Airth, Stirlingshire, Scotland Genealogy

Parish #469

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

= History =

To be added

= Census Records =

To be added

= 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. The records may be indexed in the International Genealogical Index. Births: Blank November 1720–November 1737, excluding one page of irregular entries 1728–1736. There is one imperfect leaf at June 1783. The record prior to 1699 has suffered from dampness. Marriages: Blank August 1689–May 1747, excluding a fragment of a leaf containing portions of entries for 1691–1692, and another fragment with four entries for November 1722. After 1819 is a record of Irregular Marriages 1770–1794. Deaths: Excluding transcribed entries of payments for ringing the church bell at funerals, etc., April 1670–July 1683, there is no record until May 1700, when a register of burials is commenced. No entries July 1769–January 1770.

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

Established Church—Kirk Session Records
The Kirk session was the court of the parish. The Kirk session was made up of he minister and the land owners and business men of the parish, chosen to serve on the session. The Kirk session dealt with moral issues, minor criminal cases, matters of the poor and education, matters of discipline, and the general concerns of the parish. Kirk session records may also mention births, marriages, and deaths.

Here is a list of the surviving Kirk session records for this parish:

Minutes 1660–1669, 1795–1935 Note: Available at the Stirling Council Archives, Stirling, Scotland, record CH2/683.

Nonconformist Church Records
A nonconformist church is any church that is not the Established church. Read more about nonconformity in Scotland in the article on the Scotland Church Records Union List.

Airth Associate Burgher, later United Presbyterian Church
History— Several persons resident in the parish acceded to the Associate Presbytery in September 1738. In December 1741, an Elder and other parishioners also acceded, and the group was joined to the Associate congregation in Falkirk. In 1747, the congregation adhered to the Associate Burgher Synod. In 1806, those persons residing in Airth were finally disjoined from Falkirk and formed into a separate congregation. A church was built in 1809. 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— The extent of records is unknown.

Airth Free Station
History— Services were provided at Airth soon after the Disruption in 1843. In 1847, it was recognized as a mission station and a catechist was appointed. It continued, with many fluctuations, until the Union of 1900. The population decreased considerably, single large farms taking the place of several smaller ones. Source: Annals of the Free Church of Scotland, 1843–1900, ed. Rev. William Ewing, D.D., 2 vols. pub. 1914. Film #918572. More details may be given in the source including a list of ministers.

Records— There are none.

= Civil Registration Records =

Government or civil registration of births, marriages, and deaths (also called statutory records) began on January 1, 1855 in Scotland. Each parish has a registrar's office and large cities have several. The records are created by the registrars and copies are sent to the General Register Office in Edinburgh. Annual indexes are then created for the records for the whole country. See the article on Scotland Civil Registration for more information and to access the records.

= Probate Records =

To be added

[Return to the Stirlingshire parish list.]