39. He gave the name of his next of kin as Margaret Yeudall, of Daisy Bank, Galston, Scotland. This was his first time in the United States and he had paid for his own passage, with $350 in his possession. He returned to Scotland by way of New York. His height was 5'11", his complexion fair, his hair brown and his eyes blue. He possessed no distinguishing marks.

It appears to be this Abram Yeudall who receives a mention at p. 69 of Pictorial History of Galston, Compiled by James Mair, Alloway Publishing (Darvel 1888):

'A NEW MILL

Handloom weaving had virtually died out by the time the machine-lace industry was introduced in Darvel and Newmilns in the mid 1870's. But in the early 1880's Robertson's and Hendrie's built factories at the east end of the town with up to 30 lace machines between them at the maximum. Lace manufacture was a trade of booms and slumps, and after one of the booms after the 1st World War, Abraham Yeudall built a small factory in Standalane Street to hold the Nottingham lace machines.'

Margaret, travelling in the company of her sister-in-law Mary Yeudall MS Pollock sailed from Glasgow on board the S.S. Transylvania, arriving at New York on the 24th of May 1926.

Margaret was entered as 52 years of age and her next of kin was entered as Abram Yeudall, of Daisy Bank, Galston.

Both were housewives, able to read and write in English, nationality 'Britain', race 'Scottish Scotland' and residents of Galston.

Each had a ticket to New York and in each case passage had been paid by their husbands. Margaret was in possession of $200. Neither had been in the United States before. Both intended to return home after remaining in the United States for a period of six months.

Margaret was going to visit her brother, Robert Mercer, of Palmer, Massachusetts.

Both ladies were in good health and neither was crippled or deformed. Neither had any distinguishing marks.

Margaret was 4'10", with a fresh complexion, brown hair and grey-blue eyes.

Margaret's place of birth was entered as Kilmarnock.

Their visas, consecutively numbered TV.645 and TV.646, had been issued in Glasgow on the 14th of April 1926.

When Margaret sailed home again on board the S.S Transylvania some time later, arriving at Glasgow from New York, she was now aged 53 and again accompanied by Mary. On this occasion, however, the ladies also travelled with Mary's husband, John Yeudall, who had joined her in September.

Abram Yeudall, 'Lace Manufacturer (Retired)', and widower of Margaret Mercer, died in the early hours of the 27th of May 1938, at 7, Craigie Road, Riccarton. He was sixty-six years of age. The causes of death were 'Sarcoma of Lungs, Chronic Myocarditis, Sarcoma of Arm (arm amputated)'. The informant was Mungo Morton, who had been present in the house at the time of death and was a son-in-law of the deceased.

Abram, the son who was born to Abram and Margaret in 1904, married Margaret Macphie Wood on the 12th of December 1904 at the Turf Hotel, Darvel, after Banns according to the forms of the United Free Church of Scotland. Abram was designated as a Lace Manufacturer (bachelor), aged 24. He was resident at Daisybank, Galston. Margaret, a 'clerkess in lace factory', aged twenty-nine, lived at Heatherbrae, Newmilns. Her parents were Donald Wood, a lace warehouseman, and Mary White.