Margaret Hubble is a professional Scottish family history researcher. She was asked to carry out some research into the origins of some family silver, as well as a portrait which had been handed down through the generations. The family was so intriguing that she was soon enmeshed in unravelling their story and with the client's permission, decided to research further and make it into a book. The Ferguson family, who had originated in Ayrshire and were from humble enough beginnings, soon joined the ranks of the better classes. John Ferguson was an engineer and the manager of a coal mine, as well as being father to seven children - four sons and three daughters. The family relocated to Lanarkshire. One of the sons became a coal mine owner, discovered a huge mining seam and became immensely wealthy. Although he married the daughter of a school teacher, looked after his workers and became very well respected in the community, he had a "skeleton in the closet." Two of his brothers also became owners of smaller mines. The youngest son, having been written out of his father's will, mysteriously relocated to the remote Shetland Islands and later moved away to Nova Scotia. It was only after settling there and leaving the mines behind that his path reflected the family's entrepreneurship in a different way. He also became a highly respected citizen, as did his family after him. Money begets money and those in the upper echelons of society moved in the same circles, thus leading to similar connections through marriage. Of the three sisters, two married very well and one married the young parish doctor - after pretending she was ten years younger. But the lives of some of these ladies did not run smoothly. A young sea captain was drowned. Money was lost because of trust put into business ventures with other members of the family. The doctor helped many patients, but contracted tuberculosis himself and died at an early age. The history mainly spans the nineteenth century - a time of great change. It may shed light on the lives of coal mine owners, as well as the miners themselves. It may also prove useful to family historians, as the sources of the research are listed fully.