THE STATISTICAL ACCOUNTS OF SCOTLAND at https://stataccscot.edina.ac.uk/static/statacc/dist/home - If
you are writing about a community where your ancestor lived, thees are
essential viewing, with a rich source of background information. Written by each parish minister, they give a contemporary account of
life at the time,
with the first edition, edited by Sir John Sinclair, published 1791-99 and the "New Statistical
Account" in 1834-45 - so they largely precede the first census. A later edition appeared in the 1960s.
You won't find individual names there, apart perhaps from the minister and the schoolmaster. But they can tell you how many paupers, cattle, sheep, horses, etc. were in the parish, give details on the land and the topography, trades and occupations, the school, and the church, with frank observations such as the state of morals of the people, and comments of "miserable hovels", "the church roof leaks rain on the congregation" and "there is a want of fuel in winter".
Here is a summary of the entry in the First Statically Account for my village of Earlston in Berwickshire in the Scottish Borders You won't find individual names there, apart perhaps from the minister and the schoolmaster. But they can tell you how many paupers, cattle, sheep, horses, etc. were in the parish, give details on the land and the topography, trades and occupations, the school, and the church, with frank observations such as the state of morals of the people, and comments of "miserable hovels", "the church roof leaks rain on the congregation" and "there is a want of fuel in winter".
The population of Earlston was given as 1,351 - 670 males and 681 females, with the comment:
"The people are in general healthy; many of them arrive at old age. The most common diseases are ague, rheumatism and scroph - the frequency of the last is probably owing to intermarriage.......consumptive complaints are more common."
A generally positive picture was given of the local economy.
"The principal manufacture is linen cloth. There are between 40 and 50 weaver looms mostly employed weaving linen........ We have only one woollen manufacturer, though no place could be better situated for carrying out that branch of trade. The Leader Water runs along the west and there is plenty of wool to supply 20 manufacturers.
There are four mills which manufacture a considerable quantity of all kinds of grain...it is carried to Dalkeith and Edinburgh markets. Coal and lime are brought back in return.
Nor can any part of the country be better accommodated with roads. The turnpike between Edinburgh and Jedburgh goes close by.
The farmers rear a considerable number of black cattle...which they fatten on turnips.The account noted that two fairs were held in Earlstoun - on the 28th June for sheep, black cattle and horses, reckoned to be "the second best fair in the south of Scotland". The other fair was held on the third Thursday of October. "
Horses are absolutely necessary in this part of the country, for it is by them the farmers labour their farms and drive their corn to market. They never work with oxen now as they did formerly."
In terms of the local society, we learn that the manse was built in 1734 and the churc building dated from 1736, with Sunday Schools in Earlston and Mellerstain, sponsored by the Hon.Mrs Baillie of Mellerstain House.
A carved inscription on an old mill building in Earlton
with the names C & M Whale clearly visible today.
Christian & Marion Whale were renowned gingham manufactuers in the early 19th century and women ahead of their time.
Of particular interest to me are the largely unknown tax records from the 17th and 18th centuries. e.g. window tax, hearth tax, carriage tax, male and female servant tax rolls, farm horse tax, cart tax, clock & watch tax, and non-working dog tax. Well worth looking at for their curiosity value! And it is FREE!
SASINE RECORDS - https://www.ros.gov.uk/services/registration/sasine-register
The General Register of Sasines - also known as the Sasine Register - is the oldest land rregister in the world, dating back to 1617. Its name comes from the old French word 'seizer', which means 'take'e: font size:normal;">
An instrument of sasine (pronounced 'say-zin') is a legal document that records the transfer of ownership (usually a sale or an inheritance) of a piece of land or of a building. It will normally detail the names of the new and previous owners and will give a basic description of the property transferred.
I have traced property bought my husband's ggggg grandfather Samuel Donaldson in South Leith Midlothian:
"Registered 26 April 1774: Samuel Donaldson, merchant in Leith appeared personally and presented a Disposition which had been granted to him by Samuel Campbell, bookbinder in Edinburgh with the consent of Robert Shortreed, merchant in Leith and Archibald Caldercleugh, carter there of a dwelling house with a shop on the ground floor in Kirk Street, Leith, at the head of Tolbooth Wynd"
Contact Registers of Scotland at https://www.ros.gov.uk/our-registers/general-register-of-sasines
SCOTLAND PEOPLE (www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk)
This is the definitive "must view" website for Scottish ancestral reseal and features
old parish records (pre-1855), census returns, statutory BMD - wills,
catholic registers, and valuation rolls of
property + much more e.g. research tools and background information. The
only website to date which offers digital, downloadable records.
A pay-as-you-view site, though searching is fre, you buy credits to view the actual documents - good value compared with the English equivalent statutory records.
A tip - as I have a subscription to Ancestry, I search initially on this to establish which record is "my" family, (transcriptions only and no 1911 census), before paying to view and download the right record from ScotlandsPeople. You can soon go through your credits if you click on the wrong record to view.
It is also worthwhile checking on Ancestry for the range of other databases relating to Scotland, though unfortunately my Border counties are not well covered.
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Some Historical Facts to Bear in Mind
Until 1603 England and Scotland were two distinct nations - often at war. Scotland had it own parliament in Edinburgh, its own education system, legal system and church, many of which exist today.
In 1603 King James VI of Scotland inherited the English throne from Queen Elizabeth 1 and became James ! of England - known as the Union of the Crowns. 1707 saw the Union of the two Parliaments. Scotland gained some devolution in 1997, when certain powers were restored to a new Scottish Parliament,opened in Holyrood, Edinburgh.
Registration of Births, Marriages and Deaths was only introduced in Scotland in 1855 - later than in England and Wales, but the certificates are far more informative.
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I’ve never heard of Sasine records, I’ll have to check them out. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteGreat compilation of resources. I love the concept of "arriving at old age" -- something we all hope for these days. Also, what is scroph? Sounds as scary as COVID-19!
ReplyDelete