Alness, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland

Scotland

Ross and Cromarty

Alness

Parish #57

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

Alness, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland
Type	Quoad Omnia Parish
Parish Number	57
Civil Jurisdictions
Historic County	Ross-shire
Council Area	Highland
Registration District	Alness
Records begin
Parish registers: 1783
Kirk Sessions: 1872
Ecclesiastical Jurisdictions
Presbytery	Dingwall
Synod	Ross
Judicial Jurisdictions
Sheriff Court	Cromarty, Dingwall, Stornoway, and Tain
Commissary Court	Ross

History

ALNESS, a parish, in the county of Ross and Cromarty, 9 miles (N. E. by N.) from Dingwall. This parish, which takes its name from two Gaelic words signifying a "burn," or small river, and a "point," is bounded on the south by the Cromarty Frith. The church, which was built in 1780, is in good condition, and holds 800 people. A Free Church place of worship has been erected.

Alness appears to be the only name that has been given to this parish. It is compounded of two Gaelic words, auld, signifying a burn or small river, and neas, a point. The parish of Alness is bounded on the north by imaginary lines dividing it from that of Kincardine; and on the south, by the shores of the Cromarty Firth. On the east, it is divided from the parish of Rosskeen by the river of Alness; and on the west, by Kiltearn by the river Auldgrande.

It is said that, soon after the accession of William III, the parish suffered a famine of such severity, that in one district, that was well populated, the number of inhabitants was reduced to three. If the accounts of tradition can be believed, the people were under necessity of forming common coffins, into which the dead, being thrown promiscuously, were buried without the ordinary solemnities of a funeral.

During the period which succeeded the restoration of Charles, an attempt was made to do away with the Presbyterian form of worship in Scotland, and to introduce Prelacy in its place.

A noteworthy individual connected with this part of the country is Mr. James Fraser, one of the ministers of Alness. This eminent individual was born in the year 1700, and was the son of the Rev. John Fraser, also a minister of the parish, he is well known on account of the sufferings which he endured for his steady adherence to the principles and constitution of the Church of Scotland during the persecution of 1679 or 1680.

Another individual of note from this parish is General Sir Hector Munro, K.B. He was one of the principal proprietors, and rendered himself famous by his exploits in India during the war which was carried on there towards the close of the eighteenth century.

The proprietors of the parish are, H.A. J. Munro of Novar, Major-General Munro of Teaninich, and Finlay Munro of Lealty.

In the former Account, which was written in the year 1793, the number of persons then inhabiting the parish is stated at 1121, of whom 800 are stated as having been above seven years of age. The number now living in the parish is 1440.

There is no entire village in this parish. The village of Alness is divided nearly equally between this and the neighbouring parish of Rosskeen. In the village of Rosskeen, there is a market held monthly for the purpose of selling cattle.

The church is situated in the southern extremity of the parish, only about a mile from the shores of the Firth, and is inconvenient for the people to attend. All the people of the parish belong to the Established Church, and are regular in their attendance to worship services.

This account was written February 1840.

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

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

Years	FS Library Film Number	Surname Indexes
1841	1042625	6037266 (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	1783-1854	0990577 item 1
Marriages	1784-1854	0990577 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: Intermixed throughout with marriages, otherwise, regularly kept.
Marriages: Same as for births.
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.

Surviving Kirk session records for this parish:

No pre-1855 records.

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.

Alness Free Church

History—
The minister and a large part of the congregation of Alness "came out" in 1843. Sites for the church and manse were given in perpetuity, at a nominal rent. The church was built in 1843, and renovated in 1893. A school was provided. The congregation suffered heavily through young people leaving the parish.
Membership: 1848, 80; 1900, 79.
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—
Marriages 1847–1912
Baptisms 1843–1929
Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH3/750.

Civil Registration

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

Alness 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 ScotlandsPeople ($). Registration is required, but use of the index to probate records, called 'Wills & Testaments,' is free. Copies of documents may be purchased, 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.

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