Second Generation
This generation starts at Nether Pert in the parish of
Logie Pert, Forfarshire, Scotland, where all the children of
Alexander Low and Elizabeth Findlay were born. This parish was
described at the beginning of the last generation. We follow the
descent of our family through James Low, the first son of Alexander
Low and Elizabeth Findlay, and his wife Janet Anderson.
James and Janet moved to the parish of Marykirk, Kincardineshire during the 1760's. Marykirk is just across the river North Esk from Logie Pert, about 5 miles north-west of Montrose. The North Esk forms the boundary between the counties of Forfarshire and Kincardineshire. This is a large parish of 9855 acres and a population of over 1000. To this day, members of our family live in Marykirk: John Douglas Low and his wife Jessie. Doug is a great great great grandson of James Low and Janet Anderson. It is interesting to note that James and Doug had similar occupations: James was a coachman while Doug was a motorman. Only the technology and name had changed in the two centuries.
Andrew Low, a brother of James, moved to the estate of Langley Park in the parish of Dun, Forfarshire. Eventually, other members of the LOW family moved to this estate, which will be discussed later.
Clementina Low settled at Upper Gallery in Logie Pert with her husband David Low and children.
No further information was found on the other children of Alexander Low and Elizabeth Findlay. Extensive research was carried out only on James Low (ID=3) of this generation. With additional research, it would probably be possible to trace descendants of his brothers and sisters.
James Low
(ID=3)
Born: 13 Sep 1743 - Nether Pert, Logie Pert,
Forfarshire,
Scotland
Died: May ?1800 - Marykirk(?), Kincardineshire,
Scotland
Sex: Male
Occupation: Coachman (Domestic Servant)
Father: Alexander Low (ID=1)
Mother: Elizabeth Findlay (ID=2)
Married: 30 Jun 1768 - Marykirk, Kincardineshire,
Scotland to:
Janet Anderson
(ID=4)
Born: -
Died: Nov ?1788 - Logie Pert, Forfarshire (?),
Scotland
CHILDREN:
1. Alexander Low
(ID=19) 09 Feb 1766 -
2. James Low
(ID=20)
1769 - 08 Sep 1855
3. Elizabeth Low
(ID=22) 15 Jul 1771 -
James Low, son of Alexander Low and Elizabeth Findlay, was born 13 September 1743 at Nether Pert in the parish of Logie Pert, Forfarshire, Scotland. Although it cannot be conclusively proven that our ancestor James Low was this son of Alexander Low and Elizabeth Findlay, the circumstantial evidence is very convincing. I made an effort to find some "negative" evidence to disprove relationship, but could find none. However, a number of facts indicated that there was a relationship. Although no one fact was enough to prove James was the son of Alexander and Elizabeth, the combined facts make for a strong case:
(a). An Alexander Low of Pert, Logie Pert, was a "cautioner" (witness) to the pledges of marriage of James Low and Janet Anderson. Alexander and Elizabeth were known to have lived there only three years earlier when their last child was born. An examination of the Parochial Registers of Logie Pert named only one Alexander Low who would have been old enough to be a cautioner.
(b). Alexander Low, husband of Elizabeth Findlay, was buried at Pert eleven years after the marriage of James and Janet. The cautioner at the wedding was from Pert.
(c). It was Scottish custom to name the first son after his paternal grandfather. It appears that the first son of James and Janet was Alexander, born in 1766, about two years before their marriage.
(d). Andrew Low, a proven son of Alexander and Elizabeth, was
living at Langley Park, parish of Dun, Forfar- shire, where our
branch of the family lived a few years later. This would
suggest a movement to the same area by the same family.
Information from this point refers to the James Low who married Janet Anderson.
James Low was described as a "coachman (domestic servant)." It is probable that he lived on an estate where he was responsible for driving and repairing coaches. It is of interest to note that later generations of the LOW family became carpenters. Perhaps this is where the carpentry tradition began. If James Low was responsible for coaches, he would have to learn to repair them. He possibly developed some carpentry skills, which he passed on to his sons.
James Low moved to Marykirk, Kincardineshire by the time of his marriage to Janet Anderson in 1768. Marykirk is only a short distance from Logie Pert, across the river North Esk. The marriage was recorded in the Old Parochial Register of Marykirk:
1768 June
11. The which
day were contracted in order to Marriage James Low & Janet
Anderson both in this parish Cautioners for the pledges
Alexander Low at Pert for the bridegroom & John Anderson at
Muirton for the Bride. Married the
30th.
It was not possible to confirm when James
Low died. Only burial records, not death records, were kept.
These records often failed to mention spouse or parents. The
burial record of a James Low in May 1800 at Marykirk is possibly for
our James Low.
Although there were many Anderson families listed in the Parochial Registers of Logie Pert and Marykirk, I could find no reference to the birth of Janet Anderson. One possible reference to her death was for November 1788, but this could not be confirmed as being the same Janet.
It appears that the LOW and ANDERSON families were friends and possibly relatives of each other from before 1700. Low's and Anderson's were often witnesses at each others marriages and baptisms. There were several Low / Anderson marriages, but I was unable to determine if they were related to our family.
It is possible that James Low and Janet Anderson had other children who were not recorded in the Parochial registers.
John Douglas Low (ID=145) made an
extensive search of old graveyards in the area where James and Janet
lived, but was unable to locate their gravestone.
References: 28, 143, 165, 169, 170, 207, 236, 238, 251
William Low
(ID=5)
Born: 10 Apr 1745 - Nether Pert, Logie Pert,
Forfarshire,
Scotland
Died: -
Sex: Male
Occupation:
Father: Alexander Low (ID=1)
Mother: Elizabeth Findlay (ID=2)
References: 169
Clementina Low
(ID=6)
Born: 29 Jan 1747 - Nether Pert, Logie Pert,
Forfarshire,
Scotland
Died: -
Sex: Female
Occupation:
Father: Alexander Low (ID=1)
Mother: Elizabeth Findlay (ID=2)
Married:
- to:
David Low
(ID=7)
Born: 09 Jul 1742 - Nether Pert, Forfarshire,
Scotland
Died: -
CHILDREN:
1. Mary Low
(ID=23)
30 Jun 1769 -
2. Elizabeth Low
(ID=25) 17 Aug 1772 -
3. John Low
(ID=26)
01 Aug 1774 -
It appears that this is the same Clementina Low who married David Low, but this could not be confirmed.
David was probably the son of John Low and Margaret Bruce, and possibly a cousin of his wife. See reference to the John Low and Margaret Bruce family in the section on Alexander Low (ID=1).
This family was living at Upper Gallery, Logie Pert, during the early 1770's.
References: 169
John Low
(ID=8)
Born: 06 Apr 1749 - Nether Pert, Logie Pert,
Forfarshire,
Scotland
Died: -
Sex: Male
Occupation:
Father: Alexander Low (ID=1)
Mother: Elizabeth Findlay (ID=2)
Married: c1774
- to:
Elizabeth Caitness
(ID=9)
Born: -
Died: -
CHILDREN:
1. Elizabeth Low
(ID=28) 21 Apr 1773 -
2. Ann Low
(ID=29)
26 Jan 1775 -
References: 169
Andrew Low
(ID=10)
Born: 06 Feb 1751 - Nether Pert, Logie Pert,
Forfarshire,
Scotland
Died: 27 May 1819 - Langley Park, Dun,
Forfarshire,
Scotland
Sex: Male
Occupation: Plough and Cartwright
Father: Alexander Low (ID=1)
Mother: Elizabeth Findlay (ID=2)
Married: - to:
Rachel Cree
(ID=11)
Born: 1763 -
Died: 17 Jan 1842 -
CHILDREN:
1. Andrew Low
(ID=30) 1788 -
21 Nov 1804
2. Laughlan Low
(ID=31) 1794 - 16 Aug
1840
3. John Low
(ID=32)
1798 - 1828
4. David Low
(ID=33)
1804 - 27 Mar 1827
This family lived at Langley Park, Dun, Forfarshire for many years. Their gravestone is in the old churchyard at Pert, and is inscribed:
1822. Erected by Rachel Cree in memory of her husband Andrew Low Plough and Cartwright at Langley Park who died 27th May 1819 aged 68 years, also her son Andrew who died 21st Nov 1804 aged 16, David her son died 27th March 1827, aged 23. John died at Calcutta 1828 aged 30. Laughlan died at Liverpool 16th Aug 1840 aged 46 and Rachel Cree died 17th Jan 1842 aged 78 years.
On the reverse side of this gravestone is an inscription for Alexander Low and Elizabeth Findlay (see ID=1). It is possible that this stone replaced an earlier one for Alexander and Elizabeth.
References: 169, 236, 207, 238
David Low
(ID=12)
Born: 20 Dec 1753 - Nether Pert, Logie Pert,
Forfarshire,
Scotland
Died: -
Sex: Male
Occupation:
Father: Alexander Low (ID=1)
Mother: Elizabeth Findlay (ID=2)
References: 169
Elizabeth Low
(ID=13)
Born: 10 Nov 1755 - Nether Pert, Logie Pert,
Forfarshire,
Scotland
Died: -
Sex: Female
Occupation:
Father: Alexander Low (ID=1)
Mother: Elizabeth Findlay (ID=2)
References: 169
Margaret Low
(ID=14)
Born: 01 Dec 1757 - Nether Pert, Logie Pert,
Forfarshire,
Scotland
Died: -
Sex: Female
Occupation:
Father: Alexander Low (ID=1)
Mother: Elizabeth Findlay (ID=2)
References: 169, 238
Alexander Low
(ID=15)
Born: 20 Jan 1760 - Nether Pert, Logie Pert,
Forfarshire,
Scotland
Died: -
Sex: Male
Occupation:
Father: Alexander Low (ID=1)
Mother: Elizabeth Findlay (ID=2)
Notes:
1. Baptismal date given
References: 169
Robert Low
(ID=16)
Born: 18 Aug 1761 - Nether Pert, Logie Pert,
Forfarshire,
Scotland
Died: -
Sex: Male
Occupation:
Father: Alexander Low (ID=1)
Mother: Elizabeth Findlay (ID=2)
References: 169
Helen Low
(ID=17)
Born: 05 Feb 1764 - Nether Pert, Logie Pert,
Forfarshire,
Scotland
Died: -
Sex: Female
Occupation:
Father: Alexander Low (ID=1)
Mother: Elizabeth Findlay (ID=2)
Notes:
1. Baptismal date given
References: 169
Rememberlina Maria Low
(ID=18)
Born: 22 Aug 1765 - Nether Pert, Logie Pert,
Forfarshire,
Scotland
Died: -
Sex: Female
Occupation:
Father: Alexander Low (ID=1)
Mother: Elizabeth Findlay (ID=2)
This was a most unusual name and one can only wonder what was in the minds of her parents when they named her. In those days, very few people received middle names. She was their twelfth and last child. I searched for this name in later records, but could find no other reference. Possibly she died young, moved away, or used another name.