Carmyllie, Angus, Scotland Genealogy

Parish #276

This is a guide to the history and major genealogical records of Scotland as they pertain to the parish of Carmyllie. To learn more about how to use these records to search for your ancestors, go to the Scotland: Research Strategies.

History
CARMYLIE, a parish, in the county of Forfar, 6 miles (W. by N.) from Arbroath; containing the hamlet of Graystone. The name is supposed to be derived from a Celtic word, signifying "the top of a high rocky place," which description answers to a castle formerly standing here. The church, which is ancient, is conveniently situated, and is a substantial building, accommodating 500 persons. A congregation has been formed here in connexion with the Free Church.

The New Statistical Account of Scotland (pub. 1834-45) offers uniquely rich and detailed parish reports for the whole of Scotland, covering a vast range of topics including history, agriculture, education, trades, religion and social customs. The reports, written by the parish ministers, are available online at http://edina.ac.uk/stat-acc-scot/. Click on ‘Browse scanned pages’ then search the parish reports for your parish of interest. Also available at the

Census Records
A census is a count and description of the population, taken by the government, arranged by locality and by household. Read more about census records.

Here is a list of the Family History Library microfilm numbers for the, as well as the library numbers for any surname indexes available:

The 1901 census of Scotland is indexed on www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk. To use it, you must register and pay a small access fee. All available censuses, 1841-1901, are indexed on this website. It may be easier for you to pay to use the website rather than access the separate indexes through the library.

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—
Indexed: For an index to these records, see Scotland’s People website, a pay-for-view website. The Scottish Church Records Index is also still available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. Some records may also be indexed in other FamilySearch collections for Scotland. Births: There are blank pages August 1709–November 1718 and August 1745–December 1746. Mothers’ names are not recorded until 1747. Marriages: The record prior to 1709 is contained on parallel columns of the register of births 1684–1698. There are blank pages May1709–May 1728 and only a few entries 1734–1738. There are blank pages 1745–November 1779. There are entries of contracts or proclamations prior to 1745 and actual marriages after 1779. Deaths: Mortcloth Dues. Source: Key to the Parochial Registers of Scotland, by V. Ben Bloxham, pub. 1970. British Book.

Established Church—Kirk Session Records
The Kirk session was the court of the parish. The session was made up of the 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 and Accounts 1684–1709, 1720–1745, 1836–1928 Members of Session 1838–1840 Discipline and Money Affairs 1771–1816 Cash Book 1817–1849 Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH2/558

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.

Carmyllie Free Church
History— The minister of the parish and many of his people adhered to the Free Church at the Disruption. No site could be obtained for church or manse. They erected a wooden church, but of this they were deprived. They worshiped for a time in a tent, and then erected a second wooden church. Finally a site was secured, and church and manse erected. In sympathy with and appreciation of their gallant struggle, the Synod appointed a special collection to assist them. The minister shared in the benefits of the Dalhousie Endowment and of the Duncan fund. Membership: 1848, 234; 1900, 189. Source: Annals of the Free Church of Scotland, 1843–1900, ed. Rev. William Ewing, D.D., 2 vols. pub. 1914. Film #. More details may be given in the source.

Records—                                  Family History Library Microfilm Number  Baptismal Register 1843–1872      0889495 item 6 Other: Minutes 1843–1900 Accounts 1843–1897 Communion Rolls 1843–1866 Deacons Court Minutes 1845–1901 Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH3/492.

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
Carmyllie was under the probate jurisdiction of the Commissary Court of Brechin until 1823, and since then has been under the Sheriff's Court of Dundee. Probate records for 1513- 1901 are indexed online at www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk. You must register on the website but use of the index to probate records, called 'Wills &amp; Testaments,' is free. You may then purchase a copy of the document or, if the document is before 1823, it will be on microfilm at the Family History Library. To find the microfilm numbers, search in the library catalog for the 'Place-names' of Angus and the subject of 'Probate records.' Then click on the link to the records of the Commissariat of Brechin. The library also has some post-1823 probate records for Angus. Look in the library catalog for the 'Place-names' of Angus and the subjects of 'Probate Records' and 'Probate Records - Indexes.' Read more about Scotland Probate Records.