Gordon, Berwickshire, Scotland Genealogy

Parish #742

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

= 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 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: Births are intermixed with other matters and marriages until 1677. The records are separate July 1677–August 1689 at the end of volume one. They are again intermixed 1708–March 1818. There are two entries only for May 1726–June 1728. Marriages: After the October 1708 births, there is a record of marriages from February 1690–May 1697. No entries exist February 1689–February 1690, May 1697–August 1708 except for a few testimonials of proclamations from other parishes, and May 1726–June 1728. Deaths: Only Mortcloth Dues are recorded 1748–1753. Burials 1784–1794 are recorded among the births and marriages for that same period. No entries exist 1794–December 1818, after which a separate record of deaths is kept. 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 1652–1718, 1818–1899 Accounts 1690–1748, 1753–1875 Names of Heads of Families 1834–1842 Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH2/457.

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

Gordon Free Church
History— This congregation began in 1843. They built a church that year which they improved in 1892. In 1834 there were only about 50 Dissenters and Seceders within the parish, and they would have attended services in neighboring parishes. Membership: 1848, 128; 1900, 159. Source: Annals of the Free Church of Scotland, 1843–1900, ed. Rev. William Ewing, D.D., 2 vols. pub. 1914. Film #918572. More details are given in the source. Records—                                                                                         FHL Film Number  Roll of Children with Baptismal Dates                 1864–1886     0889474 item 9 X Session Minutes                                               1844–1883    1484619 item 5–6 Roll of Members                                                1843–1880    1484619 item 5–6 Roll of Members                                                1880–1887    1484620 item 1 Register of Deaths and Burials                            1843–1887    1484620 item 1 Note: The X means the records have been extracted. Other: Account Book 1851–1871 Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH3/165.

= Civil Registration 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.