Hello,
I knew Wullie Gowans the Butcher and his sons, was at school with George, I've got the West Calder Gowans line back to about 1740, but don't know if Wullie was of that line - I'd need to know his parents names, he was married to Christina Tennant, they married in Armadal in 1947.
Christina Gowans was the daughter of John Gowans and Janet Graham, though her marriage cert gives her mother's name as Isabella. Someone got confused. Christina is the same line as the Gowans line I have, she was born April 1863 in Jarg Toll West Calder. Her parents married in 1865 in West Calder, Janet's parents were James Graham and Christina Douglas, John's parents were Peter Gowans and Catherine Burnett.
I know the Jervis family too. My Dad was a postman in West Calder.
cheers ... Meg