Kirk Session Registers - improved access

[Gene Genie]

Anyone with Scottish ancestors is likely to find Kirk Session Registers a valuable source, particularly for identifying fathers of illegitimate children.

For specific examples of the details contained in these records, see:
Centuries Past in North-East Scotland: Birse Kirk Session Register, 2nd December 1810

and: Centuries Past in North-East Scotland: Pitsligo Kirk Session Register, 1810

Until recently Kirk Session records were only available to personal researchers visiting the National Archives of Scotland. They can now be accessed from search rooms at Aberdeenshire Archives, Aberdeen City Archives and Orkney Archives. Over the coming months other Scottish archives centres will also be able to offer access. The system allows users to search and view digitised records from the whole of Scotland.

In due course the NAS plans to offer an online service on a subscription basis.

For updates see: The National Archives of Scotland Home Page

[Duthill]

spam ?

[DreadGod]

I am hoping to look at the Kirk of Session records for the parish of Urquhart and Logie Wester, in the county of Ross and Cromarty. They date back to 1684. Currently held by the Highland Council Archives.

Also, not sure if anyone can clarify this for me: I read in the Statistical Account of Scotland that the parish of Farr kirk session records date back to 1754. However according to the National Archives of Scotland they only have them back to the early 1800's. So whats happened to the earlier ones ?

Cheers.

[Gene Genie]

There are no digitised records for Farr showing up, and a search of the NAS catalogue shows only these items:

CH1/2/2/2 Church Papers 1694-1699
CH1/2/64 General Assembly Papers, Main Series 1731
CH1/2/68 General Assembly Papers, Main Series 1733
CH1/2/113 General Assembly Papers, Main Series 1771
CH1/2/118 General Assembly Papers, Main Series 1776
CH1/2/119 General Assembly Papers, Main Series 1777
CH1/2/120 General Assembly Papers, Main Series 1778
CH3/1606 Records of Altnaharra Free Kirk Session, Altnaharra United Free Church, Altnaharra Church of Scotland 1854-1982
CH3/1607 Records of Farr Free Church, Farr United Free Church, Farr High Church of Scotland, Farr Parish Church. 1884-1959
CH3/1607/1 Farr kirk session: Minute book 1884-1959

It may be that other records were kept in private hands and have not been given in to the NAS. Another possibility is that since the production of the Statistical Accounts earlier records have been destroyed by someone who didn't appreciate their significance. Unfortunately it's not unknown!

[tig]

im scottish and as far as i can tell for the last 10 (at least)generations my family are all scottish born and bred but my family has never shown up in any kirk or general assembly lists.....any idea why?



(its ok i know the answer)

[Lachlan09]

They were all buddhists ?

[wullie m]

They must have behaved themselves! wullie.