Help finding my Great Grandfather

[Bill Fraser]

George Fraser, son of Alexander Fraser & Jean Bruce, was born on 2nd November 1804 in Pitsligo. (I have birth cert’)

He married (?) Mary Adams, born 5th May 1806 in Rathen and died on 24th September 1884, on her death cert she is described as “Pauper” widow of George Fraser, but I have not traced a marriage.

George Fraser was my 3rd Great-Grandfather and I have not been able to find him in any Census, on all the children’s birth cert’ he is named as the father.

Their Children:-
James Fraser, born about 1862 in Pitsligo.
Alexander Fraser, born 29th May 1828 in Pitsligo-married Elizabeth Smith in 1849, he died in 1905 (I have birth & death cert’)
William Fraser, born 31st December 1830 in Pitsligo-married Jane Shirer in 1854, he died on 25th June 1901 (I have birth, marriage & death cert’)
John Fraser, born 26th March 1832 in Pitsligo-married Christian Ritchie in 1861 (I have birth & marriage cert’)
Mary Fraser, born 1st March 1836 in Pitsligo-married John Finnie in 1859, she died on 17th May 1928 (I have birth, marriage & death cert’)
George Fraser, born 18th December 1838 in Pitsligo-married Ann Fowlie in 1862, he died on 28th Feb 1895 (I have birth, marriage & death cert’)
Edward Fraser, born 15 January 1843 in Pitsligo (I have birth cert’)

When William married in 1854 George Fraser was named as father but was deceased.
When Marry married in 1859 George was down as a farm worker
When John married in 1861 George was still as farm worker.
When George married in 1862 George was deceased.
So according to certificates George was deceased in 1854, but alive in 1859 and 1861 and deceased again by 1862!!

What I have found in the Census is as follows:-
1841 Census Pitsligo Ecclesiastical Parish,  Address: Peathill
Surname       First name(s) Sex   Age  Occupation       Where Born
FRASER       Mary               F   30     Spinster               Aberdeenshire     
FRASER       William            M    11                  Aberdeenshire     
FRASER       John              M      8                  Aberdeenshire     
FRASER       Mary               F      6                  Aberdeenshire    
FRASER       George             M      2                  Aberdeenshire
No mention of Husband, but as she classed her self as "Spinster" that may be the reason I have been unable to trace a marriage.

1851 Census: Pitsligo Ecclesiastical Parish, Address: Peathill.
                                                  Rel                  Status Sex         Age       Occupation          Where Born
FRASER    Mary          Head    M    F   42   Pauper (Ag Labourer) Rathen        
FRASER    Edward        Son    U    M   8   Scholar               Pitsligo        
BRANDY    John          Visitr    U    M   9   Scholar               Longside

1861 Census: -CSSCT1861_32. Pitsligo.
Mary Fraser, head, age 50, Ag Lab, born Rathen
Thorton Dunlop, boarder, age 1, born Tyrie

1871 Census: -CSSCT1871_42. Peathill, Pitsligo. (Next door to son William)
Mary Fraser, head, age 61, Knitter & Dressmaker, born Rathen
Alexander Stewart, boarder, age 12, Scholar, born Peterhead
Thurlow Dunlop, boarder, aged 11, Scholar, born Tyrie.   

1881 Census:-Dwelling:   Peathill. Census Place:   Pitsligo, Aberdeen, Scotland
Source:FHL Film 0203465     GRO Ref    Volume 233    EnumDist 4    Page 6
                          Marr   Age   Sex   Birthplace
 (Mrs.) FRASER   W   75    F   Rathen, Formerly General Serv, Aberdeen.
(Living next door to her son William and Family.)
BUT NO SIGN OF GEORGE!!

[cookies4]

According to a researcher at Ancestry George died in 1862 at Norway.

Have you viewed the original census records to see Mary's marital status in 1851 and 1861?

On the children's birth entries are they the lawful children of George and Mary?

[Bill Fraser]

Hi cookies4,
Thank you for the reply, I have only seen the transcription for the 1851/61 Census.
On the children's birth certificates, Alexander' s states he was born in "lawful wedlock", all the others say "by his wife-Mary Adams"
I have seen the details of his death in Norway on 24th Sept 1844, but I have never followed this up.
Regards
Bill

[MonicaL]

The 1851 census at Peathill for Mary on FreeCen shows her as head/married.

Monica 

[Bill Fraser]

Hi Monica,
Thank you for the information.
Regards.
Bill

[barnowlcan]

I was wondering if you had any information on children of Robert Fraser according to 1901 census born in Perth - 46 years old at time of census - married Maggie - son - Thurlow is my grandfather.  I think his grandparents were William and Jean (Shirer) fraser. My grandmothers name was also Shirer - Elizabeth Anne Shirer born 1896 or 1898. She came to Canada between 1919 and 1921. I would appreciate any information you might have on this. Thank you

[Bill Fraser]

Hi barnowl,

I have Thurlow Shearer Fraser, born 26th Oct 1908 in Fraserburgh, his Grandparents were William Fraser & Jane Shirer, one of their son's-Adam, born 28th May 1867 in Pitsligo, married Ann Davidson, one of their son's was this Thurlow Shearer Fraser who married Mary Jessie Mair on 28th December 1934 in Fraserburgh. I have no further information on this couple, so I do not know where they ended up.

I do not know if this information ties in with anything you know, but the name THURLOW is interesting, according to a report I read "The use of the very unusual Christian name of Thurlow is a good clue due to this story behind the start of the use of this name which has been handed down the family.

Alexander Fraser was the head forester in the first quarter of the 19th century at the Philorth Estate, Fraserburgh. His employer was Sir George Fraser, later 16th Lord Saltoun. Sir George had married Catherine Thurlow, one of three illegitimate daughters of the Lord Chancellor Edward Thurlow (1731-1806) who was later 1st Baron Thurlow. Sir George and Lady Catherine had no family, so she asked Alexander when his seventh son was born to call him Thurlow.

The name has since been passed down the offspring of Alexander ever since and it is said that all Thurlow Fraser’s are related. "

Alexander Fraser, who was my 4th Great-Grandfather married Jean Bruce on 17th July 1803 in Pitsligo, they had two children.
He then married Christina Burnett on 19th January 1806 in Fraserburgh (don't know what happened to Jean) Alexander and Christina had six children, the fifth one which would have been Alexander's seventh child was THURLOW, so this fits in with the above story.

I have eight THURLOW Fraser’s in my tree and a few with their second name being Thurlow.

If you can add to this line I would be pleased to receive it and if I can help in any way please get in touch
Regards.
Bill

[barnowlcan]

1901 Scotland Census shows the following:
 Robert Fraser 46 shepherd, Perth, perthshire
Maggie Fraser 32 New Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire
John Fraser 10 Aberdeen City Parish, Aberdeenshire
Thurlow Fraser 5 Aboyne & Dinnet, Aberdeenshire
Isabella J. Fraser 1 Coull, Aberdeenshire
 
Thurlow moved to Calgary, Canada in 1920 - listed mother as Margaret Fraser, Humbly(?) Cottage, Aboyne, as next of kin.
He was apparently single when he came but married Elizabeth Anne Shirer  who also came to Canada between this time and end of 1921. First child - Agnes Brown b. Aug.2,1922, second child Donald Thurlow b. 1924, third and last Sheila b. 1926. They moved to Vancouver, B.C. from there, where Elizabeth died in 1953, and Thurlow in 1971.

Given that Thurlow seems to only come down through one family - and yes I had heard that story before - it seems there should be a connection somewhere.  Thurlow's middle name was Gleneagle - not sure that is the right spelling could be Glenegyl.  Also possible relation we refered to as Aunt Christine who lived in Vancouver - I think she was a Fraser, possibly married to a Lorimer. These are memories of a long ago childhood - remember afternoon visits there for tea and oatcakes. Any way hope we can help each other on this.

[Bill Fraser]

Hi barnowl,

Thank you for the latest, I will carry on researching this family. I have found the death of a Christina Lorimer, she was born on 2nd February 1879 in Tyrie, Scotland, parents Thurlow Fraser and Jean Cowie, and died on 30th June 1860 in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada.
Also found Donald Thurlow Fraser, born 25th April 1924 in Calgary, Alberta, died 25th November 1972 In Sechelt, British Columbia, Canada. Married Doreen Mabel Moore.
Regards.
Bill