Newburgh, Fife, Scotland Genealogy

Parish #450

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. The records may be indexed in the International Genealogical Index. Births: Births are intermixed with marriages until December 1785. There are no entries July 1690–May 1702, except for one 1692 and seven for 1697–1698. After 1750, occasional entries were made of children baptized by the minister of the Associate Congregation at Abernethy. There are separate records after January 1786. Marriages: There are no entries July 1690–May 1702, except for two entries of contracts of marriage 1697–1698. Source: Key to the Parochial Registers of Scotland, by V. Ben Bloxham, pub. 1970. FHL British Book 941 K23b.

Established Church—Kirk Session Records
Minutes 1652–1697, 1702–1773, 1849–1923 Accounts 1728–1751, 1812–1731 Treasurer’s Accounts 1832–1847 Note: Available at St. Andrews University Library, St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland, record CH2/277.

Nonconformist Church Records
The Statistical Account of 1836 states that there were 1008 dissenters in the parish, of which 414 were communicants. It also states that out of a population of 2868, about a third belonged to the United Associate congregation. Two hundred and four persons belonged to no religious group.

Newburgh Associate Congregation
History— In 1740, a number of persons in the parish, who had been waiting for their minister to alien himself with the founders of the Secession church, withdrew from the Established church and, along with several persons resident in the parish of Abdie, formally acceded to the Associate Presbytery and connected themselves with the Secession congregation of Abernethy. In 1785, when an unpopular minister was settled in the parish of Newburgh, a number of parishioners applied for and obtained supply of sermon from the Associate Burgher Presbytery of Perth. This made two separate groups of seceders in Newburgh. The first group continued to worship in Abernethy until the union of the two great branches of the Secession in 1820, when most of them became connected with the congregation of Newburgh and contributed to its increase. A church was built in 1785 and enlarged in 1837 and again in 1850, with seating for 850. Source: Annals and Statistics of the United Presbyterian Church, by Rev. William MacKelvie, D.D., pub. 1873. Film #477618. More details may be given in the source.

Records—                                                   FHL Film Number  Baptisms 1785–1812, 1821–1849                    0304671 item 22 Marriages 1785, 1821–1845, 1850–1864           0304671 item 22

Newburgh Relief or Second United Presbyterian Church
History— In 1841, a minority of the members of the Newburgh Associate congregation objected to the use of the church for secular purposes and as a result withdrew themselves and formed a Relief Church congregation. When formally organized in April 1842, there were 102 members. They worshiped in the Town Hall until they built a church in 1850, with seating for 400. In 1847, this congregation united with an Associate congregation to form a second United Presbyterian church in the parish. Then in 1873, when they objected to a proposal to unite with the first United Presbyterian congregation, they became an Independent congregation. They formally joined the Evangelical Union in 1893. Source: Annals and Statistics of the United Presbyterian Church, by Rev. William MacKelvie, D.D., pub. 1873. Film #477618. More details may be given in the source.

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

Newburgh Congregational Church
History— A church was formed in Newburgh in 1778. After the death of its minister in 1804, the congregation dissolved. Another church formed in 1841 and lasted until the 1870s. (See also The History of the Relief Church above.) Source: A History of Scottish Congregationalism, by Harry Escott, pub. 1960. FHL book 941 K2es. The source includes a list of ministers.

Records— The extent of pre-1855 records is unknown. For information write to: The United Reformed Church, Scottish Synod Office PO Box 189 240 Cathedral Street Glasgow G1 2BX Scotland

Newburgh Baptist Church
History— A Scottish Baptist Church was founded in 1808, and while little is known of its early history, it survived and grew and is still in existence today, though it is no longer of the Scottish form.

Records— The extent of pre-1855 records is unknown. For information write to: The Baptist Union of Scotland 12 Aytoun Road Glasgow G41 5RT Scotland

Newburgh Methodist Church
History— A Methodist church was formed in Newburgh before 1836, but nothing is known of its history or records. Attendance was always small.

See also Abdie parish.