Genealogy and Family History in Scotland
  • Home
  • Records
    • Board of Supervision
    • Fathers Found
    • Asylum Patients
    • Sheriff Court Paternity Decrees
    • Sheriff Court Extract Decrees
    • School Leaving Certificates
    • Crown Office Cases AD8 >
      • AD8 index 1890 01
      • AD8 index 1890 02
      • AD8 index 1890 03
      • AD8 index 1890 04
      • AD8 index 1890 05
      • AD8 index 1890 06
      • AD8 index 1890 07
      • AD8 index 1890 08
      • AD8 index 1890 09
      • AD8 index 1890 10
      • AD8 index 1890 11
      • AD8 index 1900 1
      • AD8 index 1900 2
      • AD8 index 1900 3
      • AD8 index 1900 4
      • AD8 index 1900 5
      • AD8 index 1900 6
      • AD8 index 1905 1
      • AD8 index 1905 2
      • AD8 index 1905 3
      • AD8 index 1905 4
      • AD8 index 1905 5
      • AD8 index 1905 6
      • AD8 index 1915 1
      • AD8 index 1915 2
    • Crown Counsel Procedure Books
    • Sheriff Court Criminal Records
    • Convict criminal records
    • Workmens Compensation Act Records >
      • Workmens Compensation Act Dundee 1
      • Workmens Compensation Act Dundee 2
      • Workmens Compensation Act Dundee 3
      • Workmens Compensation Act Dundee 4
      • Workmens Compensation Act Dundee 5
      • Workmens Compensation Act Dundee 6
      • Workmens Compensation Act Forfar 1
      • Workmens Compensation Act Banff 1
      • Workmens Compensation Act Perth 1
    • Fatal Accident Inquiries >
      • Fatal Accident Inquiries index 01
      • Fatal Accident Inquiries index 02
      • Fatal Accident Inquiries index 03
      • Fatal Accident Inquiries index 04
      • Fatal Accident Inquiries index 05
      • Fatal Accident Inquiries index 06
      • Fatal Accident Inquiries index 07
      • Fatal Accident Inquiries index 08
    • Registers of Deeds
    • General Register of the Poor
    • Registers of Sudden Deaths
    • Anatomy Registers
  • Resources
    • Scottish Genealogy Sources
    • KINCLAVEN One Place Study >
      • Kinclaven 1911 census
      • Kinclaven Parish Church Books
      • Kinclaven Communion Roll 1880-1894
    • Archives in Scotland map
    • Scottish surnames >
      • Surnames-A
      • Surnames-B
      • Surnames-C
      • Surnames-D
      • Surnames-E
      • Surnames-F
      • Surnames-G
      • Surnames-H
      • Surnames-I
      • Surnames-J
      • Surnames-K
      • Surnames-L
      • Surnames-M
      • Surnames-N
      • Surnames-O
      • Surnames-P
      • Surnames-Q
      • Surnames-R
      • Surnames-S
      • Surnames-T
      • Surnames-U
      • Surnames-V
      • Surnames-W
      • Surnames-Y
      • Surnames-Z
    • Statutes
    • Auchterarder in WWI
  • Blog
  • Contact
    • Managed Service Customer Login
    • Tourism Partners Login
  • Shop

When is a marriage record not a marriage record?

9/2/2017

0 Comments

 
Genealogists rely on records to research their family history. Sometimes, however, the records don't tell the whole story. The old parish register (OPR) for Old Machar parish in Aberdeen, includes a marriage entry for William Watson and Janet Gibb on 4 August 1839. Anyone researching that record would likely assume that William and Janet were married. (Even though it is widely understood that many OPR marriage registers record the publication of banns rather than weddings per se.)

However, an entry in the Kirk Session minutes for Old Machar on 2 December 1839 (NRS reference:: CH2/1020/17) tells a different story:
​Compeared Janet Gibb unmarried residing in Old Aberdeen, confessing that she had brought forth a child in uncleanness, eleven weeks ago, and accusing William Watson an unmarried man formerly gardener at Causewayend & now in Yorkshire as the father. She at the same time produced a certificate of having been thrice proclaimed in the Church of Old Machar in the month of August last in order to marriage, and stated that the same week in which they were to have been married, William Watson absconded. The elders stated that they were partly acquainted with this case and that they believed the statement now made by Janet Gibb, and that in fact the only doubt they entertained on the subject was whether in the eye of the Law, the man was not considered as her husband. The elders reported favourably in other respects of the woman and the Kirk Session resolved to restore her to Church privileges. She was accordingly admonished and dismissed from censure.
So worth bearing in mind: you should always understand the nature of the record you're researching to make sure you don't make unwarranted assumptions.
0 Comments

If only all clerks were so considerate

11/11/2016

0 Comments

 
Kirk Session records can be a very fruitful source for family history, but they can also be immensely frustrating. As well as the usual bugbears regarding erratic survival of records, sometimes the session clerk was less than assiduous in his work. Handwriting problems can usually be overcome, but that's not the only problem. Some clerks were plainly not keen on doing a thorough job - perhaps understandably, given that they generally weren't paid well for their efforts.

Clearly, though, some clerks were more conscientious. The following instructions come from St Cuthbert's Kirk Session in Edinburgh, and although not specifically dated, the relevant volume covers 1696-1700.
Notanda generalia
or
Directions for keeping a church session book methodicall & in good order

Primo. Let all things be keeped in dependence either by reporting new diligence, or by removing the appointment or continuing the same, or delaying it till such time as shall be convenient, or limiting the time which after follows in the minutes, or laying it aside till further consideration, so that whatever matters comes first in the minutes, let it be either discussed, delayed, continued, referred, recommended or determined. Then afterwards new matters & purposes as they come in the minutes. So keeping up the threed of affairs, it shall cause the session records to be more easie, pleasant, profitable and their conclusions to be more readily & easily found outt.

2. Wherever any session act is made, let it be marked in majusculis and a rational narrative made before it for ane introduction shewing the cause of it.

3. Let the day of the month when the Session is kept be still mentioned.

4. As the sederunt is marked, so let excuses for absents be inserted.

5. Let there be a good margin left in the book in which some of the principall purposes or acts contained in the book may be inserted and be carefull that no blanks blotts or interlinings be in the book, and take a care to page the book exactlie.

​6. Give the reason when no session is keeped.
The instructions make clear that there was concern not just for properly recording relevant events, the session were also thinking of people looking through the records in future. (Although granted I very much doubt they would have anticipated me reading their comments on a computer over 300 years later!). If only all session clerks were as considerate ...
0 Comments

Whose church is it anyway?

31/8/2016

0 Comments

 
We found a slightly surprising entry in the Kirk Session minutes for Rayne, in Aberdeenshire, in 1705
​At Rain, May 10th 1705
The said day the Members of the united presbytrie of Garioch and Alford did meet for the ordination of Mr Walter Turing probationer, and the Congregation being mett Mr William Garioch minister of Kennethmont did preach on text John ch 5 v 35 and after sermon the said Members of the united presbetrie above written did solemnly ordain and admit the foresaid Mr Walter Turing minister of this parish by prayer and imposition of hands and gave him the right hand of fellowship to take part in them in the work of the Ministry. Collected ten shill[ings]. The action was closed wt prayer and singing of psalms.
May 13th [1705]
The minister came to the church to preach but got no access by reason that Patrick Chalmers late incumbent at the Kirk of Boyndie had contrary to law possessed the church and guarded the door by his friends so that the minister was necessitated to go to the schoolhouse, and there after a Congregation met preached on Rom[ans] Ch[apter] 8 V[erse] 7. Coll[ected] four shill[ings]
Patrick Chalmers was no stranger to controversy. He had previously been deprived of the Ministry of Boyndie on 7 November 1689 by the Privy Council for refusing to read the Proclamation of the Estates. This proclamation was intended to consolidate the rule of the new King, William. Patrick Chalmers went further than most in refusing to pray for William and Mary. He was
reported for speaking against the government, describing parliament as a pack of devils and rebels for stating that all who support William should renounce the name of Protestant and assume that of rebel
The 17th and 18th centuries were a time of social and religious turmoil in Scotland, and Patrick Chalmers was evidently right in the thick of it. It's an interesting example of how records we often use for family history can also give insight into the events in wider society of the time.
Sources:
1. Kirk Session minutes, Rayne [NRS Ref: CH2/310/3 page 3]
2. Scott, Hew. Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae, Volume VI Synods of Aberdeen and Moray. New edition, 1915, p. 279
3. Stephen, Jeffrey. ​Defending the Revolution: The Church of Scotland 1689–1716. London: 2013
0 Comments

Bad things happen to bad people

16/8/2016

0 Comments

 
An interesting perspective from Carriden, West Lothian, in 1710.
​At Carriden Church, Sabbath Aprile 9th 1710
The which day the Session taking it into their serious consideratione the many abounding sins and iniquities of the land amongst persones of all ranks, but in particular the sins and iniquities that reigne and rage in this congregatione, breaking forth in adulteries, fornications, lieing, barbyteing, evill-speaking and calumniating, all which are weightie causes of God’s wrath against many in this place, the sad symptoms whereof many have been exposed unto, by being lately laid open to thee rage and crueltie of a wicked enemie, by whom they have suffered the loss of their goods. But which is more sad and bitter, that some persons both formerlie and within these few days have been suddenlie and surprisinglie lost in coall pits to the sad discomfort of all concerned. Upon all which, the Session thought it their duty to set apart a day of fasting and humiliation upon attempt of the forementioned sins, for which the Lord seems to wryte bitter things against us, and did appoint intimation to be given this day that Thursday next the 28th instant is the day appointed for this effect.
So when coal miners die in accidents, who do you blame? The mine owners for not worrying unduly about their workers' safety? No, blame the people for their sinful ways.

​Source: Carriden Kirk Session Minutes, CH2/61/2 p. 113.
0 Comments

Blaming the victim

20/7/2016

2 Comments

 
We were doing a lookup for client in the Kirk Session minutes for Dalziel, Lanarkshire for a client today (fixed-price, before you ask, so the client didn't pay for our time) when we found the following incident, which we thought we'd share.
Dalziel, 9th July 1820

​[The Session] proceeded to take under their consideration the case of John Weir, Weaver in Motherwell, Precentor in the Church, who had been guilty of beating his wife in a shameful manner and in conducting himself towards his whole family so as to occasion their separation from him. The Session were of opinion that there must have been some irregular behaviour on the part of his wife or family before he would have acted in the manner aforesaid. They therefore unanimously resolved to cite the said John Weir and his wife before them, in order to acquaint them that they are excluded from sealing ordinances till they give evidence of repentance by conducting themselves in a quiet and Christian manner.

In the mean time, they discharge the said John Weir from the office of Precentor in the church. The officer was ordered to cite John Weir and his wife to appear before the session on Wednesday the 19th curr[en]t.
So a church officer (the precentor lead the singing in the Church of Scotland) beats up his wife (and possibly his children) but "there must have been some irregular behaviour on the part of his wife or family". And the wife is summoned before the Session to explain herself.
19th [July 1820]
​

Compeared John Weir and Agnes Watson his wife, agreeably to citation. In conformity with the resolution entered into at last meeting of Session, the Session informed the said John Weir and Agnes Watson that in consequence of what had happened they were excluded from sealing ordinances till they gave some evidence of repentance, and of living together in a quiet and Christian manner. The Session at the same time told them that they would receive notice when to appear before them in order to be absolved from scandal. Agnes Watson solemnly declared that she entertained no suspicions of her husband John Weir having had a criminal connexion with Margaret Stewart, wife of John Bond, Labourer, Motherwell.
Reading between the lines, perhaps Agnes had accused her husband of having an affair with a married woman. A couple of months later, John was up before the Session once again.
10th September 1820

Appeared John Weir Weaver in Motherwell and craved to be absolved from the scandal under which he was lying on account of irregular conduct towards his Wife and Family. The Session understanding that the said John Weir had been conducting himself regularly towards his Wife an Family, and thereby giving evidence of repentance, agreed to grant the same. The said John Weir was accordingly rebuked by the Moderator, was exhorted to walk as becometh a Christian, and was absolved from the scandal under which he was lying.

​Closed with prayer.
So John showed his repentance by seemingly not beating up his wife again. What you might wonder had prompted him to seek absolution for his crime? The answer seems to appear just three days later:
13th [September 1820]
​
The Session granted a certificate to John Weir.
It seems likely that John had decided to move away from Motherwell, and he would need a certificate from Dalziel Kirk Session in order to become a church member in his new parish. Interestingly enough, there is no mention of his wife Agnes Watson also being granted a certificate. Five months later, though, we read the following:
26th [February 1821]
​
Appeared Agnes Watson wife of John Weir Weaver Motherwell and was absolved from Scandal.
So it took seven months for Agnes Watson to be absolved from the scandal of being assaulted by her husband. Her assailant, however, was cleared from the scandal in just two months. Patriarchal double-standards are nothing new, clearly.

Source: Dalziel Church of Scotland Kirk Session Minutes [NRS Ref CH2/462/2, pages 19-21]
2 Comments

Jacobites in Fife

19/7/2016

0 Comments

 
Three hundred years ago this week, there were recriminations in Anstruther following the Jacobite rebellion of the previous year.
July 17th 1716
At the meeting yesterday the minister said he had a matter of consequence to bring up. This proves to be the case of Robert Wilson who is superseded as Session Clerk by Wm Taylor. The following is then read in the presence of Wilson.
Articles of Complaint and Information to the Session of Kilrenny by Mr Alexander Anderson Minister against Mr Robert Wilson Present Schoolmaster there.

It is of verity that when the late Earl of Mar his Order for raising a General Cess imposed upon this province came to the said Mr Wilson’s hand about the beginning of October last, he went through the parish on the Monday thereafter and intimated the Rebellion order to the Heritors and Tenants.

2nd. That when Strathmore passed by Kilrenny with his party upon the second or third Sabbath of the said month of October on the way from Crail to Auchertador [Auchterarder?] Mr Wilson was standing on the highway to meet with them he came in messenger from the Rebels to the Minister’s house and called him out to speak with Strathmore and these that were in company with him. As also that in the very time the said Strathmore and others were urging and threating the minister to desist praying in publick for our only Rightful Sovereign King George he (Mr Wilson) spoke to the minister pretty audibly saying “Sir Leith and Edinburgh were taken in by the Highlanders yester night adding that they viz the Rebels present had got certain information of it.” This lying and unseasonable newss in such adjuncture of time the minister could construct to be nothing but a wicked design in Mr Wilson to put him to confession and cause his betray himself into a Compliance with the Rebels demand and contrary to his conscience and duty.

3rd. That the said Mr Robert Wilson went along with the Rebels and attended them through the several towns upon the coast side, when and where they proclaimed the Pretender as King of Britian [sic] with sound of trumpet. This was on the seventh day of October last.

4th. That the said Mr Robert Wilson used to keep company and converse with the Rebels when they quartered in this country particularly with Stonniwood and the officers of his party, which lay at Anstruther. In November and December last, about which time he was frequently with the foresaid persons in Mr Le Blance’s house, where they met ordinarily and had their consultations with people that favoured their interest. As also that the said Mr Wilson did upon a Sabbath in December last at night sit in his schoolhouse with two or three of the Rebels of which George St Clair late Gager at Anstruther was one, the whole time that the minister was preaching to a good number of the people of the parish in Rennihils house. They sent the said Mr Wilson’s servant maid twice to a change house in the town for ale. The people as they came to and went from the service saw the horses saddled having pistols and other furniture of that kind upon them standing at Mr Wilson’s door as they did also the light burning in the school where they were drinking. The congregation’s wanting publick workshop that day is no small aggravation of Mr Wilson’s misspending and profaning the Sabbath evening – as has been said especially when he might have had sermon at his own door.

Thereafter the said articles were again read one by one and Mr Wilson interrogated upon them severally.

As to the first article he answered that he owned the charge laid against him therein but alleged that he did it i.e. intimated the Rebels’ order from the Cross for tenants’ safety.

To which answer the minister replied that this was a most groundless pretence for the intimating of the foresaid order was so far from being a favour or kindness that it was manifest a prejudice and injury done both to the masters and tenants being that it was a direct method to expose them to the fury of the Rebels in case of deficiency of payment in regard that after the foresaid order was intimated to them they could no more plead ignorance of the said order as an excuse for not giving obedience to it. Beside the minister desired the Session to notice that Mr Wilson his making intimation of this order for the Cess as it was plainly obedience given and service done to the Pretender and to the Rebels acting in his name and for his interest contrary to his duty so it behoved to be altogether voluntary on his part and consequently no obscure evidence of his affection and good wishes to the Jacobite cause of which he has all along been much suspected. In as much as it was more than what he was obliged to do even by the order itself viz to publish it after the manner he did for the order required no more of him nor of any precentor to whom it was directed but to read from the Lettrine on such a Sabbath as determined in the paper.

And Mr Wilson has a sufficient excuse to plead for himself for not reading it to the parish in the church because that on that very day it should have been intimated according to the order the congregation was abruptly dissolved before divine worship was ended by the noise of the Rebels being in the town.

As to the 2nd articles Mr Wilson acknowledged that he was standing at the South Yairds which are close upon the High Road that Sabbath when Strathmore passed by with his men and confessed that he came in to the minister’s house with the message mentioned in the information. But he alleges that he spoke these words which are charged against him as culpable in this article of the complaint after the Rebels were gone away from the place and at the same time denied that he spoke them credibly or so as any might hear them but the Minister himself to whom they were directed.

To this answer the minister replied that as we was surer of nothing than that Mr Wilson spoke the foresaid words to him when they were both standing with the Rebels so he remembers perfectly well that he came off abruptly from the Rebels and left Mr Wilson with him and that he came straight home alone and spoke to nobody by the way till he came to his own yaird where finding some of the Elders particularly Bailie Peacock he told them what had passed between himself and the Rebels and at the same time gave them account as he said to Rennihill and several others that same night and next day of the villainous news which Mr Robert told him before Strathmore as he minds he then called it. The Minister further added that he thought the answer did pretty sufficiently confute it for if Mr Wilson had told him the news of Edinburgh being taken after the Rebels were gone, there was not the least reason for whispering it as he positively asserts.

As to the 3rd Article Mr Wilson answered that he went through Cellardyke and Anstruther indeed with the Rebels that day they proclaimed the Pretender but not with a design to attend them.

The minister did not reply but referred it to the Session, Mr Wilson insisted and was then removed when on being closeted alone it was agreed to leave the whole matter to the Pres.

[Anstruther Easter Kirk Session minutes, NRS Ref CH2/625/37 p. 22-25]
0 Comments

Pirates of the Mediterranean

5/6/2016

1 Comment

 
Picture
An action between an English ship and vessels of the Barbary Corsairs [1]
Kirk Session records are a fantastic resource, not just for family history, but for Scottish history more generally. Along with the information more generally sought by genealogists - interrogations of unmarried mothers as to the paternity of their children (which we've written about here) - and the occasional panic about witchcraft and Sabbath breaking, they sometimes contain snippets of more general interest.

The following appears in the West Calder Kirk Session minutes on 1 September 1678 [2]:
A communication from the Privy Council being read for a voluntary contribution for the relief of Robert Williamson skipper in Montross [Montrose] and the rest of his company captives with the Turks in Algiers, the Session ordains a collection to be made through the several houses of the Parish & intimation publickly to be made before the collection thereof.
This was a reference to what are known as the Barbary Pirates - privateers operating from North Africa, attacking European shipping and mounting coastal raids in the Mediterranean and further afield (Baltimore in County Cork had been raided in 1631, and even Iceland had been attacked in 1627). The purpose of the raids was to acquire captives, either to be sold as slaves or, for the lucky ones, to be ransomed. Presumably the Privy Council were hoping to pay a ransom for Robert Williamson and his crew.

England had sought relief from pirate attacks through a series of attacks and gunboat diplomacy in previous years. In 1675 Sir John Narborough, commanding a Royal Navy squadron, had negotiated a treaty with Tunis, and also - following a bombardment - with Tripoli, in modern-day Libya. The next year, peace followed with the Republic of Salé (opposite Rabat in Morocco). A peace deal had been negotiated with Algiers in 1671, but this was broken in 1677 and a large number of ships from Britain were captured by corsairs operating out of Algiers. Janeway [3] lists over 80 ships captured by Algiers corsairs in 1677-1679.

Evidently the men appointed to raise a collection for Robert Williamson were not particularly assiduous in carrying out their task, as seven weeks later we again read in the session minutes [4]:
October 22 1678
The Session desires those that were named to gather the collection for the Prisoners with the Turks to go about it with all diligence.
We hear nothing more about the collection until finally, three months after the initial call to raise a collection, we read [5]:
December 8 1678
The Session appoints Mr James Brown to deliver to John Knox in Borrowstounness [Bo'ness] Factor constitute for receiving the Voluntary Contribution for Robert Williamson skipper in Montross & his company Captives with the Turks, that sum which was collected for them in this Parish, being £24-00-00.
Although it's not explicitly stated, it seems reasonable to assume the intention was to pay a ransom to recover Robert Williamson. Sadly, Janeway notes that it was not to be, recording that the ship (the Isabella) was lost, with all twelve crew having died. It's not clear what happened to the money raised, evidently not just in West Calder. It may well have been paid to the families of the unfortunate crew of the Isabella, but there is no mention of that in the West Calder records.

Sources:

[1] By Workshop of Willem van de Velde the Younger - Christie's, LotFinder: entry 5080190, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18420790

​[2] Kirk Session of West Calder, Minutes, September 1 1678, CH2/366/1, Records of Church of Scotland Synods, Presbyteries and Kirk Sessions, National Records of Scotland, Edinburgh
​
[3] A list of ships taken since July, 1677 from his Majesties subjects, by the corsairs of Algier. With their names, masters names, and places to which they belong'd, and time of taking : with a modest estimate of the loss. London: Printed for Richard Janeway, 1682.

​[4] 
Kirk Session of West Calder, Minutes, October 22 1678, CH2/366/1, Records of Church of Scotland Synods, Presbyteries and Kirk Sessions, National Records of Scotland, Edinburgh​

[5] ​Kirk Session of West Calder, Minutes, December 8 1678, CH2/366/1, Records of Church of Scotland Synods, Presbyteries and Kirk Sessions, National Records of Scotland, Edinburgh

1 Comment

Who's the daddy?

17/5/2016

2 Comments

 
So you're researching your ancestry, and you find your ancestor's birth record. You find that his mother wasn't married when he was born. What do you do?

When statutory registration was introduced in Scotland under the Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages (Scotland) Act 1854, particular rules were enacted for children whose parents were unmarried. Apart from the stigma of having the word "illegitimate" recorded, the other main rule relevant to family history research was about recording the father's name. Section 35 of the Act was clear:
XXXV. In the Case of an illegitimate Child it shall not be lawful for the Registrar to enter the Name of any Person as the Father of such Child, unless at the joint Request of the Mother and of the Person acknowledging himself to be the Father of such Child, and who shall in such Case sign the Register as Informant along with the Mother: Provided always, that when the Paternity of any illegitimate Child has been found by Decree of any competent Court, the Clerk of Court shall, within Ten Days after the Date of such Decree, send by Post to the Registrar. of the Parish in which the Father is or was last domiciled, or in which the Birth shall have been registered, Notice of the Import of such Decree in the Form of the Schedule (F.) to this Act annexed, or to the like Effect, under a Penalty not exceeding Forty Shillings in case of Failure; and on Receipt of such Notice the Registrar shall add to the Entry of the Birth of such Child in the Register the Name of the Father and the Word "Illegitimate," and shall make upon the Margin of the Register opposite to such Entry a Note of such Decree and of the Import thereof; and in like Manner in the event of any Child registered as illegitimate being subsequently found by Decree of any competent Court to be legitimate, the Clerk of Court shall notify such Decree to the Registrar, in the Form as nearly as may be of the said Schedule (F.), who shall forthwith make upon the Margin of the Register in which the Birth is entered, and opposite to such Entry, a Note of such Decree and of the Import thereof, under a Penalty not exceeding Forty Shillings in case of Failure.
So in general, the father's name could not be recorded unless the father agreed and attended the Registry Office to sign the register himself. The only exception was where paternity was fixed by a court order. This can prove frustrating for family historians who may feel that they have hit what is colloquially known as a brick wall.

Fortunately, though, these brick walls may not always be insurmountable. And the reason is - as much in life - all about money. Until 1845 - and in many parts of Scotland for some time thereafter - poor relief was at least partly the responsibility of local parishes (as we have previously written about). Of course, Kirk Sessions considered themselves the moral guardians of Scottish society, and were keen to root out what they considered immoral behaviour. But, rarely flush with money at the best of times, they were also always anxious to ensure that children did not become a burden on the parish. This was a major factor in their strong desire to identify fathers of illegitimate children.

Kirk Session minutes are full of mothers dragged before the session to name the fathers of their children. We were curious about how often it was possible to identify fathers not named in birth records. We decided to look at Fife in the first 20 years of statutory registration. The table below shows the results we've had so far
Identifying unnamed fathers from Kirk Session records
Parish All Father not named % Father identified %
Abbotshall 387 23 5.94 6 26.08
Abdie 739 73 9.87 18 24.65
Aberdour 1183 74 6.25 30 40.54
Anstruther Easter 754 36 4.77 11 30.55
Anstruther Wester 341 19 5.57 4 21.05
Arngask 372 37 9.94 11 29.72
Auchterderran 3411 138 4.04 10 7.24
Auchtermuchty 1933 189 9.77 35 18.51
Auchtertool 402 42 10.44 11 26.19
Ballingry 877 47 5.35 1 2.12
Balmerino 439 32 7.28 10 31.25
Beath 2840 93 3.27 5 5.37
Burntisland 2573 129 5.01 26 20.15
Cameron 762 40 5.24 17 42.5
Carnbee 706 22 3.11 1 4.54
Carnock 1892 55 2.9 1 1.81
Ceres 1447 127 8.77 33 25.98
Collessie 954 80 8.38 30 37.5
Crail 1080 63 5.83 21 33.33
Creich 235 15 6.38 4 26.66
Cults 518 38 7.33 0 0
Cupar 3745 367 9.79 57 15.53
Dairsie 362 35 9.66 6 17.14
These figures are still provisional. Many fathers are identified in the records of parishes other than those where the child was born (a little over half of the total), so we expect the final figures to be considerably higher. (There are around 60 parishes in Fife: so far we've only looked at ten of them). Already though, significant variations are emerging, and we will continue to look at the remaining parishes over the next few weeks.
2 Comments

History talks and events 16 - 22 May 2016

10/5/2016

0 Comments

 
Upcoming family history talks and events in Scotland, 16 - 22 May 2016

Note that there may be a small charge for some of these events, and some may be for members only. We will be publishing lists of upcoming talks and events regularly - if you are organising a talk or event relating to Scottish genealogy or history, please let us know and we will be happy to add your events to our list.

Monday, May 16 2016

The Latest from the Guild of One Name Studies

Lorna Kinnaird

Venue: TBC

Glasgow & West of Scotland Family History Society


Monday, May 16 2016, 7.30 pm - 9.30 pm

AGM cheese & wine

Venue: Alloa Town Hall (Tommy Downs Room)

Clackmannanshire Field Studies Society


Tuesday, May 17 2016, 7.30 pm

AGM — Speaker to be arranged

Venue: Leith Community Education Centre in the New Kirkgate

Leith Local History Society


Wednesday, May 18 2016, 2 pm

History of Fishtown of Usan

Anne Law

Venue: Monifieth Community Cabin, South Union Street, DD5 4JG

Monifieth Local History Society

Entry to talks followed by afternoon tea £4


Wednesday, May 18 2016, 7.30 pm

Erskine Hospital 1916 - 2016

Alistair Hutton

Venue: Selkirk Parish Church Hall

Selkirkshire Antiquarian Society

Preceded by AGM


Wednesday, May 18 2016, 7.30 pm

Building the Forth Road Bridge: stories of a young engineer

Hector Woodhouse

Venue: Chalmers Hall, Linlithgow Bridge

West Lothian History and Amenity Society


Thursday, May 19 2016, 7 pm

Dane Love

Cumnock History Group


Thursday, May 19 2016, 7.00 pm

Magnus Jackson – 19th Century Perth Photographer

Paul Adair

Venue: Soutar Theatre, Perth

Friends of PKC Archives

Preceded by AGM at 6:30 pm


Thursday, May 19 2016, 7.30 pm

Photographic Archives

Nick Lindsay (Clyne Heritage Society)

Venue: Brora Community Centre

Clyne Heritage Society


Thursday, May 19 2016, 7.30 pm

AGM

Venue: Paisley Museum, High Street, Paisley

Renfrewshire Family History Society


Saturday, May 21 2016, 2.00 pm

Scottish Kirk Session Minutes The Sins, Lives, Loves of a Parish

Bruce Bishop

Venue: Manchester Central Library

Anglo-Scottish Family History Society


0 Comments

M is for Mortcloth, Money and Morbidity

15/4/2016

10 Comments

 
As a genealogist I've long identified with Haley Joel Osment's famous line in the film The Sixth Sense: "I see dead people". To non-genealogists, family historians can sometimes seem obsessed with death. Death comes to us all, in the end, and ultimately much of genealogy involves not seeing but researching dead people. Friends and family have come to accept that I can't pass a graveyard without wanting to pop in for a quick - or not so quick - look around.

Of course, most of our ancestors are dead, and as genealogists we want to know when they met their end. In Scotland there has been a legal requirement since 1855 to register all deaths, and statutory registers of death are excellent sources for family historians. In most cases, they record the name of the deceased, their spouse(s) if any, their parents, the cause of death and so on. Before 1855, however, the records are less helpful.

There are gravestones, tangible reminders of the existence of our ancestors. Many graveyards have been recorded by enthusiasts and their inscriptions published (usually referred to as Monumental Inscriptions or MIs). More recently, the rise of digital photography has made collections of photographs of gravestones popular. But not everybody could afford a gravestone, and not all gravestones survive in a legible condition.

A few years ago, Scotland's People made available the burials recorded in the Old Parish Registers (OPRs). These are a great resource, but they are far from complete. There are some OPR burials for around two-thirds of Church of Scotland parishes, but in some cases there are very few burials recorded - there are only two for Fearn in Angus, and only nine for Galston in Ayr.

So if there is no gravestone, and no OPR burial, does that mean we can't find out when our ancestor died? Not necessarily. There is another type of record that can help: mortcloth accounts.

A mortcloth (from the Latin mors meaning death) was a ceremonial cloth draped over a coffin (or a corpse if the family could not afford a coffin) at a funeral. Most families didn't have their own mortcloths - not unreasonable when you consider that any one person only needs it once! - instead hiring them for the occasion. In burghs, the individual trades might have their own mortcloths which were lent to members for the occasion. But in most cases, mortcloths were available to hire from the Kirk Sessions.

In many cases, the Kirk Sessions owned more than one mortcloth - smaller ones for children, or more elaborate ones for a higher fee. (Even in death, not everyone was equal.) The money raised from renting out the mortcloth was generally used for poor relief, and as a result, the Sessions often kept good records of payments received. While they may not necessarily contain a great amount of detail, mortcloth accounts may be the only way to identify when an ancestor died. (See for instance Aberlady accounts 1826-1846, Forgandenny minutes 1783-1836 and Dalmeny Accounts 1736-1779.) They should however be treated with a degree of caution, as the date recorded for payment may be some time after the death and funeral. ​

We've extracted some entries from Dalmeny [NRS Reference CH2/86/8 p. 294-295] below.
Account of Mortcloth money for Dalmeny parish
Aprill 15th 1751 Thomas Ponton the best large cloath £3
26th Isabel Miller a child the best little cloath £1 16s
May 1st William Smith the best large cloath £3
25th James Livinston the best cloath £3
26th Mrs Borthwick the best large cloath £4 16s
27th Hellen Anderson the best large cloath £3
31st Mrs Wilkie the best large cloath £3
August 24th John Riddel the best little cloath £1 16s
Septr 19th Alexdr Ponton the best large cloath £3
Decr 28 James Hamilton the best large cloath £3
Janry 20th 1752 Anna Ramsy a child the best little cloath £1 16s
22d Robert Lang the best large cloath £3
Febry 1st Adam Mcauly the best large cloath £3
11th Helen Kay the best large cloath £3
28th William Broun the best large cloath £3
Idem Janet Page the Sexton's large cloath £2
Aprill 15th Christian Henderson a child the best little cloath £2 8s
26th Anna Bunton the best large cloath £3
June 15th Janet Thomson the best large cloath £3
August 15th William Hill the best large cloath £3
Octr 9th Isabel Lourie the best large cloath £3
Novr 16th Alexander Mcauly the best large cloath £3
Decr 23d Janet Bruce the second large cloath £2
23d Susan Ross the best large cloath £3
23d Walter Miller the best large cloath £3
January 22d 1753 Agnes Parish the best large cloath £3
Febry 2d Christian Riddell the best large cloath £3
3d Walter Ponton a child the best little cloath £1 16s
14th Ninian Forrest the best large cloath £3
March 13th Hugh Steuart the second little cloath £1
15th Alexander Mcally a child the best little cloath £1 16s
17th Isabell Miller a child the best little cloath £1 16s
April 3d John Mure the second large cloath £2
15th a child of John Morrisons the second little cloath £1
25th George Ponton a child the best little cloath £1 16s
May 7th Walter Gogar the best large cloath & bigg Bell £4
Octr 15 Gilbert Candlemass the best large cloath £3
Novr 21 Marjory Prap the best large cloath £3
Decr 18 William Anderson the best large cloath £3
March 30th Jean Shade the best large cloath £3
Aprill 29 a child of Thomas Anderson's the best little cloath £1 16s
April 30th James Forrest the best large cloath £3
June 11th Isobel Collin the best little cloath £1 16s
10 Comments
<<Previous
    Find local and family history records here

    Old Scottish

    Genealogy and Family History  - A mix of our news, curious and intriguing discoveries. Research hints and resources to grow your family tree in Scotland from our team.

    Picture

    Archives

    November 2022
    August 2022
    June 2022
    September 2021
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    October 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013

    Categories

    All
    17th Century
    1841
    18th Century
    Aberdeen
    Aberdeenshire
    Aberdour
    Alcohol
    Alexander
    Alyth
    Angus
    Anstruther
    Antiquaries
    Arbroath
    Archaeology
    Architecture
    Archives
    Ardtornish
    Argyll
    Asia
    Associate Congregation
    Asylum
    Athelstaneford
    Atholl
    AtoZChallenge
    Auchmithie
    Auldhame
    Australia
    Ayr
    Ayrshire
    Baird
    Banffshire
    Baptisms
    Barclay
    Barony
    Birse
    Birth Records
    Board Of Supervision
    Book Reviews
    Books
    Borders
    Brewing
    Brick Walls
    Broughton History Society
    Burials
    Cairney
    Cambuskenneth
    Campbell
    Canada
    Candlemas
    Carlops
    Carriden
    Carrington
    Castles
    Cellardyke
    Celtic
    Census
    China
    Cholera
    Church Discipline
    Church History
    Church Records
    Clan Chattan
    Clydeside
    Clyne
    Coal Mining
    Coldstream
    Colinton
    Communion Rolls
    Convicts
    Costume History
    Counties
    Coupar Angus
    Crail
    Crime
    Cumbernauld
    Cupar
    Dalmeny
    Death
    Deskford
    Diaspora
    Dirleton
    Dna
    Douglas
    Drummond
    Drumoak
    Drymen
    Dumbarton
    Dumfries
    Dumfriesshire
    Dunbartonshire
    Dundee
    Dundonald
    Dunnichen
    Earl Of Mar
    East Lothian
    Edinburgh
    Education
    Elgin
    Ellon
    Elsie Inglis
    Emigration
    Erskine
    Events
    Falkirk
    Falkland
    Family History Tips
    Familysearch
    Fife
    Find The Father
    Finlaggan
    Fintry
    Fishing
    Fishtown Of Usan
    Flemish
    Florence Nightingale
    Fochabers
    Forbes
    Forgue
    Fornication
    Forth Road Bridge
    Fossoway
    Fraser
    Free Church Of Scotland
    Free Historical Records
    Gaelic
    Genealogy
    Genetic Genealogy
    Geography
    Glasgow
    Golf
    Gordon
    Graham
    Grant
    Graveyards
    Guest Post
    Gullane
    Haddington
    Halidon-hill
    Hamilton
    Hawick
    Heads Of Families
    Henrietta Taylor
    Heraldry
    Historic Newspapers
    History
    History Of Medicine
    Home Front
    Illegitimacy
    Inchinnan
    Inverkeilor
    Inverness
    Irvine
    Islay
    Jacobites
    Jamaica
    Jewish
    John Kay
    Kennedy
    Kilmarnock
    Kilrenny
    Kinclaven One Place Study
    Kinross-shire
    Kirkcaldy
    Kirk Session
    Kirriemuir
    Lammas
    Lanark
    Lanarkshire
    Law
    Legal History
    Leith
    Levenhall
    Lindsay
    Lords Of The Isles
    Macdonald
    Macgregor
    Mackenzie
    Maps
    Markinch
    Martinmas
    Mary Queen Of Scots
    McFadden
    Medieval History
    Melrose
    Mercer
    Metalworking
    Military History
    Mills
    Mining
    Moidart
    Montrose
    Morham
    Mortcloths
    Motherwell
    Murder
    Musselburgh
    National Archives Of Scotland
    National Library Of Scotland
    National Records Of Scotland
    Naval History
    Newhailes
    North Berwick
    Old Documents
    Old Machar
    Old Scottish News
    One Name Studies
    Online Genealogy
    Ordnance Survey
    Orkney
    Paisley
    Parishes
    Parochial Board
    Partick
    Peebles
    Perth
    Perthshire
    Photography
    Pictish
    Pirates
    Place Names
    Policing
    Political History
    Poorhouses
    Poor Law
    Poor Rolls
    Pottery
    Poverty
    Prehistory
    Presbytery
    Publications
    Railways
    Rayne
    Register Of Corrected Entries
    Registers
    Renfrewshire
    Robert Burns
    Roll Of Honour
    Ross And Cromarty
    Rowan Tree
    Russia
    Ruthven
    Sabbath Breaking
    Schools
    Scone
    Scotland's People
    Scots Language
    Scott
    Scottish Genealogy Research
    Scottish Parliament
    Seton
    Shakespeare
    Sheriff Courts
    Skibo
    Slavery
    Speyside
    St Andrews
    Statutes
    Stewart
    Stirling
    Stirlingshire
    Suffragettes
    Surnames
    Sutherland
    Talks
    Temperance
    Textiles
    The Disruption
    Thornhill
    Today In Scottish History
    Tourism
    Towns
    Tranent
    Transportation
    Transport History
    United Presbyterian Church
    United Secession Church
    United States Of America
    Universities
    Veto Act
    Walter Scott
    War Memorials
    Wars Of Independence
    Waterloo
    WDYTYA
    West Linton
    West Lothian
    Whaling
    Whitelaw
    Whitsun
    Whittingehame
    Witchcraft
    Witches
    Women
    World War I
    WWI

    RSS Feed

Picture
Home
About Old Scottish
Order Online
Contact Us
Terms
Copyright
Privacy







Data Protection Register Registration Number: ZA018996
  • Home
  • Records
    • Board of Supervision
    • Fathers Found
    • Asylum Patients
    • Sheriff Court Paternity Decrees
    • Sheriff Court Extract Decrees
    • School Leaving Certificates
    • Crown Office Cases AD8 >
      • AD8 index 1890 01
      • AD8 index 1890 02
      • AD8 index 1890 03
      • AD8 index 1890 04
      • AD8 index 1890 05
      • AD8 index 1890 06
      • AD8 index 1890 07
      • AD8 index 1890 08
      • AD8 index 1890 09
      • AD8 index 1890 10
      • AD8 index 1890 11
      • AD8 index 1900 1
      • AD8 index 1900 2
      • AD8 index 1900 3
      • AD8 index 1900 4
      • AD8 index 1900 5
      • AD8 index 1900 6
      • AD8 index 1905 1
      • AD8 index 1905 2
      • AD8 index 1905 3
      • AD8 index 1905 4
      • AD8 index 1905 5
      • AD8 index 1905 6
      • AD8 index 1915 1
      • AD8 index 1915 2
    • Crown Counsel Procedure Books
    • Sheriff Court Criminal Records
    • Convict criminal records
    • Workmens Compensation Act Records >
      • Workmens Compensation Act Dundee 1
      • Workmens Compensation Act Dundee 2
      • Workmens Compensation Act Dundee 3
      • Workmens Compensation Act Dundee 4
      • Workmens Compensation Act Dundee 5
      • Workmens Compensation Act Dundee 6
      • Workmens Compensation Act Forfar 1
      • Workmens Compensation Act Banff 1
      • Workmens Compensation Act Perth 1
    • Fatal Accident Inquiries >
      • Fatal Accident Inquiries index 01
      • Fatal Accident Inquiries index 02
      • Fatal Accident Inquiries index 03
      • Fatal Accident Inquiries index 04
      • Fatal Accident Inquiries index 05
      • Fatal Accident Inquiries index 06
      • Fatal Accident Inquiries index 07
      • Fatal Accident Inquiries index 08
    • Registers of Deeds
    • General Register of the Poor
    • Registers of Sudden Deaths
    • Anatomy Registers
  • Resources
    • Scottish Genealogy Sources
    • KINCLAVEN One Place Study >
      • Kinclaven 1911 census
      • Kinclaven Parish Church Books
      • Kinclaven Communion Roll 1880-1894
    • Archives in Scotland map
    • Scottish surnames >
      • Surnames-A
      • Surnames-B
      • Surnames-C
      • Surnames-D
      • Surnames-E
      • Surnames-F
      • Surnames-G
      • Surnames-H
      • Surnames-I
      • Surnames-J
      • Surnames-K
      • Surnames-L
      • Surnames-M
      • Surnames-N
      • Surnames-O
      • Surnames-P
      • Surnames-Q
      • Surnames-R
      • Surnames-S
      • Surnames-T
      • Surnames-U
      • Surnames-V
      • Surnames-W
      • Surnames-Y
      • Surnames-Z
    • Statutes
    • Auchterarder in WWI
  • Blog
  • Contact
    • Managed Service Customer Login
    • Tourism Partners Login
  • Shop