Cockpen, Midlothian, Scotland Genealogy

Scotland

Midlothian

Cockpen

Parish #676

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

Cockpen, Midlothian, Scotland
Type	Quoad Omnia Parish
Parish Number	676
Civil Jurisdictions
Historic County	Midlothian
Council Area	Midlothian
Registration District	Cockpen
Records begin
Parish registers: 1690
Kirk Sessions: 1675
Ecclesiastical Jurisdictions
Presbytery	Dalkeith
Synod	Lothian & Tweeddale
Judicial Jurisdictions
Sheriff Court	Edinburgh and Leith
Commissary Court	Edinburgh

History

COCKPEN, a parish, in the county of Edinburgh, 3 miles (S. by W.) from Dalkeith; containing the villages of Bonnyrigg, Dalhousie, Gowkshill, Hillhead, Hunterfield, Polton-Street, Prestonholme, Skiltiemuir, Stobhill-Engine, and Westmill. This place, which is on the river South Esk, is supposed to have derived its name from the situation of the church upon an eminence, and the prevailing colour of the soil. The church, erected in 1820, is a neat plain structure, containing 625 sittings. There is a place of worship for members of the Free Church.

For more information about Cockpen'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 Midlothian (FS Catalog book 941 B4sa 3rd ser. v. 22).

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 Cockpen, as well as the library numbers for any surname indexesavailable.

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:	1690-1820	1066642 items 3-4
	1820-1854	1066671 item 1
Marriages:	1747-1820	1066642 items 3-4
	1820-1855	1066671 item 1
Deaths:	1747-1824	1066642 items 3-4
	1824. 1832-1854	1066671 item 1

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: This record appears to have been regularly kept.
Marriages: There are no entries for 1750. Entries of irregular marriages are frequent after 1783.
Deaths: Burials, There are no entries except three, 1812–1813 and 1824, April 1799–1839.
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 and Accounts 1675–1680
Minutes 1695–1728, 1759–1909
Collections 1708–1712, 1720–1729
Disbursements 1704–1711, 1720–1729
Cash Books 1762–1867
Baptisms Register 1856–1937
Communion Roll 1834–1928
Heritors Records 1739–1744, 1757, 1766, 1782–1847
Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH2/452.

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.

Cockpen Free Church

History—
The minister and one elder of the parish “came out” in 1843 and a Free Church congregation was formed. Church, manse and school were built in the village of Bonnyrigg. The church served the two parishes of Cockpen and Lasswade. The development of carpet making and coal mining led to increase of population, especially between 1875 and 1895 and other Free Churches were opened in the surrounding district, at Loanhead and Gorebridge.
Membership: 1848, 301; 1900, 390
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—
Extent of records is unknown.
No records are listed in the repertory of the National Archives of Scotland FS Library Ref. book 941 K23sc CH3.
Other:
In 1844, both a Baptist chapel and a Morrisonian chapel were opened in Bonnyrigg. Attendance was small.

Hunterfield Branch, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

History—
This church was formed about 1844. By 1848 the branch had a membership of 70 out of a total village population of 90. However, the branch ceased by 1855, its members having either gathered to Utah, been excommunicated, or removed themselves from the church rolls.

Records—
FS Library Film Number
Record of Members, 1844–1853 0104153 item 4

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

Cockpen 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.