Hi Kathy (and Alice),
I'm doing well, thanks.. have some great leads on my WARD research at least.
As far as the LOWTHERS, yes, they are definitely Hants County. There is a
line of 'LOWTHER' families in Cumberland County, but they originate from
England, not Ireland and so far, we have seen no connection between them and
the Hants County LOWTHERS families.
The only 'proof' we have that they came from Ireland is first of all, the
census information for 1871, 1881. For instance, Andrew Lowthers, born 1824,
Ireland, junk dealer, census place: Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts. All the
brothers that we found gave their birthplace as Ireland.
The Londonderry part came from that document that was on file at the WHHS
the first time I went there that someone else had researched and left there.
(that I sent you as an attachment at one time) Also, as Alice says, her
grandmother's written notes say the brothers came from Derry, Ireland.
(which used to be Londonderry).
Now, Samuel, we know must have met Catherine Johnston in Lunenburg although
he married her in Newport Township. One of their children was born in
Lunenburg, so we can assume that is where Catherine's parents still lived at
the time.
As for proof that they were poor people, we know that:
1. Samuel was a farm labourer who didn't own any land of his own.
2. There are no grave markers for any of the Lowthers
3. Samuel Lowthers was not even mentioned in Lovell's Directory of 1871 for
Ardoise Hill, Three Mile Plains, Wentworth or St. Croix indicating that he
was not a business owner or a farmer or any kind of tradesman that would
warrant being included in this directory.
Hope this helps!
Ginny
Hello,
Hello to you both and hope you are both doing well with your
research. I have been away for a few days, so Ginny this is the first
chance to
answer your question about finding anything other then Catherine's name
being
Johnston and not Johnson. This trip to Nova Scotia was mostly about the
Walley's
and the Riley's. I would like to express a few thoughts that I have on the
Lowthers, maybe we could discuss our various thoughts and ideas on the
Lowthers. Only having been to Nova Scotia twice and not really knowing
different
areas etc. It seems; at least to me that the people there were very
territorial.
What I mean is they did not seem to venture to far from county to county.
Having said that I agree that the Lowthers must have been fairly new to
Nova
Scotia, when we start picking them up in the early 1840s. I am wondering
what
your thoughts are; on whether you have any proof; or are they your
thoughts
that they were of poor people? It is my belief that the name Lowthers
seems to
be a Hants County. Also I would like to ask you again, how do we know the
Samuel Lowthers came from Londonderry, Ireland? If you answered me before,
then
I am afraid I must have missed placed it. So please send it again. This is
just some thoughts.
Kathy