The name "Thirlow" or Thurlow Fraser

[Forfarian]

From the various census records we see that Thurlow Fraser aged 15 is working as a Male Servant in an Inn run by George and Jean Fraser (presumably relatives).
Pitty the name of the Inn is not given.

This household is in Enumeration District 4, which is in the town of Macduff. The addresses in that ED are Duff Street, Gellymill Street, Docky Well Street, Shore Brae, Shore, Bruce Street, Church Lane, Church Street and Hornes Street.

Most of these can be found on the 25-inch map at https://maps.nls.uk/view/75066610

George Fraser's household is the 7th household on Shore (Street). In the census, two households away from the Frasers, is James Shand, Architect, with wife Margaret, merchant and publican, son Alexander, clerk and Margaret Robertson, merchant and spirit dealer. The 1846 County Directory lists at No 36 Shore Alexander Shand, and at No 37 Margaret Robertson, grocer and spirit dealer. No 33 Shore is the Fife Arms Inn, where the head of the household is Andrew Hunter.

So I am fairly sure that George Fraser's inn must have been the Fife Arms Inn, which is shown on the map above. If I'm right, this https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/861451 is it.

I'm still not completely satisfied that this Alexander Fraser (married to Christian Burnet) are Thurlow's parents.  Are there any actual birth notices available that can show this?

Almost certainly not, as none of the baptisms of the family of Alexander F and Christian Burnet are on Scotland's People.

We have Thurlow and Jane's actual marriage certificate but no birth or baptism certificate.

Why do you think the names given by Thurlow himself on his marriage certificate are not sufficient evidence for his parentage?

[Garthkh]

Thank you Forfarian,  That's interesting I'll browse through those details.
I will accept the names on the marriage certificate. It's just nice to be able to confirm both names and dates of birth from written birth registers etc. With these very old records it's difficult.

[edwardoscar]

Hi all.

Previous local to the area here (grew up there) so if you want any insight on places, happy to advise.

Also, if you are researching Thurlow’s (born 1858) mother’s line (Isabella Mitchell), she is my x4 GtGrand Aunt. Her parents were my x5 gt grandparents, Peter Mitchell and Isabella Ironside.

Shout if you have any questions that can help.

Kind regards
Brian

[edwardoscar]

I see these census records aren't showing Denburn Mills.  Do these mills fall under a group?

I imagine the mill was named Denburn Mill, because it was situated on the small stream called “Den Burn”.
See the information on the old Ordinance Survey that Den Burn and the Corn Mill are recorded together in Parish of Tyrie [New Pitsligo]. Scroll down the page to the bottom to find the link to the map
https://scotlandsplaces.gov.uk/digital-volumes/ordnance-survey-name-books/aberdeenshire-os-name-books-1865-1871/aberdeenshire-volume-90/39

Yes! The Denburn Mill is towards the bottom of what is locally called Mill Brae but officially called Church Street. The Den Burn itself runs through the village.

[Garthkh]

It's been a while since I last posted here. With all the research we've done on our Thurlow Fraser 1825 - 23 Oct 1889 I want to say thank you to this group for the great help you were in helping us break down the ancestry wall we couldn't get through. In our research we found some old pictures (postcard etc) on line dated 1903 of the Denburn Mill in New Pitsligo where Thurlow worked before his death. We thought it would be a great idea to paint the picture in colour for our family tree and to share it with you folk. It may be of some interest to some of you. My wife Jenny who is the g.g.grandchild of Thurlow has just completed the painting (it's a 30cm x 40cm acrylic on canvas). The attachment is a small size and if anyone would like the larger image please let me know.
 I see the mill is still there and it looks as though it is now a B&B or the like. The building has had a bit of modification - mainly to the roof of the closer part of the building but the rest is still the same. We went up and down the road virtually (haven't we got clever technology these days) with Google Maps Street View and got an idea of the colours to use. It's very interesting to see that the "tunnel" through the trees at the end of the road is still there after all this time -amazing! It's also of note that the street view in Google shows old mill stones leaning against the building.  I wonder when last they were used?

[aspin]

I have spent all afternoon reading all this its amazing
Yes its Elizabeth an old Roots friend of Gadgets and Forfarian who have both helped me search my family for me  .This past week I contacted  Garthkh on another matter and found we share part of a family tree given to us  .So now my task is to try to find out where we fit in together

Elizabeth

[Garthkh]

Hello Betty
It's been good to have a short catch-up with you. I look forward to seeing some more of my Fraser doors opened but plowing through all the same names that are passed on through these families makes it very confusing.
Garth

[jmodgling]

Wonderful thread of info! Thank you... I join in the FRASER/COWIE line as well and what an interesting story about Thurlow's name and father (being a forester to a sultan).

It's no doubt Thurlow was a miller and worked at a mill but I am a bit confused about which one. My records seem to indicate it was "Mill of Esselmont Ellon" but then we have that amazing picture and postcard photo of another mill.

Would really appreciate any clarification anyone can provide? 

[Forfarian]

Welcome to RootsChat

Esslemont is in the parish of Ellon, a short distance west of the town of Ellon. See https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=15.5&lat=57.36545&lon=-2.10695&layers=257s&b=1&o=100

Thurlow Fraser married Jane Cowie in 1860, giving his residence as Littlemill of Esslemont, parish of Ellon. See reply #67 above.

In 1861 Thurlaw Fraser, 34 was a journeyman miller there at Little Mill, and his wife was living with her parents in the parish of Tyrie. See Reply #53 above.

Ten years later, in 1871, Thirlow Fraser, 44, journeyman miller, is in 54 Low Street, New Pitsligo, parish of Tyrie, with wife Jane Cowie and five children. See Reply #54 above.

These are two different places, so Thirlow must have moved from Ellon to Tyrie between 1861 and 1871. This is quite normal. The term 'journeyman' has nothing to do with travelling. It is from the French 'journée' which means a day, and a journeyman is a skilled man who has completed an apprenticeship, and is working as an employee for a master, originally paid by the day.

Another ten years later, Thurlow, aged 54, meal miller, is at Denburn Mills, parish of Tyrie. You can view the LDS transcription of the 1881 census at www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk free of charge. So he has presumably taken on his own mill instead of being employed by someone else.

So there is no need for any confusion. He simply moved jobs from Ellon to Tyrie.