Dunse, Berwickshire, Scotland Genealogy

Parish #735

This is a guide to the history and major genealogical records of Scotland as they pertain to the parish of Dunse.

= History =

Available online at http://edina.ac.uk/stat-acc-scot/. Browse the scanned pages via the parish reports.

= Census Records =

A census record is a count and description of the population, taken by the government, arranged by locality and by household. Read more aboutcensus records

= 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 on computer at the Family History Library and family history centers. Some records may be indexed in the International Genealogical Index. Births: Double records occur April 1666–July 1694. Irregular entries occur frequently after 1770. 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 Kirk session was made up of he 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.

There are no pre-1855 records.

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

Dunse, East General Associate Church
History— In 1737 when some parishioners could not eject a much-disliked new minister, they left the Established Church and petitioned the Associate Presbytery for supply of sermon. They were later joined by several parishioners from Bunkle, an adjoining parish. They built a church in 1742 and another in 1843. Most of this group adhered to the General Associate, Anti-burgher Synod at the Breach in 1747 and retained their church. In 1829, they joined the United Associate Church. Source: Annals and Statistics of the United Presbyterian Church, by Rev. William MacKelvie, D.D., pub. 1873. Film #477618. More details are given in the source.

Records— Extent of records is unknown.

Dunse, South Relief Church
History— In 1748, when another unpopular minister settled in the parish church, unhappy parishioners first attended the newly formed General Associate Church. Later, they joined the Relief movement, built a church in 1763, and in 1767 were organized into a congregation. In 1852, they built another church. Source: Annals and Statistics of the United Presbyterian Church, by Rev. William MacKelvie, D.D., pub. 1873. Film #477618. More details are given in the source.

Records— Extent of the records is unknown.

Dunse, West Associate Burgher Church
History— At the Breach in 1747, some members of the East Congregation adhered to the Associate Burgher Synod. Their worship services were 11 miles away at Stitchel until 1763 when the Presbytery gave them supply of sermon at Chirnside. The congregation moved to Dunse the following year. They first built a church in 1770 and another in 1821. In 1820 this group joined the United Associate Church. Source: Annals and Statistics of the United Presbyterian Church, by Rev. William MacKelvie, D.D., pub. 1873. Film #477618. More details are given in the source.

Records— Extent of the records is unknown.

Boston Free Church
History— The minister of Boston “quoad sacra” parish and his small congregation left the Established Church in 1843. They maintained ownership of the church they had built in 1839. Membership: 1848, 300; 1900, 298 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— Minutes 1843–1863 Communion Roll 1843–1855 Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH3/

Duns Episcopal Church
History— No history is available. It was dedicated as Christ Church in 1854.

Records— Registers of Christenings 1853–1854 are in the hands of the incumbent. For information write to: The Rectory Wellfield Duns TD11 3EH Berwickshire Scotland Tel: 011–44–1361 882209

= Civil Registrtion 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 =

Read more about Scotland Probate Records.

Return to the Berwickshire parish list.