Stewarton, Ayrshire, Scotland Genealogy

Parish #616

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

= History =

The nearest town is Stewarton. The name is evidently formed from the Surname Stewart, first used as a family distinction by Walter II in 1204. David Dale was the son of a grocer, and born, in January 1739, in a two story thatched house at the cross of Stewarton. His charity was extensive, and there are individuals living here who still partake of his bounty. The major land owners were William Cuninghame, Esq. of Lainshaw; Alexander Kerr, Esq. of Robertland; and C. S. M’Alister, Esq. of Kennox. The land was primarily used for, potatoes, dairy, oats, rye-grass, cattle, horses, sheep, and swine. The population in 1793 was 3000 and in 1841 was 4654. The registers have been preserved since 1693, though not regularly kept until 1794. Very few of the Dissenters register, and great are the inconveniences often felt from this omission. The religious attendance of the parishioners is  Relief 4, Reformed Presbytery, 5, Papists, 13, Church of England, 2, Methodists, 2, United Secession Church, 213, Original Burghers, now of the Establishment, 76, Congregationalists, 48, and Established Church communicants 1316.

This account was written in 1842.

source: New Statistical Account of Scotland (Family History Library book, series 2 vol.5)

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 Stewarton. 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 Scotland 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 indexes through the library.

= Church Records =

The Established Church of Scotland was Presbyterian. Read more about Scotland 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 [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/search/frameset_search.asp?PAGE=igi/search_IGI.asp&clear_form=true International Genealogical Index. ] Births: A portion of 1744–1755 and all of January 1747–1826 are copies. Marriages: Entries for April 1746–August 1747 are on a page after the draft of births for November 1748. No entries August 1747–December 1796. The record terminates in April 1802. Deaths: The only records are burials. Source: Key to the Parochial Registers of Scotland, by V. Ben Bloxham, pub. 1970 British book.

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 1849–1902 Proclamations and Marriages 1750–1795, 1802–1806 Burials 1753–1877 - with gaps Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH2/854.

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 Lists.

Stewarton United Presbyterian Church
History— The violent settlement of a minister in Kilmaurs in 1738 excited the sympathy of many persons in the surrounding parishes, in behalf of the reclaimers against it, and amongst others who withdrew from the Established Church and acceded to the Associate Presbytery. They were united to that of Kilmaurs, with one minister for a time common to both. In 1797 it was disjoined from it and obtained a minister to itself. A church was built in 1775and a new church was built in 1854. Source: Annals and Statistics of the United Presbyterian Church, by Rev. William MacKelvie, D.D., pub. 1873.. More details may be given in the source, including ministers.

Records— The extent of records is unknown.

Stewarton Free Church, formerly Original Secession
History— The Original Secession Congregation in Stewarton, which joined the Church of Scotland in 1839, adhered to the Free Church in 1843. Their church, built in 1841, was retained by the congregation. The manse was built in 1834. Membership: 1848, 320; 1900, 221. Source: Annals of the Free Church of Scotland, 1843–1900, ed. Rev. William Ewing, D.D., 2 vols. pub. 1914. . More details may be given in the source, including a list of ministers.

Records— Minutes 1835–1947 Baptismal Register 1843–1860 Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH3/789.

Stewarton Evangelical Union Church
History— A Congregational Church was formed in 1827, though believers had been gathering in fellowship for some time. The church entered the Evangelical Union in 1873. Source: AHistory of Scottish Congregationalism, by Harry Escott, pub. 1960. Family History Library British. It also includes a list of ministers.

Records— The extent of records is unknown. For information write to: The United Reformed Church, Scottish Synod Office PO Box 189, 240 Cathedral Street Glasgow G1 2BX Scotland

= 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 =

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

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