Chirnside, Berwickshire, Scotland Genealogy

Parish #730

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

= 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 about census 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 and Marriages: The records of births and marriages are intermixed with other matters until 1669. No births were recorded September 1688–February 1691. Mothers’ names are rarely recorded until 1769. There are no entries August 1669–January 1691, June 1705–November 1747. From October 1779–March 1781 there is only one entry. Deaths: Burials, only three entries exist after October 1809, dated 1810, 1813, and 1815. Source: Key to the Parochial Registers of Scotland, by V. Ben Bloxham, pub. 1970. British Book 941 K23b.

Established Church—Kirk Session Records
Minutes 1691–1703, 1748–1801, 1806, 1811, 1814, 1837–1838, 1846, 1850–1851, 1858–1908 Collections and Disbursements 1691–1704, 1768–1812, 1819–1947 Accounts of Interments in the Churchyard of Chirnside 1817–1828, 1857–1908 Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH2/407.

Nonconformist Church Records
Chirnside Associate Presbyterian Church

History— In 1738, several residents of Chirnside acceded to the Associate Presbytery. and joined the congregations of Stitchel and Dunse. At the Breach in 1747, those who belonged to the General Associate, Anti-burgher Synod attended church in Dunse and those who belonged to the Associate, Burgher Synod attended at Stitchel. When the Stitchel congregation began to grow in 1763, they petitioned to form a congregation in Chirnside. Soon others in surrounding parishes joined with them, and the group moved to Dunse in 1764. In 1836, seceders who belonged to the congregations of Ayton, Berwick, and Dunse left those groups and formed a separate congregation at Chirnside. They built their church in 1838. 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— Accounts 1837–1865 And other post-1855 records Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH3/337.

Chirnside Reformed, later Free Presbyterian Church

History— By the 1700s, Covenanters were in the Chirnside area and supported the Unitarian congregation in Edinburgh in 1753. In 1773, the congregations of Merse and Teviotdate left the Chirnside group. Between 1780 and 1783, the Chirnside parish built a church, later replaced in 1897. From 1785 to 1788, part of the congregation met in Kelso. They were rejoined until 1820 when the Kelso group again separated from the main congregation. In 1876, the Chirnside parish joined with the Free Church. In 1919, they united with Erskine. Membership: 1842, 140; 1877, 158; 1900, 239. Source: The Reformed Presbyterian Church in Scotland, by W. J. Couper, pub. 1925. FHL book 941 K2c. I

Records— FHL Film Number Baptisms 1843–1860 0304672 item 4 X Marriages 1844–1860 0304672 item 4 X Deaths 1843–1860 0304672 item 4 X Note: The X means records have been extracted. Other: Session Minutes 1839–1952 List of Members 1844–1891 And other post-1855 records Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH3/336.

See also Edrom parish.