Notes |
- Tradition says that Thomas Lowther, son of Col. William Lowther, "was a snake-charmer, that he could wield such power over a poisonous reptile as to be able to handle it without harm to himself." He is said to have died in middle age of appendicitis, having undergone surgery without an anesthetic.
There is disagreement among researchers regarding the children of Thomas Lowther and Mary Coburn; some (e.g., Minnie Kendall Lowther) include Robert and Mary "Polly," while others (e.g., Linder and Donnelly) state that there is no proof for that. Don Norman lists Elias, Jesse, William, Mary and Margaret as the five children of Thomas and Mary Coburn, then shows a second marriage to Catherine Switzer producing seven children, Sarah "Sally," Phoebe, Elizabeth, Thomas, Polly, Robert and another Elizabeth. Researcher Jane Lowther Bolster, p. 23, states only that Thomas and Mary were the parents of five children, but does not name them.
The will of Thomas Lowther (Harrison County Will Book, Vol 2, p. 178), was written on May 19 1816. "The will lists five children of Thomas Lowther: Jesse, Eliza, Peggy, William and Nancy. A daughter named Mary was not mentioned. (According to the Census of 1810, by enumeration Thomas Lowther appeared to have had as many as nine children, four of them girls.) The will then lists six additional children of Catherine Switzer: Polly, Thomas, Sally, Robert, Pheby and Elizabeth. The will does not state that Thomas Lowther was married (second) to Catherine Switzer nor state that the second list of children were those of Thomas Lowther by marriage or adoption." [Donnelly, p. 50] The will named Thomas' friends Robert Lowther and Elias Lowther the executors of his estate, and it was signed in the presence of Marshall Rees, William Lowther and Elias R. Lowther.
Thomas Louther in the 1810 United States Federal Census
Name: Thomas Louther
Home in 1810 : Harrison County, Virginia
(Based on neighbors known to have lived there, this was most likely in West Milford)
Free White Persons - Males - Under 10: 2
Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 15: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 25: 2
Free White Persons - Males - 26 thru 44 : 1
Free White Persons - Females - Under 10: 2
Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 15: 2
Free White Persons - Females - 26 thru 44: 1
Number of Household Members Under 16: 7
Number of Household Members Over 25: 2
Number of Household Members: 11
In the 1820 Census of Harrison County, Cahorin (sic) Lowther is listed as head of household on the same page as Wm Lowther, Wm Lowther, Jesse Lowther, Elias Lowther and Robt Lowther. These were all names mentioned in Thomas Lowther's will. Her household was as follows:
Enumeration Date: August 7, 1820
Free White Persons - Males - Under 10: 2
Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 18: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 25: 1
Free White Persons - Females - Under 10: 2
Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 15: 2
Free White Persons - Females - 45 and over : 1
Number of Persons - Engaged in Agriculture: 2
Free White Persons - Under 16: 6
Free White Persons - Over 25: 1
Total Free White Persons: 8
Total All Persons - White, Slaves, Colored, Other: 8
There is also speculation that Catherine Switzer was actually Thomas Lowther's oldest child, but no marriage record has been found in Harrison or Lewis counties of a Catherine Lowther to a Switzer, including name variations. Doddridge County death records show a Robert Lowther, son of Thomas & Catharine, who died on Apr 13 1867. This is the Robert Lowther, born ca 1810, who married Mary Ann Spurgeon and whose household included in both the 1850 and 1860 Censuses a Catherine Lowther, born ca 1781, relationship not indicated. This may also be the Robert Lowther in question here as the son of Thomas Lowther. No death record for this Catherine Lowther has been found.
Despite the lack of evidence described in Linder's and Donnelly's excellent research, we include Robert and Mary "Polly" Lowther among Thomas Lowther's children with Mary Coburn, principally because Minnie Kendall Lowther saw fit to include them. [1, 5, 6, 7]
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