Glenelg, Inverness-shire, Scotland Genealogy

Glenelg, Inverness, Scotland (#97)

History
Glenelg is the ancient and modern name derived or compounded of Gleann and seilg, signifying the valley of hunting or glean and elid signifying the valley of the roe.

The parish is about 20 miles in length, and the same in breadth, bounded on the N.E. and E. by the parish of Glensheal, county of Ross; on the S. E. and S. by Glengarry and Lochaber; on the S.W. by lake Morar, separating it from Ardnamurchan; and on the W. and N.W. by the sound of Sleat, separating it from the Isle of Skye.

The landowners of the parish were The Right Honourable Baron Glenelg of Glenelg, Eneas Ranaldson Macdonell, Esq. of Clanranald and Glengarry, T.A. Fraser, Esq. of Lovat, proprietor of North Morar.

The climate of the north-west coast of Scotland generally was unfit for agriculture. The land was used primarily for pasture for sheep and cattle.

The population of Glenelg district comprises nearly two-thirds of the whole parish and is exclusively Protestant except for a few families.

This account was written in January 1836.

Source: The New Statistical Account of Scotland, FHL book 941 B4sa, series 2 vol. 14.

Condition of Original Registers—
Index: For an index to these records, see the Scottish Church Records Index available on computers at the Family History Library and family history centers. Some records my be indexed in the International Genealogical Index. Births: There are only eleven entries prior to 1805. After November 1818, there are several entries for 1816–1818. There are no entries 1831–1837 and one page contains entries for Knoydart for April 1827–July 1828. Entries are slightly irregular in regard to dates and the record prior to 1831 has been injured by dampness. Marriages: There are no entries for 1820 and 1823. Source: Key to the Parochial Registers of Scotland, by V. Ben Bloxham, pub. 1970. British Book 941 K23b.

Established Church—Kirk Session Records
Minutes and Accounts 1831–1853 Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH2/966.

North Morar Catholic Church
History— In 1737 the parish of Glenelg, which included Knoydart and North Morar, had 1200 Catholics. In 1763 the whole Lochaber mission had 3000 communicants. I was known as Bracara from 1866.

Records— Baptisms 1832–1874 Marriages 1832–1854 Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record RH21/93.