Resolis, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland

Parish # 79 (formerly Kirkmichael &amp; Cullicudden)

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

= History =

The eastern division of this united parish is Kirk Michael. Its Gaelic name is “Kill a’ Mhichail,” of the Cell of St. Michael, but this name is usually given only to the church and burying ground. The district which the ancient parish of Kirmichael comprehended is called “Sgire’ a’ Mhichail,” or the parish of St Michael. Cullicudden forms the western district of the united parish. Its Celtic name is Coull a Chuddinn or Chuddegin, signifying the Cuddie Creek. The united parish of Kirkmichael and Cullcudden, though still so called in old deeds and in the records of presbytery, is better known by its more modern name of Resolis.

The united parish lies partly in the county of Ross, and partly in the county of Cromarty, within the district called an Oilean Dubh, or the Black Isle, on the south side of the Cromarty Firth.

There are no records, either printed or in manuscript, of the history of this parish. Even the scanty, and often not very agreeable information to be derived from the church session records, is wanting; these repositories of past irregularities having been committed to the flames, soon after the induction of the late incumbent.

The only historical event worthy of notice is the plague of 1694, so fatal in the south of Scotland, and which found its way, it is said, the same year to this parish. It raged with unrelenting fury; whole villages were depopulated, and the living were so much wearied with burying the dead that they ceased at last to perform that office at all.

Mr. James Fraser of Brae, the only son of Sir James Fraser of Brae, one of the heritors, and third son of Hugh, seventh Lord Lovat, was born in this parish. This eminent man, from the earliest years almost to the close of his well-spent life, was the object of human malice and persecution, in no ordinary measure. Rev. Hector M’Phail is from this parish and he was the beloved minister of the parish from 1748-1774.

Colin M’Kenzie Esq. of Newhall, is patron of the parish, and proprietor of about half of it. The proprietor of Poyntzfield, is George Gunn Munro, Esq. Other properties in the parish are those of Brealangwell, belonging to Duncan Davidson, Esq. of Tulloch; Drimcudden, is in the hands of the Trustees of the late Donald M’Kenzie, Esq. of Newhall; Kinbeachie, the property of Thomas Urquhart, Esq.; East Culbo, the property of Dr. M’Kenzie; Woodhead, a small farm, the property of Lady M’Kenzie of Avoch; West Culbo property of Sir James W. M’Kenzie of Scatwell, Bart.; and Gordon’s Mill, the property of John M’Leod Esq.

The parish is divided into districts, and an elder appointed to officiate in each district, all of whom give in regular reports to the session. The register of births and marriages has been regularly kept from the year 1748. A register previous to that period evidently did exist, but only a few leaves of it remaining, its contents were carefully transcribed into the present register. The session records have been duly kept only since the induction of the present incumbent in 1822. Previously, and for the space of forty-seven years, there was neither a regularly constituted session, nor any records whatever, as the books containing the minutes of session before that period have been burned. There are no Dissenting of Seceding families in the parish.

This account was written September 1836.

Source: New Statistical Account of Scotland for Resolis, FHL 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 Family History Library.

= 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 census records of Resolis 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 the Scottish Church Records Index available on computers at the Family History Library and family history centers. The records may be indexed in the International Genealogical Index. Births: First five pages contain irregular entries 1731–1803. Regular record then begins in 1748, but up to 1756 it is only a copy of the original. Marriages: Only 6 entries July 1769–February 1805. Only 5 marriage entries 1806–1811, after which there are no marriage entries until 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:

Minutes 1822–1914 Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH2/1191.

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.

Resolis Free Church
History— The minister of Resolis, and most of his people "came out" in 1843. The church and manse were built in the east end of the parish. In 1865 a new church was erected on a more convenient site. The minister and many of the congregation remained outside the Union in 1900. Membership:1848, 54; 1900, 61. 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 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 =

Resolis 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' 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' of Ross &amp; Cromarty and the subjects of 'Probate Records' and 'Probate Records - Indexes.' Read more about Scotland Probate Records.

Return to Ross &amp; Cromarty parish list.