John French, wood merchant, Coltness, parish of Cambusnethan and his spouse Mary Finlay had their 1st child, named Margaret Finlay, on 7th June 1840 and she was baptised by the Rev Peter Brown on 5th July 1840.
Peter McAlpin, mason, Coltness Bridge, parish of Shotts and his spouse Elizabeth French had their 3rd child, named Elizabeth Lorimer on 19th March 1846 and she was baptised by the Rev Peter Brown on 3rd May 1846.
So, this means that the McAlpine's did not live in Coltness but on the far side of the bridge, which is now the village of Cleland, historically always in the parish of Shotts.
I drive over Coltness bridge at least 3 days a week (over and back today) and the far side is steeply sloped, so I'm guessing that any dwellings would be at least 100 yards away from the river's edge.
