Hi Goldie,
Hope you had a good flight home. Did you get to see and do everything you had intended?
I did in fact find christening details for James, 22nd May 1842 (Oakshaw East Associate Congregation, Paisley). I found this on the LDS Family Search site, along with six other’s from 1834 to 1847, all born in Paisley. (I have yet to find them on ScotlandsPeople.....odd!). No sign of births prior to 1834 inc. your Michael C1827, who I assume was born in Loudoun/Darvel.
Alexander Cochran (1751) married a Mary Smith in Avondale/Strathaven. As to him being the right Alexander, I will need to have a bit of a dig! I’ll let you know.
Once I’ve got my third post in I’ll pm my email.
Alan.