Watten, Caithness, Scotland Genealogy

Parish # 42

History
The etymology of the name Watten is uncertain. Some have supposed it to be a Danish word, signifying water, and to have derived its application from the circumstances of this parish containing the largest lake in the county. It is surrounded on the north, east, south, and west, by the parishes of Bower, Wick, Latheron, and Halkirk respectively.

There are no market-towns or other towns in the parish, and the nearest market-town is in Wick, a distance of eight miles.

The chief land-owners are, Sir Ralph A. Anstruther, Bart. of Balcaskei; William Horne. Esq. of Stirkoke; William Sinclair, Esq. of Freswick; Sir P.M. B. Thriepland of Fingask; Major General William Stewart of Strath. There are no resident heritors in the parish.

The amount of population by the census of 1811 was 1109; by that of 1821, 1158; and by that of 1831, 1234. It is believed that since 1831 the population has decreased, chiefly from the great size of some of the farms, the introduction of sheep and etc. The crops that are grown in the parish are oats, bear, potatoes, turnips, and hay.

The parish church is very inconveniently situated, being a distant from the north-east extremity of the parish only one mile, and nearly nine miles from the south-west. The date of its erection is unknown. It appears from the session records to have been repaired in 1714. Since that period, it has received several repairs, and was propped with wooden supports, a couple of years ago. It is in a very bad state. It may accommodate from 700 to 800 persons, and the sittings are all free. There is no Government church, no Dissenting, Seceding, Episcopalian, or Roman Catholic chapels in the parish.

The parochial registers have been regularly kept since 1701, and are not very voluminous.

This account was written October 1840.

Source: New Statistical Account of Scotland, FHL book 941 B4sa, series 2, vol. 15.

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.

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. The records may be indexed in the International Genealogical Index. Note: The earlier entries were missed when the records were filmed the second time. The earlier film must be ordered from the vault. Births: There are irregular entries circa 1807. Marriages: There is only one entry between December 1793 and November 1795. Source: Key to the Parochial Registers of Scotland, by V. Ben Bloxham, pub. 1970. British Book 941 K23b.

Established Church—Kirk Session Records
Minutes 1701-1826 Accounts 1779-1826 Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH2/364.

Watten Free Church
History— In 1843 the minister of Watten and many of his congregation left the Established Church. They soon after built a church and manse. Membership: 1855, 500 including adherents; 1900, 105. 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 1843-1900 Note: Available at the Free Church Offices, Edinburgh.

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