Dirleton, East Lothian, Scotland Genealogy

Parish #705

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

= 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 Scotland Census Records.

= Church Records =

The Established Church of Scotland was Presbyterian. Read more about Scotland Church Records.

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

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: Births and marriages are intermixed prior to 1683. Births are blank July 1693–February 1698, and December 1702–January 1713 excluding five entries for 1707. Mothers’ names not recorded until February 1698. Marriages: Records are blank December 1690–May 1698, February 1700–June 1705, November 1705–February 1713, and June 1748–May 1759. The leaves of the record 1713–1759, are all more or less imperfect, and the greater part of the leaf after October 1760 has been destroyed. Deaths: “Mortcloth Dues” until 1703; then record is blank until 1830, after which there are burials. 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.

Records—                                             FHL Film Number  Church Minutes    1664–1736    1067795 item 3–6 Other: Minutes and Accounts 1655–1658, 1703–1727, 1737–1787 Register of Deaths 1783–1792 Minutes 1806–1817 - lists of poor included 1817–1843, 1848–1911 Excerpts from Minutes 1655–1845 with reference to the poor fund Accounts 1752–1805 Kirk Session Funds 1822–1845, 1847–1903 Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH2/1157.

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.

The New Statistical Account of Scotland for Dirleton 1836 states that there were 87 dissenters within the parish at that time and they attended services in North Berwick or elsewhere.

Dirleton Free Church
History— The minister of the parish “came out” in 1843. The congregation worshiped for a time in a barn at Castlemains. A site was speedily secured, and a church erected. Membership: 1848, 180; 1900, 190. 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 including a list of ministers.

Records—                                                             FHL Film Number  Session Minutes           1844–1932           1484191 item 2–3 Communion Roll            1843–1896           1484191 item 2–3

= 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 East Lothian parish list.