Nature of Source
Records from the Kirk Sessions, the lowest local court of the church. After the reformation of 1560 and the formal break with Rome and Roman Catholicism, the Presbyterian Church of Scotland formed congregations with each having a Kirk Session. The records detailed in the minute books dealt with many areas of everyday life including church non-attendance, sexual matters, bastardy and illegitimacy. They also record payments paid out to individuals and income from individuals. As the Kirk Session, together with the heritors (local landowners), ran the parish expect to find records relating to poor relief, the local school, hospital and alms houses. Therefore expect to find illegitimate births and payments to the poor amongst the papers. In the case of illegitimacy, the records can reveal the name of the child’s father following an exhaustive investigation by the kirk authorities as well as a subsequent baptism and marriage.
It might be possible to find the mention of an event such as a baptism, marriage proclamation or burial amongst the records. For example, an irregular or clandestine marriage that does not appear in the official Old Parish Register might be recorded in the kirk minutes. The minutes might record information regarding a couples proclamation with additional details about the ‘cautioners’ who were usually male relatives who acted as sponsors for the marriage paying a security to ensure the forthcoming marriage met the correct conditions. The minutes might also note details of the hire of the mortcloth which was used to cover the coffin prior to burial and might be the only reference to a person’s death.
In 1845 parochial boards took over responsibility for the poor rate which ended the Kirk Session’s influence in local matters. Elected parish councils were introduced in 1894 and in 1929 the Kirk Sessions were finally abolished with the introduction of county, district and town councils. Most of these Session records reside in county record offices.
The minutes of the parochial boards, established in 1845, should be consulted especially in rural areas where they met with the Kirk Session and heritors if a poor rate was imposed. Parochial boards were replaced by elected parish councils and the Local Government Board for Scotland in 1894 and parish councils went with the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1929. County, district and town councils assumed the responsibilities for local government.
Also look for the minutes of the heritors who sometimes held their own meetings. Heritors were bound by law to make financial contributions to the running of the parish for such items as the maintenance of the church, poor relief, the salary of the Dominie (schoolmaster) and the stipend of the minister plus the upkeep of the manse. The heritors held considerable power within the administrative structure of the parish especially as they were likely to be Elders of the Kirk or hold other official positions. After the 1845 Poor Law Act, the influence of the heritors experienced a gradual decline.
Church Court Records Online is a project coordinated by the National Records of Scotland (NRS) to make digital copies of the records deposited in the NRS and other Scottish archives of kirk sessions, presbyteries, synods and the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. In addition to the access at the NRS of the digital copies, the service is available at a number of local archives across Scotland. See the website for coverage)
Other Scotland Resources
Census Returns
Clan & Tartan Records
County & Local Histories
Court Records
Directories, Trade, Professional, Telephone & Street
Electoral Registers or Burgess Rolls
Emigration Records
Hearth Tax
Heraldic Coats of Arms & Seals
Land Tax Assessments & Returns
Maps & Gazetteers
Militia Lists
Monumental/Memorial Inscriptions
Newspapers, magazines & journals
Old Parish Registers-Baptisms (OPRs)
Old Parish Registers-Burials (OPRs)
Old Parish Registers-Marriages & Proclamations (OPRs)
Passenger Lists
Pedigrees and Family Histories
Poor Law Records
Registers of Deeds (Books of Council and Session)
Retours of Services of Heirs
Sasines, Registers of
Statistical Accounts of Scotland
Statutory Registration-Birth
Statutory Registration-Death
Statutory Registration-Marriage
Surname Origins and Distribution
Valuation Rolls & Stent Rolls
Wills/Testaments and Inheritance
Where Found
ScotlandsPeople Centre (The ScotlandsPeople Centre is the official government resource for family history research. Holdings include Church of Scotland’s kirk sessions, presbyteries, synods and General Assembly; Heritors’ records; Pre-Reformation Church records; Protestant church records. The centre along with a number of regional archives have made available digital images of church court records consisting of the minutes and accounts of kirk sessions, presbyteries, synods and the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. ScotlandsPeople Centre is a partnership between the National Records of Scotland and the Court of the Lord Lyon. The National Records of Scotland was created on 1 April 2011 by the amalgamation of the National Archives of Scotland and General Register Office for Scotland)
To find the whereabouts of Kirk session material held at the National Records of Scotland (NRS) or other repositories, search the online catalogue. First type in the place name in the ‘Search for’ box and then type the series code ‘CH2’ in the ‘Reference’ box. The search results will display a number of references. For a full breakdown of the available material for each reference, conduct a new search using one of the reference numbers. Some Kirk session material, not just records from the NRS, has been digitised and is available in the search rooms on the ‘Virtual Volumes’ system. The search results page on the NRS catalogue will provide details of the whereabouts of the records and whether they are available in a digital format as part of the ‘Virtual Volumes’ collection.
Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Archives (Access to Kirk session records for the whole of Scotland. Search the Online Catalogue for a full list of Church of Scotland records held by us or download the Guide to Church of Scotland Records. Following a collaborative project between the National Archives of Scotland and the Church of Scotland, digital images of Kirk session records can now be viewed online)
Period Covered
1590 – Onwards
Genealogical Value
- Names, addresses, occupations.
Further References
Kirk Specific
- Baptie, Diane (comp). Parish Registers in the Kirk Session Minutes of the Church of Scotland: The Scottish Association of Family History Societies, 2001
- Edgar, Andrew. Old Church Life in Scotland; Lectures on Kirk-Session and Presbytery Records: Alexander Gardner, 1886
- Mitchell, Alexander. Inverness Kirk Session Records 1661-1880: Carruthers, 1902 (Available to read online or download at the Internet Archive)
- Stuart, John. Selections from the Records of the Kirk Session, Presbytery, and Synod of Aberdeen: Spalding Club, 1846
- Todd, Margo. The Perth Kirk Session Books, 1577-1590: Scottish History Society, 2012
Family History Guides
- Adolph, Anthony. Tracing Your Scottish Family History: Collins, 2008
- Bigwood, Rosemary: The Scottish Family Tree Detective: Tracing Your Ancestors in Scotland: Manchester University Press, 2007
- Clarke, T. Tracing Your Scottish Ancestors: The Official Guide: Birlinn, 2012
- Cory, Kathleen B. Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry: Genealogical Publishing Company, 2009
- Durie, Bruce. Scottish Genealogy: The History Press, 2012
- Durie, Bruce. Documents for Genealogy & Local History: The History Press, 2013
- Hamilton-Edwards, Gerald. In Search of Scottish Ancestry: Phillimore, 1983
- Holton, Graham & Winch, Jack. Discover Your Scottish Ancestry: Internet and Traditional Resources: Edinburgh University Press, 2009 (Preview available from Google Books)
- James, Alwyn. Scottish Roots: From Gravestone to Website: The Step-By-Step Guide to Tracing Your Scottish Ancestors: Luath Press, 2005
- Maxwell, Ian. Tracing your Scottish Ancestors: A Guide for Family Historians: Pen & Sword, 2009
- Paton, Chris. Researching Scottish Family History: The Family History Partnership, 2010
- Paton, Chris. Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry through Church and State Records: A Guide for Family Historians: Pen & Sword Family History, 2019
- Stewart, Alan. My Ancestor was Scottish: Society of Genealogists, 2012
- Tovey, Helen. My Scottish Ancestry: Lomond Books, 2011
Other
- Concise Scots Dictionary: Edinburgh University Press, 1999 (Preview available from Google Books)
- Lynch, Michael. Oxford Companion to Scottish History: OUP Oxford, 2011
- Moffat, Alistair & Wilson, James. The Scots: A Genetic Journey: Birlinn, 2011
- Richards, Eric. The Highland Clearances: Birlinn, 2013
- Scots Dictionary: Collins, 2014
- Timperley, Loretta R, (ed). A Directory of Land Ownership in Scotland c 1770: Scottish Record Society, 1976
- Torrance, Richard D. Scottish Trades, Professions, Vital Documents & Directories: Scottish Association of Family History Societies, 1998
Websites
www.nrscotland.gov.uk/research/guides/church-records (National Records of Scotland: Research Guides: Church Records)
www.nrscotland.gov.uk/research/guides/church-court-records-online (National Records of Scotland: Research Guides: Church Court Records Online)
https://britishgenes.blogspot.com/p/kirk-history.html (The GENES Blog: Kirk History: Introduction and background to the history of the Kirk and the many turmoils it went through from 1560-1854)
http://scottishgenes.blogspot.com/p/kirk-history.html (Scottish GENES: Kirk History, by Chris Paton)
www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/guides/parishes-and-districts (ScotlandsPeople Guide: Parishes and districts)
www.churchofscotland.org.uk/about_us/how_we_are_organised/history (Church of Scotland History)
www.churchofscotland.org.uk/about_us/how_we_are_organised/historical_records (Church of Scotland Historical Records)
www.edinphoto.org.uk/1/1_church_of_scotland.htm (EdinPhoto: A brief history of the Church of Scotland and some other churches including summary of break-aways and mergers)
www.scotland.org.uk/history/disruption (TravelScotland: The Great Disruption of 1843)
www.scotshistoryonline.co.uk/episcopal-church.html (Scottish History Online: The Scottish Roots of the Episcopal Church)
www.christianstogether.net/Articles/138977/Christians_Together_in/Christian_Life/Presbyterianism_Scottish_style.aspx (Christians Together: Presbyterianism – Scottish style: Brief History of the Presbyterian Christian Church in Scotland)
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Churches_of_Scotland_timeline.png (Wikimedia Commons: Timeline showing the evolution of the churches of Scotland from 1560)
www.dsl.ac.uk (Dictionaries of the Scots Language: DSL Online brings together the two major historical dictionaries of the Scots language: Modern Scots after 1700 in The Scottish National Dictionary; Older Scots before 1700 in A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue)
www.scots-online.org/dictionary (Translate from Scots to English)
Online Databases
https://info.dumgal.gov.uk/HistoricalIndexes (Kirk Session records include: Dumfries and Galloway Council Archives: Dumfries Kirk Session and Presbytery Minutes 1689-1838; Troqueer Kirk Session Minutes 1698-1771; Mouswald Kirk Session 1640 to 1659)
www.scottishindexes.com (Scottish Indexes. Canonbie, Dumfriesshire Kirk Session Minutes, 1709-1855. The records include discipline cases involving the birth of an illegitimate child 1709-1855 and are found in the ‘Scottish Paternity Index’ collection. Also included are Irregular Marriages and ‘Ante-nuptial fornication’ cases 1709-1855 and are found ‘Non-OPR Banns/Marriages’ collection)
ScotlandsPeople
Browse digitised volumes of kirk sessions and of other court records of the Church of Scotland including the General Assembly, synods, presbyteries covering the years 1559 to 1900. The courts adjudicated on paternity of children and provided basic education as well as disciplining parishioners.
www.anesfhs.org.uk/databanks/miscellaneous/ksstn (Aberdeen & North-East Scotland Family History Society: DataBank: St Nicholas Kirk Session Accounts 1602-1705)
https://digital.nls.uk/scottish-history-society-publications (National Library of Scotland: Scottish History Society publications: The Register of the Kirk Session of St Andrews, part i, 1559-1582 (ed.) D.H. Fleming, 1889; The Register of the Kirk Session of St Andrews, part ii, 1583-1600 (ed.), D.H. Fleming, 1890. Available to download or read online)
www.findmypast.co.uk (Scotland, Antenuptial Relationship Index, 1661-1780. Search these records from Kirk Sessions registers to find out if any family members were summoned to the ministers and elders of the church to deny or confess a child had been conceived out of wedlock or the first child was born too early into the marriage)
www.findmypast.co.uk (Scottish Covenanters 1679-1688. These records document the names of those who were labelled as rebels or covenanters by the English government. They signed the National Covenant to defend their Presbyterian faith against the intrusion of the government. The transcripts were created by sources found at The National Archives and the National Library of Scotland)
www.familysearch.org/search/collection/2421466 (FamilySearch: Scotland Presbyterian & Protestant Church Records, 1736-1990. Records of Free, United Presbyterian, United Free and other Protestant Churches in Scotland originally filmed at the National Archives of Scotland, CH3 series)
www.tireegenealogy.com/Kirksessions.html (Isle of Tiree Genealogy in association with Coll Genealogy & Mull Genealogy. Tiree Kirk Session Minutes 1767-1774. Kirk Session minutes recorded in the Tiree Parish Register transcribed by Archibald Strath Maxwell; Index to Tiree Kirk Session Minutes 1775-1865. Searchable index of the Minute Book for the Tiree Kirk Sessions 1775-1865, by Allan Murphy)
CD Roms
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