Dundonald, Ayrshire, Scotland Genealogy

Dundonald, Ayr, Scotland, (#590)

History
This account was written in 1841.

This parish derives its name from a small green hill adjoining the village, on which stands the ruins of an ancient feudal castle. The etymology of the word is so obvious as to require no explanation. But who the Celtic chief was, that gave his name to the hill or fortlet, cannot now be ascertained.

Fullarton, Troon, and Dundonald are the major towns.

The M’Kerrells of Hillhouse are the only family who have retained possession of their patrimonial estate in any thing like an entire shape. The date of the original grant or purchase is unknown, but it is supposed to have descended in regular succession for 500 years.

Lady May Montgomery, lady of SirCharles Lab, Bart. (Auchans); His Grace the Duke of Portland, (Fullarton); and Sir John C. Fairlie, Bart. (Fairlie) are the major land owners. The land was primarily used for, dairy cows, cattle, sheep, turnips, and potatoes. The population in 1791 was 1317. TheThe parish registers as in most other parishes in Scotland, from the accidents of time, but more especially from the slovenly way in which they have been originally kept, are in a very imperfect state. The oldest volume bears the date of 1602.

There are in all about 1886 Dissenters belonging to different denominations, but consisting chiefly of Burghers, Relief, Baptists, and Roman Catholics.

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

Established Church—Old Parochial Registers
Years Covered FHL Film Number Births: 1673–1820 1041339 item 3–4 1819–1855 1041340 Marriages: 1679–1709, 1722–1823 1041339 item 3–4 1820–1854 1041340 Deaths: 1763–1821 1041339 item 3–4 1820–1854 1041340

Condition of Original Registers—
Index: For an index to these records, see the Scottish Church Records Index on computer at the Family History Library under “Databases on the Network.” Births: The early part of the record is a copy. The mothers' names are not recorded until May of 1754. Marriages:The early portion of the record is a copy. Deaths: Deaths and burials are mixed. Source: Key to the Parochial Registers of Scotland, by V. Ben Bloxham, pub. 1970 British book 941 K23b.

Established Church—Kirk Session Records
Minutes 1602–1612, 1628–1643, 1702–1781, 1809–1873 Accounts 1761–1877 Statute Labor Lists 1824 Parochial Board Contains a List of Persons Entitled to Vote 1848 Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH2/104.

Troon Associate, later United Presbyterian Church
History— The Rev. Mr. Campbell of Irvine, assisted occasionally by other ministers in the neighborhood, was in the habit of preaching in the Sabbath evenings at Troon. A place of worship was erected there in 1822, but it was not finished when the ministers of the established church also began to perceive the spiritual destitution of the place, and undertook to supply it with sermon. By some means, not well accounted for, they got possession of the place of worship, then recently erected, and the congregation which had been gathered in it, not deeming it expedient to contend about the property, agreed to dissolve. In 1838, a church extension chapel was erected in Troon, to which the congregation formed in connection with the established church removed, and the place of worship erected in 1822 was thereby left unoccupied. The seceders applied for and obtained supply of sermon from the United Associate Presbytery of Kilmarnock that year. The original place of worship was purchased by the seceders. A new church was built in 1843. The old church is now occupied by the Free Church. Source: Annals and Statistics of the United Presbyterian Church, by Rev. William MacKelvie, D.D., pub. 1873. Film #477618.

Records— The extent of records is unknown.

Troon Free Church
History— Office-bearers and members who "came out" at the Disruption formed the congregation here. The buildings first occupied by them were those subsequently used as the court buildings of Troon. The manse was built before 1850, and the church in Portland Street, in 1856. Membership: 1848, 170; 1900, 404. 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— The extent of pre–1855 records is unknown.

Dundonald Free Church
History— This congregation was formed at the Disruption and was at first under the charge of Mr. Burns of Monkton, with the assistance of a probationer. The church was built in 1843, and the manse in 1849. The church was reconstructed in 1885. Membership: 1848, 165; 1900, 115. Source:Annals of the Free Church of Scotland, 1843–1900, ed. Rev. William Ewing, D.D., 2 vols. pub. 1914. Film #918572.

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