Livingstone, West Lothian, Scotland Genealogy

Parish #669

= 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 center. Some records may be indexed in the International Genealogical Index. Births: They are intermixed with marriages and other matters up to November 1641. There is a separate register of births from December 1641. There are only three entries for July 1645–December 1646 and only one for August 1650–June 1752. There are no entries for May 1662–August 1692. There are irregular entries for 1798–1799. Marriages: Prior to November 1641 marriages are intermixed with the births. There is a separate record from February 1642. There are no entries for May 1644–December 1646, only two for May 1650–February 1652, and none for December 1662–August 1692. After August 1692 the record becomes mainly one of proclamation fees until 1842. Deaths: The burials are Mortcloth Dues. 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.

Various Minutes 1640–1758, 1764, 1807–1945 Testimonials Received 1692–1707 Poor Fund Accounts 1692–1773, 1802–1837 Accounts 1833–1871 Communion Roll 1843–1865 Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH2/467.

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.

Livingston Free Church
History— The congregation was organized at the Disruption in 1843. The minister adhered to the Free Church. He resigned in 1847 due to poor health, and another was not settled until 1851. The district, originally agricultural, became the centre of the mineral oil industry. Membership: 1855, 195; 1900, 108. Source: Annals of the Free Church of Scotland, 1843–1900, ed. Rev. William Ewing, D.D., 2 vols. pub. 1914. FHL Film #0918572. More details are given in the source.

Records— Various Minutes 1844–1945 Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH3/392.

Blackburn Congregational Church
History— A congregation was formed here in 1824 but was later dissolved in 1853.

Records— The extent of records is unknown. For availability of records write to: The United Reformed Church, Scottish Synod Office P.O .Box 189 240 Cathedral Street Glasgow G1 2BX Scotland

= 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 West Lothian Parish list.