Colinton, Midlothian, Scotland Genealogy

Scotland

Midlothian

Colinton

Parish #677

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

Colinton, Midlothian, Scotland
Type	Quoad Omnia Parish
Parish Number	677
Civil Jurisdictions
Historic County	Midlothian
Council Area	City of Edinburgh
Registration District	Colinton
Records begin
Parish registers: 1645
Kirk Sessions: 1651
Ecclesiastical Jurisdictions
Presbytery	Edinburgh
Synod	Lothian & Tweeddale
Judicial Jurisdictions
Sheriff Court	Edinburgh and Leith
Commissary Court	Edinburgh

History

COLINTON, a parish, in the county of Edinburgh, including the villages of Hailes-Quarry, Juniper-Green, Longstone, Slateford, and Swanston; 4 miles (S. W.) from Edinburgh. The name of this place, sometimes written Colington, was formerly Hailes, a word signifying "mounds" or "hillocks," and accurately descriptive of the appearance of the surface of the parish. The church, which is very ancient, is beautifully situated in the vicinity of Colinton House; it was rebuilt in 1771, and in 1817 new-roofed, and in the year 1837 it was enlarged and re-seated. There is a place of worship for members of the Free Church; also a chapel at Slateford, built in 1784.

The original name of this parish was Hailes, probley from the name of the property of the glebe. The name of Colinton was given to it to honor the principal family in the parish. On the barony of Redhall there use to be a castle . In 1650 this castle endured a regular siege from Cromwell's army. The Foulis of Colinton is the most ancient family in the parish.They seemed to have come to Scotland from France in the eleventh century. The parochial registers are in seven volumes. the begin 3rd September 1650, but there are years not recorded. The population in 1791 was 1395, and in 1838 it was 1982. There are 269 families connect with the Established church and 171 families connected with Desenters. The nearest market town is Edinburgh, the villiage of Slateford is in the parish.

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 Colinton'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 Colinton, 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:	1654-1819	1066671 items 2-4
	1820-1854 - with index	1066672 items 1-4
	1738-1851 - index	1066671 items 5-6
Marriages:	1654-1819	1066671 items 2-4
	1820-1854 - with proclamations	1066672 items 1-4
Deaths:	1717-1724, 1815-1855	1066672 items 1-4
	1826-1854	1066672 items 5-6

Condition of Original Registers

Indexed: 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: On the flyleaf are two entries, 1645–1646. Entries are irregular and incomplete April 1689–May 1694 and are out of order of time after 1797. After the record for 1819, there are twenty–six pages of transcribed entries, 1815–1819 included. Mothers’ names are not recorded until November 1683.
Marriages: There are no entries September 1689–October 1693 and April 1711–May 1713. The lower portion of the page at 1721 is cut off. There are no entries May 1742–March 1748. After the record for 1819 are twenty–four pages of transcribed entries of irregular marriages, 1724–1820 and eight pages of transcribed entries of proclamations 1815–1819 inclusive.
Deaths: Registers are burials and Mortcloth Dues. There are no entries December 1724–January 1728, March 1730–December 1747. Entries for 1815–1819, inclusive, are recorded twice.
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:

Burials 1761–1764
Proclamations 1761–1764, 1854–1954
Minutes 1651–1933 - with some gaps
Accounts 1713–1818, 1841–1906
Disbursements 1654–1713
Collections 1663–1713
Communion Rolls 1841–1952
Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH2/123.

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.

Slateford United Presbyterian

History—
For several reasons, including the settlement of an unpopular minister in the parish of Colinton, a petition was made to the Burgher Presbytery of Edinburgh for supply of sermon and it was granted in 1782. A church was built in Slateford. The session was constituted in July 1783 with 94 members. In 1858 the membership stood at 268.
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—
Various Minutes 1783–1955
Accounts 1823–1943
Seat Letting Book 1815–1890
Inventory of Various Papers 1767–1878
Note: Available in the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH3/490.

Juniper Green Free Church

History—
Dr. Lewis Balfour, grandfather of Robert Louis Stevenson, minister of Colinton, and Dr. Robert Jamieson, minister of Currie, were expected to “come out” in 1843 but stayed in the Established Church. The Free Presbytery of Edinburgh in July 1843 constituted the elders and people adhering to the Free Church as a congregation. A church was built in Juniper Green about midway between the two parishes. It was called Colinton and Currie Free Church until 1880. Then the church was rebuilt and enlarged and a hall added, the name being changed to Juniper Green Free Church. The prosperity of a paper mill at Kinleith brought an increase to the population. The district became a favorite residential suburb of Edinburgh. Lord Cockburn of Bonaly sat in the first church as a hearer. Mr. Gladstone’s was the first voice heard in the rebuilt church in 1880. A manse was provided in 1858.
Membership: 1848, 220; 1900, 407.
Source: Annals of the Free Church of Scotland, 1843–1900, ed. Rev. William Ewing, D.D., 2 vols. pub. 1914. FS Library Film#918572. More details may be given in the source including ministers.

Records—
Minutes 1844–1974
Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH3/951.

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

Colinton 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' 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' 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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