Rogart, Sutherland, Scotland Genealogy

Parish # 55

History
 Roaird is the name of this parish in the Gaelic language. How it came to be written and pronounced Rogart can only be accounted for by the difficulty in pronouncing the name to those who did not speak that language. It is bounded on the east by parts of the parishes of Dornoch and Golspie; on the south by parts of the parishes of Dornoch and Criech; on the west by the parish of Lairg; and on the north by parts of the parishes of Clyne and Farr.

The Duke and Dutchess of Sutherland are proprietors of nearly the whole parish of Rogart. The other proprietors of land in it are, George Dempster, Esq. of Skibo, and Hugh Rose Ross, Esq. of Glastullich and Cromarty, who have each a small patch in it unconnected with their principal estates.

A continued decrease is found in the population of the parish of Rogart since 1811, as may be seen by comparing the census of that year with the census of 1831. This decrease has been caused by emigration to the provinces subject to Britain in North America, chiefly to Upper Canada.The count of persons in the parish in 1801 was 2022, and by 1831 it decreased down to 1805.

The proportion of land in agriculture and yielding of crops is small, and must always be so, while naked rock forms a considerable part of the surface of the parish. More than half of the parish is laid out for the grazing of the Cheviot breed of sheep. There are some crops raised, grains of all kinds, potatoes, hay, and turnips.

For the parish, the situation of the church is most inconvenient, being in its extreme boundary on the east. Consequently, some of the parishioners travel ten miles in coming to hear a sermon; which, being doubled before they return to their homes, is a severe exertion, though it is cheerfully made, even in the short days of winter. They are all Presbyterians, and firmly attached to the religion and modes of worship of their forefathers. No mention is made of records that have been kept.

This account was written September 1834.

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

Also available online at http://edina.ac.uk/stat-acc-scot/. Browse the scanned pages under ‘For non-subscribers,’ then search for the parish report.

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. The records may be indexed in the International Genealogical Index. 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.

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