Unable to confirm if this is the same Jane, who was a daughter of James McDonald and Elizabeth Bell, who had son James Low (ID=101).
There was also a “Jenn Ann McDonald” born about 1846 in the home of William Edward, at Dun, in 1861. Also in the household was David Balfour, a son of William Balfour who was the blacksmith at Brucemill, Dun, where James Low was also located. It is possible this could be the mother of James Low, although unlikely.

William (Hunter) Low, son of John Low and Elizabeth Cloudsley was born at Kirkhill, Dun, Angus. Although the Old Parochial Register records his birth date as 14 May 1841 and baptism date as 6 June 1841, the family bible records his date of birth as 7 May 1841. He was living with his parents at Dun in 1851, but was not in Dun at the age of 20 in 1861. He is not listed in the census returns of several parishes around Dun in 1861, and it is uncertain where he was at that time. There is, however, a William Low, age 20, Boilermaker Labourer, listed in the 1861 census of Dundee at 28 Murraygate. The age is correct, and the occupation is in line with William's later job as a mechanic. The only discrepency is the listed birthplace: Barry (rather than Dun) Angus. It is possible that the listed birthplace was a census recording error and, in fact, this may be "our" William Hunter Low.

William Low became a factory mechanic. It is possible that he apprenticed in Dundee or Montrose in the early 1860's, and possibly worked and trained in a linen mill. He was known to be in Dundee by 1865.

Although his name was registered as William Low at birth, and appeared as such in other records up to 1865, he apparently adopted the middle name "Hunter" after his marriage. The reason for selecting this middle name is unknown. However, his Aunt Margaret Low married William Hunter and there may be a connection there.

William married Isabella Rennie Carr on 22 December 1865 at Dunnottar, Kincardineshire. The witnesses to the marriage were John Low and Elizabeth Cannon. Apparently the witness John Low was William's brother who raised William's son James by Jane Mcdonald.

Shortly after the marriage, William and Isabella settled in Dundee. In 1881 they were living at 18 S. Ellen St., Dundee, and in 1891 they were at 11 Graham Place, Dundee.

William apparently worked in various factories and mills. In different records, he was described as a mechanic (1865), mechanic fitter (1866), fitter journeyman (1868), machine fitter forman (1873), factory mechanic (1875), machine fitter (1881), mill mechanic forman (1891), and flax mill mechanic (1901, 1909).

It appears that William Low had little to do with the raising of his son James by Jane Mcdonald. However, there was some contact beween James and his father's family. Refer to James Low (ID=101) for details.

In 1896, William provided the death information on his brother Alexander Low (ID=58).

William Hunter Low died at 11 Graham Place, St. Andrews District, Dundee of Cerebral Haemorrhage on 17 May 1909. The death information was supplied by his niece Maggie Low, 15 Nelson Street, Dundee. He died without a Will. The Calender of Confirmations and Inventories reads:

LOW, William Hunter, Mechanic, 11 Graham Place, Dundee, died 17 May 1909 at Dundee, intestate. Confirmation granted at Dundee, 5 July, to Isabella Carr or Low, 12 Raglan Street, Dundee, Executrix dative qua relict. Value of Estate 537 pounds 15 shillings 11 pence.

It should be noted that the value of the estate, for that time, was substantial. With an estate worth this much, the family could have been classified as "upper middle class." William Low probably started off with very little, and accumulated moderate wealth during his working life. It is of interest to note that William Low was the first member of the LOW family to become directly involved in the "industrial revolution." Until this time, LOW's followed traditional pre-industrial trades such as carpentry or blacksmithing.


Jane Mcdonald, the mother of James Low (Mcdonald), marriage registrations of her son James. Since her name was so common, the information available made it impossible to positively identify her in other records. However, a likely identification is noted below. From information on where she lived, and lifestyles of that area, I could only surmise what she was like.

She was recorded at 25 North Street, Montrose in June 1861 when her son was born, but she was not recorded at that address two months earlier when the census was taken.
Several Jane Mcdonalds were listed at other addresses in Montrose. However, none were between the ages of 15 and 30 - the most likely age range.

Since William Low was known to be a mill mechanic and living in Dundee in the mid-1860's, I checked the 1861 census of Dundee for Jane Mcdonald. I considered it possible that they may have met in Dundee. I found reference to a Jane McDonald, age 17, Mill Worker, born in Dundee, living on Arbroath Road. This could very well be "our" Jane Mcdonald. It is possible that William and Jane met in a mill in Dundee where they both worked. When the birth of her child was almost due, she may have been sent to Montrose to be near the LOW family of Dun, who would raise her son. The parents of this Jane McDonald were James (ID=518), age 50 and Elizabeth (ID=519), age 45 in 1861. Both parents were born in Ireland, and James was a Sheeting Weaver. Other children of James and Elizabeth McDonald were George (ID=520), Marg. (ID=521), and Patrick (ID=522).

The address 25 North Street was found in the 1861 census but no relevant name was found. This address appeared to be like others in the area which consisted of rooming houses and tenaments with a high density population. Most of the residents were labourers in the linen and flax factories - probably typical "sweat shop" environments.

Jane Mcdonald was listed as a domestic servant in her son's birth registration. But because of her address, it appears that she likely had some connection with linen and flax trade. She possibly worked as a Linen Yarn Winder or Linen Hand Weaver. Since she signed the birth registration of her son with an "X" I assumed that she had little education.

William Hunter Low had some connection with the flax trade, and was possibly apprenticing to be a mechanic around 1860-61. It is possible that William and Jane met through this flax trade connection. Life would have been difficult for both at this time. Jane was likely from a poor family, living in a high density industrial area. William was a young man who had just left home. As was common at the time and in such high density - transient areas, short-term relationships would be established. This was normal and acceptable. Such a relationship apparently was established between William and Jane. When son James was born, Jane was probably too poor to properly raise him. The LOW family undertook this responsibility.

Isabella Carr, the wife of William Hunter Low, was born at Arbuthnot, Kincardineshire on 11 July 1836, a daughter of William Carr (ID=446) and Margaret Low (ID=447). This Margaret Low was apparently unrelated to our family. Isabella was a domestic servant at Marytown, Montrose at the time of her marriage to William. She died at 25 Lilybank Road, St. Andrews District, Dundee on 22 April 1916. Information on her death was supplied to the Registrar by Isabella Murray, Occupier.

All of the children of William Hunter Low left Scotland except Maggie Ann who died in infancy and Elizabeth who died in 1895 before she turned 20. James went to Ottawa, Canada about 1886. John went New York, U.S.A. in 1888. William went to Australia in the 1890's and settled there by 1912 after some years in Canada and South Africa. David moved to the U.S.A. in 1899.