Ladykirk, Berwickshire, Scotland Genealogy

Parish #746

This is a guide to the history and major genealogical records of Scotland as they pertain to the parish of Ladykirk.

= 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 Church Records.

Here are the pre-1855 records that exist for this parish.

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: There are no entries March 1715–January 1722. Only two entries exist April 1732–April 1733. The pages are blank May 1741–February 1743. After April 1750, a portion of the record from 1747 is copied, with continuation of the principal register. Part of the page at 1750 is torn off. There are only a few irregular entries October 1754–December 1760. Irregular entries are numerous about 1787–1788. Mothers’ names are rarely recorded until 1733. Marriages: The pages are blank 1715–January 1783 and June 1786–April 1788. From 1788 to 1805 the entries identify the place of marriage. After 1805, there is only a record of proclamation money. It commences March 1802 and ends April 1817. Deaths: Burials; have no entries existing January 1786–June 1788. After January 1807, only Mortcloth Dues are recorded. 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.

Minutes 1697–1745, 1811–1933 Accounts 1787–1821 Seat Rent Accounts 1812–1824 Collections 1697–1752, 1756–1762 Disbursements 1697–1752, 1756–1762 List of Ministers 1694–1905 Detailed Lists of Inhabitants 1811, 1831 Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH2/660 &amp; 1092.

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.

Horndean Burgher, later United Presbyterian Church
History— Several members of the parishes of Ladykirk and Hutton left the Established Church about a year and a half before the Disruption and joined the Secession. These members helped form the Secession congregation of Dunse. When seceding congregations formed in neighboring parishes, some of the Ladykirk and Hutton Seceders joined them. In 1784, the group applied to the Associate, Burgher Presbytery of Kelso for supply of sermon at Horndean in Ladykirk parish. The following year the Seceders organized their own church. They built a place of worship in 1786 and enlarged it in 1812. Source: Annals and Statistics of the United Presbyterian Church, by Rev. William MacKelvie, D.D., pub. 1873. Film #477618. More details are given in the source.

Records— There are no known pre-1855 records.

= Civil 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 Berwickshire parish list.