Rogart, Sutherland, Scotland Genealogy

Robart # 55

History
This large parish extends from the parish of Dornoch on the east to the parish of Assynt on the west, a distance of thirty five miles. It is bounded on the north by the parishes of Dornoch and Lairg; and on the Firth of Dornoch and its continuation, the river Oykell, forms its southern boundary.

There are no market-towns in the parish, the nearest is in Dornoch. The first and most useful means of communication in the parish is the bridge of Bonar, between Sutherland and Ross-shire. A village and cotton manufactory were established at Spinningdale, by Mr. Dempster of Dunnichen, in the latter part of the last century; but the factory was destroyed by fire in 1809, and that led to the decay of the village.

In the 11th or 12th century a contest of the inhabitants with the Danes is recorded to have occurred at Drinleah, near Bonar Bridge, whence the invaders were driven back with great loss to their ships at Portnacoulter, now the Meikle Ferry. The extraordinary number of graves on the scene of the action, and the greatness of the slaughter, one cannot fail to wonder at the great numbers who must have been engaged, and the consequent density of the population at that remote time in history.

The land-owners of this parish are: George Dempser, Esq. of Skibo, Her Grace the Duchess of Sutherland, Sir Charles Ross, Bart., Right Honorable Lady Ashburton, and Dugald Gilchrist, Esq. of Ospisdale.

The population of this parish in 1801 was counted to be at 1974 persons, and in the 1831 census the count was at 2562.

The parish church is situated near the shore, about nine miles from the east end of the parish, and upwards of thirty miles from the west end. It is convenient for the greater part of the population from the river Shin in the west, to Ospisdale in the east. It accommodates 500 persons, and there are no free seats, except the communion forms occupied by the poor. There are no Dissenters or Seeders of any description in this parish. There is no mention of any church registers recording birth, and marriages.

This account was written September 1834.

Source: New Statistical Account of Scotland, FHL book 941 B4sa, series 2, vol. 15.

Condition of Original Registers—
Index: 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: Registers were kept with great care and regularity from 1805. Earlier records were apparently lost. Marriages: There are no records prior to 1838. Source: Key to the Parochial Registers of Scotland, by V. Ben Bloxham, pub. 1970. British Book 941 K23b.

Established Church—Kirk Session Records
Extent of record is unknown.

Rogart Free Church
History— Neighboring ministers at first took charge of the adherents of the Free Church in this parish. The charge was sanctioned in 1845. A church had been built and the congregation was well organized when a minister was settled in 1846. Membership: 1855, 650; 1900, 448. Source: Annals of the Free Church of Scotland, 1943–1900, ed. Rev. William Ewing, D.D., pub. 1914. Film #918572. More details may be given in the source, including ministers. Records— The extent of records is unknown.