I've been inactive for a while but I'm back still trying to solve parents in the line of Thurlow Fraser (1825-1889) (married to Jane Cowie). With your wonderful help we found a father for him - Alexander Fraser married to Christian Burnet.
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).
To try and get some perspective of their movements I did this map linking their places of births and deaths for Alexander Fraser, Christian Burnet, Thurlow Fraser and Jane Cowie.
Alexander Fraser born Fraserburgh death Cullen
Christian Burnet born Pitsligo death Philorth
Thurlow Fraser born Fraserburgh death New Pitsligo
Jane Cowie born New Deer death New Pitsligo
They all moved in fairly close proximity in this area of Scotland.
I've added Banffshire in because this is where the 1841 census is taken for Thurlow Fraser (15 yrs old). Alexander died in 1848 in Cullen so he must have moved there, and his son Thurlow, stayed in Banff with family (also Frasers) at the Inn where he worked as a Male Servant. Pitty the name of the Inn is not given. I would guess that Christian Burnet was with Alexander in Cullen at his death and then moved back to near her old hometown (Philorth near Pitsligo)
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?
We have Thurlow and Jane's actual marriage certificate but no birth or baptism certificate.
Hi Garthkh, I have just stumbled upon this thread and noticed mention of Christian Burnet(t) and Alexander Fraser. This is likely not relevant to your particular ancestry, but I thought I'd mention this regardless. I have a private working theory tree going. It features the same Alexander Fraser and Christian Burnet(t) that is mentioned here, there is a good chance they are my direct ancestors. The working theory tree is based on my great-grandmother who was illegitimate and via DNA matching I have some leads on who her father was.
Alexander and Christian's daughter Jane Fraser is my possible ancestor. Jane married John Rankin in 1836 at Fraserburgh. She died at Boyndie Street, Banff in 1868. On her death entry, her parents were named Alexander Fraser, deceased who was a
joiner and Christian Burnet. I also have a brother for her, Alexander Dalrymple Fraser born about 1808, in Fraserburgh. He died in 1883 at Stonehouse, Rathen. Alexander's death entry also confirms his father's occupation as a
joiner.
Incidentally, Jane Fraser's husband, John Rankin was also working in the same trade, he was a house carpenter.
I'm curious about the 1848 you have for Alexander Fraser's death. I have him as still alive in the 1851 census in Peterhead, aged 65 with the occupation of
house carpenter (master employing one man). He is living with a 21-year-old house servant, Hellen Webster born Peterhead. My only query with this one is that it has him as 'unmarried', but wondered if it was a mistake instead of noting him as widowed, but the age and occupation match. I'm happy to consider that I may have the wrong man if the 1848 death is more likely? This 1851 census has him being born approx 1786 in the parish of Lonmay.
Happy to hear any thoughts.
EDIT: Found another child of Alexander Fraser and Christian Burnett, Isabella who was in receipt of poor relief in Fraserburgh in 1883 aged 65.