Ardchattan, Argyllshire, Scotland Genealogy

Parish #504

History
In 1829 Muckairn became its own parish and broke off from Ardchattan. New parish church opened in 1836. It is 8 miles from Oban. This parish was named for named for Caatan who was a companion of Catan in the year 563. It was once the residence of “Maodan” a popish saint. The major land owner was Sir Duncan Campbell, the Marquis of Breadalbane. The land was primarily used for, Iron Smelting, farming, wood, cattle, and  sheep.

The population in 1831 was 1650 and in 1841 it was 1452. The registers of births and marriage do not commence at an earlier date than 1758 “owing to the negligence of parents and parties concerned." The number of communicants is above 300, and not above 10 dissenters from the established church.

A place of worship in connection with the Free Church of Scotland is now being built about six miles distant.

This account was written in 1843. Source: New Statistical Account of Scotland (FHL book 941 B4sa, series 2 vol. 7) also available online at http://edina.ac.uk/stat-acc-scot/. Browse the scanned pages under 'For non-subscribers,' then search for the parish report.

Condition of Original Records—
Births: There are four irregular entries for 1755–1761 recorded in February of 1820. On the whole, only a few irregular entries exist October 1762–1783, but there are about twenty entries for 1765–1767. Two families’ entries, covering the period 1770–1794, are recorded on one page at December 1790. Entries are frequently out of chronological order. Marriages: The record is blank between November 1762–January 1766 and January 1768–November 1783, except for one entry in1780. No entries were made between April 1789 and January 1790. Source: Key to the Parochial Registers of Scotland, by V. Ben Bloxham, pub. 1970. British book 941 K23b.

Established Church—Kirk Session Records
There are no known records.

Ardchattan Free Church
History— The minister of the united parishes of Ardchattan and Muckairn left the Established Church at the Disruption in 1843. The charges were at once disjoined and the minister continued in the parish of Ardchattan. The church was erected in 1844. For a further history of the congregation, see Appin in Lismore parish. Membership: 1848, 100; 1900, 37. 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 ministers.

Records— The extent of pre-1855 records is unknown.

[Return to the Argyllshire parish list]