Scottish Records - a brief explanation
Statutory records , that is the compulsory and
legal requirement to register did not commence in Scotland until January 1855 .
In England and Wales it was earlier in
July 1837 . Scottish certificates are generally more informativre than their
Sassenach equivalents . A Scottish birth cert shows where and when the parents
married whilst the southern version does not . In Britain , censuses were
carried out from 1841 at ten yearly intervals . Unfortunately 1841 does not
give relatioship info or exact age . Ages in adults were rounded down . Birth
places are not given only whether or not the individual was born in the County
of the census . We can access 1841 , 1851 , 1861 , 1871 , 1881 , 1891 and 1901
. Because of the 100 years rule access to the records of the 1911 census will
not be available ( generally) until 2012 !
There are some 900 + Parishes in Scotland and they were
instructed by the Stewart Kings in the 16th century to maintain Parish
Registers . The oldest ( Errol between Dundee and Perth ) is pre Reformation
. Sadly if you ancestors came from one of the Western Isles like Islay or Mull you will find
records did not start until about 1820 - nearly three hundred years after those
in Errol !
Parish Records ( or OPRs ) detail marriages ,
births and baptisms ( not christenings that is terrminology used by the Mormons
(LDS) and churches outwith Scotland ) . Deaths and
burials are not often listed . Afraid in a Presbyterian society that was
secondary to birth and marriage !! If you wish more info on Scottish
registration and other sources contact Colin on CaledonC@aol.com .
No comments:
Post a Comment