Kirkhill, Inverness-shire, Scotland Genealogy

Kirkhill, Inverness, Scotland (#103)

History
Kirkhill consists of two united parishes, called Wardlaw and Farnua. Wardlaw is the name of the hill on which the church was built, and is a corruption of the Gaelic Bar-tla, that is, “kindly summit.” Farnua or Fearnaie, as it is called in Gaelic, is probably derived from the word fearn, signifying “allar,” because the parish did and still does abound with allar trees. The name of the united parishes in Gaelic is Cnoemhoir, or “Mary’s hill.” In the neighborhood, it is called, by way of eminence, the Hill: hence the English translation of it, Kirkhill.

The mansion-houses in the parish are those of Newton, Lentram, Auchnagairn, Fingask, and Reelick.

A considerable number of vessels land at two places on the Beauly Firth, namely, Fopachy and Wester Lovat; but there is no harbor nor any proper sort of landing-place. These import lime and coals, and export timber and grain. These vessels are schooners, brigs, and sloops.

There are two kinds of parochial registers; one for marriages, the other for births. The marriages commenced in January 1817, and the birth records in the latter part of July 1755.

The whole population belongs to the Established Church, with the exception of six families; and there are five families of Roman Catholics. (Source: New Statistical Account of Scotland, written September 1841; FHL book 941 B4sa, series 2, vol. 14.)

Established Church—Old Parochial Registers
Years Covered     FHL Film Number  Births:        1726–1854             0990712 Marriages: 1784–1854             0990712 Deaths:      1783–1801             0990712

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. Some records may also be indexed in the International Genealogical Index. Births: The first page contains entries for February–May 1726. Following is a fragment of a page with entries dated January–March 1727 and one entry for July 1729, after which, except one entry for 1745 and one for 1749, there is a blank until July 1753. Marriages: There are no entries, except two entries 1808-1813, 1798–January 1817. Deaths: There are only two entries recorded after June 1786, dated 1795 and 1801. Source: Key to the Parochial Registers of Scotland, by V. Ben Bloxham, pub. 1970. British Book 941 K23b.

Established Church—Kirk Session Records
Minutes 1707–1709, 1748–1790 Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH2/675.

Kirkhill Free Church
History— Alexander Fraser, who had succeeded his father and grandfather as minister of the parish, "came out" with practically all his people in 1843. In prospect of the Disruption a site had been secured, and on this a wooden church was erected for immediate use. It sufficed for the English service; but the Gaelic service had to be held in the open air so great were the Number attending. A substantial church and manse were built without delay. Membership: 1848, 130; 1900, 79. Source: Annals of the Free Church of Scotland, 1843-1900, ed. Rev. William Ewing, D.D., 2 Vols. pub. 1914 Film #918572 Source contains a list of ministers.

Records—                                                             FHL Film Number  Church Records, Including Baptisms, 1843–1854       1068234 item 4 Other: Communion Rolls 1842–1939 New Communicants Lists 1837–1905 Accounts 1843–1910 Other post–1855 records Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH3/1415.