Straiton, Ayrshire, Scotland Genealogy

Parish #617

History
Straiton Village and Dalmellington are the nearest towns. It has probably derived its name from the Gaelic strath, a valley. The village stands upon the Girvan, a pleasant and fertile valley. Marquis of Ailsa; Sir D. Hunter Blair, Bart; and the Honourable Colonel Macadam Cathcart are the major land owners. The land was primarily used for, cattle, sheep, oats, wheat, barley, beans, potatoes, turnips, hay, horses, and woolen and cotton mills. The population in 1791 was 934, and in 1836 was 1417. The registers began in the year 1644. From 1770 until 1825 they are imperfect. During the last twelve years they have been kept with great care. There are 289 families, of whom 280 were of the Established Church and 9 of other denominations.

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: Prior to 1653, entries are on alternate columns, the other columns contain entries of marriages. There are no entries April 1679–April 1682, June 1683–January 1690, June 1720–August 1722, and December 1776–October 1783. Entries from August 1722 to 1729 are on alternate columns with the births for 1653–1661. Entries March 1729–August 1730 are on alternate columns of pages 29, 31, 34, and 43 of the register. There is an imperfect page at 1735. The corners of a considerable number of pages are incomplete. Marriages: Entries for 1644–1665 are on alternate columns with birth entries prior to 1653. Entries prior to 1665 are on alternate columns of the register of births for 1644–1652. There are no entries January–November 1665, January 1679–April 1690, and August 1719–October 1783. Deaths: There are no entries for March 1792–September 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 1732–1749, 1754–1928 Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH2/533.

Patna United Presbyterian Church
History— Patna is a village on the banks of the Doon, in the parish of Straiton. The village of Patna owes its existence to the late Mr. Fullerton of Skeldon, who planned and encouraged its erection, naming it after a place in which he had resided when in India. It is seven miles from the church of the parish, for which reason he set apart a piece of ground on which to build a place of worship. Meanwhile, the United Associate Presbytery of Kilmarnock had undertaken the supply of Patna and Dalmellington. They were organized into a congregation in 1837. They built a place of worship on the site originally set apart in 1838. Source: Annals and Statistics of the United Presbyterian Church, by Rev. William MacKelvie, D.D., pub. 1873. Film #477618. More details may be given in the source, including a list of ministers.

Records— Baptismal Register 1850–1931 Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH3/939.

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