Avoch, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland

Scotland

Ross and Cromarty

Avoch

Parish #59

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

Avoch, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland
Type	Quoad Omnia Parish
Parish Number	59
Civil Jurisdictions
Historic County	Ross-shire
Council Area	Highland
Registration District	Avoch
Records begin
Parish registers: 1727
Kirk Sessions: 1728
Ecclesiastical Jurisdictions
Presbytery	Chanonry
Synod	Ross
Judicial Jurisdictions
Sheriff Court	Cromarty, Dingwall, Stornoway, and Tain
Commissary Court	Ross and Edinburgh

History

AVOCH, a parish, in the county of Ross and Cromarty, 1¾ mile (S. W. by W.) from Fortrose. This place apparently derives its name, signifying, in the Gaelic language, "shallow water," from the small river on which it is situated. The church, a neat plain structure, erected in 1670, and repaired in 1833, is situated close to the village, and contains 600 sittings. There is a place of worship for Independents.

Avoch (a name which in the opinion of an ingenious etymolgist, signifies "shallow waters.")

The celebrated Scots historian, priest and Lord of Session, Chambers of Ormond, was born in this parish about the year 1530. He was proprietor of Castleton and Ormond Hill, which gave title to Douglas, Earl of Ormond. Sir George Mackenzie of Rosehaugh resided in this parish, and had very extensive possessions in it and its vicinity.

The nearest market-town to Avoch in the royal burgh of Fortrose, about a mile and three-quarters distant.

There are three land-owners: Sir James W. Mackenzie of Scatwell, Baronet, Lord Lieutenant of the county; Alexander Mackenzie, Esq. of Avoch; and John Matheson, Esq. of Bennetsfield.

The parish church is very conveniently situated on the southern side of the parish, close to the village, in which nearly one-half of the whole population reside. It was built in 1670, new roofed and enlarged in 1792, the ceiling was lathed and plastered in 1833. It affords accommodation for more that 600; some of the seats are the property of private individuals, the remainder in general belong to farms on the estates of the heritors, for which no payment in required.

There is a parochial register regularly kept. The earliest entry in the oldest register of this parish, which was by no means regularly kept, is dated 1727.

The amount of the population of this parish in 1831 was 1956; males 906, females 1050. The amount of population this year (1839) in 1936.

This account was written February 1840.

Source: New Statistical Account of Scotland for Avoch, FS Library book 941 B4sa, series 2, vol 14.

For more information about Avoch'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 Ross & Cromarty 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 Avoch as well as the library numbers for any surname indexes available:

Years	FS Library Film Number	Surname Indexes
1841	1042625	6307266 (6 fiche)
1851	1042007	none
1861	103905	none
1871	104090	none
1881	203407	6086658 (4 fiche)
1891	208623	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:	1727-1854	0990578 item 1
Dissenters	1820-1831	0990578 item 1
Marriages:	1727-1854	0990578 item 1
Dissenters	1824-1829	0990578 item 1
Deaths:	No entries	none

Condition of Original Registers

Index: For an index to these records, see ScotlandsPeople ($), 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 irregular around 1770. There is only one entry September 1784–October 1787. There is a separate record of dissenters' children from 1820.
Marriages:Nearly every entry prior to 1737 was signed by the session–clerk. There are only two entries, 1746, November 1744–April 1767. No entries September 1767–June 1771 and September 1773–November 1787.
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 1728–1891
Cash Book, Poor Funds 1787–1847, 1867–1874
Baptisms 1856–1883
Communion Rolls 1865–1886
Heads of Families 1835–1838
Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH2/794.

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.

Avoch Free Church

History—
The minister of Avoch did not "come out" in 1843. In 1846 a church was erected. The Assembly sanctioned the charge in 1850 and a minister was settled in 1851. A new church was built in 1872. Nearly all of the people of this fishing village belonged to the Congregational Church. The Free Church drew its members from the surrounding district in which the population decreased.
Membership: 1855, 220; 1900, 47.
Source: Annals of the Free Church of Scotland, 1843–1900, ed. Rev. William Ewing, D.D., 2 vols. pub. 1914. Film #918572. More details may be given in the source, including ministers.

Records—
There are no pre-1855 records.

Avoch Congregational Church

History—
This congregation was formed early in 1808 as the result of the evangelistic labors of Alexander Dewar. He became the first pastor of the church and was the means of gathering a large and prosperous congregation that was still active 150 years later. In addition to his pastoral labors Dewar was a zealous evangelist and for many years an itinerant preacher in many parts of Ross and Sutherland. A church was built in 1819.
Source: A History of Scottish Congregationalism, by Harry Escott, published Glasgow, 1960. FamilySearch Library 941 K2es

Records—
The extent of records is unknown. For availability of records, write to:
The United Reformed Church, Scottish Synod Office
PO Box 189
240 Cathedral Street
Glasgow G1 2BX
Scotland

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

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

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

Read more about Scotland Probate Records.

References

Return to Ross & Cromarty parish list.