Heriot, Midlothian, Scotland Genealogy

Scotland

Midlothian

Heriot

Parish #688

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

Heriot, Midlothian, Scotland
Type	Quoad Omnia Parish
Parish Number	688
Civil Jurisdictions
Historic County	Midlothian
Council Area	Scottish Borders
Registration District	Heriot
Records begin
Parish registers: 1685
Kirk Sessions: 1731
Ecclesiastical Jurisdictions
Presbytery	Dalkeith
Synod	Lothian & Tweeddale
Judicial Jurisdictions
Sheriff Court	Edinburgh and Leith
Commissary Court	Edinburgh

History

HERIOT, a parish, in the county of Edinburgh; containing the hamlets of Fala-Hill Inn, Robertson, and Broomieknowe. The church was formerly of considerable value. It is situated about the centre of the parish, and accommodates 200 persons with sittings; it was rebuilt in 1804, and has since undergone extensive repairs, by which it has been rendered convenient and comfortable.

The patronage of the church, during the 12th and part of the 13th century, belonged to Roger deQuincy, then Lord of the Manor, and Constable of Scotland. In the division of De Quincy's estates among his three daughters, Heriot fell to Elena, the youngest, who married La Touche, and English Baron. The earliest parochial register is 1685, but have not been regularly kept. The population in 1801 was 320 and in 1831 it was 327. The land was primarily used for grains, potatoes, turnips, hay and meadow. There is no villiage in the parish and the nearest market town is Dalkeith. The post-office is at Fushie Bridge seven miles away. The parish church is situated in nearly the very center of the parish. Divine service in the Established Church is well attended, with the number of communicats about 100.

This account was written in 1839.

Source:New Statistical Account of Scotland (FS Library book 941 B4sa, series 2, vol. 1)

For more information about Heriot'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 Midlothian (FS Catalog book 941 B4sa 3rd ser. v. 22).

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 Heriot 1841-91, as well as the library numbers for Midlothian 1881 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:	1685-1854 - baptisms	1067752 items 5-6
Marriages:	1692-1818	1067752 items 5-6
Deaths:	1691-1755, 1845-1854	1067752 items 5-6

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.
Births: There are no entries January 1688–November 1689 or January 1693–August 1695; one for July 1745–November 1748. One entry at January 1697 has been torn off. From 1784–1793 births, marriages, and deaths are intermixed.
Marriages: There are entries of marriage pledges until December 1702. There are no entries December 1702–May 1731; August 1744–June 1755; and except three for 1817–1818, record ends November 1814. Entries 1784–1793 are among births for same period.
Deaths: Records are mainly Mortcloth Dues and funeral expenses, except 1784–1793, when burials are recorded among births and marriages for same period. There are no entries July 1702–July 1731 and 1819–1845 after which they are burials.
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:

Collections 1731–1846
Minutes 1832–1891
List of Communicants 1819–1835
Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH2/187.

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.

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

Heriot was under the probate jurisdiction of the Commissary Court of Edinburg until 1823, and since then has been under the Sheriff's Court of Edinburg. 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.

References

Return to Midlothian Parishes.

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