Aberlour, Banffshire, Scotland Genealogy

Parish #145

History
The name of this parish was originally Skirkdustan, from the word Skir, meaning, in the original Gaelic, to cut or divide, and Dustan, the name of its tutelary saint; the whole signifying Dustan's division or parish. It takes its modern name of Aberlour from its situation, the word literally signifying the locality near the influx of a noisy burn; which burn, discharges itself into the Spey, about the middle of the northern boundary of the parish.

Aberlour is situated in the western part of the county of Banff; about 34 miles from the county town; 14 miles from Keith and 14 from Elgin. On the north, it is separated from the parishes of Knockando and Rothes by the river Spey; on the east, from Boharm, by the small river Fiddich; on the south-east, from Morlach by the Conval hills, and the brook Dullan in the vale of Glenrinnes; and on the west, from Inveraven by a line that passes from the rivulet Tervey over the western shoulder of Benrinnes and the hill of Carron to the river Spey.

The original Land-owners were four proprietors, Lord Fife; James William Grant, Esq. of Wester Elchies; Alexander Grant, Esq. of Aberlour; and the Earl of Seafield. Lord Fife is the greatest land-owner, and the Earl of Seafield the least, the latter possessing only the small property of Mudhouse. Aberlour is the only family seat in the parish.

The English language is universally spoken in the parish, and a very few families and servants, originally from Highland districts, are capable of using the Gaelic language.

With the suppression of smuggling, a case of which is now scarcely ever heard of within the bounds of the parish, the people were generally very well informed according to their station in life, resulting in a moral and religious community.

The cultivated parts of the parish, which may be about one-half of its whole extent, and a great proportion of which has been improved within the last twelve years, are divided into farms, of from L. 10 to L. 100 of yearly rent, generally under leases of nineteen years' duration. The soil, when properly cultured, is in general capable of raising all sorts of grain, barley, oats, wheat, pease, etc.; and it is remarked, that the average weight of barley here is from a pound and a-half to two pounds more per bushel than in the heavier soils of the neighbouring parishes Mortlach and Glass. All the farmers raise black-cattle of the Morayshire breed, and those near the hills keep a flock of sheep of the hardy black-faced kind; but, on the whole, grain is the staple commodity the farmer has to depend on.

The population of this parish in 1792 was 920 people; by 1831 the population had risen to 1276 souls.

A parochial register has been regularly kept since the year 1707, down to the present time, with the exception of some trifling blanks during the troublesome period of 1745. A registration of marriages, births, and deaths was uniformly made at the commencement of this period; but that of deaths has been discontinued for the last seventy-six years.

There was a new parish church erected in the year 1812 which contains 700 sittings, all free. The church was in good repair, as of July 1836, &amp; was conveniently situated for the attendance of the greater part of the parish, being, with the exception of Glenrinnes, not more than 3 1/2 miles from its farthest extremity in an east and south direction, and little more than 4 miles from the farthest habitation on the west, or Inveraven side.

Source: New Statistical Account of Scotland (FHL book 941 B4sa, series 2, Vol. 13. Date written: July 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.

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. Births: There are two transcribed entries for 1704 at the beginning of the record. Entries are irregular and incomplete March 1762–February 1766 and a few years out of chronological order. Marriages: There are no entries April 1762–March 1766 and June 1774–November 1776. Deaths: Burials are recorded for January 1709–June 1760; Mortcloth Dues are recorded for March 1723–July 1773. There is only one entry for July 1807. Source: Key to the Parochial Registers of Scotland, by V. Ben Bloxham, pub. 1970. British Book 941K23b.

Established Church—Kirk Session Records
Minutes 1671–1688, 1709–1873 Separate Register 1746–1914 Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, records CH2/6.

Other: Minutes 1706–1989 Communion Rolls 1843–1925 Cash Book 1773–1822 Poor Fund Accounts 1822–1846 Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, records CH2/1337.

Aberlour Free Church
History— Services were provided for followers of the Free Church beginning in 1843. After the congregation was forced to leave their meeting place, they moved to an old smithy at the Muir of Ruthrie. In 1846 a probationer was appointed, in 1847 a church was built, and in 1859 the charge was sanctioned. Membership: 1861, 82; 1900, 180. 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— Presbytery Minutes 1846–1900. Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, records CH3/7. No other pre-1855 records exist.

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