Petty, Inverness-shire, Scotland Genealogy

Petty #106

History
What is now called the parish of Pettie comprehends the united parishes of Bracholy and Petyn, situate within the ancient providence or diocese and the modern synod of Moray, and in the county and presbytery of Inverness; with the exception of a pendicle of Lord Cawdor’s property, called Calder’s Braichlich, which is in the county of Narin.

The history north of Scotland, previous to the twelfth century, with the exception of some few particulars, may be classed with that of the ages of fable and romance. By the time the name of Petyn noticed in history; and mention made of castle, which seems to have been erected either as defense in case of invasions by the Danes from the sea, or as a stronghold, in order to retain possession of the country upon the subjugation of the Moraymen in the reign of Malcolm IV.

The ancient territory of Petty and Brachly, comprehending at least the whole modern parish, first occurs in record as part of the possessions of a branch of the great family of De Moravia, who seem to have held these lands as tenants of the Crown, from the end of the twelfth century; and early in the thirteenth century.

The only individual of eminence connected with this parish by birth was Dr. James Fraser, the liberal benefactor of King’s College, Aberdeen. He was the son of Mr. Alexander Fraser, minister of this parish from 1633 till 1683.

Pettie may be described as an entirely agricultural parish, since the whole population, with the exception of the fishers, are employed directly in agriculture, or the subservient arts. Produce grown includes turnips, potatoes, hay, pasture grass, oats, wheat and barley.

From 1633 to 1683, Alexander Fraser, was incumbent, and there is a register of births only during this time, no marriages were recorded. The session-records begin in 1644; but the first few leaves of the volume were destroyed from its not having been bound until recently.

This account was written in the autumn of 1839 and revised February 1841.

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

Condition of Original Registers—
Index: For an index to these records, see the Scottish Church Records Index available on computers at the Family History Library and family history centers. The records may be indexed in the International Genealogical Index. Births: There are no entries October 1659–January 1704; May 1739–June 1749, except five irregular entries 1742–1748. There is one entry April 1753–November 1755 and no entries May 1757–November 1758. Preceding the original register, which begins 1758, there is inserted at the beginning of volume 2 a copy for the period 1758–1769. There is also a record of births, marriages and deaths extending 1800–1819, in which the different classes of events are entered promiscuously in the order of their dates with session minutes occasionally interjected. Marriages: Records1657–1660 are recorded on the first page of volume one, then no entries until 1704, from which date to 1739 the marriages are intermixed with the births. There are no entries March 1739–November 1758; December 1762–January 1770 and December 1777–November 1783; and February 1792–January 1802. Source: Key to the Parochial Registers of Scotland, by V. Ben Bloxham, pub. 1970. British Book 941 K23b.

Established Church—Kirk Session Records
Minutes 1644–1935 Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH2/458.

Petty Free Church
History— The minister of Petty adhered to the Free Church in 1843, but left shortly after the Disruption. Church and manse were built in 1848. A minister was settled in 1851. A church hall was added in 1897; and in 1898 a mission hall was erected at Loch and Flemington. Membership: 1855, 30; 1900, 107. Source: Annals of the Free Church of Scotland, 1843–1900, ed. Rev. William Ewing, D.D., 2 Vols. Pub. 1914. Film #918572. Source contains a list of ministers.

Records— No known pre-1855 records.

Return to Inverness-shire parish list.