Another: William McWhirter, married to Janet McKelvie, was my great great grandfather. Progressed from boatman to coastguard service at Cairnryan (just N. of Stranraer on the East side of the loch) In June 1839 there was an interesting occurrence that could have resulted in his own death. It was reported first as a "NARROW ESCAPE" in the Galloway Register and was later copied by the Scotsman on 12th June 1839. "On Tuesday se'nnight as the 'Maid of Galloway' steamer was passing Cairnryan on her way to Glasgow, the coastguard boat from that station put off to board her. There were in the boat besides the crew of four men, a young girl, the granddaughter of one of the boatmen, who was going to Glasgow. The steamer was stopped in due time, but the boat, in getting alongside before the vessel had lost her way, came with her bow before the paddle-wheel, by which she was stove, and capsized. The whole of those in her were thrown into the water; one of the men, Willinm, Reed, passed under the paddle-wheel and got hold of a rope abaft; two others got hold of ropes in the fore part of the vessel; one of them, however, we are sorry to say; had his collarbone broken by one of the floats. The chief boatman, William M'Whirter, and the girl, were fairly afloat, and it was entirely owing to the cool courage and presence of mind of the former that the latter was saved; she was some distance from him, but swimming to her he threw himself on his back, and in this position sustained her with much difficulty, until a boat from the steamer came to their assistance. In two minutes more he says, he must have resigned her to her fate." Anyone else think they are related to this William McWhirter? Ian Macwhirter