Wigtown Parish Records
At the National
Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh:
Numerous papers concerning businesses in Wigtown are to
be found in Court of Sesion records and the records of dissolved
companies. They can be found by searching the
National Archives of Scotland
catalogue for "Wigtown" and reference starts
"CS" or reference starts "BT2".
Prior to the reformation the church of Wigtown belonged to the priory
of Whitern and was dedicated to St Machuit. The ruins of the old church
still remain near to the present day parish church, built in 1850.
After the 1929 union of the Church of Scotland and the United Free
Church, Wigtown parish church was united with the United Free
congregation of Wigtown West, following the union, the Wigtown West
church was sold and the old parish church remained in use. Wigtown was
later linked with Kirkcowan in 1982. The kirk session sat within 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.
- Wigtown Free Church (later United Free and West Church of
Scotland)
The congregation of Wigtown Free Church, which
started out as a preaching station, was sanctioned as a full charge at
the end of 1843, the year of the Disruption. At this time a Relief
Church was being erected in Wigtown, however due to financial problems
the building could not be completed and had to be offered up for sale.
The unfinished building was subsequently purchased on behalf of the FC
congregation and became the Free Church of Wigtown. In 1900, upon the
union of the Free Church and the United Presbyterians, Wigtown Free
Church was renamed Wigtown United Free Church and in 1901 Wigtown U.F
was joined with the former United Presbyterian congregation of Wigtown
West U.F.. The two sessions were joined under the name of Wigtown U.F.
and after the union the former U.P. church continued in use as the
place of worship. Following the 1929 union between the Church of
Scotland and the United Free Church, Wigtown U.F. became Wigtown West
Church of Scotland and in 1948 Wigtown West joined with the
congregation of Wigtown Laigh, under the name of Wigtown Church of
Scotland. After this union the former West church was sold. Wigtown
Associate congregation sat within the U.P. Presbytery of Galloway and
later the U.F. Presbytery of Wigtown and Stranraer.
- Wigtown United Associate Congregation (later United
Presbyterian, West United Free and West Church of Scotland)
Wigtown United Associate Congregation, which sat
within the Antiburgher branch of the Secession church, first received
mention in the records of the Synod in 1750, when a call was presented
to Mr John Tennant, whom the Antiburgher residents of Wigtown wished to
have recalled from Ireland to be ordained over them. It was decided
however to leave Mr Tennant where he was and in 1751 the first minister
of the Wigtown congregation, Andrew Ogilvie, was ordained, a church to
house the session had been completed during the previous year. In 1900,
upon the union of the Free Church and the United Presbyterians, Wigtown
U.P. was renamed Wigtown West United Free Church and in 1901 Wigtown
West U.F was joined with the former Free Church congregation of Wigtown
U.F.. The two sessions were joined under the name of Wigtown U.F. and
after the union the former U.P. church continued in use as the place of
worship. Following the 1929 union between the Church of Scotland and
the United Free Church, Wigtown U.F. became Wigtown West Church of
Scotland and in 1948 Wigtown West joined with the congregation of
Wigtown Laigh, under the name of Wigtown Church of Scotland. After this
union the former West church was sold. Wigtown Associate congregation
sat within the U.P. Presbytery of Galloway and later the U.F.
Presbytery of Wigtown and Stranraer.
At the National
Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh:
- CH2/374
Wigtown Kirk Session
Minutes, 1701-1745, 1822-1823, 1843-1854 and 1867-1889; Accounts,
1725-1815; Baptisms, 1867-1924; Proclamations, 1883-1936; Communion
roll, 1848-1934.
- CH3/311
Wigtown Free Church (later United Free and West Church of Scotland)
Session minutes, 1845-1942; Deacon's Court minutes, 1853-1901; Account
book, 1923-1947; Baptismal register, 1844-1947; Communion roll,
1844-1919.
The LDS
have filmed the following records which may be consulted at LDS
Family History Centres.
LDS Library Film Numbers:
| 889477 Item 1 |
Wigtown
Free
Church |
Baptisms, 1844-1847. |
Original
documents: National Archives
of Scotland - CH3/311/5 |
| 304671
Item 30 |
Baptisms,
1844-1858, 1875-1876 |
| Data
provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints |
- CH3/310
Wigtown United Associate Congregation (later United Presbyterian, West
United Free and West Church of Scotland)
Session minutes, 1849-1901; Congregational and manager's minutes,
1879-1933; Account book, 1835-1922; Baptismal register,
1849-1901; Marriage Register, 1849-1855; Communion roll,
1849-1897.
The LDS
have filmed the following records which may be consulted at LDS
Family History Centres.
LDS Library Film Numbers:
| 304671 Item 29 |
Wigtown
United Associate Congregation |
Baptisms, 1849-1862; marriages, 1849-1855. |
Original
documents: National Archives
of Scotland - CH3/310/4 |
| 1886485 |
Session
minutes, 1849-1901; Account books, 1835-1922; Baptisms,
1849-1901; Marriages, 1847-1855; Communion roll, 1849-1897. |
Original
documents: National Archives
of Scotland - CH3/310 |
| Data
provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints |
At the National
Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh:
- HH12/89, HH21/24, HH21/60 and HH21/
Wigtown Prison
Governor's Journal, 1873-1878; Register of Criminal
Prisoners, 1848-1875; Daily
Statement of Prisoners, 1859-187861; Register of Criminals (No 2),
1840-1848.
At the Stranraer
Museum:
- WN
Wigtown Burgh (Access restricted)
Town Clerk's Department:
Miscellanea - including a record of persons
imprisoned in the tolbooth, 1826-1838, and papers concerning the prison
(including
reports, minutes, etc.), 1791-1891.
At the Stranraer
Museum:
- WN
Wigtown Burgh (Access restricted)
Town Clerk's Department:
Burgh
court book, 1872-1873; 'Collected documents' including burgh
court hearings, 1724-1838.
At the National
Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh:
At the National
Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh:
- HR355
Wigtown parish heritors' records
Minutes, 1849-1929; Accounts, 1853-1933; Cash book, 1921-1933; Papers
relating to buildings, 1850-1912; Papers relating to transference to
Church of Scotland, 1925-1929;
Correspondence, 1849-1929; Assessment rolls, 1850-1855; Plans of
church, manse and glebe, 1853-1915, undated.
At the National
Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh:
- VR85
Valuation Rolls: Wigtown Burgh
1855-1930; the Roll from 1930 is included in the Valuation Roll for the
County of Wigtown; the roll for 1915 is online at the ScotlandsPeople website.
- IRS87/84-88
Valuation Office (Scotland): Field Book, 1910-1920: Wigtown
Burgh
Entries 1-456.
- IRS87/89
Valuation Office (Scotland): Field Book, 1910-1920: Wigtown
Parish
Entries 1-78.
- IRS133
Valuation Office (Scotland) maps to accompany the above field books,
scale 1/2500, Ordnance Survey sheets for Wigtownshire.
- B72
Records of Wigtown Burgh
Register of Sasines (1st Series), 1724-1809; Register of Sasines (2nd
Series), 1809-1928; Register of Sasines (2nd Series) - Minute Books,
1820-1928; Burgh Rental Book, 1542-1599.
The LDS
have filmed the following records which may be consulted at LDS
Family History Centres.
LDS Library Film Numbers:
| 298553 |
Wigtown
Burgh sasines |
Minute books, sasines registers, 1862-1863 |
Original
documents: National Archives
of Scotland - ?part of B72/3/1 |
| Data
provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints |
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 Stranraer
Museum:
- WN
Wigtown Burgh (Access restricted)
Town Clerk's Department:
'Collected documents' - including records of services of
heirs, 1681-1934.
Chamberlain's Department:
Assessment rolls,
1930-1946, 1967-1973; Valuation rolls, 1961-1973 (incomplete).
At the National
Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh:
Some estate papers can be found by searching the National
Archives of Scotland catalogue for "Glasserton" and reference starts
"GD". Collections
particularly worth searching are:
- GD25
Papers of the Kennedy Family, Earls of Cassillis (Ailsa Muniments)
- GD46
Papers of the Mackenzie Family, Earls of Seaforth (Seaforth Papers)
- GD72
Papers of the Hay family of Park
- 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
Library of Scotland, Edinburgh:
- Acc.10539 and Ch.15531-16730
Papers of the Fleming Family of Wigtown
At the National
Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh:
- RH4/23/233 and RH4/23/235
Ordnance Survey Original Object Name Books for Scotland: Wigtownshire
Wigtown and Penninghame (book 48); Kirkinner, Kirkcowan, Mochrum,
Wigtown and Penninghame (book 49); Kirkinner, Wigtown and Penninghame
(book 50); Wigtown and Penninghame (book 51); Kirkinner, Kirkmabreck
and Wigtown (book 52); Kirkinner and Wigtown (book 64);.
At the National
Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh:
- CO4/47
Wigtown Parish Records
Parochial Board Minute Books, 1815-1902; Parish Council Minute Books,
1895-1930; Parish Council Minute Book (Landward Committee), 1895-1929;
Parochial Board General Register of the Poor,
1835-1901; Parish Council General Register of the Poor,
1902-1930; Parochial Board Register of poor Persons, 1850-1864.
At the National
Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh:
At the Ewart
Library, Dumfries:
- EW5/62
Wigtown Primary School
Log books, 1874-1898, 1923-1976. (Access restricted)
This was known originally as Wigtown Burgh and Parish Higher Grade
Public School. By 1945 it had a roll of 240. It became a junior
secondary in 1948 but was downgraded to primary school status in 1948
and the secondary department closed with the pupils being transferred
to Douglas Ewart High in Newton Stewart and Whithorn Junior Secondary.
- EW5/67/2
Wigtown: All Souls Roman Catholic Primary School
Log book, 1943-1987.(Closed until 1 Jan. 2063)
This was erected for the education of Catholic children on ground
belonging to the Catholic Church and from their own funds. It was built
in 1882 and opened in 1883.
At the National
Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh:
- FS
Friendly Society Records
- FS1/27/1 Friendly Society of Wigtown, 1795
- FS4/214 Portpatrick Railway Platelayers Sick,
Superannuation and Insurance Society, Newton Stewart, No. 3 Wigtown, no
date.
- FS4/311 Independent Order of Oddfellows, (Manchester
Unity), Friendly Society Wigtown, no date.
see Early
Taxation Records
At the Stranraer
Museum:
- WN
Wigtown Burgh (Access restricted)
Town Clerk's Department:
Minutes, 1679-1975; Police commissioners, minutes, 1894-1925; Burgh
court book, 1872-1873; Miscellanea (including a record of persons
imprisoned in the tolbooth, 1826-1838, voters' registers, 1832-1855,
1879-1882, a poll book of New Galloway, 1832, registers of applications
to keep inns, 1849-1853, and of applications for liquor licences,
1858-1864, and poll books for elections of councillors, Wigtown,
1850-1855 and undated), 1826-1944.
'Collected documents', 1676-1920. This miscellaneous category includes
a customs levy, undated, papers relating to parliamentary elections and
the census, 1734-1910, petitions, mainly to the magistrates and
council, 1780-1885, oaths of allegiance by officers and councillors,
19th cent., applications for excise licences, 1836-1837, a subscription
list for perpetuating Abbotsford in the line of Sir Walter Scott's
descendants, 1833, records of services of heirs, 1681-1934, writs,
1669-1856, letter books, 1872-1898, and papers relating to Wigtown Gas
Co, 1846-1888, the railway, 1857-1872, water supply, 1884-1889, the
Medical Officer of Health and Sanitary Inspector, 1848-1871, the parish
church, 1766-1876, schools, 1769-1866, courts of law (including burgh
court hearings, 1724-1838), 1724-1950, and the prison (including
reports, minutes, etc.), 1791-1891.
Chamberlain's Department:
Accounts and abstracts (various formats), 1752-1969; Assessment rolls,
1930-1946, 1967-1973; Valuation rolls, 1961-1973 (incomplete); Cash
books and ledgers, 1957-1971.
Additional deposited records: (including court surveys, 1962, byelaws,
1893, 1896, 1930, a letter book of Wigtown Educational Trust,
1933-1946, a petition on the Reform Bill, 1832, inventories of
documents, 1872, plans, 1874-1973 and undated), 1777-1973.
At the National
Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh:
- B72
Records of Wigtown Burgh
Register of Sasines (1st Series), 1724-1809; Register of Sasines (2nd
Series), 1809-1928; Register of Sasines (2nd Series) - Minute Books,
1820-1928; Register of Deeds, 1866; Court and Council Record, 1512-1535
(unfit for production); Burgh Rental Book, 1542-1599; Burgh Charters,
1457-1661.
At the Stranraer
Museum:
- WN
Wigtown Burgh (Access restricted)
Town Clerk's Department: voters' registers,
1832-1855,
1879-1882, a poll book of New Galloway, 1832 and poll books for
elections of councillors, Wigtown,
1850-1855 and undated.
At the National
Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh:
- SC19/64
Wigtown Sheriff Court
Register of electors in the county of Wigtown, 1832 and 1832-1861; Poll
book: Polling place Wigtown, 1835, 1837 and 1841.
- GD124/14/3
Papers of the Erskine Family, Earls of Mar and Kellie
Rolls of the freeholders of the shires etc of Scotland including
Wigtown, 1708-1709.
Data provided by the Scottish
Archive Network (SCAN)
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Last
updated 30 March, 2012
: William McM. Owen
