Looking for the parents of Isabel Paris, Angus Area 1700s

[cameo]

I am looking for the parents of Isabel Paris from the Angus Area in the late 1700s

What I know:

My 4th great grandmother Isabel Paris married John Low St. Vigeans December 1807

I think her parents were either Andrew Paris and Elizabeth Boutchart from Barry

Or

David Paris and Elizabeth Ouchterlony from Arbirlot

Both couples seem to fit the time line and general area. How can I tell for sure which family is correct?

Andrew Paris and Elizabeth Butchart married 1771 Barry, Angus, Scotland

Known children (known to me)

Magdalen Paris b. 1772
Robert Paris b. 1774
Andrew Paris b. 1775
George Paris b. 1778
John Paris b. 1781
*Isabel Paris b. 1788


David Paris and Elizabeth Ouchterlony married 1783 Arbirlot, Angus, Scotland

Known children (known to me)

*Isabel Paris 1784
Margaret Paris 1786
Marian Paris 1788 married name Proctor
John Paris 1790
Elizabeth Paris 1792
Marjory Paris 1797

I had already researched 3 generations further back on the Andrew Paris line thinking I had the correct Isabel and the correct parents before I learned of the other possible family. I am still fairly new to genealogy but it isn't the first time I have put lots of time into researching the wrong family or branch. As a result I go over and over my research checking and double checking dozens of times. I want my tree to be 100 percent accurate if possible.

Isabel and her husband didn't name their children in the pattern that would be traditionally correct for either of these possible lines thus making me wonder if I'm on the wrong track completely. I also can't figure out where the name Mann and Anderson fit, the middle names of 2 of their children.

Here are Isabel and John's children if that helps any.

Jean Low b.1808
Mary Low b.1810
Margaret Paris Low b. 1812
Alexander Mann Low b.1813
James Low b.1815
Isabel Anderson Low b. 1817
Alexander Low b. 1820
Helen Low b. 1822
Esther Low b. 1825

I am struck and not sure where to go from here. Any assistance or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Cameo

[WilmaM]

Hello and Welcome to talking Scot.

Could you give us an idea of the area the couple lived in, you have the family's birth, but not where they occured.

Do you know when Isabel died? if it was after 1855 then her parents' names should be on her DC.
If before then maybe her gravestone would provide a clue.

On the 1851 census there is a Jame & Isabel Low in Fettercairn:

Piece: SCT1851/257 Place: Fettercairn -Kincardineshire Enumeration District: 4
Civil Parish: Fettercairn Ecclesiastical Parish, Village or Island: -
Folio: 193 Page: 1 Schedule: 2
Address: Lochodlie
Surname First name(s) Rel Status Sex Age Occupation Where Born Remarks
LOW James Head M M 82 Pauper Formerly Carpenter Angus - Lethnott
LOW Isabella Wife M F 71 Midlothian - Edinburgh

She is born in Midlothian though - so that would spread your net a little further afield.

This seems to be that couple in 1841:
Piece: SCT1841/257 Place: Fettercairn -Kincardineshire Enumeration District: 4
Civil Parish: Fettercairn Ecclesiastical Parish, Village or Island: -
Folio: 4 Page: 10
Address: Westwood Town
Surname First name(s) Sex Age Occupation Where Born Remarks
LOW James M 70 Wright Outside Census County (1841)
LOW Isabella F 60 Outside Census County (1841)

wonder if that helps any.

[SarahND]

Hi Wilma and Cameo,
According to the IGI the children were all christened in St Vigeans, except Jean, the eldest, who was christened in Arbroath.
If her husband's name was John, they could be this couple:

1851
North Grimsby, Arbroath, Angus
John Low, 60, Head, born Arbroath, Forfarshire, Canvas Weaver (hand loom)
Isabella Low, 61, Wife, born Arbroath, Forfarshire

It would be useful to know if you have found this family in the early censuses. If you have the originals of the children's christenings, do any of them give an occupation for John?

As Wilma said, if Isabella lived to 1855, her death certificate should give her parents' names.

On scotlandspeople.gov.uk there is a death for an Isabel Low in 1863 in St Vigeans, age 78. I am only lookiing at the search and haven't seen the results, but "other surname" Paris doesn't work. Have you looked at this death?

There is also an Isabell Low, age 90 living in Arbroath in 1861, born Monikie, Forfarshire, Formerly Merchant Seaman's Wife. She seems to have already been widowed before 1841, so hard to know her husband's name. Again, if you know his occupation, it could help.

All the best,
Sarah

[cameo]

Hi Wilma and Sarah,

Thank you for answering my post.

I have found two of John and Isabel's children's death records. Margaret Paris Low (my 3rd great grandmother) and her sister Helen Low. Margaret lived to 85 years and Helen to 91 years. Margaret's death record list's her father John's occupation as letter carrier and Helen list's it as postman.

On the 1841 census (http://www.freecen.org.uk) there is a John Low from Arbroath age 65 occupation: Letter Carrier living at East Wynd Arborath. The only other Low at that residence is a Helen Low age 50. I found a marriage record for a John Low and Helen Trail from 1831. I believe this was John's second marriage although I can't find a record for Isabel's death. Living just next door to John and Helen also East Wynd are Helen Low and Isabel Low. I'm thinking these may be 2 of John's daughters (with first wife Isabel.) They are both listed as age 20 occupation: Flax Spinner

I pulled the record of the Isabel Low who died 1863 and I think I can rule her out. That listing has completely different parents, neither of them named Paris. I know the Paris has to be there since that name was passed down to more recent generations.

All of Andrew Paris and Elizabeth Boutchart’s children were Christened at Barry. All of David Paris and Elizabeth Ouchterlony’s children were Christened at St. Vigeans with the exception of their eldest Jean who was Christened at Arborath

I still don't know which Isabel from which set of parents is my relative. I am leaning towards thinking my Isabel (Isabella) is the one born in 1784 to David Paris and Elizabeth Ouchterlony from Arbirlot. Another clue is that one of David and Elizabeth's daughters married a man whose sir name was Proctor and one of Isabel and John's daughters married a man named Proctor. This could be a coincidence.

Finding a death record for Isabel would help but I haven't found one that fits. I also went forward a generation and one of Margaret's daughters named her daughter Helen Trail. Trail being the middle name. If I am correct this means she named her daughter after her step mother.

Isabel's last child was born in 1825 and her husband re-married in 1831. She must have died some time between those dates. If this is true and she did die before 1831 her death listing may not give much information. I will take a look around (online) and see if I can find anything about a grave stone.

Time to buy more credits.

Thanks for your help


Cameo