Hawick, Roxburghshire, Scotland Genealogy

Hawick (#789)

Condition of Original Registers--
Indexed: For an index to these records, see the Scottish Church Records Index on computer at the Family History Library and family history centers. Some records may be indexed in the International Genealogical Index. Births: There are no entries June 1657–August 1669. There is a double record November 1699–November 1719.also a duplicate January 1723–June 1726. There are no entries August 1747–June 1756, and irregular entries are frequent after 1770. Marriages: There are no entries August 1730–August 1751 and except eleven transcribed entries of proclamation fees 1806–1815, November 1800–1821, from which date until 1826 proclamations are recorded. There are no entries 1826–1834. Deaths: Records are Mortcloth Dues until 1775, after which deaths are recorded. Source: Key to the Parochial Registers of Scotland, by V. Ben Bloxham, pub. 1970. British Book 941 K23b.

Established Church—Kirk Session Records
Minutes 1700–1704, 1711–1725, 1751–1752, 1756, 1768, 1786–1788, 1790, 1798, 1807, 1815, 1821–1826, 1833–1960 Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH2/1122.

Hawick Free Church
History— John Aikman Wallace, minister of Hawick, and the bulk of his congregation, "came out" at the Disruption. Church and manse were completed in 1844. With the growth of the population came the necessity for church extension, and in 1866, 127 members were disjoined to form St. Andrew's Free Church congregation. A mission was also undertaken, which developed into West Port Territorial Church. Membership: 1848, 700; 1900, 647. Source: Annals of the Free Church of Scotland, 1843–1900, ed. Rev. William Ewing, D.D., 2 vols. pub. 1914. Film #918572. More details may be given in the source.

Records— Baptismal Register 1842–1882 Marriage Register 1843–1872 Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH3/1151.

Hawick West Associate Presbyterian Church
History— Several persons resident in and about Hawick acceded to the Associate Presbytery in 1741 and were included in the congregation of Midholm. Hawick and Midholm are nine miles apart and it was very inconvenient for the people in one place to attend public worship regularly at the other. In order to accommodate the members in Hawick, the minister of the Midholm congregation preached every third Sabbath of the month at Hitleburn, a farm near Hawick. This arrangement continued until 1763 when the members of Midholm, at their own request, were disjoined and formed a separate congregation. The first church was built in 1766; the second built 1823. A new church was built in 1872 in Orrock Place and opened in 1874. Source: Annals and Statistics of the United Presbyterian Church, by Rev. William MacKelvie, D.D., pub. 1873. Film #477618. More details may be given in the source.

Records— Extent of records is unknown.

Hawick East Bank Associate Burger Presbyterian Church
History— This congregation originated with members of the First congregation of Selkirk, who, on account of the inconvenience of traveling regularly there, applied to the Associate Burgher Presbytery of Kelso to be disjoined and formed into a separate congregation, which was formally done in 1773. Church built 1780. Source: Annals and Statistics of the United Presbyterian Church, by Rev. William MacKelvie, D.D., pub. 1873. Film #477618. More details may be given in the source. Records— Extent of records is unknown.

Allars Relief Presbyterian Church
History— This congregation originated in a deficiency of accommodation in the parish church, that church, until the time of the Disruption, being both small and uncomfortable. The persons who withdrew from it on this account were taken, upon application, under the inspection of the Relief Presbytery of Kelso, 1810. Church built 1811. Source: Annals and Statistics of the United Presbyterian Church, by Rev. William MacKelvie, D.D., pub. 1873. Film #477618. More details may be given in the source.

Records— Extent of records is unknown.

Hawick Evangelical Union
History— In 1798 James Haldane and John Aikman preached in Hawick to large congregations. From their joint labours sprang the first Congregational church in the Borders. In 1804 the congregation built the Tabernacle in the Kirk Wynd, and in November of the following year a church was formally constituted and Charles Gray, a student of Robert Haldane’s Academy in Edinburgh, was called to the pastorate. For a time the congregation prospered. Then Gray was converted to Baptist views along with the Haldanes themselves and the Church was a good as swamped in the immersion of its minister’. The reappearance of Congregationalism in Hawick in the 1823 was due to the evangelical zeal of James Douglas of Cavers. In 1824, Francis Dick, a native of Monifieth, came to the district on his first preaching tour of the south of Scotland. He preached in Hawick and in other areas and continued to do so for nineteen years. As a result of his labors a Congregational church of fifteen members was formed in 1836, with William Munro as pastor the following year. This church seems to have ceased about 1878. Another Congregational church was formed in the town in April 1842 but ceased about 1845. The present church in Hawick was formed in connection with the Evangelical Union in May 1848 by 45 members of William Munro’s church. Alexander, or Archibald, Duff became the first pastor in the following year. The congregation formally joined the Evangelical Union in 1859. The Evangelical Union and Congregational Union combined in 1896. Source: A History of Scottish Congregationalism, by Harry Escott, pub. 1960; FHL British Book 941 K2es. Source contains more details and a list of ministers.

Records— Extent of records is unknown. For more information write to: The United Reformed Church, Scottish Synod Office PO Box 189 240 Cathedral Street Glasgow G1 2BX Scotland

Hawick Baptist Church
History— This congregation was originally formed as Congregational, as mentioned above, but joined the Baptist church when its minister, Charles Gray, was converted. In 1813 Gray left Hawick and the Tabernacle was abandoned and sold. Other members left over the years and a Mr. Thornburn was appointed leader of the few that remained and continued until his death in 1836. They were visited from time to time by the Evangelist of the Baptist Union, and their number gradually increased until August 1846 when the church was formed with 23 members. A church building was constructed in 1883 and a hall and vestries were added in 1891. Source: History of the Baptists in Scotland, by Rev. George Yuille, pub. 1926; FHL British Book 941 K2hi Source contains a list of ministers

Records— Extent of records is unknown. For more information write to: The Baptist Union Office Baptist Church House 14 Aytoun Road Glasgow G41 5RT Scotland

Hawick Catholic Church
History— This congregation was formed in 1838 but the church wasn’t built and consecrated to Saint’s. Mary and David in 1843. It was served from Edinburgh earlier.

Records— Baptisms 1847–1895 Marriages 1847–1895 Obituaries 1855–1887 Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record RH21/79. See Edinburgh for earlier records.

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