Forgue, Aberdeenshire, Scotland Genealogy

Scotland

Aberdeenshire

Forgue

Parish #194

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

Forgue, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Type	Quoad Omnia Parish
Parish Number	194
Civil Jurisdictions
Historic County	Aberdeenshire
Council Area	Aberdeenshire
Registration District	Forgue
Records begin
Parish registers: 1684
Kirk Sessions: 1633
Ecclesiastical Jurisdictions
Presbytery	Turriff
Synod	Aberdeen
Judicial Jurisdictions
Sheriff Court	Aberdeen and Peterhead
Commissary Court	Aberdeen

History

FORGUE, a parish, in the district of Strathbogie, county of Aberdeen, 6½ miles (N. E. by E.) from Huntly. The name of this place was originally written Forrig, and is supposed to be derived from the Gaelic language. The parish is bounded on the north by the river Doveran. The church, situated upon a gentle eminence, is a neat, commodious, and substantial edifice, built in 1819, and containing 900 sittings. The members of the Free Church have a place of worship; there is a small episcopal chapel, and about seven miles from the church is a preaching station, belonging to Seceders.

For more information about Forgue'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 Aberdeenshire 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 Scottish Census Records.

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

Year	FS Library Film Number	Surname Indexes
1841	1042655	none
1851	1042115	none
1861	0103780	none
1871	0103930	none
1881	0203455	6086502 (12 fiche)
1891	0208676	none

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

Record Type	Years Covered	FS Library Film Number
Births:	1684-1854	0993183
Marriages:	1787-1852	0993183
Deaths:	1787-1796	0993183

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: Entries between August and December 1717 are illegible because of dampness or the fading of the ink. There are defective records about 1757–1761, and for 1777. A large number of leaves prior to 1783 are imperfect through want of care. There is a modern transcript of the portion from 1770 to 1819. Mothers’ names not recorded in the entries until 1802.
Marriages: There are transcribed entries of Proclamation Dues prior to 1807. There are two entries 1781–1782, three entries July 1788–June 1793, and five entries July 1796–August 1802. The records are blank November 1803–February 1806, and August 1807–June 1809, after which the record is one of Proclamations and marriages. Deaths: There are transcribed entries of Mortcloth Dues and no entries December 1792–January 1795.
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:

Minutes 1637–1665, 1787–1796, 1854–1891
Accounts 1768–1771, 1781–1846
Minutes and Accounts 1667–1686, 1734–1772
Cash Book 1766–1772
Communicants 1834–1849
Census and Ecclesiastical State of Lands in Parish 1836, 1854–1859
Other post-1855 records
Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH2/539

Monumental Inscriptions

The Kirkyard of Forgue in Aberdeen has been indexed by the North-East Scotland Family History Society.

FamilySearch Library

Online listing is available through the: Aberdeen and North-East Scotland Family History Society

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.

Forgue Associate Burgher Presbyterian Church

History—
This congregation originated with persons in the district who were in favor of a movement known as the “Tabernacle Men”. They applied for supply of sermon from the Associate, Burgher Synod which was granted in 1806. A church was built in 1805. After the minister left in 1831, Forgue was supplied with sermon as a mission station until 1842. At that time the congregation became extinct.
Source: Annals and Statistics of the United Presbyterian Church, by Rev. William MacKelvie, D.D., pub. 1873. Film #477618. More details are given in the source.

Records—
There are no known records.

Forgue Free Church

History—
This congregation was formed at the Disruption by those who adhered to the Free Church parish. A church and manse were erected in 1844. In 1843 the population of the parish was 2400 and in1900 it was 1100.
Membership: 1848, 400; 1900, 280
Source: Annals of the Free Church of Scotland, 1843–1900, ed. Rev. William Ewing, D.D., 2 vols. pub. 1914. Film #918572. More details are given in the source.

Records—
Various Minutes 1843–1883
Baptismal Register 1843–1849
Notes of Baptisms 1840–1864
Communion Rolls 1843, 1860–1910
Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH3/1044.

Forgue Episcopal Church

History—
This congregation has probably existed since the Revolution. In 1715 the minister was deposed for supporting the Pretender, which so offended the parishioners that many were induced to leave the Established Church and join with the Episcopalians. The chapel was erected in 1795. Several other members resided in adjoining parishes. The congregation was abolished in the latter half of the 19th century.
Membership: 1795, 220; 1842, 180
Source: History of the Scottish Episcopal Church, by John P. Lawson, pub. 1843. A copy is not available in the FamilySearch Library.
Records—
Christenings, Marriages, and Burials, 1830–1854
For more information write to:
The Rectory
Old Meldrum
Inverurie AB51 0AD
Scotland

This rector has stewardship over Forgue today.

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

Forgue was under the probate jurisdiction of the Commissary Court of Aberdeen until 1823, and since then has been under the Sheriff's Court of Aberdeen. 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 Aberdeem and the subject of 'Probate records.' Then click on the link to the records of the Commissariat of Aberdeen.

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

Read more about Scotland Probate Records.

References

Return to Aberdeenshire parishes list.

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