North Uist, Inverness-shire, Scotland Genealogy

North Uist # 113

History
The term Uist may be distinctly traced to the word Vist, which the Danes and other northern nations are said to use, signifying the west. North Uist lies nearly in the middle of the range of islands from the But, or northern-most point of the Lewis to Barra Head, the southern-most part.

The language spoken is the Gaelic, which the people speak with uncommon fluency and elegance. The people are remarkable cleanly in their habits. The men dress in kelt or cloth of native manufacture; and the women are seen to most advantage in beautiful strips and tartans of their own manufacture.

The ordinary food is potatoes and barley-bread, which are almost exclusively used among the poorer class. The small tenants of a better class use in addition, some milk in summer, and mutton and beef in winter.

In some of the burying grounds, particularly in the island of Husker, are found several crosses rudely cut on stone. Also in the parish are found two stones or obelisks of large size. There is also a ruin of large dimensions and two caves of note.

Every farm and hamlet possessed its oral recorder of tale and song. The pastoral habits of the inhabitants led them to seek recreation in listening to and in rehearsing the tales of other times; and the senachie and the bard were held in high esteem.

Grains of every description are raised, and black-cattle and sheep of small, indigenous breeds are raised. The breed of black-cattle has been immensely improved by the introduction of superior Highland cattle and bulls from various quarters.

The population in 1801 was 3019 and in 1831 was 4603.

This account was written in 1837.

Source: The New Statistical Account of Scotland, FHL book 941 B4sa, series 2, vol. 14.

Established Church—Old Parochial Registers
Condition of Original Registers— No record exists prior to 1821, and even then events from the more remote districts of the parish were irregularly recorded. Source: Key to the Parochial Registers of Scotland, by V. Ben Bloxham, pub. 1970. British Book 941 K23b.

Established Church—Kirk Session Records
None available

Nonconformist Church Records
North Uist Free Church

History— Norman MacLeod, minister of Trumisgarry Parliamentary Church, in the parish of North Uist, came out in 1843, and for some years had charge of almost the whole of the long island, the remainder being served by a catechist. The charge was sanctioned in 1849. North Uist and Trumisgarry were united in one charge in 1854. Church and manse were erected in 1858, and the mission house at Sollas in 1893. Membership: 1859, 400; 1900, 64. Source: Annals of the Free Church of Scotland, 1943-1900, ed. Rev. William Ewing, D.D., 2 Vols. Pub. 1914. Film #918572. More details may be given in the source, including a list of ministers.

Records— No known pre-1855 records.

Carinish Free Church

History— Carinish was combined with North Uist when the latter charge was sanctioned in 1849. In 1834 it was disjoined from North Uist, and united in one charge with Benbecula and Lochmaddy. It was sanctioned as a separate charge in 1869. The parish is much broken up by arms of the sea. It includes Lochmaddy and the Island of Grimsay. The population, mostly crofters, in 1855 numbered 1512, of which 674 adhered to the Free Church. Church and manse were built at Cinchan in 1890, and a mission hall and missionary dwellings at Lochmaddy about 1891. Membership: 1866, 300; 1900, 56. Source: Annals of the Free Church of Scotland, 1943-1900, ed. Rev. William Ewing, D.D., 2 Vols. pub. 1914. Film #918572. More details may be given in the source, including list of ministers.

Records— The extent of records is unknown.