Fodderty, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland

Scotland

Ross and Cromarty

Fodderty

Parish #65

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

Fodderty, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland
Type	Quoad Omnia Parish
Parish Number	65
Civil Jurisdictions
Historic County	Cromartyshire and Ross-shire
Council Area	Highland
Registration District	Fodderty
Records begin
Parish registers: 1735
Kirk Sessions: 1719
Ecclesiastical Jurisdictions
Presbytery	Dingwall
Synod	Ross
Judicial Jurisdictions
Sheriff Court	Cromarty, Dingwall, Stornoway, and Tain
Commissary Court	Ross

History

FODDERTY, a parish, in the county of Ross and Cromarty, 2 miles (W.) from Dingwall; containing the villages of Auchterneed, Keithtown, and Maryburgh, the island of Balblair, and part of the quoad sacra districts of Carnoch and Kinlochluichart. The name is probably derived from two words in the Gaelic language, signifying a meadow along the side of a hill, a description characteristic of the celebrated valley of Strathpeffer, which comprehends part of the parish. The church, a plain but pleasing structure, built in 1807, and enlarged in 1835, accommodates 600 persons with sittings: the service is alternately performed in English and Gaelic. In the village of Maryburgh is a church, recently erected, distant from the parish church about five miles.

The name of this parish is supposed to be derived from two Gaelic words, Foigh and Ritaobh, which signify “a meadow along the side of a hill.” This parish is bounded by Dingwall on the east; Urray on the south; Contin and Kinlochluichart on the west; and Kincardine and Kiltearn on the north.

The ancient history of this parish is involved in much obscurity. Though locally situated in the county of Ross, it has belonged to that of Cromarty, since the time of George Viscount of Tarbat. This parish was formerly divided into three, namely Fodderty, Kinnettas, and Tollie, in Brahan.

The land-owners, none of whom are residents of the parish are; John Hay M’Kenzie, Esq. of Cromartie; James Alexander Stewart of M’Kenzie Esq. of Seaforth, M.P.; Alexander M’Kenzie, Esq. of Hilton; Duncan Davidson, Esq. of Tulloch; The Proprietor of Strathconon; Sir George Stewart Mackenzie of Coul, Bart.; and Sir Colin M’Kenzie of Kilcoy, Bart.

The population of this parish in 1755 was 1483, and by 1831 it was 2232.

The church of the parish was built in 1807 and was originally intended to accommodate 400, but the heritors voluntarily agreed to enlarge it to the extent of about 200 additional sittings. It is still, however, far from sufficient to supply the wants of the parish, and is very inconveniently situated for those who dwell on the south side of Knock Farril, amounting to between 800 and 900, who in the winter are often prevented from attending church by the steepness of the hill, and the depth of the snow. There are no Dissenting or Seceding families in the parish. Hector M’Kenzie, was the first Presbyterian minister of the parish, and was inducted in 1728.

This account was written August 1838.

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

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

Years	FS Library Film Number	Surname Indexes
1841	1042626	6037266 (6 fiche)
1851	1042008	none
1861	103905	none
1871	104091	none
1881	203409	6086658 (4 fiche)
1891	208624	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:	1735-1854	0990582
Marriage:	1735-1854	0990582
Death:	1758-1794	0990582

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 April 1744–January 1759, February 1766–1770, and September 1778–1780. A page of entries for 1769 is recorded with the entries for 1815.
Marriages: Entries for 1844–1846 are recorded with the 1796 entries of births. There are no marriage entries July 1743–February 1800.
Deaths:There are no entries September 1761–October 1776. A portion of the records are believed to have been burned.
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 1734–1757, 1826–1888
Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH2/676.

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.

There are no known 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

Fodderty 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.