Category:Old Parish Register
From LFAwiki
This category includes documents containing or pertaining to the Old Parish Records of Scotland. According to ScotlandsPeople, "The Old Parish Registers (OPRs) comprise the records of births & baptisms, banns & marriages and deaths & burials kept by individual parishes of the Established Church (Church of Scotland) before the introduction of civil registration in 1855."[1]
From the mid 1500’s up until 1854 (about the time Christina immigrated to Utah with her two youngest children and the grandchildren by her son Archibald then in her care) vital records in Scotland were kept by the clergy (or parish clerk) in parish registers. Of principal interest to the descendants of Archibald Livingston are the Dalgetty Parish registers. Unfortunately, a portion of those records were lost to fire. Three surviving volumes remain in the Scottish Archives, numbered by them 422/1, 422/2, and 422/3 respectively. Each volume is found divided into three general sections: one addressing births, a second addressing marriages, and a third addressing deaths. The information timeframe for each register is as follows: Births Marriages Deaths 422/1 1644-1659 1644-1707 1697-1709 422/1 1717-1819 1709-1819 1710-1785 422/3 1820-1854 1820-1854 1833-1854 Gratefully, all of Scotland’s surviving old parish registers have been indexed and are available via the internet or family history libraries. Even so, the need to review and reference an image of the actual document should not be underestimated. Valuable information is sometimes available that does not otherwise appear in the data collected by the index. Neither are the indexes themselves devoid of the occasional error. In addition, sometimes something as simple as the entry’s position relative to other entries or a change in the handwriting yields valuable insights.
A review of the registers reveals the following gaps exist within the data: • Births: There are no entries from May 1650 to March 1717. The old parochial register for births includes one page, found after the record for 16 December 1778, headed “Seceders”, containing a few birth entries extending from 1777 to 1783. • Marriages: There are no entries from 1662 to 1698, from which date proclamation fee transactions are entered in the ledger until October 1717. There is one entry for 1726. No entries from July 1794 through May 1797 and from July 1804 to May 1811. There are, however, entries relating to irregular marriages, dated from 1741 to 1813, a number of which are applicable to the period blank in the regular record. • Deaths: Register entries for some mortcloth rentals are listed until June 1717, then deaths to the end of record. There are no entries from March 1748 to March 1750. After November 1785 there are only nine entries, one for 1817, and eight for a period extending from 1833 to1852.
In addition gaining an appreciation of the phrasing employed in the registers and learning how to read the cursive letter forms and abbreviations employed at the time, a clear understanding of what is and what isn’t recorded in the registers should be obtained. • Births: Most of the “birth” records are actually baptismal (christening) records and record only the baptismal date. On occasion, the actual birth date is added, most occurring within a few days or weeks previous to the baptism. Less frequently, the place of birth is also listed. It was common to record the names of both the father and the mother. Often, the names of a couple of witnesses were listed. • Marriages: The majority of “marriage” records is actually a record of a financial transaction; fees being paid by couples making a “proclamation of bannes”. They are, therefore, best associated with the date of a formal announcement to marry rather than the actual date of marriage. Scotland recognized two forms of marriage during this time: regular and irregular. Regular marriages may or may not have been conducted in the church, but were nonetheless performed by a member of the clergy. The process that led up to a marriage in Scotland was well-defined. First, for three consecutive weeks, an announcement was made to the congregation on Sunday announcing the couples intention to marry. If there were no objections (those objections normally be based on someone’s knowledge of the bride or the groom already being married to someone else or a concern that the couple were too closely related) the marriage would be allowed to proceed. If either the bride or the groom lived in a different parish, the process would be duplicated there. Irregular marriages were more of a simple public announcement made by the couple of their marriage. They did not involve the church, and therefore were not recorded. However, it appears that irregular marriages were sometimes “converted” to regular marriages. A fee was paid and that action and financial transaction were then recorded by the church. • Deaths: A record of death is far less common than a birth or a marriage. When they exist, like proclamations, the record of the event is often preserved as a financial transaction. And, like a baptism or a proclamation, often reflect the date of a funeral service rather than the actual date of death. It was customary during this time to rent a “mortcloth” from the church to cover the casket during the funeral service. Parishes sometimes had several mortcloths of varying quality to rent, the finest being the most expensive. Even with a less expensive option, it seems that a mortcloth was not always affordable and in such cases a death would not likely have been recorded. To make matters worse, not everyone was buried in a churchyard nor were graves always accompanied by a marker of some sort.
An exhaustive search of the Dalgetty Parish registers was conducted. In addition, records of the neighboring parishes of Dunfermline, Inverkeithing, Aberdour, Auchtertool, and Beath were reviewed. The following entries were found to be significant and are presented as written with additional notes in parenthesis:
Dalgetty Parish Register Entries Births-
page --, Peter Mure [25 October 1722] Thomas Mure and Christian Boyor had a child baptized named Petor born the ninteen instant
page 32, William Livingstoune [1726] Octor 2 ffrancess Livingstoune and Christian Mure on Coaltoune had a shild baptized named William born the [?]
page 43, Marrion Livingston Marrion Livingston Daughter lawfull to Ard Livingston and Christian Moor was born october 18 1728 & baptized october 27
page 50, William Livingstone [1731] March 20th Was born William lawful Son to Archibald Livingstone and Christian Muir in Coaltown and Baptized March 28th
page 67, James Livingstown [1734] Oct 3d Was Born James Livingstown lawful son ... Archibald Livingstown & Christian Moor in the Coaltown & was baptized Oct 13th before these witnesses William Henderson Elder James Dowglas Farmer and [B-name H-name?] [and of other town?]
page 78, Christian Livingstown [1736] Octr 5th Was Born Christian Livingstown lawful Daughter Ard Livingstown & Christian Muir on the Coaltown of Fordel baptized Octr 10th [?] before these witnesses Allex Cameron & Rot Maulkolm [?] Clinkhill
page 78, Christian Muir [1736] Nov 3d Was Born Christian Muir lawful Daughter to Rbt Muir & Catherine Muir in ye Coaltoun of ffordel before these witnesses John Beveridge in ffordel Park & John Mastertown in ffordel [?] [Margin] baptized Nov 7th [u/v?...p?...b/6?]
page 89, Bessie Livingstown [1739] May 1st Was born Bessie Margaret Livingstown lawful Daughter to Ard Livingstown & Christian Muir in ye Coaltown of Forfel & baptized May 6th [?] before these witnesses Robt Muir & James Muir ain ye Coaltone
page 100, Margaret Livingstown [1742] Aprile 27th Was Born Margaret Livingstown lawful Daughter to Archbald Livingstown & Christian Muir & baptized May 2d of [?] before these witnesses James Wilson John Hendry [?] on in L[?]
page 114, Archibald Livinston ... 14th 1744 Was born Archibald Livinston lawful Son to Archibald Livingston & Christian Moor in Colton & baptized 18th day of [?] month before thes witnesses Archibald Criech Thos Harlay and oyrs
page 139, Christian Livingston June 12 1749 Was born Christian Livingston lawful daughter to Archibald Livingston and Christian Moor and baptized the 17th of this Instant before these witnesses Archibald Greich and Thomas Harlay and others
page 148, Katarine Livingston Octbr 23th 1750 Was born Katarine Livingston lawful daughter to Archibald Livingston and Christian Muir in the Coalton and baptized [blank space] of October Instant before these witnesses
page 193, Grissle Muir June 4 1757 Was born Grissle M... [?] lawful daughter to Peter Muir and Helen Simson in Middleton and baptized the [?] of this instant before these witnesses John [?] Henderson and John Ballingal and others
page 212, Archibald Livingstone [1760] ...ober 11th was born Archibald Livingstone ...ful son to James Livingston and Christian ...uir in the Coalton and baptized the 15th ...t [?] and before these witness James Lillie Archibald Thomson & others
page 229, Robert Livingston 1762 Octbr 22d was born Robert Livingston lawful son to James Livingston and Christian Muir in the Coalton and baptized the 24th instant before these witnesses John Bevaridge and Archibald Livingston and [others?]
page 579, James Livingston 1783 March 23d was born James Livingston lawful son to Archibald Livingston and Grissel Muir in the Reidraw and baptized the 30th before these witnesses
page 588, Archibald Livingston 1785 Peter lawful son Archibald Livingston and Grisle Muir at the Reidraw Was born the 16th of March baptized the 20th Current before these witnesses John Beveredge & James Cusin & oyrs
page 596, Robert Liveston 1787 Robert Laful Sone to Eherbald Liveston and Katren Mouir his Spous was Boren the 21 of Apriel and Baptised the 22 of Ditto befor thes witness James Cousins and James Mouir
page 599, Katren Liveston Katren Laful Daughter to Robert Liveston and Ann Campbel his Spous in the Coll work of Fordal was Born the 20th of Apriel 1788 and Baptised the 27 of Ditto before thes witnesses Tomas Eston and Erchbald Liveston and others
page 600, Katren Livestone Katren Laful daughter to Robert Livestone & Ann Campbel in the Colwork of fordal was born the 15 of february 1790 Baptized the 18 of Ditto before [?] G Matterson and others
page 605, Christian Livistone Christian lawful daughter of Robt Livistone & Ann Campbell was born 14 Feby. 1789
page 605, Walter Liveston 1789 Walter Lawful soun to Earchbald Liveston and Grisal Muir his Spous in the Col work of Fordel was Boren the 15 Day of Agust 1789 and Baptized the 16 of said month Before the witnesses Walter Jap and Walter Muir and others
page 615, Hellon Liveston 1791 Hellon Laful Daughter to Earchbaldy Liveston and Grisal Muir his Spous in the Coll work of Fordal was Boren the 11 Day of Apriel 1791 and Baptized the 17 of said month Befor thes witnesses Walter Jap and Robert Liveston and others
page 620, Janet Liveston Janet Liveston Lawful Daughter to Robert Liveston and Ann Campbel his Spouse in the Coll work of fordal was Born the 21st of September 1792 and Baptized the 23 Instant Before these witnesses David lockhart John Roxburgh and others.
page 628, Archibald Liviston 1793 Archibald Liviston lawful son to Archibald Liviston & Gresal Muir was born 30th Noveb 1793 and Baptized 8th of Decmber Before thes witnesses Thomas Muir Walter Jap and others
page 633, James Livingston 1795 James Livingston Lawful son to Robt Livingston and Ann Campbell in Fordal hill was born Sept 20th and baptized the 22d
page 637, Agnes Livingston Agnes Livingston Lawful Daughter to Robt Livingston and Agnes Campbell was born March 23, 1797
page 642, Betty Livingston 1799 Betty lawful daughter to Archibald Livingston and Grizel Muir in Fordel Collery was born 30th Jany and Baptized 4th Febuary 1799 by Mr Brown.
page 644, Grisel Livingston Grisel, lawful daughter to Robert Livingston and Ann Campbel in Fordel Coal Hill was born Octr 19th 1800
page 649, Duncan Livistone Duncan Lawful son to Robt Livistone & Ann Campbell was born Decr 4th day 1802
page 656, Helen Livingstone Helen lawful daughter to Robert Livingstone and Ann Campbell was born on the 24th of April 1805 and baptised 28th of said month
page 659, Archibald Livingstone Archibald lawful son to Robert Livingstone and Anne Campbell in Fordel Colliery was born 28th January 1807
page 663, Robert Livingstone Robert lawful son to Robert Livingstone and Nany Campbell was born 31 of Oct 1808
page 665, Archibald Livistone Archibald lawful son to James Livistone and Christian Livistone parish of Shotts was born 25th of July 1807 1808
page 665, Agnes Livistone Agnes lawful daughter to James Livistone and Christian Livistone parish of Shotts was born 18th January 1811
page 672, Grizel Livingstone Grizel lawful daughter to James Livingstone and Christian Livingstone was born 20th Febr 1813
page 677, Helen Livingstone Helen lawful daughter to James Livingstone and Christian Livingstone was born March 27th 1815
page 687, Catharine Livingstone Catharine lawful daughter of James Livingstone and Christian Livingstone in the Collery was born Feby 5th 1817
page --, Janet Livingstone Janet lawful daughter of James Livingstone and Christian Livingston in the colliery was born 5th sept 1822
page --, Betty Livingstone Betty lawful daughter to James Livingstone and Christian Livingstone in the colliery was born 5th July 1824
Marriages-
page 349, Archibald Livingstoune & Christian Muire
[1725] June 25 Archibald Livingstoune & Christian Muire [Murie] in Coal toune gave up their names to be proclaimed
page 481, Peter Moor Dalgety Novr 8th 1748 rec? for Peter Moor's proclamation
page 439, James Livingstone & Christian Muir May 4th 1759 James Livingstone and Christian Muir gave up their names for proclamation in order to marriage and after orderly proclamation were married July 13 1759
page 490, Archibald Livingston & Girsell Muir Dalgety 11th August 1782 This day Archibald Livingston and Girsell Muir coapeared and owned their clandestine marriage and produced their marriage Lines dated June 22. They were rebuked and seriously exhorted to repentance.
page 694, Robert Liveston & Agnes Campbell [1787] June 9th Robert Liveston in this Parish and Agnes Campbel in the parish of Dunferlmin gave up ther names for Proclamation and after orderly Proclamation were married
Deaths-
page 534, Peter Moor
[1760] March 4th Died Peter Moor Husband to Helen Simson in the New Raw
page 536, Thomas Muir [1761] Novr 2d Died Thomas Muir son to [missing portion of page] Muir
page 549, Archibald Livingstone August 3d 1772 Died Archibald Livingstone Elder Spouse to Christian Muir in the Coaltone
page 553, Christian Muir September 16th 1776 Died Christian Muir Spouse to the deceast Archebald Levingston [?, obscured by tape on edge of page]
Other Relevant Parish Register Entries [Specific Parish and Scottish Archive file number are shown in parenthesis]
Births-
page --, Helen Connor [Parish of Shotts 655]
1811 Charles Connor [underlined] Coalier at Shotts Iron Works and Helen Muirie Spouse had [?] a daughter born there upon the 28th October and baptized here upon the 17th November and named Helen Connor
page 122, James Livingstone [Parish of Shotts 655] 1833 Archibald Livingstone Coalier at Shotts Iron Works and Helen Connor his wife had a son born there upon the 1st day of December and Baptized by the Rev John Black Minister of this Parish upon the 5th of the said month and Named James
page 135, Charles Livingston [Parish of Shotts 655] AD 1835 Archibald Livingstone Coalier at Shotts Iron Works & Helen Connor his lawfully married wife had a Son born there upon the 16th day of March and baptized by the Rev John Black Minister of this Parish upon the 3d day of April 1835 and named Charles
page 388, Jane Livingston [Parish of New Monkland or Airdrie 651] Jane Livingston Daugr of Arch Livingston Miner Airdrie & Jane Brown his Spouse was born 12th Janry 1841
page 361, Isobella Livingston [Parish of New Monkland or Airdrie 651] Isobella Livingston Daughr of Archibald Livingstone Miner Airdrie and Jane Brown his Spouse was born 10th July 1843
page 400, Archibald Livingston [Parish of New Monkland or Airdrie 651] Archd Livingston Son of Archd Livingston, Miner in Airdrie & Jane Brown his Spouse was born 7th Decr 1845
page 450, William Livingston [Parish of New Monkland or Airdrie 651] William Livingston Son of Archibald Livingston Miner in Airdrie & Jane Bain his Spous was born 28th April & bapt. 7th May 1848
Marriages-
page 198, Robert Livistone & Agnes Campbell [Parish of Dunfermline 424]
[1787] June 1st Robert Livistone Coalhewer in the Parish of Dalgetty and Agnes Campbell in this Parish gave in their Names for proclamation in Order to marriage and being regularly proclaimed and no objections made they were married
page 37, Archibald Livingston & Helen Connor [Parish of Shotts 655] Proclamation 1832 Dec 2 Archibald Livingstone & Helen Conner both in this parish
page --, Archibald Livingston & Jean Bain [Parish of Old Monkland or Coatbridge 652] Proclamations 1840 February 8 Archibald Livingston & Jean Bain both in this parish have given in their names in order to proclamation of banns. 2 days.
Deaths-
page 167, Helen Conner [Parish of Shotts 655]
Mortcloth
1837 Oct 18 Helen Conner Wife to Archibald Livingstone aged 26
page --, Robert Livingstone [Parish of Shotts 655] Mortcloth 1838 July 22 Robert, son of James Livingstone Shotts Iron Works aged 12 years
page --, James Livingstone [Parish of Shotts 655] Mortcloth 1839 June 8 James Livingstone, Collier, Shotts Iron Works, aged 56 years
page --, Jean Livingstone [Parish of New Monkland or Airdrie 655] Mortcloth 1847 Jany 25 Jean, Daughter of Archibald Livingstone, Collier, Airdrie, aged 6 years
page 237, Archibald Livingstone [Parish of Shotts 655] Mortcloth 1849 April 30 Archibald Livingstone, Miner, Airdrie, aged 40 years
Notes
- ↑ (8 October 2011) Old Parish Registers.
Pages in category "Old Parish Register"
This category contains only the following page.