Kilbirnie, Ayrshire, Scotland Genealogy

Parish #596

History
The name is a compound of the common Celtic prefix Kil signifying a church or cell, and Birnie the name of the saint to whom the church was dedicated. Kilbirnie is the nearest town. Captain Thomas Crawfurd of Jordanhill was the sixth son of Laurence Crawfurd fo Kilbirnie, and Helen, daughter of Sir Hugh Canpbell of Loudon. His adventurous exploit of storming the almost impregnable castle of Dumbarton is 1571, is familiar to every one acquainted with the history of Scotland during the minority of James VI. George, fourth Earl of Glasgow; Patrick Lindsay, husband of the heiress of Kilbirnie; and the descendants of William Cochran of Edge are the major land owners. The land was primarily used for,dairy cows, cattle, sheep, wheat, barley, oats, beans, clover, rye-grass, meadow hay, flax, potatoes, and turnips. The population in 1792 was 700. The population in 1841 was 2631. The registers begin in 1688 but are not regularly kept until 1738 but have been kept regularly since that time. There were gaps when there was not a regular schoolmaster to record the information. The number of families belonging to the Establishment may be stated at 231, families belonging to the Reformed Presbytery at 60. There are a few families of Roman Catholics, and several others of no visible religious profession whatsoever.

This account was written in 1841.

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 are recorded in the same register as the marriages. Marriages: Prior to 1790, marriage entries precede the births for the same year. After 1791, they follow the birth entries. Source: Key to the Parochial Registers of Scotland, by V. Ben Bloxham, pub. 1970 British book 941 K23b.

Established Church—Kirk Session Records
Minutes 1688–1715, 1738–1793, 1796–1842, 1846–1900 Baptisms 1737–1788 Accounts 1790–1830, 1846–1923 Births, Marriages and Deaths 1845–1848 Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH2/208.

Kilbirnie East Free Church
History— This congregation was formed on June 11, 1843. A hall for public worship was erected before the month of August. The church was built in 1844, in which year the charge was sanctioned. Membership: 1848, 234; 1900; 1900, 314. 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, including a list of ministers.

Records— Minutes 1843–1906, are with Communion Roll 1843–1852. Accounts 1843–1905 Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH3/347.

Kilbirnie West Free Church
History— This congregation, originally Reformed Presbyterian, joined the Free Church in 1876. The original congregation had been formed in 1823 when disjoined from a large Reformed Congregation at Renfrew. The church, which dates from 1825, was rebuilt in 1888. The manse was erected in 1830. Membership: 1841, 130; 1877, 160; 1900, 289. 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 pre–1855 records is unknown.

Kilbirnie Catholic Church
History— Kilbirnie was a mission area before a church was established in 1852. It was served from Dalry prior to that time.

Records— Mission Baptisms 1846–1847 Note:Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record RH21/88. Other records date from 1859 but are not deposited.

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