Fenwick, Ayrshire, Scotland Genealogy

Parish #592

History
The parish anciently formed part of Kilmarnock. In 1642, it was disjoined from that parish, and was for some time known by the name of New-Kilmarnock. It appears to have derived its present name from Fenwick hill, in the neighborhood of the church. Fenwick is the nearest town. The Rev. Mr. Guthrie was the eldest son of a numerous family, three of whom devoted themselves to the work of the Christian ministry. About the age of 20 he made over the estate of which he was heir to his brother, that he might have not worldly cares to withdraw him from his studies and the duties of the sacred office. At the age of 24 he was appointed to the pastoral charge of this parish. He did a great deal to turn the parish and the members around to piety. The population in 1831 was 2019. The population in 1842 was 2020. One third of the population belongs to the Established Church and the rest to the Dissenting Church.

This history was written in 1842.

source: New Statistical Account of Scotland (FHL book 941 B4sa, series 2 vol. 5)

Established Church—Old Parochial Register
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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:Prior to 1728, many entries are imperfect. There are irregular entries, 1764–1804 on four pages at February 1788. There is an Index to early portion of the record. Marriages: Pages are blank August 1705–September1709. After 1786, the fact of marriage is seldom added to the entries of proclamation. Deaths: Burials, prior to 1748 pages wasted by damp weather. The record is incomplete March 1782–October 1785 and there are only four entries November 1788–February 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 1644–1664, 1673–1677, 1683–1685, 1691–1699 Testificates 1674–1677 Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH2/982.

Fenwick United Presbyterian Church
History— A praying society in Fenwick acceded to the Associate Presbytery in December 1737. In 1740 Mr. Smyton was ordained at Kilmaurs, and the seceders in Fenwick were included in his congregation. On the Sabbath after Mr. Boyd's ordination, he and a few friends from Stewarton entered Fenwick Church by a window, the doors having been barricaded. No parishioners attended the parish church for a time, subsequently a few of them attended. On the 6th of June 1782 a meeting was held to determine what religious denomination among the dissenters the reclaiming party should join. For a time they met in the open air or in a barn at Lettle Fenwick, until a church was built. Persons from Stewarton, Kilmaurs, and Kilmarnock joined the church and increased its prosperity. The first church was built in 1784. The second was built in 1831. 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— Baptisms 1830–1933 Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH2/1314.

Fenwick Free Church
History— At the Disruption, Robert Ferguson, minister of the parish, had just accepted a call to Edinburgh. The office-bearers and people who "came out" formed a Free Church congregation in the summer 1843. The church was built in 1844. In this year the charge was sanctioned, but no minister was settled until 1846. The manse was erected in 1852. The population declined with the '''decay of the handloom weaving industry. Membership: '''1848, 104; 1900, 72. 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— There are no known pre–1855 records.

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