Death date doubtful

     James Low, son of Alexander Low and Elizabeth Findlay, was born 13 September 1743 at Nether Pert in the parish of Logie Pert, Angus, 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.”

In 1771, the family was noted at Bridgemill (baptism record of daughter Elizabeth).
 
     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.