Stevenston, Ayrshire, Scotland Genealogy

Parish #615

History
Stevenston and Saltcoats are the nearest towns. The parish derives its name from Stephen Lockhart. Stephen Lockhart’s father obtained a grant for the whole parish in 1170, from Richard Morville, Lord of Cuninghame, and Constable of Scotland. Alexander Hamilton, Esq. of Grange; Patrick Warner, Esq. of Ardeer; Robert Cuninghame, Esq. of Auchenharvie; and the Right Honorable the Earl of Eglinton are the major land owners. The land was primarily used for, coal, salt, ship-building, wheat, potatoes, oats, beans, turnips, barley, carrots, and pigs. The population in 1791 was 2425, and in 1836 was 3681. The registers begin in1700, but many of them have been lost and they are not now complete. The religious attendance of the parishioners was:

Established Church 980

Relief 440 United Secession ---227 Original Seceders 51 Baptists --31 Roman Catholics -17 Cameronians 7 Methodists ---1

This account was written in 1837.

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: Extremely irregular entries between November 1718 and May 1737, with several imperfect pages for the same time period. At September 1811 there are two pages containing about ninety irregular entries for 1720–1814. Mothers' names are seldom recorded November 1746–February 1770. Marriages:The first four pages are slightly imperfect. There are no entries May 1717–May 1737. Entries for May 1737–September 1740 are on one page after the births for September 1811. There are no entries January 1746–January 1747. Source: Key to the Parochial Registers of Scotland, by V. Ben Bloxham, pub. 1970 British book 941 K23b.

Established Church—Kirk Session Records
Minutes 1700–1705, 1760–1923 Collections 1700–1845 Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH2/336.

Saltcoats, St. Cuthbert’s
Records— Collections and Distributions for the Poor 1751–1772. Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH2/1506.

Saltcoats Free Church
History— Saltcoats is a seaport town, partly in the parish of Ardrossan, and partly in that of Stevenston. Dr. Landsborough, minister of Stevenston parish, and the majority of his congregation, "came out" in 1843. The church was built and opened in January 1844, on a site gifted by Dr. Dow of Greenock. The manse was erected in 1847. A school was built in 1858, the cost being largely met by a legacy by Miss M'Leish. The church was renovated and enlarged in 1869–1870, and a new manse was purchased in 1889. Membership: 1848, 255; 1900, 470. 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 a list of ministers.

Records— Minutes 1843–1968 Register of Members 1848–1899 Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH3/573.

Stevenston Free Church
History— Dr. Landsborough, minister of the parish, "came out" in 1843 with many of his people, found it necessary to erect the new church in Saltcoats. After much difficulty a site was obtained in Stevenston, by the grant of a Mr. Warner, and here a church was built, and opened in February 1845. The charge was sanctioned in 1846. In 1887 a new church was built, the old church being bought and gifted to the congregation by a member, James W. Boyd, and called thereafter, Woodside Hall. Membership: 1848, 205; 1900, 302. 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 a list of ministers.

Records— Minutes 1847–1895 Deacons' Court Minutes 1847–1960 Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH3/1032.

Gaelic Free Church
History— John Hamilton, minister of the Gaelic quoad sacra church, and practically all his members, "came out" in 1843, and became known as the Saltcoats Free Gaelic congregation. Their church was taken from them and they were placed at great disadvantage. In 1852 the charge was reduced to a preaching station. The church was built in 1867, and in 1868 sanction was restored. The manse was erected in 1887. With the decrease of the Gaelic speaking population the membership greatly declined, having fallen to fifty in 1898. As the congregation increased from that date Gaelic became unnecessary. Membership: 1870, 198; 1900, 199. 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 a list of ministers.

Records— The extent of records is unknown.

See also Ardossan Parish

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