Paul Gourley was the father of our Robert Gourley who married Elizabeth Morgan

In the picture above are Paul Gourley, born 1813 in Fintry Parish county of Stirling, Scotland, died in 1890 in Goshen, Utah county, Utah. And his second wife Ellison (Alison) Gaape (Usually her surname was written Jaap) Gourley. They were married 15 May 1853 after Paul's first wife Margaret died. Allison became an instant mother, inheriting the duties of taking care of Pauls children from his first marriage.This picture may have been made in England because it looks like a wedding picture and Paul and Ellison did not leave England for America until 1856.

In the picture above are Paul Gourley and his second wife Ellison (Alison) Gaape (Jaap) Gourley when they were older. This picture was probably taken in Utah. The Gourley family was assigned to the Martin handcart company. Two handcarts were used by the Gourley family. One pulled by the older children with all of of their belongings The other Paul was obliged to pull carrying his wife who was ill and could not walk and two small children. Margaret a baby of nine months when they left Scotland and Paul who was but three years old. They pulled these handcarts 1000 miles across mountains and deserts in mud snow storms and freezing weather. Baby Margaret died at Scotts Bluff Nebraska while they were crossing the plains. About 150 people in this handcart company died during the trip and about 145 people in the associated Willie handcart died during the trip. Many more had frozen limbs that had to be amputated and some survivors were crippled for life.