Seeking information on William McColl who married Louisa Mitchell Gould. 8 children:
Edgar William b. 1858 CA
Francis Patridge b. 1860 CA (my g.father)
Effie Louise b. 1857 CA
Charles Albert b. 1862 New Hamshire
Nellie Edson b. 1864 CA
Henrietta W. (Etta)b. 1871 CA
Wilbur H. b. 1873 CA
Centella G. born 1876 CA

Mrs. McColl is found living as a widow in the 1880 US Censu with the children - in Newton, Middlesex, MA.
She died in 1906 and is buried in San Jose, CA

William McColl died in Newton , MA on March 13, 1880 evidently while visiting kin. he was 51 years old....thus born 1829.

Some indication is that he was not born in California, but Scotland and moved to VT and then to CA - came from a large family with no land in VT.

I know from internet information that San Francisco , Ca only had about 200 residents in 1846 and in 1849 had 5,000 - so by 1857 when the oldest child was born probably double that -

Hope that I can find out some information about my grandfather's family - I have a lot about Francis Patridge McColl himself.

Jean McColl Coleman