Keithhall and Kinkell, Aberdeenshire, Scotland Genealogy

Scotland

Aberdeenshire

Keithhall and Kinkell

Parish #206

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

Keithhall and Kinkell, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Type	Quoad Omnia Parish
Parish Number	206
Civil Jurisdictions
Historic County	Aberdeenshire
Council Area	Aberdeenshire
Registration District	Keithhall
Records begin
Parish registers: 1678
Kirk Sessions: 1684
Ecclesiastical Jurisdictions
Presbytery	Garioch
Synod	Aberdeen
Judicial Jurisdictions
Sheriff Court	Aberdeen and Peterhead
Commissary Court	Aberdeen

History

KEITH-HALL and KINKELL, a parish, in the district of Garioch, county of Aberdeen, one mile (E. by S.) from Inverury. Keith-Hall was anciently called Montkeggie, a word of uncertain derivation; it assumed the present appellation after the larger part of it had come into the possession of Keith, Earl-Marischal of Scotland. The Gaelic term Kinkell, signifying "the head or principal church," was applied to the ancient parish of that name, because the incumbent, who was of great importance in the chapter of Aberdeen, had also in his possession the six inferior parishes of Kintore, Kinnellar, Skene, Kemnay, Dyce, and Drumblade. The church was built in 1771, and accommodates 600 persons with sittings. The Society of Friends have a place of worship at Kinmuck, attached to which is a cemetery.

For more information about Keithhall & Kinkell'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 Keithall and Kinkell 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

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: Kinkell: Records are blank except a few irregular entries, August 1723–April 1778. Mothers’ names not recorded until 1778.
Keithhall: The portion to 1708 is very much wasted by dampness and want of care. Many of the leaves were partially destroyed. Mothers’ names are not recorded until 1739.
Marriages: Kinkell: Records are blank December 1706–June 1708 however they are mixed up with other matters.
Keithhall: marriages are recorded among the births. Record is blank August 1781–1852.
Deaths: Kinkell: Records are of burials.
Keithhall: Records are Mortcloth Dues and are blank November 1775–1852.
Source: Key to the Parochial Registers of Scotland, by V. Ben Bloxham, pub. 1970. British Book941 K23b.
Monumental Inscriptions: Keithall and Kinkell churchyards FamilySearch Library Book 941.25/K2 V3s.

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 and Accounts 1684–1708
Minutes 1709–1778
Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH2/201.

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.

Kinmuck Society of Friends, Quakers

History—
The Kinmuck meeting house appears to have been built and the burial ground acquired by 1680 against considerable opposition. A Quaker family used it as a home in order to prevent the house from being destroyed by those in opposition. It was purchased by the Society about 1710. A school was held in the meeting house until about 1781. The building was totally reconstructed in 1832. The meeting was discontinued in 1940 and the building sold soon after.
Source: The Quaker Meeting Houses of Britain, vol. 2, by David M. Butler of the Friends Historical Society. Family History Library Book 942 K24bd, vol. 2. Records—
For records, see Aberdeen parish.

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

Keithall and Kinkell 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.