Category: Church Records

New records added to Scotland's People

26/6/2017

Great news from Scotland's People this morning - 36,000 new records have been added to the website. The records include:

20,255 births and baptisms from 1744 to 1855
10,368 marriages and proclamations from 1729 to 1855
5,422 deaths and burials from 1783 to 1855

These records are all from dissenting churches that have subsequently rejoined the Church of Scotland. The Scotland's People news release doesn't explicitly state which new parishes/churches have been added, so we've prepared a handy list:

Abernethy Associate (Antiburgher) Congregation, Abernethy United Presbyterian, Abernethy United Free South (CH3/687) PERTH
Banff Free, Banff High United Free (CH3/1303) BANFF
Biggar Associate (Burgher), Biggar Moat Park, Biggar United Free (CH3/1248) LANARK
Campsie West United Free, Campsie Relief, Campsie United Presbyterian (CH3/1041) STIRLING
Chirnside Reformed Presbyterian, Chirnside United Free (CH3/336) BERWICK
Comrie Associate, Comrie United Presbyterian (CH3/608) PERTH
Cromarty Free Church (CH3/586) CROMARTY
Dallas Free, Dallas United Free (CH3/1131) MORAY
Dunbar East United Presbyterian (CH3/86) EAST LOTHIAN
Dunblane Leighton Associate, Dunblane United Presbyterian, Leighton United Free (CH3/90) PER
Dunfermline - St Margaret's United Free (CH3/1232) FIFE
East Kilbride Relief, East Kilbride United Presbyterian, East Kilbride West United Free (CH3/1001) LANARK
Edinburgh - Broughton Place United Associate (CH3/564) EDINBURGH CITY
Edinburgh - Corstorphine Free Church, Corstorphine United Free (CH3/514) EDINBURGH CITY
Edinburgh - Second Associate (Antiburgher), Potterrow United Presbyterian Church (CH3/117) EDINBURGH CITY
Glasgow - John Street Relief Church, John Street United Presbyterian, John Street Secession, John Street United Free (CH3/806) GLASGOW CITY
Howgate (Antiburgher) Associate Session, Howgate United Presbyterian, Howgate United Free (CH3/1363) MIDLOTHIAN
Kilmarnock (Crookedholm) Reformed Presbyterian (CH3/1318) AYR
Kirkcowan United Secession, Kirkcowan United Presbyterian, Kirkcowan United Free (CH3/871) WIGTOWN
Kirkliston Free Church, Kirkliston United Free (CH3/1008) MIDLOTHIAN
Knockbain - Munlochy Free, Knockbain United Free (CH3/1200) ROSS AND CROMARTY
Lanark - Broomgate/Bloomgate First Relief, Lanark United Presbyterian, Lanark United Free (CH3/1449) LANARK
Montrose - Second United Associate, John Street (Burgher), Montrose - John Street Associate, Montrose United Free (CH3/858) ANGUS
Newton Stewart Relief Church (CH3/246) WIGTOWN
Nigg (Antiburgher) Associate, Nigg United Secession, Nigg United Presbyterian (CH3/1433) ROSS AND CROMARTY
Paisley - Abbey Close Associate Session (CH3/465) RENFREW
Polmont Free, Polmont United Free, Polmont South, later Brightons Parish Church (CH3/1196) STIRLING
Stewarton Original Secession, Stewarton Free, Stewarton United Free (CH3/789) AYR
Thurso Associate Congregation, Thurso Original Secession (CH3/1399) CAITHNESS
Yetholm Burgher (New Light), Yetholm United Presbyterian (CH3/578) ROXBURGH

(This may not be a complete list of the new additions - we compared the new full list on the Scotland's People website to an earlier version to find the differences).

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Y is for Young Communicants

29/4/2016

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We’ve briefly touched upon young communicants in a previous post. In most parishes, they’re listed either in Kirk Session minutes, or in Communion Rolls. Occasionally there are separate registers of Young Communicants, and these can sometimes be more informative. An example of such a register can be found in Ardler Quoad Sacra parish.

As there aren’t all that many entries in the register, we thought we’d simply transcribe it for you.

List of Young Communicants with notes of what is known of them in after life commencing from 1st Communion at Ardler Church 9th August 1885
1885 Communicated for 1st time 9th August

Isabella Leslie, village, serv[an]t. Left parish at Whitsunday 1886. Attended Bible Class. Recd disjunction certificate for Steeple Church Dundee 14th Ap 1887
Catharine Leslie. Sister of above, village. Both stepdaughters of William Stewart & left parish with him on his removal at Whitsunday 1885. Taught for some time in Sabbath School & attended Bible Class. Received disjunction certificate for Steeple Church, Dundee 14th Ap 1887.
Elisabeth Stewart. Servant at Arthurbank. Left Arthurbank at Whitsunday 1886 & went to be cook at a Hotel in Alyth. Communicated here in Augt 1886 & yearly afterwards to
Joanna Stratton daughter of Alexander Stratton, Railway House
Christina Miller, Daughter of Alexander Miller, roadman, village. Left the parish for service at Whitsunday 1886, but communicated in Augt 1886 & Augt 1887, & onwards to
Mary Houston. Servant, E Ardler. In the end of the year married Robert Steel, see below no. 8. Both guilty of antenuptial fornication. Were absolved from discipline by this Kirk Session & admitted to Communion in August 1886. Dead.
Alexander Turnbull, son of Stewart Turnbull, Mill of Cammo
Robert Steel, servt at E Ardler. Married Mary Houston, see No 6. Went with his wife at Martinmas 1885 to be serv[an]t at Keillor & resided at Keillor Cottages. Received with his wife disjunction certificate for Kettins 28th Octr 1886.
James Anderson, railway porter, village. Went end of 1885 to Almondbank Station, communicated here in Augt 1886. Recd disjunction certificate 11th Feb 1887.
James Fenwick, serv[an]t at Mains of Arthurstone. Left the parish at Martinmas 1885. Enlisted beginning of 1887.
James Dargie, carpenter son of William Dargie at East Church Lands. Left parish about end of 1888. Guilty of fornication
John Mackintosh, ironmonger’s apprentice, son of W Mackintosh, village. Went to Dundee summer of 1887, but still a comm.[unican]t here. Recd disjunction cert to Dundee 14th Octr 1889.
Martin Mackintosh, carpenter. Son of W Mackintosh, village, twin with the above.
John Milne, apprentice millwright at Welltown Millyards. Left parish in end of 1885, but communicated here at Spriing Communion 1886. Recd disjunction certificate Dundee 30th Mar 1887
Isaac Chalmers. Same as above. Communicated here at Spring Communion. Recd disjunction certificate to Dundee 30th Mar 1887.
Thomas Halley, app[rentice] gardner, Arthurstone, son of John Halley, Railway House. Dided 4th April 1889, & is buried in Ardler Churchyard.
David Millar, serv[an]t at Arthurstone. Son of Alexander Millar, village. Received disjunction certificate on leaving for Mackay, Queensland. 10th Novr 1886.
Thomas Dalziell, serv[an]t at East Cammo, parish of Meigle. Communicated here at Spring & Autumn Communions 1886 & in Mar 1888

Young Communicants in 1886
Spring Communion 1886

Susan Arthurs, serv[an]t. Mains of Arthurstone. Had an illegitimate child in end of 1884. Was absolved in course of spring of 1886 & had her child baptized 30th June same year. Again guilty of fornication, but left the parish at Martinmas 1889.
Margaret Halley. Daughter of John Halley, Railway House
Jane Brown, serv[an]t, Ardler. Left East Ardler about 6 weeks before November term 1887 & is now married to Barnet. Died at C[oupar] Angus about 27th January 1889
George McLeish. Servant E Ardler. Left for Brisbane, Australia, 26 Nov 1887. Now at Botanic Gardens, Toowoomba, Queensland
Charles Soutar, Junr. Railway Clerk, son of Charles Soutar, village. Transferred to Abercairnie Station, middle of March 1886. Communicated here August 1886, Mar 1887, both times 1889 & 1890
David Bisset, farmer, Mains of Arthurstone. Admitted as a Comm[unican]t first time Spring Communion
Alexander McLaren, ship captain, admitted as above

Autumn Communion

Robert Stewart, Groom, Arthurstone. Left Arthurstone Whitsunday 1887. Recd disjunction certificate to Broughty Ferry.
James Paterson, Carpenter, son of David Paterson, Arthurbank Cottage. Left for [space]. Certificated to Forfar Novr 1887

Young Communicants in 1887
Spring Communion

George Donaldson, serv[an]t at E Ardler. Left E Ardler Martinmas 1887. Communicated here Mar 1889, Aug 1890.
David & Mrs Lawrie, Railway House
Peter Robb (married). Cattleman at Bankhead. Left with Certif for Nevay, Martinmas 1887

Autumn Communion

Elsie Jane Milne, Manse

Young Communicants in 1888
Spring Communion

Isabella Ross, village
Jane Lawson, Welltown Cottage
William Main, Mill of Cammo. Left parish soon after communion. Residence unknown. Certificated to Dundee, 26th Decr 1888
William Gall, Mains of Arthurstone. Left parish at Whitsunday 1888. Left at Whitsunday 1888. But communicated August same year.
David Fairweather, servant W Ardler. Left & went to Newtyle parish, Martinmas 1888, but communicated here March 1889 & 1890.

Autumn Communion

Elisabeth Stewart, Balbroggie Cottages.. Left parish, but continued in communion.

1889
Spring Communion

Elizabeth Dargie, village
Jane Dargie, village
Isabella Wilson, Longleys Smithy
Jessie McFeat, Serv[an]t, Welltown. Left parish at Martinmas 1889
Mary M Ewan, Cammo Muir. Left along with family in spring of 1890 for Dundee & certificated there.
Andrew Dargie, village
John Young, Arthurstone Gardens. Certificated to England, where engaged as gardener, March 1890.
Duncan Stewart, groom, Arthurstone. Certificated to Broughty Ferry, 25th May 1889. Coachman to Major Ferguson, Buchties there
James Ford, serv[an]t, W Ardler. Under discipline in 1890.
Alfred Turnbull, Mill of Cammo
James Wilson, deaf & dumb. Longleys Smithy. Left for Dundee but still in membership

Young Communicants 1889

Helen Mackintosh, village
Mary Ross, village
Mitchell, Downham
James Dargie, Wellinton Row
Charles Mackintosh, village
Thomas Soutar, Arthurbank Cottage
Charles Lindsay, Arthurstone House

1890
Spring Communion

James McRae Junr, village croft
Edward Cummings, Mains of Arthurstone

Autumn Communion

Jessie Lindsay, Cronan
George Jackson, Stripeside
William Milne, West Ardler
Robert Whyte, Keillor
James Easton, Keillor

[NRS Reference CH2/884/6 p. 13-29]

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V is for Visitations

26/4/2016

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As mentioned in a previous post, for many years Kirk Sessions had responsibility for maintaining the poor of their parish. As well as administering financial support – often referred to as outdoor relief, in the sense of providing support outwith a poorhouse – some sessions also maintained records of visitations. These involved representatives of the Kirk Session periodically visiting the poor of the parish. Not many of these records survive, but where they do, they can be extremely interesting.

One parish where they do survive is Scone, in Perthshire. Included at the end of the Parochial Board letter book are a series of Notes on visits to the poor. There are 93 entries, so we thought we'd index them.

Visits to the Poor, Scone [NRS Reference CH2/803/3
Forename	Surname	Address
Margt	Alison	New Scone
Jean	Banks
John	Barnet	New Scone
Mary	Bett
Elizabeth	Blair	New Scone
Euphemia	Blair	Quarreymill
James	Blair
Margaret	Blair	New Scone
James	Campbell
Widow	Campbell	Balbeggie
Janet	Carmichael	New Scone
Ann	Christie
Widow	Cochrane	New Scone
Widow George	Cochrane	New Scone
Isabella	Cock
Widow	Cock
Jn	Dewar
Peter	Douglas	New Scone
Widow	Dow	New Scone
Widow	Dow	New Scone
John	Fenwick
William	Fisher
James	Foundling
Widow	Fraser	New Scone
Wid	Gairns	Perth
Widow	Gall	New Scone
David	Galletly	New Scone
James	Galletly	New Scone
Mary	Galletly
Widow	Galletly
Widow	Galletly
John	Gardiner	New Scone
Robert	Garvie
Robert	Gillespie	New Scone
Janet	Halket	New Scone
Andrew	Hill	near Perth
Widow	Hill	New Scone
Thomas	Huchan	Stormontfield
Eliz	Innes
Margt	Jackson	New Scone
Alexander	Lamb	New Scone
Alfred	Lawrence	New Scone
Margt	Mackay	New Scone
James	Marshall	New Scone
James	Martin	Perth
Widow	Mcdonald	Balthayock
Widow	Mcdonald	Perth
David	Mcfarlane
Janet	Mcfarlane	New Scone
James	Mcgregor	New Scone
Jean	Mcgregor	New Scone
Alexr	Mckenzie	New Scone
Daniel	Mckenzie	New Scone
Jane	Mclaggan
John	Mclaren	New Scone
Janet	Mcnaughton	Morningside
Widow	Mcpherson
Jane	Menzies
Orphans	Menzies	New Scone
Widow	Menzies	New Scone
Alexr	Milne
Agnes	Mitchell
Donald	Munrae
Ebenezer	Munrae	New Scone
Andrew	Noble	New Scone
Widow	Ogilvie	New Scone
Margt	Ower	Bridgend
Widow	Pairnie	Balboughty
Charles	Patullo	New Scone
Robt	Peddie
Eliz	Peebles
James	Robb
Widow	Robertson
Widow	Robertson
Ann	Rogers	Perth
Widow	Roup
Widow	Shepherd	New Scone
William	Sime
Widow	Small	New Scone
Widow Peter	Small
Thomas	Smith	Balgarire
Widow	Stewart	Lethendy
William	Strang
Widow	Turnbull
Widow	Waddel	New Scone
Widow	Wallace	Calenden
Cath	Watt	New Scone
Mary	West
Isabella	Whitelaw	Lethendy
Janet	Whitelaw
Rachel	Whitelaw	Lethendy
Peter	Young
Thomas	Young

One entry – or rather series of entries – in particular, caught our attention. The entries start in 1846:

Isabella Whitelaw’s children, Lethendy Moar
1846
24 July Admitted 4 May 1846 – on imprisonment of mother
24 December – seem tolerably attended to by grandfather
1847
13 July – Removed from Roll 3rd August on release of mother
[NRS Reference CH2/803/3 p. 235]

Isabella Whitelaw had been arrested and brought before the Police Court, as reported on 23 April 1846 in the Northern Warder and General Advertiser for the Counties of Fife, Perth and Forfar:

Janet Gall or Cochrane, and Isabella Whitelaw, charged with several separate acts of theft some of which were committed beyond the bounds of Police, were handed over to the Sheriff.

Her conviction was reported a few months later:

Sheriff Court
Tuesday July 14
Janet Gall or Cochrane, wife of John Cochrane, porter, Perth, and Isabella Whitelaw, Muir of Lethendy; Cochrane and Whitelaw charged with theft of clothes from the person of a girl of weak intellect, and Whitelaw of several acts of falsehood, fraud and wilful imposition; both have been previously convicted of both charges, and Cochrane has been eight months in the general prison; sentenced to twelve months each in general prison.

[Northern Warder and General Advertiser for the Counties of Fife, Perth and Forfar 16 July 1846]

All seemingly goes quiet for the Whitelaw children for a couple of years, but then we find some more entries in the poor visitations:

Isabella Whitelaw’s two children
1849
17 July. Have been sometime with Aunt, now with Margt Jackson. Well.
1850
3 January. Are well kept with Margt and regularly at school
17 July – both well, mother in Jail
1851
11 January – Both well, and at School. Mother sentenced to 7 year’s banishment
7 August. Ditto
29 December – Nothing particular.
1852
21 July – Oldest girl from school with a slightly burned hand
27 Decr – Both well, and at school
1853
9 July – Much as usual
1854
4 January – Both well, and apparently comfortable.
21 July – Both well and at school
1855
3 Jany – Both well and at school
[NRS Reference CH2/803/3 p. 208]

This time, Isabella’s conviction is reported in the Montrose, Arbroath and Brechin Review

Isabella Whitelaw, Perth, accused of theft – aggravated by previous convictions, was sentenced to seven years’ transportation.

The National Records of Scotland’s 19th century solemn database adds a few more details: that Isabella also went by the name of Helen Panton, that her address was c/o Robert Mills, cadger, Coupar Angus, Perthshire, that she could not write.

We next hear of Isabella as she is transported to Tasmania on board the Aurora, on 22 April 1851. Her arrival in Tasmania is recorded in the Register of Convicts, on 10 August 1851. She is described as a Country Servant, 5 feet 4 inches, age 31, with a ruddy complexion, dark brown hair, brown eyebrows, hazel eyes, and medium facial features. She was a wart on her left arm at the bleeding place.

Her conduct record suggests she wasn’t entirely a reformed character. She was charged for being drunk on October 25 1852. On November 2nd, she was sentenced to 6 months hard labour for being absent without leave. On December 3rd 1852 she was “delivered of an illegitimate child (Mary) at the Cascade Factory”. On 2 October 1854 she was sentenced to 12 months hard labour for absconding. 11 August 1855 saw her being sentenced to 3 months hard labour for being drunk on her master’s premises. A few months later, on 5 November, she was sentenced to another 12 months hard labour for absconding when on a pass. Once more, on 29 June 1857, she was sentenced to one month’s hard labour for being out after hours and absconding.

Shortly after the birth of her daughter, Isabella was granted permission to marry Michael McDermott on 14 December 1852. We have not however been able to find a record of them actually marrying. Things however do appear to have eventually improved for Isabella, as she was again granted permission to marry on 2 December 1856, to William Way, a freeman. They were married at the All Saints Schoolroom on 23 December 1856. William was a cabinetmaker. We have not found any more records of Isabella Whitelaw, and do not know if she ever returned to Scotland or saw her children again.

Isabella Whitelaw's story is an interesting illustration of how one record can lead to another, and can end up telling a fascinating story.

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New records added to Scotland's People

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