Kirriemuir mystery of Henry Lowe, death of Charles Reid

[mmaciocia]

Wonder if anyone can solve this mystery.
My great grandfather was born John Wilson illegitimate son of Mary Wilson born 10 September 1857 in Kirriemuir. In 1861 he is listed as John Low, by time of his marriage he called John Lowe and his father is listed as Henry Lowe, same on his death in Kirkcaldy in 1902. Has anyone knowledge of a Henry Lowe or Low living in Kirriemuir at end of 1856 into 1857 - know there is one Irish origin 60 year old who is an unlikely candidate given the mothers age at time of John's birth being about 30.
Also, Mary Wilson was married to a Charles Reid in Kirriemuir on 11 December 1853. They had a daughter Ann in 1852, . By time of 1861 census, Mary is listed as a widow. Has anyone come across a Charles Reid dying in around the 1853 to 1856 time line in Kirriemuir. It is unlikely that these people would have travelled far from Kirriemuir, they were very poor. I have not found anyone fitting either profile in census or birth records - not sure if there are missing registers in Kirriemuir.

[AMBLY]

Hi

I wouldn't go far past Henry Low, the irish chap, as the candidate father - in 1851 he's showing as 48.   It wouldn't be at all unheard of for a 48-50 yr old man to be the father of the child of a 25 year old woman. Was he a widower?

What was Henry LOW/E's occupation as entered on the various certs he appears on as John's father?

Cheers
AMBLY

[Gali]

Looks as if the Irish chap was a widower ...

1823 Kirriemuir, Hendry (sic) Lowe marries Jean Tosh
1841 Henry Lowe, b. 1801, Ireland, Labourer Ag, East Roods, Kirriemuir with children Jannet and Mary, both aged 15, Ann, aged 10, Daniel, aged 8 and Edward aged 6
1851, Henry Lowe, b. 1803, Ireland, Stone Dyker, East Hillbank, Kirriemuir with children Janet, Ann, Daniel and Edward
1861, Henry Low, b. 1800, Ireland, Stone Dyker, East Roods, Kirriemuir, with children Janet and Ann
1871, Henry Low (Ancestry transcription of surname is 'Loner'), b. 1797, Ireland, Stone Dyker, Dudhope St, Dundee with children Janet, Ann, Edward
1879, death of Henry Lowe, aged 86, Dyker, Dudhope St, Dundee, widower of Jean McIntosh, next of kin son Daniel Lowe, 141 Wilkies Lane, Dundee.  Parents were William Lowe, Tanner, and Mary Burns. 
1881 census, Edward, Janet and Ann Lowe living at Dudhope St, Dundee
1891 census, Edward, Janet and Ann Lowe living in Dunnichen
1901 census, Edward Janet and Ann Lowe living in Dunnichen
1904, Janet dies, 1913, both Edward and Ann die