St. Cuthberts, Midlothian, Scotland Genealogy

Scotland

Midlothian

St. Cuthberts

Parish #685²

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

St. Cuthberts, Midlothian, Scotland
Type	Quoad Omnia Parish
Parish Number	6852
Civil Jurisdictions
Historic County	Midlothian
Burgh	Edinburgh
Council Area	City of Edinburgh
Registration District	Dean, Boroughmuirhead & Morningside, Newington & Grange, Castle & Portsburgh, St. Giles, Holyrood & Canongate, Calton & Bonnington, and Heriot & Warriston
Records begin
Parish registers: 1573
Kirk Sessions: 1586
Ecclesiastical Jurisdictions
Presbytery	Edinburgh
Synod	Lothian & Tweeddale
Judicial Jurisdictions
Sheriff Court	Edinburgh and Leith
Commissary Court	Edinburgh

History

ST. CUTHBERTS is a parish in EDINBURGH, a city, the seat of a university, and the metropolis of the kingdom of Scotland, situated in longitude 3° 10' 30" (W.), and latitude 55° 57' 29" (N.), about a mile (S. by W.) from Leith, 40 miles (S.S.W.) from Dundee, 42 (E. by N.) from Glasgow, 44 (S. by E.) from Perth, 55 (W. by N.) from Berwick-upon-Tweed, 92½ (N. by W.) from Carlisle, 109 (S. W. by S.) from Aberdeen, 156 (S. by E.) from Inverness, 270 (N. E.) from Dublin, and 392 (N. N. W.) from London; containing 56,330, and, including the suburban parishes of St. Cuthbert and Canongate. The parish of St. Cuthbert, which was subdivided into several ecclesiastical districts. It is of great extent, and originally included the whole of the city and the burgh of Canongate. The episcopal chapel dedicated to St. James was built in 1820. There are also places of worship in the parish for members of the Free Church, United Secession, and Relief, for Reformed Presbyterians, Original Seceders, the Society of Friends, Baptists, Wesleyans, Independents, Jews, and Unitarians; an Episcopalian chapel, dedicated to St. Peter, and two Roman Catholic chapels.

For more information about St. Cuthberts'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 St. Cuthberts, 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:	1573-1642	1066751 items 3-4
	1655-1724	1066752
	1724-1760, 1760-1771- with index	1066753
	1772-1793	1066754
	1793-1817	1066755
	1817-1819	1066756
	1774-1821 - index to births	1041987
	1820-1826 - with index	0993529
	1826-1831 - with index	1066761
	1831-1833	1066762
	1833-1842 - with index	1040214
	1843-1854 - with index	1066763
	1854-1855, 1855-1856 - with index	1066763

	Years Covered	FHL Flim Number
Marriages:	1655-1739 - transcript	1066768
	1683-1788	1066756
	1788-1818	1066757
	1817-1819	1066758
	1774-1821- marriage index	1066768
	1820-1825 - with index	1066763
	1825-1833 - with index	1066764
	1833-1841 - with index	1066765
	1842-1849 - with index	1066766
	1849-1854 - with index	1066767
	1854 - with index	0993529

	Years Covered	FS Library Film Number
Deaths:	1740-1763	1066758
	1763-1803	1066759
	1801-1821	1066760
	1819-1829 - index to burials	1040331 item 2-3
	1819-1832	1040331 item 2-3
	1832-1844 (index to burials)	1040212
	1840-1854 (index to burials)	1040213
	1844-1854 - burials	1040213
	1764-1805 - Buccleuch Church	1066760
	1794-1820 - Buccleuch Church	1066761
	1820-1854 - Buccleuch Church	1066761 - indexed
	1846-1850 - Dalry Church	1066761 - indexed
	1850-1854 - Dalry Church	1040214
	1820-1834 - Newington Church	1041993 - indexed
	1835-1854 - Newington Church	1041994
	1846-1854 - Rosebank Church	1041995
	1846-1854 - Southeren Church	1041995
	1843-1854 - Warriston Church	1041995

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: There are no birth entries February 1576–February 1605. One page after September 1613 and four pages after June 1641, almost entirely destroyed. There are no entries 1642–August 1665, June 1657–September 1674. Duplicate or draft of record from January 1677–May 1681 in volume two and from November 1743–January 1772 in volumes 15-17 inclusive. Mothers’ names are not recorded until 1605. Records are indexed from 1774.
Marriages: Except entries for September 1655–April 1656 on one imperfect page, there is no record until 1683. There are no entries October 1686–October 1687, April 1697–November 1699. After the record for 1799 there is a separate register of clandestine marriages affirmed in the Session of St. Cuthberts, dated April 1775–March 1795. There is a double record May 6, 1812–June 1, 1813 and an index 1774–1813.
Deaths: The records of Newington Burying Ground and Cemetery and of the Southern, Rosebank, Warriston, and Dalry Cemeteries are in the hands of the superintendents of the respective grounds, but copies of them are in the possession of the registrars. The records of Newington Burying Ground, 1820–1854 inclusive, are in the custody of the registrar of Newington District. The records of Newington Cemetery, Echo Bank, 1846–1854 inclusive, in the custody of the registrar of Newington District. The records of Southern Cemetery Grange 1846–1854 inclusive, in the custody of the registrar of Newington District. The records of Rosebank Cemetery 1846–1854 inclusive, in the custody of the registrar of St. Andrew’s District. The records of Warriston Cemetery 1843–1854 inclusive, in the custody of the registrar of St. Andrew’s District. The records of Dalry Cemetery 1846–54 inclusive, in the custody of the registrar of St. George’s District. There is a duplicate of records for West Church Burying Ground, February 1754–January 1755. There is an index for the same, 1801–1821.
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:

St. Cuthbert’s

Various Minutes 1586–1671, 1679–1922
Register of Discipline 1595–1612, 1714–1750
Accounts 1608–1627, 1646–1794, 1804–1862
Register of St. Cuthbert’s 1668–1762
Letter Book 1840–1852
Proclamation and Marriage Register 1806–1851, 1854–1939
Burial Certificates and Orders for Coffins 1786–1788
Buccleuch Burial Register 1820–1854
Newington and Buccleuch Order book 1850–1881
Record Book, New Burying Ground, Chapel of Ease 1820–1854
Communion Roll 1854 +
Seat Letting Book 1836–1837
Lists of Parishioners 1632–1639
List of Inhabitants 1790
Examination Roll 1729–1730
Assessment of Parish 1766–1770
Subscriptions for Building Poor House 1758
Register of Charity School 1773–1848
Miscellaneous Papers
Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH2/718.

Newington

Minutes 1836–1843
Communion Rolls 1849–1894
Benevolent Society Accounts and Books 1842–1855
Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH2/626.

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.

Click here to see a list of the pre-1855 nonconformist churches and their records.

Dean Free Church

History—
At the Disruption the minister of the parish of the Dean with practically the whole of the congregation adhered to the Free Church. The minister, like others, was prevented from occupying and preaching in the church, which the congregation themselves had built and supported. They first met for worship in a granary. A church was built in Lynedoch Place and opened for service in December 1844. When St. Andrew’s Free Church was transferred to a site in close proximity to Dean Free, it was found necessary to move. A new church was built at Belford Bridge and opened in October 3, 1889.
Membership: 1880, 249; 1900, 330.
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 1843–1911
Deacons Court Minutes 1844–1911
Baptismal Register 1845–1900
Accounts 1840–1853
Communion Roll 1846–1896, 1901–1911
Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH3/511.

Newington Free Church

History—
The minister of Liberton, adhered to the Free Church in 1843. A site could not be secured for a new church in Liberton. With the support of four elders from Liberton and four from Newington parish, the minister of which did not Acome out,” the congregation of Newington Free Church was formed and the building in South Clerk Street was opened in November 1843. Originally standing in green fields, the church was soon built around and included within the city.
Membership: 1850, 608; 1900, 460.
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—
Scroll Minutes 1846–1886
Deacons Court Minutes 1844–1913
Treasurers Accounts 1844–1915
Cash Book 1844–1893
Communion Roll 1845–1884
Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH3/1195.

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

St. Cuthberts 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-names' 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-names' of Midlothian and the subjects of 'Probate Records' and 'Probate Records - Indexes.'

Read more about Scotland Probate Records.

Genealogy From Periodicals

McIntosh, Gordon.  My McIntosh Family Tree Spurious branches included..  History of descendants of James McIntosh and Isabella (Nisbet) Wallace, with descendants in Edinburgh, St. Cuthberts, Northumberland - Wylam, Durham, Bishop Auckland, and New Zealand-Auckland.  Surnames in the tree, Clements, Edwards, Hunter, Blair, Brown, Roycroft, Paxton, and Falconer.  Article dated from 1794-1952 and is in the Northumberland and Durham Family History Society Journal. vol. 34, no.3, page 96-98.  FamilySearch Library Ref. 942.8 B2jo v.34,no.3, (autumn 2009)

References

Return to Midlothian Parishes.

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