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Lerwick, Shetland, Scotland Genealogy: Difference between revisions
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'''Parish #5''' | '''Parish #5''' | ||
Guide to '''Lerwick''' ancestry, family history, and genealogy: parish registers, transcripts, census records, birth records, marriage records, and death records. | |||
== History | {{Infobox Scotland Parishes | ||
| Type = [[Scotland Jurisdictions#Quoad Omnia Parish|Quoad Omnia Parish]] | |||
| ParishNo = 5 | |||
| Historic County = Shetland | |||
| Burgh = | |||
| Council Area = Shetland Islands | |||
| Registration District = Lerwick | |||
| PRbegin = 1706 | |||
| KSbegin = 1728 | |||
| Presbytery = Lerwick | |||
| Synod = Shetland | |||
| Sheriff Court = Lerwick | |||
| Commissary Court = Orkney & Shetland | |||
}} | |||
== History == | |||
LERWICK, a '''parish''', sea-port, burgh, and market-town, and the county-town, in the Shetland Isles; 95 miles (N. E.) from Kirkwall, 126 (N. E. by N.) from Wick, 166 (N.) from Peterhead, and 272 (N. by E.) from Edinburgh. This place, which has long been celebrated as the resort of whale-ships, Dutch herring-boats, and numerous foreign and wind-bound vessels, originated in the seventeenth century, in connexion with the Dutch fishermen. Capt. Smith, however, who visited the islands in 1633. The church is a modern edifice, with a Doric front of hewn stone, and stands above the town, towards the northern extremity.<ref>Lewis, Samuel A., ''[http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=43458#s20 A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland]'' (1846), pp. 499-514. Adapted. Date accessed: 15 August 2014.</ref> | LERWICK, a '''parish''', sea-port, burgh, and market-town, and the county-town, in the Shetland Isles; 95 miles (N. E.) from Kirkwall, 126 (N. E. by N.) from Wick, 166 (N.) from Peterhead, and 272 (N. by E.) from Edinburgh. This place, which has long been celebrated as the resort of whale-ships, Dutch herring-boats, and numerous foreign and wind-bound vessels, originated in the seventeenth century, in connexion with the Dutch fishermen. Capt. Smith, however, who visited the islands in 1633. The church is a modern edifice, with a Doric front of hewn stone, and stands above the town, towards the northern extremity.<ref>Lewis, Samuel A., ''[http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=43458#s20 A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland]'' (1846), pp. 499-514. Adapted. Date accessed: 15 August 2014.</ref> | ||
For more information about Lerwick'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 Shetland {{FSC|941 B4sa 3rd ser. v. 20B|disp=941 B4sa 3rd}}. | |||
== 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]]. | |||
== Census Records | |||
Here is a list of the FS Library microfilm numbers for the census records of Lerwick as well as the library numbers for any surname indexes available: <br> | Here is a list of the FS Library microfilm numbers for the census records of Lerwick as well as the library numbers for any surname indexes available: <br> | ||
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1804 {{FSC|273012|title-id|disp=477622 Item 13}}<br> | 1804 {{FSC|273012|title-id|disp=477622 Item 13}}<br> | ||
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. | |||
The Established Church of Scotland | == 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]]. | |||
=== Established Church—Old Parochial Registers === | === Established Church—Old Parochial Registers === | ||
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=== 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 | |||
'''Here is a list of the surviving Kirk session records for this parish: '''<br><br>'''Shetland, afterwards Lerwick''' | '''Here is a list of the surviving Kirk session records for this parish: '''<br><br>'''Shetland, afterwards Lerwick''' | ||
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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 | |||
The New Statistical Account of Scotland for Lerwick for 1841 states that there were 187 dissenter families in the parish, but it does not mention specific groups.<br>Lerwick St. Columba Secession Church | The New Statistical Account of Scotland for Lerwick for 1841 states that there were 187 dissenter families in the parish, but it does not mention specific groups.<br>Lerwick St. Columba Secession Church | ||
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'''Records—'''<br>The extent of records is unknown. For information write to:<br>The Baptist Union of Scotland<br>12 Aytoun Road<br>Glasgow G41 5RT<br>Scotland | '''Records—'''<br>The extent of records is unknown. For information write to:<br>The Baptist Union of Scotland<br>12 Aytoun Road<br>Glasgow G41 5RT<br>Scotland | ||
== 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. Many of these records are only available on [https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk ScotlandsPeople] ($), however the years 1855-1875, 1881, and 1891 are {{FSC|79310|item|disp=available through FamilySearch}}(*). For more information, read about [[Scotland_Civil_Registration|Scottish Statutory Registers]]. | |||
Government or civil registration of births, marriages, and deaths | |||
== Probate Records | == Probate Records == | ||
Lerwick was under the probate jurisdiction of the Commissary Court of Orkney & Shetland until 1823, and since then has been under the Sheriff's Court of Lerwick. Probate records for 1513- 1901 are indexed online at [[Scotland Church Records|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 Shetland and the subject of 'Probate records.' Then click on the link to the records of the Commissariat of Orkney & Shetland. | Lerwick was under the probate jurisdiction of the Commissary Court of Orkney & Shetland until 1823, and since then has been under the Sheriff's Court of Lerwick. Probate records for 1513- 1901 are indexed online at [[Scotland Church Records|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 Shetland and the subject of 'Probate records.' Then click on the link to the records of the Commissariat of Orkney & Shetland. | ||
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The library also has some post-1823 probate records for Shetland. Look in the library [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog catalog ] for the 'Place-names' of Shetland and the subjects of 'Probate Records' and 'Probate Records - Indexes.' <br><br>Read more about [[Scotland Probate Records|Scotland Probate Records.]] <br><br> | The library also has some post-1823 probate records for Shetland. Look in the library [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog catalog ] for the 'Place-names' of Shetland and the subjects of 'Probate Records' and 'Probate Records - Indexes.' <br><br>Read more about [[Scotland Probate Records|Scotland Probate Records.]] <br><br> | ||
== | == References == | ||
{{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
Return to Shetland [[Shetland (or Zetland), Scotland Parishes|parish list.]] | Return to Shetland [[Shetland (or Zetland), Scotland Parishes|parish list.]] | ||
[[Category:Shetland Parishes]] | [[Category:Shetland Parishes]] | ||