Dundee, Angus, Scotland Genealogy

Dundee, Angus, Scotland (#282)

History
St Mary's Church was founded in 1198. The building was wrecked by the English army in 1547 but was gradually restored. It became the parish church of Dundee in 1560. by 1788 the original building was divided into five churches, all serving the parish of Dundee. In 1822 St. David's Church was added. In 1841 the East, North, and South churches in the central building were destroyed by fire, leaving only St. Clement's known as the Steeple Church. By 1847 two of the churches, St. Mary's and St. Paul's had been restored to their places and an additional building was purchased for the third displaced church, St. John's or the Cross Church. St. Paul's and St. David's were later united. The four remaining churches had a joint Kirk Session.

St. Andrew's Church was opened in 1774; a Gaelic chapel was opened in Long Wynd in 1791 and also in 1791 the Chapelshade Church was opened. Between 1800 and 1842 nine more churches were started: St. David's, St. Peter's*, Hilltown*, St. Paul's*, Dunhope*, Wallacetown*, Lochee, St. Aidan's Broughty Ferry, and Willison*, making a total of seventeen churches. Those marked with an asterisk all seceded and joined the Free Church at the Disruption in 1843. Seven other chruches lost large sections of their membership to the Free Church.

Established Church—Old Parochial Registers
Records---         Years Covered                       FHL Film Number Births:                 1645–1681                                 0993421                           1682–1752                                  0993422                           1752–1784                                  0993423                           1785–1802                                  0993424                           1803–1819                                  0993425                           1820–1835                                  0993402                           1836–1854                                  0993403                           1850–1854 - neglected               0993408 Marriages:          1645–1676, 1682–1783             0993400                           1783–1819                                  0993401                           1820–1854                                  0993404 Deaths:               1772–1835                                 0993405                           1835–1843                                  0993406                           1843–1855                                  0993407                           1837–1856 - St. Peter’s Church   0993408                           1847–1855 - Western Cemetery  0993408 Internments:      1832–1855                                   1068056–085                                                                                1068098–106                                                                                1068148–156  Condition of Original Registers— Indexed:  For an index to these records, see the Scottish Church Records Index on computer at the Family History Library under “Databases on the Network.” Births: The record for the years 1652–1656, both inclusive, is kept on one side of the page only, the other side being blank. No entries November 1681–September 1682. After the latter date the record is of a tabular form. Mothers' names are not recorded until November 1651. Marriages:  Marriages are on a separate register of proclamations and of marriages April 1645–December 1651. The record 1652–1656 inclusive, is written on one side of the page only, it is blank, except for two entries 1681–1682, April 1676–September 1682. The record from the latter date is of a tabular form. Early pages are partially destroyed. Deaths: There are no records in the custody of the Registrar General. The following registers of deaths however, are in the possession of the Registrar of St. Mary's District, Dundee, in terms of 17 and 18 Vict. cap 80, section 20–25, volumes from January 1772 to January 1855, Howff or Old Burial Ground, and New or Constitution Road Cemetery; 1 volume from February 1847 to January 1855 Western Cemetery; 1 volume from February 1837 to March 1856 St. Peter's Source: Key to the Parochial Registers of Scotland, by V. Ben Bloxham, pub. 1970. British Book 941 K23b.

Dundee Kirk
Records— Minutes 1682–1934 Treasurers Accounts 1640–1757, 1832–1835, 1840–1844, 1852–1949 Accounts of Emoluments of Session Clerk’s Office 1770–1856 Poor Widow’s Fund Cash Book 1745–1951 Anderson Mortification Accounts 1831–1940 Counter-Foils of Proclamations of Banns 1823–1831 Note: Available at the Dundee City Archive and Record Centre, Dundee, Scotland, record CH2/1218; also on microfilm at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh.

Chapelshade Church, Chapel of Ease
Records—                                            FHL Film Number Manager’s Minutes 1790–1863            1482983 items 1-4 Constitution and Minutes of the Visiting Association 1852–1854            1482983 items 1-4

St. David's Kirk
Records— Minutes 1834–1849, 1876–1911 Note:  Available at the Dundee City Archive and Record Centre, Dundee, Scotland. Also on microfilm at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh; record CH2/926.

Wallacetown Kirk
Records— Accounts 1839–1861 Note: Available at the Dundee City Archive and Record Centre, record CH2/958.

Lochee Kirk
Records— Various Minutes 1829–1905 Note: Available at the Dundee City Archive and Record Centre, record CH2/1268.

St. Andrew's Kirk
Records—                                                            FHL Book Number Baptismal Records November 1871–March 1887    Q941.31/D1 K2a Other: Committee Minutes 1771–1776, 1797–1915 Burials 1795–1808 Cash Book 1772–1908 Legal Papers 1715–1873 Note:  Available at the Dundee City Archive and Record Centre, Dundee, Scotland, record CH2/1272.

Nonconformist Church Records
General Statement: The New Statistical Account of Scotland, dated December 1833 FHL book 941 B4sa, ser. 2, vol. 11 pt. 1, states that there were at that time three United Secession churches, one Associate Original Burgher church, one Associate Original Seceder church, one Relief chapel, one Congregational church, a meeting of Scotch Independents, a Methodist chapel, a Scotch Baptist meeting, two other Baptist parties, a large congregation of Glasites, two Epicopalian chapels, and a Roman Catholic chapel. The Free Presbyterian congregations would have been founded after the Disruption in 1843.

For more information on Dundee nonconformist churches and their records, click here.