Dalry, Ayrshire, Scotland Genealogy

 Parish #587 

History
The name means the King’s valley, a considerable portion of the parish being in the valley of Garnock. Dalry is the nearest town. The principle feature of the parish is a beautiful and fertile valley. J. Smith, Esq. of Swinridgemuir; A. Mitchell, Esq. of Maulside. Colonel Blair of Blair; and the Earl of Glasgow were the principle land owners. The land was primarily used for, wheat, oats, barley, potatoes, beans, turnips, hay, cattle, milk cows, and sheep. The population in 1793 was 2000. The population in 1835 was 3841. The registers began in 1683 but were not kept regularly until 1721. The number of families belonging to the Established Church is 500                                                        United Secession is ---122                                                         Original Burghers is -45                                                         Reformed Presbyterians is 11                                                         Relief is --13                                                         Original Seceeders is 6

This account was written in 1836. 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: Pages are blank, except three entries without year, June 1681–January 1683, July 1683–September 1685 and except four entries, May 1687–November 1689. Pages are blank, except for five entries for 1693, January 1690–November 1698, December 1690–May 1703 and three entries for 1719, and January 1705–May 1724. Imperfect page and many entries are partially destroyed, June 1763–December 1765. The records are Incomplete September 1791–January 1793. There is a page containing irregular entries 1776–1810 after December 1793. Mothers' names are not recorded. Marriages:Pages are blank August 1683–November 1698, except two entries for 1693, October 1699–November 1700, January 1705–October 1718 and December 1722–June 1724. After January 1789 bookings only are recorded, except from August 1807–January 1811 when the date or the fact of marriages is usually added. Source: Key to the Parochial Registers of Scotland, by V. Ben Bloxham, pub. 1970 British book 941 K23b.

Established Church—Kirk Session Records
None available.

Dalry Associate Burgher Church, later Court Hill Street United Presbyterian Church
History— The Rev. William Wilson, afterwards of Perth, and one of the founders of the Secession Church, was called to Dalry while a probationer and the people of that parish ever after retained a strong attachment to him. A number of the parishioners of Dalry afterwards acceded to the Associate Presbytery and were occasionally visited by Secession ministers and preachers. In 1740 Mr. Smyton was ordained at Kilmaurs, 4 miles southeast of Dalry, and the Seceders in that place were included in his congregation, the Presbytery at his ordination requiring him to preach there six Sabbaths in the year. In 1784, the members, then numbering thirty, resolved on building a place of worship, and Mr. David Boyle, previously an Elder of the parish church, who had now joined them, presented them with a piece of ground for the purpose. On it a church was built in 1785. A new church was opened on the 9th of August 1857. At the union of the two great branches of the Secession in 1820, the seceders in Dalry, who until then had traveled to Kilmaurs to attend public ordinances, generally ceased doing so, and connected themselves with the congregation of Dalry. 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— FHL Film Number Baptisms 1789–1923 1482993 item 2–3 Session Minutes 1789–1847 1482993 item 2–3 Other: Accounts 1791–1887 Stipend Receipts 1791–1831, 1834–1898 Collections 1833–1835, 1844–1857 Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH3/71.

Dalry Free Church
History— This congregation was formed in June 1843. The charge was sanctioned in February 1844. The congregation worshiped for a time in the Burgher Church. A new church was built and opened in July 1845. A school and teacher's house, afterwards erected, were taken over by the school board in 1872, the congregation reserving the right to use the building when not used for school purposes. The manse was built in 1846. The congregation split in 1885 over the choice of a minister, when 120 left with disjunction certificates. Membership: 1848, 350; 1900, 209. 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— Minutes 1843–1904 Baptismal Register 1843–1945 Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH3/1033.

Dalry, St. Palladius Catholic Church
History— In 1834, there were 34 Catholic families in Dalry. They were served from Paisley, Renfrewshire before 1845. A church was dedicated in 1848.

Records— Baptisms and Marriages 1845–1846, 1848–1908 Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, records RH21/88 &amp; 53.

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