New Cumnock, Ayrshire, Scotland Genealogy

Parish #608

History
New Cumnock was separated from Cumnock in 1650. Old Cumnock, and Pathhead are the nearest towns. A large number of small coins, enclosed in a small earthern jar, and in a state of high preservation, were dug up about eight years ago. The major land owners were: The Marquis of Bute; M. T. Carmichael, Esq. of Mains; Sir Charles Menteath of Closeburn and Mansfield; and D. S. Buchannan, Esq. of Cunninghamehead. The land was primarily used for, oats, barley, wheat, potatoes, turnips, hay, butter, cheese, eggs, coal, sheep, cows, and horses. The population in 1790 was 1200. The population in 1831 was 2184. The earliest entry in the parish registers is dated 1709, but the register has not been regularly kept, till within these few years.

The religious attendance of the parishioners is

Established Church --1752 Seceders ---299 Reformed Presbyterians---117

This account was written in 1838.

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

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: Births were carefully kept. No marriage or death records were kept before 1855. Source: Key to the Parochial Registers of Scotland, by V. Ben Bloxham, pub. 1970 British book 941 K23b.

Established Church—Kirk Session Records
Minutes 1833–1914 Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH2/845.

New Cumnock Free Church
History— Matthew Kirkland, minister of the parish, and nearly all the congregation "came out" at the Disruption. The church was built in 1843, the school, subsequently used as a church hall, and teacher's house in 1844, the manse in 1846. Membership: 1848, 500; 1900; 352. 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 a list of ministers.

Records— The extent of records is unknown.

Afton Free Church
History— This congregation, originally Reformed Presbyterian, joined the Free Church in 1876. Several reformed church families had settled in the area in 1780. Worship was in a small meeting house until the church was built in 1867 and the manse in 1860. The congregation was united with that in Darvel until it was disjoined in 1815. Membership: 1877, 86; 1900, 97. 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 a list of ministers.

Records— No known pre–1855 records.

Return to the Ayrshire Parish List