Person talk:Andrew Lowe (5)

I think I mentioned this years ago but the story in the Crossville Chronicle has many errors about Andrew Lowe - written by grandson Jim Lowe. It seems to be a confusion of two different stories. 

My papers are stored and not being dug out so bear with me as my memory is not what it was. Andrew Lowe is found on the 1805 Knox county tax list, I believe this area was by Roane county and annexed to Roane in 1807. Records in Knox and the above county should be checked more carefully for clues.

The Greenberry Wilson mentioned in the story came from North Carolina to Tennesse. His genealogy is fairly well known. He settled in Roane county and early on investigated over the mountain, rambling around in the Bledsoe area. Some may not be aware how strict and oppressive the many residents felt the town fathers of Roane County were - they had a whipping post they put to regular use and an old fashioned pillory stockade. No public kissing was allowed unless married and frowned on even then. Many residents wanted to leave - Andrew Lowe was one of them, he and others gathered their belonging together and Greenberry Wilson who knew the way well led them over the mountain, perhaps not all that far but with no road, women, children, belongings, and some pack animals, it was difficult going and took long enough, forget what I calculated, 5 days or so perhaps?

At one time the Lowe's were in Maryland, Andrew and his son Samuel C Lowe were both listed as being born there for a quick off the top of my head. At some point they did make their way to Tennesse.

One photo submission to the Chronicle claims the Samuel C Lowe came to Tennesse from Pennsylvania, while I doubt this I did notice a Westmoreland County in PA, near Maryland and wondered if they might have spent time there after MD before coming to TN. Also I think Jim's story has merged elements of both Lowe movements, from MD to TN and from Roane to Bledsoe.

I have never been 100% sure of Andrew being the one in Frederick County MD since I found him in the census there when I was researching 30 years ago. I don't know this for a fact but I was told early immigration to Frederick county MD was by English settlers, then the Germans came flooding in. As churchs and little communities grew, the former English settlers married into and were sometimes absorbed by the many Germans around them. If the only local church was started by the local Germans it made sense not to travel far away to go to another church. I recall another Andrew Lowe being mentioned in Frederick County records around 1707 [I think?] relationship unknown but likely predating most of the German immigration.

One of Andrews grandsons in a census, seems to have answered the question "Where did your family come from." With English or England - I forget which. Doesn't mean he was right about the family orgin but it is an interesting response. I have seen 1 or 2 others make similar mistakes in answering census questions putting their supposed orgins instead of where they were from.

This is Steve - formally [email protected]