Kirkcowan Parish Records
The Kirkcowan Waulk Mill, a woollen mill, was a good example
of the
sort of mill constructed in south-west Scotland in the late 18th
century onwards. It was first built by the Tarff Water in 1814 by
Robert Milroy, who had had some textile experience already. The mill
was later taken over by his son, Robert, who (in partnership with his
brothers, who were merchants) built a larger mill on the site of the
original one. That Robert's sons, William Milroy (d 1860) and Thomas
Milroy, enlarged it in 1835, and were employing 39 people by 1839. At
that stage, its manufactures were said to be 'blankets, plain and pilot
cloths, plaidings and flannels'. Further additions were made later in
the 19th century, and tweed weaving sheds were added 1910-1917. The
Waulk Mill closed c1950.
At the Ewart
Library, Dumfries:
- EGD/108
W & T Milroy, Kirkcowan
Recipe and sample book including notes on dyeing, undated; Customer
books, 1823-1842; Waste book, journal and ledger book, 1855; Copy power
of attorney, 1871; Account books, 1802-1904.
At the Dumfries
and Galloway Archives, Dumfries:
- GD1
Kirkcowan Waulkmills Pattern Books
Tweed pattern books, including sample cloths, 1891-1909; Work book,
1902-1904; Piece books, including sample cloths, 1911-1921; Cloth
weaving orders, 1921-1927; Spinner's pattern books, including sample
cloths, 1929-1949.
The church of Kirkcowan, also previously know as Kirkcoan, was
dedicated to St Coan and prior to the reformation belonged to the
Chapel Royal of Stirling. Ministry is recorded here from 1564 in the
person of John McGhie. There have previously been two charges in
existence in Kirkcowan, Kirkcowan St Conan's and Kirkcowan Dawson
Memorial; the two were united in 1954 and the parish remained under the
name of Kirkcowan. The parish of Wigtown was linked with Kirkcowan in
1982. Kirkcowan originally sat in the Presbytery of Wigtown until by
Act of Assembly XXI, 1963, the Presbytery of Wigtown and the Presbytery
of Stranraer were united to form the Presbytery of Wigtown and
Stranraer. The present church was built in 1834.
- Kirkcowan United Secession Church, later United
Presbyterian, United Free and Church of Scotland Dawson Memorial
Kirkcowan United Secession Church originated with a
group who appear in the records of the Secession as early as the 1740s,
but no separate congregation was formed. In 1836 the Secession
Presbytery of Wigtown agreed to send preachers to Kirkcowan and the
first minister was inducted in 1844. The charge then passed
successively to the United Presbyterian and United Free Churches. The
UF charge was named Kirkcowan, but known as Dawson Memorial, and passed
with that name to the Church of Scotland. The Church of Scotland
charge, which was in the presbytery of Wigtown and the synod of Ayr,
united with Kirkcowan St Conan's in 1954 as Kirkcowan.
At the National
Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh:
- CH2/226
Kirkcowan Kirk Session
Minutes, 1719-1727 and 1826-1900; Cash book, 1892-1920; Baptismal
register, 1855-1882; Proclamation register, 1889-1967; Communion roll,
1849-1852, 1870-1882 and 1886-1903.
- CH3/871
Kirkcowan United Secession Church, later United Presbyterian, United
Free and Church of Scotland Dawson Memorial
Minutes, 1840-1858, 1861-1935; Congregational managers' minutes,
1861-1936; Cash book, 1889-1925; Seat rent accounts, 1908-1924;
Notebook kept by Rev. Thomas Smail containing: minutes, 1838-1841,
baptisms, 1838-1842,
marriages, 1839-1842, deaths, 1844-1854, list of members, 1838-1844.
At the National
Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh:
- HR343
Kirkcowan parish heritors' records
Minutes, 1902-1928; Accounts, 1924-1928.
At the National
Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh:
- IRS87/9-12
Valuation Office (Scotland): Field Book, 1910-1920: Kirkcowan
Parish
Entries 1-100, 101-200, 201-300, 301-333.
- IRS133
Valuation Office (Scotland) maps to accompany the above field books,
scale 1/2500, Ordnance Survey sheets for Wigtownshire.
At the Dumfries
and Galloway Archives, Dumfries:
- EW4
Wigtownshire County Council: County Treasurer's Department
Valuation rolls, 1891-1975; Assessment rolls, 1890-1897, 1950-1960.
At the National
Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh:
Some estate papers can be found by searching the
NationalArchives
of Scotland catalogue for "Kirkcowan" and reference starts
"GD". Collections
particularly worth searching are:
- GD27
Papers of Kennedy of Dalquharran
- GD135
Papers of the Dalrymple Family, Earls of Stair
- GD138
Papers of the Stewart family, Earls of Galloway (Galloway Charters)
- GD154
Papers of the Agnew Family of Lochnaw, Wigtownshire
At the National
Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh:
- RH4/23/228, RH4/23/229, RH4/23/230, RH4/23/232 and
RH4/23/233
Ordnance Survey Original Object Name Books for Scotland: Wigtownshire
Parishes of New Luce and Kirkcowan (book 6); New Luce and Kirkcowan
(book 8); Kirkcowan (book 9); Kirkcowan and Penninghame (book 10);
Kirkcowan (book 11); Kirkcowan and Penninghame (book 12); Kirkcowan and
New Luce (book 25); Kirkcowan (book 26); Kirkcowan,
New Luce and Old Luce (book 27); Kirkcowan (book 28); Kirkcowan and
Penninghame (book 29); Kirkcowan and Penninghame
(book 31); Old Luce and Kirkcowan (books 43 and 44); Old
Luce, Kirkcowan and Mochrum (book 46); Kirkcowan and Penninghame (book
47); Kirkinner, Kirkcowan, Mochrum,
Wigtown and Penninghame (book 49)
At the National
Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh:
- CO4/34
Kirkcowan Parish Records
Parochial Board Memorandum Minute Book, 1852-1855, 1855-1859; Parochial
Board Minute Books, 1854-1913; Parochial Board General Register of the
Poor, 1845-1900; Parish Council Minute Books, 1913-1930; Parish Council
General Register of the Poor, 1900-1922, 1923-1930.
At the Ewart
Library, Dumfries:
- EW5/11/1-3
Kirkcowan School Board
Minutes, 1873-1882, 1891-1903, 1910-1916.
- EW5/11/4-5
Kirkcowan School Management Committee
Minutes, 1925-1947. (Closed)
- EW5/50
Kirkcowan School
Log book, undated. (Closed until 1/01/2046)
Kirkcowan Primary School: This was in existence by 1858. The master
doubled as registrar and it was originally a parish school. It was
downgraded to primary school status in 1956.
- EW5/25
Darnow School
Log books, 1873-1945. (Access restricted)
At the National
Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh:
- GD1/786
Kirkcowan Curling Society, later Kirkcowan Curling Club
Minutes, 1843-1948, prefaced
by notes on the practice of curling in the parish since prior to 1804
and the progress of the society since its formation in 1835-36.
see Early Taxation Records
Data provided by the Scottish
Archive Network (SCAN)
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Last
updated 13 January, 2010 : William McM. Owen
