Hi Toothfairy25,
Thanks for the message. It would indeed be fascinating if you had indeed moved into the house where my gg-grandfather was born, and where his family lived in the 1820-1850's.
My ggg-grandparents were Thomas Low and Helen Miller. Their children were William (1824), Maria (1826), Margaret (1828), Charles (1829 - my ancestor), Peter (1832, died), Helen (1834), and Peter (1837).
The 1841 census shows the family (parents and 6 children) living at Downhill, in the Parish of Redgorton. Thomas is listed as a 50yo Innkeeper. At the same address is a separate household of Alexander (25yo, Blacksmith apprentice) and Margaret (25yo) Low – possibly a half-brother from an earlier marriage?
Charles emigrated to Australia in the early 1850's (probably after his mother Helen died, as the 1851 census shows Thomas now married to Christina, but still living at Downhill). An 1853 newspaper article indicates that Thomas was still at Downhill, though articles in 1854 and 1855 indicate that he may not have been there anymore.
The actual house can be seen at
https://goo.gl/maps/VrSsaQdv6cB2. Is the one where you are now living?
There is also some information at
http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/sc-17923-luncarty-post-office-downhill-redgorton#.VsjxNZx94a4 and
https://canmore.org.uk/site/27010/luncarty-downhill-the-arns Some other information from an online discussion forum states:
"What i can tell you Downhill was originally named Dome-hill regarding the hill behind the houses and as village rumour goes it was once the site of an ancient settlement, when they were building up the banks for the railway seemingly a skeleton was found which they think dated 100s of years old, the local vicar was informed who ordered the bones to be put back into the soil. Round the corner from Downhill (through the Bridges) you had the old Ordie shuttle mill that made the thread shuttles for the surrounding textile mills, this dated back to the 1800s.The big white house as we called it at Downhill was once the local shop (i dont have the dates handy just now but could soon find out) footnote to say that house has been on the property market for about 5 years, only pic i can find attached.
A subsequent 1857 record for Downhill describes it as:
"Downhill: A neat dwellinghouse, and suitable offices, the former two storeys the latter one, all slated and in good repair also a smithy and dwelling property and residence of Mr Thomas Law, (Ordnance Survey Name Books, OS1/25/71/28)"
If you PM me with your email address I would be happy to share whatever other information I have.
All the best,
David
Author
Topic: Miller/Lowe (Read 6931 times)