Sleat, Inverness-shire, Scotland Genealogy

Sleat # 115

History
Sleat forms the south-eastern part of the Island of Skye. The parish commences to the north of Kyle-rhea, a narrow ferry which separates Skye from the mainland of Glenelg, and it extends to the south-west along the sea. To the north, it is bounded by the parish of Strath, from which it is divided by a high ridge of hill from Kyle-rhea to Loch-in-daal. Opposite to Loch-in-daal, another branch of the sea, called Loch-Eishart, comes in from the westward, and is separated from Loch-in-daal by a narrow isthmus, about half a mile in breath. The parish from Loch-in-daal forms a peninsula, extending westward to the point of Sleat. The population is located on both sides of this parish.

There are no town or villages in the parish. A parliamentary road runs through the parish, opening the communication from Armadale to Broadford, a distance of sixteen miles. There are also district roads connecting different parts of the parish. A steam-boat from Glasgow to Portree calls once a week in the summer, and once in three weeks in the winter.

Lord Macdonald is the sole proprietor of the parish.

The only register belonging to the parish is that of births and marriages, commencing in 1813, and regularly kept since that period.

The church is situated at Kilmore about the middle of the parish. It is an old building, and has the date 1631 marked on it. It has been lately repaired, and is seated for nearly 500.

This account was written December 1840.

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. Some records may be indexed in the International Genealogical Index. Births: Original record is injured by dampness. There is, however, a copy with a slightly different form of entry. Marriages: The original of this record was also injured by dampness, but there are two copies of the portion previous to 1818. No entries December. 1817–1820. Source: Key to the Parochial Registers of Scotland, by V. Ben Bloxham, pub. 1970. British Book 941 K23b.

Established Church—Kirk Session Records
None available.

Sleat Free Church
History— Those adhering to the Free Church in 1843 formed the congregation in Sleat, and elders were ordained in July of that year. The failure of a call addressed to a minister in 1844 made the situation uncertain, and some time elapsed before further action could be taken. At length in 1853 a satisfactory settlement was obtained. Steps were taken to build a church in 1855. Membership: 1855, 200; 1900, 40. Source: Annals of the Free Church of Scotland, 1943–1900, ed. Rev. William Ewing, D.D., 2 vols.,pub. 1914. Film #918572. More details may be given in the source, including list of ministers.

Records— The extent of records is unknown.