Kingarth, Buteshire, Scotland Genealogy

Kingarth, Bute, Scotland (#555)

History
This parish occupies the southern part of the Island of Bute. It takes its name from a promontory forming its extreme point to the south, called in the Gaelic language Ceann Carbh, which signifies stormy end or stormy head. It is 6 1/2 miles in length and its average breadth is 2 1/2 miles. It is bounded on the north by lakes which separate it from the parish of Rothesay. The land in general rises considerably above the level of the sea. It has six bays.

Nothing is known of the ancient history of the parish. There are remains of a Druidical circle and the ruins of a fort. There are also the ruins of a chapel supposedly founded by St. Blane in the tenth century. The present place of worship for the parish has long been removed to a situation more central for the inhabitants on a rising ground between the bays of Kilchatan and Stravanan. The church was built in 1826. The parisihioners attend the Established church with the exception of one family in connection with the United Associate Synod and one person who is Roman Catholic. The population of the parish in about 1775 was around 950, in 1791 was 727 and in 1831 was 746. The decrease was due to people leaving for work in Rothesay and elsewhere.

The English language is sopken in general by the inhabitants. Cattle is raised. Lime is quarried and shipped from Kilchatan Bay. There are fisheries. There is no market-town in the parish but near-by Rothesay serves as the market-town. The villages are Kerrycroy and Kilchatan Bay. The chief mansion-house is Mountstuart held by the Marquis of Bute. There are three schools, one of the parochial. There is a parish library. The fuel in general use is coal. Fifty years previously most men young and old were employed in herring-fishery, but now most are strongly attached to farming due to improvements in agriculture, which has made rapid advances especially within the last twelve years. A complete system of draining had been introduced, crops are rotated, and there are other improvements.

The above is an extract of the account written in June 1840.

Source: The (New) Statistical Account of Buteshire. FHL book 941 B4sa, 2nd series, vol. 5, pt. 2.

Established Church—Old Parochial Registers
Years Covered     FHL Film Number  Births:        1727-1820            1041084 item 4                  1820-1854            1041085 item 1 Marriages: 1837-1855            1041085 item 1 Deaths:      1727-1820            1041084 item 4

Condition of Original Registers—
Births: Mothers' names are not recorded until 1759. Marriages: No marriage record prior to 1837. Deaths: Deaths and/or burial entries are recorded on alternate pages of the register of births. Record terminates January 1786. Source: Key to the Parochial Registers of Scotland, by V. Ben Bloxham, pub. 1970. FHL British Book 941 K23b.

Established Church—Kirk Session Records
Minutes 1648-1651, 1664-1700 Scroll Minutes 1669-1703 Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH2/219.

Kingarth, Ascog Free Church
History— The church here, known locally as Ascog was erected in 1842–1843; and was designed as a chapel of ease under Kingarth Parish Church. It was opened as a Free Church immediately after the Disruption and a minister was settled in September 1843. With the growth of the population two new churches were erected between this church and Rothesay. Membership:1855, 60; 1900, 80. Source: Annals of the Free Church of Scotland, 1843–1900, ed. Rev. William Ewing, D.D., 2 vols. pub. 1914. FHL Film #918572. More details are given in the source.

Records— Minutes 1853-1898 Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH3/969.

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