Kincardine O'Neil, Aberdeenshire, Scotland Genealogy

Parish #209

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

History
KINCARDINE O'NEIL, a parish, in the district of Kincardine O'Neil, county of Aberdeen, 11 miles (S. by E.) from Alford. This place, which is of some antiquity, derives its name from its situation near the termination of a range of hills; and its distinguishing adjunct, O'Neil, from the name of a rivulet which flows round the village. The church is an ancient structure, of which the date is unknown. The roof was destroyed by fire in 1733, and only the walls, which are built of small stones imbedded in lime, left standing: the edifice was, however, restored immediately, has since been repaired, and is now in good condition, affording accommodation for a congregation of 640 persons. The members of the Free Church have a place of worship.

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 reports for your parish of interest. 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: After September 1753, occur three pages of irregular entries 1753–1787. Record then resumes November 1757. Record is blank except a few entries, 1764–1782; but between 1782–1790, many entries occur applicable to the previous blank. Irregular entries are frequent after 1792. Marriages: Records are blank December 1736–October 1789, and November 1816–May 1844 except two entries, 1833, 1839, and 13 transcribed entries relating to proclamation dues 1816–1821. Deaths: Mortcloth Dues 1712–1782, with one entry for 1791. Burials October 1783–January 1786. Source: Key to the Parochial Registers of Scotland, by V. Ben Bloxham, pub. 1970. British Book 941 K23b. Monumental Inscriptions: FHL Book 941.25/K4 V3s.

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:

Minutes 1710–1735, 1827–1844 Disbursements 1706–1732 Collections 1706–1736 Penalties 1706–1712 Accounts 1822–1853 Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH2/856. Kincardine O’Neil Presbytery

Records— Various Minutes 1700–1959 Separate Registers 1744–1905 Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH2/602.

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.

Cluny Free Church
History—  The congregation here was formed at the Disruption, and a probationer was placed in charge. The church, manse, and school were built in 1843–1844. The church stood in a rural district with a United Presbyterian church less than a mile distant. Membership: 1848, 160; 1900, 141. 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— Session and Deacon’s Court Minutes 1844–1933 Seat Rent Book 1853–1883 Other post-1855 records Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH3/369.

Kincardine O’Neil Free Church
History—  The congregation here was formed at the Disruption, and services were provided for the village of Kincardine O’Neil, and for Torphins. A church was erected near Craigmyle, and opened in Novemberember following. The manse was built in 1844. The congregation suffered from decrease of the rural population until about 1890, when the growth of Torphins improved matters again. Membership: 1848, 160; 1900, 112. 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— No known surviving records.

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
Kincardine O'Neil was under the probate jurisdiction of the Commissary Court of Aberdeen until 1823, and since then has been under the Sheriff's Court of Aberdeen. 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 Aberdeen and the subject of 'Probate records.' Then click on the link to the records of the Commissariat of Aberdeen. The library also has some post-1823 probate records for Aberdeen. Look in the library catalog for the 'Place-names' of Aberdeen and the subjects of 'Probate Records' and 'Probate Records - Indexes.' Read more about Scotland Probate Records.