Assynt, Sutherland, Scotland Genealogy: Difference between revisions

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<span style="font-weight: bold">Parish #44</span>
'''Parish #44'''


This is a guide to the history and major genealogical records of Scotland as they pertain to the parish of Assynt. To learn more about how to use these records to search for your ancestors, go to the [[Scotland: Research Strategies for Locating Births, Marriages and Deaths|Scotland: Research Strategies]].  
Guide to '''Assynt''' ancestry, family history, and genealogy: parish registers, transcripts, census records, birth records, marriage records, and death records.


<br>
{{Infobox Scotland Parishes
| Type = [[Scotland Jurisdictions#Quoad Omnia Parish|Quoad Omnia Parish]]
| ParishNo = 44
| Historic County = Sutherland
| Burgh =
| Council Area = Highland
| Registration District = Kirkton (Assynt) and Stoer
| PRbegin = 1798
| KSbegin = 1818
| Presbytery = Dornoch
| Synod = Sutherland and Caithness
| Sheriff Court = Dornoch
| Commissary Court = Caithness
}}


== History  ==
== History  ==
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The MacNicols once held the Island of Lewis and Assynt. Their ownership passed through marriage to the MacLeods in 1343. A younger MacLeod son received the lands of Assynt. Then the MacKensies of Ross-shire bought, invaded, and took over Assynt in 1672.  The MacKensies held the estate until their bankruptcy in 1739.  The Sutherland family bought Assynt in 1757.  
The MacNicols once held the Island of Lewis and Assynt. Their ownership passed through marriage to the MacLeods in 1343. A younger MacLeod son received the lands of Assynt. Then the MacKensies of Ross-shire bought, invaded, and took over Assynt in 1672.  The MacKensies held the estate until their bankruptcy in 1739.  The Sutherland family bought Assynt in 1757.  


There is no market-town within the parish; neither have any markets been established. Lochinver is the only village. The Sutherland family established Lochinver as a planned village in 1812, with hopes of encouraging employment in small-scale manufacturing, kelp-harvesting, and salmon fishing.  
There is no market-town within the parish; neither have any markets been established. Lochinver is the only village. The Sutherland family established Lochinver as a planned village in 1812, with hopes of encouraging employment in small-scale manufacturing, kelp-harvesting, and salmon fishing.  


There are no printed of manuscript accounts of Assynt so far as known. Various traditions, however, speak of individuals, noted in their day, living in or connected with the parish. Among these would be Neil Macleod, who resided at Ardvrack Castle, built on the banks of Loch Assynt.  
There are no printed of manuscript accounts of Assynt so far as known. Various traditions, however, speak of individuals, noted in their day, living in or connected with the parish. Among these would be Neil Macleod, who resided at Ardvrack Castle, built on the banks of Loch Assynt.  
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''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/ http://edina.ac.uk/stat-acc-scot/].  Click on ‘Browse scanned pages’ then search the parish you are interested in. Also available at the {{FSC|the new statistical account of scotland|title|disp=FamilySearch Library.}}  
For more information about Ecclesmachen's geography, economy, history, education, and people, see the parish reports in [https://stataccscot.edina.ac.uk/static/statacc/dist/home The First and Second Statistical Accounts of Scotland], or the Third Statistical Account for Sutherland {{FSC|941 B4sa 3rd ser. v. 19B|disp=941 B4sa 3rd}}.


== Census Records ==
== Census Records ==
 
Scottish Censuses were taken every 10 years beginning in 1801. Beginning with the 1841 Census, each individual in the nation was enumerated at the location they slept on a particular day. For more information, including which day each census was taken, read about [[Scotland_Census|Scottish 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 [[Scotland Census|census records]] .  


Click {{FSC|649682|title-id|disp=here}}{{LQL}} to go to the FamilySearch Catalog entry for the census records of Assynt.  The FamilySearch Library has a surname index to the {{FSC|734153|title-id|disp=1881}} census of the whole of Sutherland county.  
Click {{FSC|649682|title-id|disp=here}}{{LQL}} to go to the FamilySearch Catalog entry for the census records of Assynt.  The FamilySearch Library has a surname index to the {{FSC|734153|title-id|disp=1881}} census of the whole of Sutherland county.  


The 1901 census of Scotland is indexed on [http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/ 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.  
Indexes and images for the 1901, 1911, and 1921 censuses of Scotland are found on [https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk ScotlandsPeople] ($). Registration is required and there is a small access fee per image. All available censuses, 1841-1921, are indexed on this website.


== Church Records ==
== Church Records ==
 
The Established Church in Scotland is the Church of Scotland, a Presbyterian denomination of Christianity. Church of Scotland records generally cover the period of time prior to 1855, when Civil Registration began. Unlike in England, Scottish law never mandated that vital events be registered with the established church. For more information, read about [[Scotland_Church_Records|Scottish Church Records]].
The Established Church of Scotland was Presbyterian. Read more about [[Scotland Church Records|church records]].  


Here are the pre-1855 records that exist for this parish.  
Here are the pre-1855 records that exist for this parish.  
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===== Condition of Original Registers— =====
===== Condition of Original Registers— =====


'''Index:''' For an index to these records, see [http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/ Scotland’s People] website, a pay-for-view website. The Scottish Church Records Index is also still available at the [https://www.familysearch.org/en/library/ FamilySearch Library] in Salt Lake City.  Some records may also be indexed in other [https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/location/1986318?region=Scotland FamilySearch collections] for Scotland.<br>'''Marriages:''' Form of entries is somewhat peculiar, generally containing a reference to the "consignation money".<br>'''Source:''' ''Key to the Parochial Registers of Scotland'', by V. Ben Bloxham, pub. 1970. British Book {{FSC|941 K23b|disp=941 K23b}}.  
'''Index:''' For an index to these records, see [http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/ Scotland’s People] website, a pay-for-view website. The Scottish Church Records Index is also still available at the [https://www.familysearch.org/en/library/ FamilySearch Library] in Salt Lake City.  Some records may also be indexed in other [https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/location/1986318?region=Scotland FamilySearch collections] for Scotland.<br>'''Marriages:''' Form of entries is somewhat peculiar, generally containing a reference to the "consignation money".<br>'''Source:''' V. Ben Bloxham, ''Key to the Parochial Registers of Scotland'' (Provo, UT: Brigham Young University Press, 1970), {{FSC|941 K23b|disp=941 K23b}}.


=== Established Church—Kirk Session Records  ===
=== 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 businessmen of the parish, chosen to serve on the session. It 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.
The Kirk session was the court of the parish. The session was made up of he 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:'''<br>  
'''Here is a list of the surviving Kirk session records for this parish:'''<br>  
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=== Nonconformist Church Records  ===
=== Nonconformist Church Records  ===
 
A nonconformist church is any church that is not the established church (the Church of Scotland). For more information, read about [[Scotland_Church_Records_Union_Lists#Historical_Background|Scottish Nonconformity]].
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 Lists|Scotland Church Records Union List.]]  


==== Assynt Free Church  ====
==== Assynt Free Church  ====
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== Civil Registration Records ==
== Civil Registration Records ==
 
Government or civil registration of births, marriages, and deaths is called Statutory Registers in Scotland. The system began 1 January 1855, and each parish had a registrar's office, with large cities having several. Over time, districts merged and split due to changing populations and technological advancements. The system has largely stayed the same over time, with records being created by local registrars and copies sent to the General Register Office in Edinburgh. Initially annual indexes were published, but now these indexes are available online as soon as an event is registered. These records are only available on [https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk ScotlandsPeople] ($). For more information, read about [[Scotland_Civil_Registration|Scottish Statutory Registers]].
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|Scotland Civil Registration]] for more information and to access the records.<br>


== Probate Records ==
== Probate Records ==


Assynt was under the probate jurisdiction of the Commissary Court of Caithess until 1823, and since then has been under the Sheriff's Court of Dornoch. Probate records for 1513- 1901 are indexed online at [http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/ 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 FamilySearch Library. To find the microfilm numbers, search in the library [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog catalog] for the 'Place-names' of Sutherland and the subject of 'Probate records.' Then click on the link to the records of the Commissariat of Caithness.  
Assynt was under the probate jurisdiction of the Commissary Court of Caithess until 1823, and since then has been under the Sheriff's Court of Dornoch. Probate records for 1513-1901 are indexed online at [http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/ www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk.] You must register on the website but use of the index to probate records, called 'Wills & 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 FamilySearch Library. To find the microfilm numbers, search in the library [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog catalog] for the 'Place-names' of Sutherland and the subject of 'Probate records.' Then click on the link to the records of the Commissariat of Caithness.  


The library also has some post-1823 probate records for Sutherland. Look in the library [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog catalog] for the 'Place-names' of Sutherland and the subjects of 'Probate Records' and 'Probate Records - Indexes.'  
The library also has some post-1823 probate records for Sutherland. Look in the library [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog catalog] for the 'Place-names' of Sutherland and the subjects of 'Probate Records' and 'Probate Records - Indexes.'  
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Read more about [[Scotland Probate Records|Scotland Probate Records.]]  
Read more about [[Scotland Probate Records|Scotland Probate Records.]]  


== '''References'''  ==
== References ==


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