Alexander Thow

Alexander Thow, Innkeeper

From Strachan to Crathie

1891 census for Crathie and Braemar - residing at the Inver Inn

Alexander Thow	Head	Mar	68	innkeeper and farmer	KCD Strachan
Isabella Thow	wife	mar	51		ABD Coldstone
Alexander Thow	son	unm	28	house painter	ABD Glenmuick
William Thow	son	unm	18	post boy	ABD Glenmuick
Helen Thow	dau	unm	16	bar maid	ABD Glenmuick
Andrew Thow	son		7	scholar	ABD Glenmuick
Jessie Stronach	serv	unm	26	kitchen maid	ABD Inch
Jessie Paterson	serv	unm	23	house maid	ABD Glenmuick
William Fraser	serv	unm	58	carpenter	INV Inverness
Charles Forbes	boarder	unm	31	quarrier	ABD Glenmuick
John Stewart Gordon	boarder	mar	62	merchant retired	ABD Kintore

1901 census for Crathie & Braemar - residing at "The Inver"

Alexander Thow	Head	Mar	69	innkeeper and farmer	KCD Strachan
Isabella Thow	wife	mar	61	innkeeper's wife	ABD Coldstone
William Thow	son	unm	25	farm servant	ABD Glenmuick
Andrew Thow	son		17	post boy	ABD Glenmuick
William Summers	serv	unm	18	cattleman	ABD Glenmuick

next listing at Inver Cottage is

Alexander Thow	Head	Mar	38	master painter	ABD Glenmuick
Mary Thow	wife	mar	31		ABD Inverurie
Alex Thow	son		7	scholar	ABD Aberdeen
William Thow	son		?		ABD Crathie
Bertram (?) Thow	son		?

The marriage certificate (Aboyne #1) states that Alexander Thow, labourer aged 27 residing Lodge Aboyne married Isabella Ogg, domestic servant aged 22 residing at the same place married at the Mason Lodge Aboyne on the 28th May 1861.

Alexander's parents are given as Alexander Thow, labourer and Isabella Thow m.s. Ley

Isabella Ogg's parents are given as Alexander Ogg, carrier and Jessy Ogg m.s. Milne

Witnesses to the marriage were William Skinner, Minister of Coull, David Todd and H P Farrier.

Stones in Tullich kirkyard read:

Erected by ALEXANDER & ISABELLA THOW Invercauld Arms, Crathie in memory of their family: GEORGE d. 5 Oct 1871 aged 2, her brother ANDREW OGG d. 6 May 1886 aged 53, HELEN d. 8 Sept 1896 aged 22. His beloved wife ISABELLA OGG d. Torbeg, Gairnside 15 Oct 1912 aged 74. Above ALEXANDER THOW d. Cairnborrow Lodge, Glass, Huntly 24 Mar 1917 aged 87.

(Cross) In loving memory of WILLIAM THOW d. Torbeg 22 Apr 1923 aged 51. Erected by his wife and family. (LHS) His beloved wife ALICE d. 26 Dec 1952 aged 72 - cremated at Perry Barr, Birmingham.

Robert Smith in his book entitled "A Queen's Country" (Chapter 9 - Civil Bonnets) tells the tale of the Inver Inn and the Leys family of Deeside.

Isabella Ley, mother of Alexander Thow was the daughter of Joseph Ley and Mary Coutts. She died 19 Aug 1891 at Coventree, Fordoun aged 88 years. Her son David was the informant on her certificate (Fordoun #13). (To date there is no known connection with the abovementioned Leys family at the Inver Inn.)

1802 Contracted Joseph Ley in parish of Aboyne and Mary Coutts in this parish and after regular proclamations and no objections made married 30^th March. (Birse Parish Registers)

Strachan Parish Registers

1828 June 8th Alexander Thow and Isobel Ley both in this parish contracted.
1828 July 31st: Joseph (IGI)
1830 May 20^th: Alexander Thow in Pitdelphin and Isobel Ley his wife had a daughter born and afterwards baptised named Agnes.
1832 6th May: Alexander Thow in Pitdelphin and Isobel Ley his wife had a son born and afterwards baptised named Alexander.
1834 August 26^th: Alexander Thow in Dundee Wells and Isobel Ley his wife had a daughter born and afterwards baptised named Margaret.
1836 20th Decr Alexander Thow in Dundee Wells and Isobel Ley his wife had a son born 5th Decr and baptised 17th Decr named William.
Alexander Thow at Dalfro and his wife Isobel Ley had a son born 28th October 1843 and afterwards baptised named David.

1841 census Strachan - residing at Dundee Wells

Alexander Thow aged 40 farmer born in County

Isabella Thow aged 35 not born in County

Alexander Thow aged 9 born in County

Margaret Thow aged 6 born in County

William Thow aged 4 born in County

James Thow aged 1 born in County

1851 census Strachan - residing at Dundee Wells

Alexander Thow head mar aged 49 ag lab KCD Strachan

Isabella Thow wife mar 48 ABD Aboyne

Margaret Thow dau unm 16 scholar KCD Strachan

James Thow son 10 scholar KCD Strachan

David Thow son 7 scholar KCD Strachan

1861 census Strachan - residing at Dalfro

Alexander Thow head mar 59 ag lab KCD Strachan

Isabella Thow wife mar 58 ABD Aboyne

Mary Ann Pirie g'dau 7 KCD Fetteresso

William Thow Stewart g'son 2 KCD Strachan (probably the son of Margaret Thow born 5 Aug 1858 Strachan)

(Strachan #4) Alexander Thowe, labourer and spouse of Isabella Ley died 23 September 1865 at Dundee Wells aged 64 years and 4 months. His parents were given as Andrew Thowe, farmer (decd) and Margaret Thowe m.s. Morris (decd). Cause of death was fever certified by John Sim, surgeon and the informant on the certificate was his son David Thowe.

There is an Isabella Thow, widow, residing in Poor Cottage #1 Strachan on the 1881 census.