Arbroath, Angus, Scotland Genealogy: Difference between revisions

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== History  ==

ARBROATH, or Aberbrothock, a thriving seaport, burgh, and '''parish''', in the county of Forfar, 15 miles (S. E. by E.) from Forfar, and 58 (N. N. E.) from Edinburgh; containing the late quoad sacra parish of Abbey, and part of that of Lady-Loan. This place derives its name, originally Aberbrothock, of which its present appellation is a contraction, from its situation at the mouth of the river Brothock, which falls into the North Sea. The church, which was enlarged in 1764, and to which an elegant spire was added in 1831, is a plain cruciform structure, situated nearly in the centre of the town, and adapted for 1390 persons. A '''chapel of ease''' was erected in 1797, on the grounds of the ancient abbey, and is thence called the Abbey chapel; it is a neat edifice for a congregation of about 1280, and a quoad sacra parish has been annexed to it. Another '''chapel of ease''' was erected in 1829, for the accommodation of the inhabitants of that portion of the suburbs within the parish of St. Vigean's; it is a neat structure, and contains 1080 sittings. The church of Lady-Loan is also of recent date, and in the town. There are places of worship for '''Episcopalians''', '''Free Church''' congregations, members of the '''United Secession''', members of the '''Relief Synod''', '''Original Seceders''', and '''Independents'''; and for smaller congregations of '''Baptists''', '''Bereans''', '''Glassites''', and '''Wesleyans'''.<ref>Lewis, Samuel A., ''[http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=43417#s15 A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland]'' (1846), pp. 499-514. Adapted. Date accessed: 30 May 2014.</ref>  

Click {{FSC|631344|title-id|disp=here}}{{LQL}} to go to the FamilySearch Catalog entry for the census records of Arbroath.  

The FamilySearch Library also has surname indexes for the {{FSC|1195300|title-id|disp=1841}} and {{FSC|748020|title-id|disp=1881}} censuses  

=== Established Church—Old Parochial Registers  ===

| {{FSC|1068236|film|disp=1068236}} item 9<br>

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===== Condition of Original Registers— =====

'''Indexed:''' For an index to these records, see [http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/ Scotland’s People] website, a pay-for-view website. The Scottish Church Records Index is also still available at the [https://www.familysearch.org/en/library/ FamilySearch Library] in Salt Lake City.  Some records may also be indexed in other [https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/location/1986318?region=Scotland FamilySearch collections] for Scotland.<br>'''Births:''' Births are intermixed with marriages and other matters up to 1655. The records are blank July 1655–November 1658. Births are inter-mixed with marriages November 1658–September 1734. They are blank from August 1699–September 1700, except for five entries between 1738–1743 and September 1734–September 1748. There are separate registers for births after 1748. The records prior to 1700 were damaged by damp conditions and negligence.<br>'''Marriages:''' Marriages are intermixed with births and other matters up to 1655, then, they are blank July 1655–November 1658. Marriages are Inter-mixed with births November 1658–September 1734. Marriages are blank from August 1699–September 1700 and September 1734 to September 1748. There is a separate register for marriages after 1748. The records prior to 1700 were damaged due to dampness and negligence.<br>'''Burials:''' There are two volumes of birth and marriage records, and 16 volumes of burial schedules.<br>'''Source:''' ''Key to the Parochial Registers of Scotland,'' by V. Ben Bloxham, pub. 1970. British Book {{FSC|941 K23b|disp=941 K23b}}.  

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

Minutes 1834–1977<br>St.Vigeans, Destitute Sick Society Accounts 1838–1888<br>'''Note:''' Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH2/903  

'''General Statement:'''<br>The New Statistical Account of Scotland, dated December 1833 FS Library book 941 B4sa Ser. 2, vol. 11 pt. 2, states that there were within the parish two United Secession churches, one Original Secession church, one Relief church, one Congregational church, one Wesleyan Methodist church, meeting places for the Glasites, Bereans, and Baptists, and an Episcopalian chapel. There were also groups of Dalites, Socinians and Universalists without churches. Other churches came into being after 1833. An 1823 survey stated that 540 persons were Episcopalian, 537 were United Secession, 131 were Original Secession, 282 were Methodist, 134 were Glasite, 99 were Congregationalist, and 51 professed one of the other faiths, while 186 persons belonged to no denomination.  

'''Records—'''<br>FS Library Film Number<br>Record of Members, 1845–1880 {{FSC|0104149|film|disp=0104149}} item 3  

== Probate Records ==

Arbroath was under the probate jurisdiction of the Commissary Court of St.Andrews until 1823, and since then has been under the Sheriff's Court of Dundee. Probate records for 1513- 1901 are indexed online at [http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/?gclid=CLKJyYGQ4ZUCFQQCagod1gp0Ww www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk.] You must register on the website but use of the index to probate records, called 'Wills &amp; 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 Angus and the subject of 'Probate records.' Then click on the link to the records of the Commissariat of St.Andrew.<br><br>The library also has some post-1823 probate records for Angus. Look in the library [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog catalog] for the 'Place-names' of Angus and the subjects of 'Probate Records' and 'Probate Records - Indexes.' <br><br>Read more about [[Scotland Probate Records|Scotland Probate Records.]]  

[[Category:Angus Parishes]]