Margaret McNaughton was born in Renfrew, Scotland in 1799.  She married Thomas McGown in 1822.  In 1841 they lived on Struthers Street in Barony Middle Calton, Lanarkshire, Scotland.

They immigrated to Canada in 1844 and settled in Otonabee Township near Peterborough, Ontario. In 1861 they lived in St. Vincent Township, Grey County.  Margaret appears to have moved back to Otonabee by 1871 presumably after Thomas had died.  She died on December 13, 1879 from old age.