Ballantrae, Ayrshire, Scotland Genealogy

 Parish #579 

History
The parish name is said to be Gaelic and means the town upon or above the shore. Ballantrae Is the nearest town. There are three lighthouses visible from the village, Corsewall Point, Wigtonshire, and Pladda. The land was primarily used for oats, wheat, bear potatoes, turnips, beans, sheep, goats, cattle, and fish. The population in 1777 was 770. The population in 1831 was 1506. The registers do not go back further than 1744, and are not in a good state of preservation. Lately they have been better kept. The number of families that attend church are about 260, and there are about 30 Catholic families.

This account was written in 1836. source: New Statistical Account of Scotland(FHL book 941 B4sa, series 2 vol. 5)

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: There is one entry for 1741, recorded at June 1781 and eleven entries of one family 1754–1771, recorded at March 1783. Between 1784 and 1800 entries out of the order of time are not infrequent. Marriages: There is one entry for 1754 in register of births at March 1783. Record begins April 1812. They are blank May 1813–April 1816. Deaths: Entries are recorded in alternate columns of the register of Marriages. Source: Key to the Parochial Registers of Scotland, by V. Ben Bloxham, pub. 1970 British book 941 K23b.

Established Church—Kirk Session Records
Minutes 1723–1739, 1746–1781, 1815–1845 Poors' Assessment Roll 1850–1852 Baptisms 1729–1731, 1855–1893 Collections 1729 Marriages 1729–1732 Accounts 1746–1754 Miscellaneous 1736–1768 Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH3/684.

Ballantrae Free Church
History— This congregation was formed at the Disruption. At first it was under the charge of Ebenezer B. Wallace, minister of Barr, assisted by a probationer. The first minister was called in September 1843. The church was built in 1844, and the manse in 1845. A new church was erected in 1875. The congregation suffered heavily through decline of the population. Membership: 1848, 92; 1900, 93. Source: Annals of the Free Church of Scotland, 1843–1900, ed. Rev. William Ewing, D.D., 2 vols. pub. 1914. Film #918572.

Records— Minutes 1844–1930 Baptismal Register 1843–1930 Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH3/684.

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