Borthwick, Midlothian, Scotland Genealogy

Borthwick (#674)

History
This parish received its name from the family of Borthwich and was anciently called Locherwart. This family migrated from the continent during the early periods of Scotish history. The castle of Borthwich is remarkable for the beauty of its proportions, and the impressive effect which it porduces on all beholders. Inside the castle there is a room called the "Queens Room" in which, it is said, Queen Mary resided until she "went to all her sorrows." The population of the parish in 1801 was 842, and in 1831 it was 1470. The land was primarily used for cattle, sheep, corn, potatoes, turnips, barley, wheat, barley and oats. The six villages in the parish are Ford, Dewarton, Newlandrigg, Clay Houses, Stobbs Mills, Castleton, and Middleton. Of 300 families, 60 belong to the Secession and 240 to the Established Church.

This account was written in 1839.

Source: New Statistical Account of Scotland (FHL book 941 B4sa, series 2, vol. 1)

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 are no entries for June 1728–May 1735, except two for 1733, and two for 1734. There are seven irregular entries for 1747–1717 found after 1734. Also, there are entries for 1739–1717 after June 1753. A portion of the page after October 1758 is pasted over with eight entries recorded thereon, and two entries are pasted over part of a page at 1806. Irregular entries are frequent after 1811. After 1819, there are omitted entries dated 1793–1908 on four pages. Marriages: There are no entries for May 1728–May 1735 and September 1749–April 1759. The record is mainly proclamations from 1735–1797. There are a considerable number of entries of irregular marriages. Deaths: The record is Mortcloth Dues through 1790, and burials 1793–1807. There are Mortcloth Dues again for September 1807–March 1810 and then there are no entries until January 1817 when a record of burials is resumed. Source: Key to the Parochial Registers of Scotland, by V. Ben Bloxham, pub. 1970. British Book 941 K23b.

Established Church—Kirk Session Records
The extent of surviving records is unknown.

Nonconformist Church Records
There are no nonconformist records. See Cranston and Temple parishes. Note: There were about 60 Dissenter families in the parish in 1839.

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