Duddingston, Midlothian, Scotland Genealogy

Scotland

Midlothian

Duddingston

Parish #684

Guide to Duddingston history, family history, and genealogy: parish registers, census records, birth records, marriage records, and death records.

Duddingston, Midlothian, Scotland
Type	Quoad Omnia Parish
Parish Number	684
Civil Jurisdictions
Historic County	Midlothian
Burgh	Portobello
Council Area	City of Edinburgh
Registration District	Duddingston Portobello and Duddingston Landward
Records begin
Parish registers: 1631
Kirk Sessions: 1682
Ecclesiastical Jurisdictions
Presbytery	Edinburgh
Synod	Lothian & Tweeddale
Judicial Jurisdictions
Sheriff Court	Edinburgh and Leith
Commissary Court	Edinburgh

History

DUDDINGSTON, a parish, in the county of Edinburgh; including the villages of Joppa and Easter and Wester Duddingston, and also the late quoad sacra parish of Portobello; 3½ miles (E. by S), and the latter 1½ mile (E. S. E.), from Edinburgh. This place derived its name, anciently Dodinestun, from the family of Dodin, to whom it belonged in the reign of David I. The church is a very ancient structure in the Norman style, of which it contains some interesting details, particularly a fine arch separating the chancel from the nave; in 1631. It was enlarged and repaired in 1840, and now contains 400 sittings. There are places of worship for members of the United Associate Secession, the Relief Congregation, and Independents, and an episcopal and a Roman Catholic chapel.

For more information about Duddingston's geography, economy, history, education, and people, see the parish reports in The First and Second Statistical Accounts of Scotland, or the Third Statistical Account for Edinburgh (FS Catalog book 941 B4sa 3rd ser. v. 15).

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 Scottish Census Records.

Here is a list of the FS Library microfilm numbers for the census records of Duddingston, as well as the library numbers for any surname indexes available.

Indexes and images for the 1901, 1911, and 1921 censuses of Scotland are found on 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

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 Scottish Church Records.

Established Church—Old Parochial Registers

	Years Covered	FS Library Film Number
Births:	1631-1819	1066683
	1819-1854 - with index	1066685
	1818-1847 - neglected entries	1066685
Marriages:	1653-1817	1066684
	1820-1854	1066685
Deaths:	1631-1667, 1683-1796, 1813-1819	1066684
	1820-1854	1066685

Condition of Original Registers

Index: 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 FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City. Some records may also be indexed in other FamilySearch collections for Scotland.

Marriages: There are no entries, except entries of sums collected at marriages in 1682, June 1681–April 1684, December 1684–September 1694, November 1696–April 1698, May 1698–February 1712, May 1743–August 1747. A large number of irregular marriages are recorded, 1765–1805 and there are no entries May 1817–April 1821.
Deaths: There are burial records until 1770. Of 159 persons whose deaths are recorded in 1645, all except seventeen are stated to have died of the “plague” and most of them were interred “in the fute of the lon” (loan). There are no entries except for a few relating to paupers, November 1667–January 1685. Mortcloth Dues January 1771–May 1796 and then There are no entries until February 1813, after which deaths are recorded. See also Portobello Kirk Session records below.
Source: Key to the Parochial Registers of Scotland, by V. Ben Bloxham, pub. 1970. British Book 941 K23b.

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.

Here is a list of the surviving Kirk session records for this parish:

Duddingston
Various Minutes 1710–1716, 1742–1797, 1806, 1810–1877
Accounts 1682–1719
Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH2/125.

Portobello
Managers’ Minutes 1807–1859
Roll of Members 1837–1843
Treasurer’s Accounts 1830–1861
Register of Burials 1834–1948
Receipts for Tombs 1834–1934
Miscellaneous Papers from 1814 on
History of Old Portobello and Regent Street Parish Church 1809–1959
Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH2/512.

Nonconformist Church Records

A nonconformist church is any church that is not the established church (the Church of Scotland). For more information, read about Scottish Nonconformity.

Portobello United Associate, First Secession Church

History—
In 1825, a group of people made application to the United Associate Presbytery of Edinburgh for supply of sermon, which was obtained, and a place of worship was erected. A trade depression in the area about this time threw the new congregation into financial difficulties when subscriptions could not be met. The only minister resigned in 1833 and the congregation became extinct and the place of worship sold.
Source: Annals and Statistics of the United Presbyterian Church, by Rev. William MacKelvie, D.D., pub. 1873. FS Library Film #477618. More details may be given in the source including ministers.

Records—
Extent of records is unknown. None may exist.

Portobello Relief Church

History—
A congregation was formed in 1834 and a church was acquired. After the only minister resigned in 1843, the congregation united with the new Free Church and sold the building to them.
Source: Annals and Statistics of the United Presbyterian Church, by Rev. William MacKelvie, D.D., pub. 1873. FS Library Film #477618. More details may be given in the source including ministers.

Records—
Extent of records is unknown. None may exist.

Portobello United, United Free Presbyterian Church

History—
In 1835, former members of the first secession church applied again to the United Associate Presbytery of Edinburgh for supply of sermon which was obtained. They erected a church on Bath Street in 1838 and later moved to Windsor Place. In 1929, it did not rejoin the Established Church and continued as a United Free Church. From 1958, it was called Wilson Memorial Church after its former minister. It is currently located at Moira Terrace, Portobello Road.
Membership: 2000, 198.
Source: Annals and Statistics of the United Presbyterian Church, by Rev. William MacKelvie, D.D., pub. 1873. FS Library Film #477618 More details may be given in the source including ministers also, The United Free Church Of Scotland, Handbook 2000, FS Library book 941 K24h.

Records—
Baptismal Register 1836–1876
Minutes 1836–1972
Poors’ Fund Accounts 1848–1894
Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH3/933.

Portobello St. Philip’s Free Church

History—
The minister of the quoad sacra parish of Portobello, with his session and many of his members, “came out” in 1843 and formed the Free Church of Portobello. They worshiped at first in a school on Bath Street, then in the Relief Church, the use of which had been offered them. They shortly after purchased the building, the Relief and Free Church congregations uniting. In 1874 the church burned down. A new church was built on a different site and was opened in 1877.
Membership: 1845, 300; 1900, 558.
Source: Annals of the Free Church of Scotland, 1843–1900, ed. Rev. William Ewing, D.D., 2 vols. pub. 1914. Family Hisoty Library Film #918572. More details may be given in the source including ministers.

Records—
Cash Book 1848–1884
Other post–1855 records
Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH3/957.

Portobello Congregational Church

History—
A church erected in Wellington Street was opened as a preaching station in August 1835 by the Congregational Union. For several years prior to that date Congregationalists from Edinburgh and elsewhere had conducted regular open–air services in the town and a schoolroom had been rented and used as a place of worship. In September 1836 a church was constituted with about twenty members. This congregation was still active in 1993.
Source: A History of Scottish Congregationalism, by Harry Escott, pub. 1960; FS Library book 941 K2es, also, The Scottish Congregational Ministry, by Rev. Dr. William D. McNaughton, pub. 1993; FS Library book 941 K2mwd. Both include lists of ministers.

Records—
Extent of records is unknown. For more information write to:
The United Reformed Church, Scottish Synod Office
PO Box 189
240 Cathedral Street
Glasgow G1 2BX
Scotland
Or you may write to the church on Malborough Street in Portobello.

Portobello Catholic Church

History—
The congregation was formed in 1835 and the church was built and dedicated to St. John the Evangelist in 1852. It was served from Edinburgh prior to formation.
Source: Catholic Missions and Registers, 1700–1800, by Michael Gandy, pub. 1993. FS Library book Ref. 942 K24gm, vol. 6.

Records—
Baptisms and Marriages1844–1872
See St. Mary’s, Edinburgh, for earlier records.
Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, record RH21/89.

Portobello Episcopalian Church

History—
Unavailable

The church was dedicated to St. Mark in 1828 and is currently vacant.

Records—
Christenings 1828–1854
Marriages 1829–1854
Burials 1828–1854
Note: Records may be available by writing to:
Diocesan Centre
21A Grosvenor Crescent
Edinburgh EH12 5EL
Scotland
Tel: 011–44–131–538 7033

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 ScotlandsPeople ($), however the years 1855-1875, 1881, and 1891 are available through FamilySearch(*). For more information, read about Scottish Statutory Registers.

Probate Records

Duddingston was under the probate jurisdiction of the Commissary Court of Edinburgh until 1823, and since then has been under the Sheriff's Court of Edinburgh. 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 & 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 catalog for the 'Place-names' of Midlothian and the subject of 'Probate records.' Then click on the link to the records of the Commissariat of Edinburgh.

The library also has some post-1823 probate records for Midlothian. Look in the library catalog for the 'Place-names' of Midlothian and the subjects of 'Probate Records' and 'Probate Records - Indexes.'

Read more about Scotland Probate Records.

Maps

The National Library of Scotland has online Ordnance Survey maps of Duddingston.

The six-inch 1853 map has Duddingston on four sheets

Sheet 2 maps.nls.uk/view/74426700

Sheet 3 maps.nls.uk/view/74426702

Sheet 6 maps.nls.uk/view/74426705

Sheet 7 maps.nls.uk/view/74426707

Using the "Explore georeferenced maps" link at the top of the page overlays the historic map on a current map of the same area.

The one-inch 1885 Ordnance Survey map which includes Edinburgh is sheet 32 maps.nls.uk/view/74488698

The one-inch 1898 Ordnance Survey map has the parishes colored.

Edinburgh sheet 32 maps.nls.uk/view/74400788

The parish also appears on four of the 25-inch maps surveyed in 1893.

The NW part of the parish including the western part of Portobello, this map has the largest portion of the parish, Sheet 004.05 maps.nls.uk/view/82877529

The NE part includes the eastern part of Portobello, sheet 004.06 maps.nls.uk/view/82877541

The SE part of the parish appears as a small section in the upper left of this map sheet 004.10 maps.nls.uk/view/82877583

The SW part of the parish includes the village of Duddingston, sheet 004.09 1893 maps.nls.uk/view/82877571

The National Archives has a page with abbreviations for the Ordnance Survey maps including the historic abbreviations. webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20060821033704/ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/aboutus/reports/misc/abbreviations.html

A good description of the parish boundaries and communities will be found in A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland by Samuel Lewis and published in 1846. www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx

References

Return to Midlothian Parishes.

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