This morning I found my great uncle John Reid Willison’s birth certificate. On that was the date of my great grandparents marriage as well as my great grandfather’s occupation! I found the certificate at www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk

William Willison and Elizabeth Reid lived in Galston, Ayr, Scotland, were married in 1873 and William’s occupation was a Coal Pit Bottomer.

A pit bottomer worked at the bottom of the mine shaft and was responsible for loading and unloading the coal hutches into the lift.
http://www.ayrshirehistory.org.uk/Bibliography/pdfs/an24.pdf

I’m going to look some more at this Ayrshire History website now 🙂