Strathdon, Aberdeenshire, Scotland Genealogy

Scotland

Aberdeenshire

Strathdon

Parish #240

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

Strathdon, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Type	Quoad Omnia Parish
Parish Number	240
Civil Jurisdictions
Historic County	Aberdeenshire
Council Area	Aberdeenshire
Registration District	Strathdon
Records begin
Parish registers: 1667
Kirk Sessions: 1752
Ecclesiastical Jurisdictions
Presbytery	Alford
Synod	Aberdeen
Judicial Jurisdictions
Sheriff Court	Aberdeen and Peterhead
Commissary Court	Aberdeen

History

STRATHDON, or Invernochty, a parish, in the district of Alford, county of Aberdeen, 19 miles (W. by S.) from Alford. This place, originally called Invernochty, derived that name from the situation of its church near the influx of the river Nochty into the Don; and its present appellation, from its extensive and beautiful strath, or valley, through which the river Don takes its pleasing, winding course, dividing the parish into two nearly equal parts. The church was rebuilt in 1757, and reseated and repaired in 1808; it is a plain substantial structure containing 504 sittings. At Curgarff a church was erected; it is a handsome structure, and affords ample accommodation for the inhabitants. There is also a small Roman Catholic chapel at Curgarff.

For more information about Strathdon'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 Strathdon, as well as the library numbers for any surname indexes available:

Year	FS Library Film Number	Surname Indexes
1841	1042668	none
1851	1042122	none
1861	0103785	none
1871	0103936	none
1881	0203466	6086502 (12 fiche)
1891	0208689	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:	1667-1712	0993299
	1731-1854	0993299
Marriages:	1672-1710	0993299
	1731-1747	0993299
	1753-1761	0993299
	1783-1854	0993299
Deaths:	1825	0993299

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 December 1701–November 1702. It is defective 1706–1712, and then blank to May 1731. From this date to May 1740, births and marriages are intermixed with other matters. After 1748, there are five imperfect leaves containing separate record of births 1740–1743, and 1745–1747 which are very much wasted. Except irregular entries of three families 1727–1760, births are blank May 1747–October 1753. After the record for November 1761 occurs a separate register of births for Corgarff, 1753–1762. This is followed by a record for Strathdon from August 1741, which is blank August 1743–September 1745, and August 1747–October 1753, except for two entries. There are only five entries July 1758–July 1762 and no entries for 1765; and only three entries December 1766–February 1768. Mothers’ names are recorded after January 1787.
Marriages: Marriages are blank April 1710–May 1731, December 1747–September 1753, and September 1761–1783. Only three entries for 1793, one for 1804, one for 1809, two for 1814, and one for 1819, recorded from December 1791–November 1830.
Deaths: Two or three entries of Mortcloth Dues about 1743–1747 are among the marriages for the same.
Notes: The parish name of Strathdon appears for the first time in the title page of the register of baptisms from 1741 and in that of the register of marriages from 1783.
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:

Cash Book 1753–1763, with a few minutes, 1767–1815, 1826–1843
Baptisms 1752–1758, 1762–1765, 1834–1847
Proclamations 1845–1847
Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH2/343.

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.

A Free Church here, known as Strathdon and Glenbuchat, was not sanctioned until 1866. No 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 ScotlandsPeople ($), however the years 1855-1875, 1881, and 1891 are available through FamilySearch(*). For more information, read about Scottish Statutory Registers.

Probate Records

Strathdon 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 Aberdeen 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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