Bracadale, Inverness-shire, Scotland Genealogy

Bracadale #109

History
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The name of the parish, which appears to be compounded of the Celtic adjective breac (spotted), and the Norse word, dale (field), has been the same from time immemorial.

It is bounded on the south and south-west by the sea; on the north, by the parish of Duirinish; on the east by the parishes of Snizort and Portree; and on the south-east by the parish of Strath.

The staple produce of the parish is sheep and cattle, on which considerable attention is bestowed.

At the time of the last Statistical Account, the population was 2250 souls. By the last census it was 1769, and since that period there has been a farther decrease. This decrease is solely to be ascribed to the system of farming which has for some time been adopted, namely, throwing a number of farms into one large tack for sheep-grazing, and dispossessing and setting adrift the small tenants.

The parochial register is but of a recent date, and is regularly kept as the present state of the law will admit; for, without a legislative enactment rendering it imperative on parties to register births and deaths, no regularity can ever be expected in the matter.

The parish church is situated in a hollow spot of ground on the north side of a small arm of Loch Bracadale, called Lochbeg. It was built in 1831 and affords accommodation to between 500 and 600 sitters, of which is free. The manse was built about forty years ago, and received some additions and repairs in 1828.

This account was written December 1840.

Source: New Statistical Account of Scotland, FHL book 941 B4sa, series 2, vol. 14.

Condition of Original Registers—
Index: For an index to these records, see the Scottish Church Records Index available on computers at the Family History Library and family history centers. The records may be indexed in the International Genealogical Index. Birth: The record proper begins August 1803, but there is a separate register for Minginish commencing August 1802. There is a draft of the former 1813–1819. Marriage record proper begins January 1803. There is one entry for both 1809 and 1810; two entries for 1812; none for 1813; two for 1815, 1816, and 1818 respectively. There is a separate record for Minginish January 1802–1818. A large portion of the entries dated between January and March of each year. Source: Key to the Parochial Registers of Scotland, by V. Ben Bloxham, pub. 1970. British Book 941 K23b.

Established Church—Old Parochial Registers
Bracadale Kirk session records, 1800-1919 Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH2/783.

Bracadale Free Church
History— The minister of Bracadale, with his congregation, adhered to the Free Church in 1843. He was immediately translated to Musselburgh, but another minister was settled in December 1843. Steps were taken for the building of a new church in the end of 1854. Membership:1855, 400. Source: Annals of the Free Church of Scotland, 1943-1900, 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.