Coldstream, Berwickshire, Scotland Genealogy

Parish #733

This is a guide to the history and major genealogical records of Scotland as they pertain to the parish of Coldstream.

= History =

Available online at http://edina.ac.uk/stat-acc-scot/. Browse the scanned pages via the parish reports.

= Census Records =

A census record is a count and description of the population, taken by the government, arranged by locality and by household. Read more about census records.

= Church Records =

The Established Church of Scotland was Presbyterian. Read more about church records.

Here are the pre-1855 records that exist for this parish.

Condition of Original Registers—
Index: 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 records November 1704–February 1710. Entries are frequently out of chronological order. Mothers’ names are rarely recorded until 1804. Marriages: Some proclamation fees, etc., are intermixed with other matters until 1713. The records are missing November 1713–October 1766, after which the records are separated. There are only five entries for January 1767–November 1784. Deaths: Mortcloth Dues are intermixed with other matters until 1713. Source: Key to the Parochial Registers of Scotland, by V. Ben Bloxham, pub. 1970. British Book 941 K23b.

Established Church—Kirk Session Records
The Kirk session was the court of the parish. The Kirk session was made up of he minister and the land owners and business men of the parish, chosen to serve on the session. The Kirk session dealt with moral issues, minor criminal cases, matters of the poor and education, matters of discipline, and the general concerns of the parish. Kirk session records may also mention births, marriages, and deaths.

Early minutes, disciplinary matters, and distribution of funds are intermixed with the parish registers to 1714 on the first film above.

Nonconformist Church Records
A nonconformist church is any church that is not the Established church. Read more about nonconformity in Scotland in the article on the Scotland Church Records Union List.

Coldstream, West Associate Burgher Church
History— A few residents of Coldstream attending the Stitchel congregation applied for and obtained supply of sermon in 1767 from the Associate, Burgher Presbytery of Edinburgh. They built their first church in 1768 and another one in 1806. Membership: 1834, 155 families. Source: Annals and Statistics of the United Presbyterian Church, by Rev. William MacKelvie, D.D., pub. 1873. Film #477618. More details are given in the source.

Records— Extent of the records is unknown.

Coldstream, East Relief Church
History— When several families who belonged to the Relief Church moved to Coldstream in 1824, they applied for and obtained supply of sermon from the Relief Presbytery of Kelso. They built a church in 1826. Membership: 1836, 55 families. Source: Annals and Statistics of the United Presbyterian Church, by Rev. William MacKelvie, D.D., pub. 1873. Film #477618. More details are given in the source.

Records— The extent of records is unknown.

Coldstream Free Church
History—Occasional services were supplied here in 1843 under the Presbytery of Duns and Chirnside. The charge was sanctioned in 1845 and the first minister installed in 1847. Membership: 1848, 221; 1900, 360. Source: Annals of the Free Church of Scotland, 1843–1900, ed. Rev. William Ewing, D.D., 2 vols. pub. 1914. Film #918572. More details are given in the source. Records— Extent of the records is unknown.

= Civil Registration Records =

Government or civil registration of births, marriages, and deaths (also called Statutory records) began on January 1, 1855 in Scotland. Each parish has a registrar's office and large cities have several. The records are created by the registrars and copies are sent to the General Register Office in Edinburgh. Annual indexes are then created for the records for the whole country. See the article on Scotland Civil Registration for more information and to access the records.

= Probate Records =

Read more about Scotland Probate Records.

Return to the Berwickshire Parish list.