Lochalsh, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland

Parish # 74 

This is a guide to the history and major genealogical records of Scotland as they pertain to the parish of Lochlash. To learn more about how to use these records to search for your ancestors, go to the Scotland: Research Strategies.

History
LOCHALSH, a parish, in the district of Mainland, county of Ross and Cromarty, 9 miles (W. N. W.) from Kintail; containing the village and late quoad sacra parish of Plockton. This parish, of which the name is said to be of Danish origin, and of which little of the early history is known, is situated at the south-western extremity of the county, and is bounded on the north by Loch Carron, and on the south by Loch Alsh. A church was built at Plockton by parliamentary grant in 1827, to which a quoad sacra district was assigned by act of the General Assembly in 1833.

The name of this parish is supposed to be of Danish origin. The parish has for its western boundary the Kyle, or narrow sea which separates the adjacent Island Skye from the mainland; the bays of Lochduich and Lochlong encompass it on the south; and that range of high hills which divides the east from the west coast of Scotland, bounds it on the east.

Mrs. Lillingstone of Lochalsh is sole proprietrix of the parish.

The population of the parish in 1801 was 1606, increasing to 2433 by the year 1831.

The agriculture of the parish consists of raising barley, oats, potatoes, and hay. Cows and sheep graze in the pastures.

A register of births and marriages has been kept in the parish, since the year 1820. All the families in the parish attend the Established Church, except 23 families of Roman Catholics. There is a Government church in the parish, at Plockton.

This account was written October 1838.

Source: New Statistical Account of Scotland for Lochlash, FS Library book 941 B4sa, series 2, vol. 14.

 The New Statistical Account of Scotland (pub. 1834-45) offers uniquely rich and detailed parish reports for the whole of Scotland, covering a vast range of topics including history, agriculture, education, trades, religion and social customs. The reports, written by the parish ministers, are available online at http://edina.ac.uk/stat-acc-scot/. Click on ‘Browse scanned pages’ then search the parish you are interested in. Also available at the

Census Records
A census is a count and description of the population, taken by the government, arranged by locality and by household. Read more about census records.

Here is a list of the Family History Library microfilm numbers for the as well as the library numbers for any surname indexes available:

The 1901 census of Scotland is indexed on www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk. To use it, you must register and pay a small access fee. All available censuses, 1841-1901, are indexed on this website. It may be easier for you to pay to use the website rather than access the separate indexes through the library.

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 Scotland’s People website, a pay-for-view website. The Scottish Church Records Index is also still available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. Some records may also be indexed in other FamilySearch collections for Scotland. Births:Very irregular and incomplete throughout, the whole being contained on six pages. No entries 1804–1811 inclusive. Marriages: No entries 1788–1794 and 1806–1821. 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 session was made up of the 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.

Here is a list of the surviving Kirk session records for this parish:

Records— The extent of records is unknown.

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.

Lochalsh Free Church
History— In response to an application made by the adherents of the Free Church at Dornie Ferry, the Presbytery organized a congregation at Ardleve, Lochalsh. A church was built and a minister settled in January 1844. He preached alternately at Ardleve and Dornie. In 1846–1847 the congregations of Lochalsh and Plockton became vacant. Both charges were united under the minister settled at Plockton in 1850. In 1856 it was arranged that a minister should be placed at Lochalsh and have charge also of Kintail and Glenshiel. No settlement was made until 1862. The church at Ardleve was renovated in 1866. Membership: 1861, 450; 1900, 50. 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 ministers.

Records— The extent of records is unknown.

Plockton Free Church
History— The minister of the Parliamentary Church at Plockton, with many of his people "came out" in 1843. The church and manse were soon erected. From 1850 to 1856 Lochalsh was also under the charge of the minister of Plockton. A large part of the congregation may have acceded to the Free Presbyterians in 1893. Membership: 1855, 800; 1900, 28. 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 ministers.

Records— The extent of records is unknown.

Civil Registration
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
Lochalsh was under the probate jurisdiction of the Commissary Court of Ross until 1823, and since then has been under the Sheriff's Court of Ross &amp; Cromarty. Probate records for 1513- 1901 are indexed online at www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk. You must register on the website but use of the index to probate records, called 'Wills &amp; Testaments,' is free. You may then purchase a copy of the document or, if the document is before 1823, it will be on microfilm at the Family History Library. To find the microfilm numbers, search in the library catalog for the 'Place-names' of Ross &amp; Cromarty and the subject of 'Probate records.' Then click on the link to the records of the Commissariat of Ross.

The library also has some post-1823 probate records for Ross &amp; Cromarty. Look in the library catalog for the 'Place-names' of Ross &amp; Cromarty and the subjects of 'Probate Records' and 'Probate Records - Indexes.' Read more about Scotland Probate Records.