Alvah, Banffshire, Scotland Genealogy

Parish #146

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

= History =

Alvah and the adjoining parish of Forglen were originally united; but before the middle of the seventeenth century, they were erected into separate parishes. The parish extends in length about 6 English miles; and at its greatest breadth, to nearly the same distance; but in some places, to little more than two. On the north and north-west, Alvah is bounded by the parish of Banff; on the south-west, by Marnoch; on the south, by Forglen; on the south-east, by Turriff; and on the east and north-east by King-Edward and Gamrie. In the Advocates' Library at Edinburgh, is preserved a very ancient parchment (this parchment was formerly one of the manuscripts of the late William Rose, Esq. of Montcoffer, to whose son, Patrick Rose, Esq. Banff), containing the particulars of a transaction connected with this parish, at a distance of more than 500 years. This document is a charter of donation made by Marjory (this countess was the daughter of Donal, alias Bayne, Earl of Mar, and wife of John, tenth Earl of Atholl and Strathbogie. This Earl of Atholl was a great patriot, and joined Robert Bruce at the battle of Methven; but, being afterwards discovered, was conducted to London, where, notwithstanding his alliance by blood, to the English monarch, he was condemned and executed A.D. 1306.  In consequence of his royal descent, he was hanged on a scaffold thirty feet higher than ordinary.  Before life was extinct, he was taken down, when his head was cut off, and fixed on London Bridge, and his body burnt to ashes.  As a ransom for his soul, his widow gave the lands of Alvah, ut supra), relict of the deceased John Earl of Atholl, Lord Strathalveth, with consent of her son David, her lawful heir. The tenor of the donation is, that for the salvation of her own soul, as well as that of her deceased husband, John, Earl of Atholl, Lord Strathalveth, and of her father Donald (this Donald, Earl of Mar, father of the Countess of Atholl, Strathbogie, and Strathalvah, was taken prisoner at the battle of Methven, confined eight years in London, exchanged for an English nobleman taken at Bannockburn, and conducted to Scotland in 1314), Earl of Mar, she gives to the blessed Virgin Mary, to God, and to the Abbot of Cupar, the right of patronage of the kirk of Alveth, with the whole lands of Kirktown of Alveth next the kirk. Source: New Statistical Account of Scotland (FHL book 941 B4sa, series 2; Vol. #13  Date written:  August 1836 Also available online at http://edina.ac.uk/stat-acc-scot/ . Browse the scanned pages under ‘For non-subscribers,’ then search for the parish report.

= 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 Alvah 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 indexes through the library.

= Church Records =

Established Church - Old Parochial Registers
     

 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 [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/search/frameset_search.asp?PAGE=igi/search_IGI.asp&clear_form=true International Genealogical Index. ]

Births: The flyleaf at the beginning of the record contains irregular entries 1711–1729. Prior to 1759 the mothers’ names are not recorded, and not until 1772 are they inserted regularly.

 Marriages:  There are no entries January 1813–April 1818 except one entry for 1814 and two in 1816.

 Source:   Key to the Parochial Registers of Scotland, by V. Ben Bloxham, pub. 1970. British Book 941 K23b.

Established Church - Kirk Session Records
Minutes and Accounts 1718–1840 Rolls of those entitled to dissent from settlement by patron if the presentees appear to be improper 1834–1838 Roll of Male Heads of Families 1840 Poor Fund Accounts 1758–1791, 1839–1868 Minutes 1841–1858 - including lists of inhabitants giving residence, age, and sometimes occupation Decrees of Modification 1782–1900 Other post-1855 records

 Note:  Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, records CH2/1313.

Nonconformist Church Records
No nonconformist churches are known. See Banff parish.

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