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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Perthshire => Topic started by: Throth on Monday 05 May 14 22:15 BST (UK)

Title: Blair Atholl parish Session Minutes
Post by: Throth on Monday 05 May 14 22:15 BST (UK)
As a trial we have added the Session Minutes of Blair Atholl parish (March 1718 - February 1722) to the Borenich web-site.  They mention events, individuals, aliases and locations which supplement the information found in the OPR births for this period (marriages come much later).

Completing just four years of Session Minutes has been taxing. The original minutes are not easy to read, with many words abbreviated or with interesting spelling.  In addition it is not unusual for an issue under discussion to take several years before being resolved, and with several cases proceeding at the same time it forms a jumbled mess.

As a verbatim account would have been difficult to follow, the information has been paraphrased under the date of each Session meeting.  When a subsequent discussion has taken place on the same subject, it has been entered after the initial discussion, indented, with the Session date in parentheses.  In this way it is possible to follow each issue (e.g. mortification, retraction of marriage, illegitimate birth) without having to be continuously jumping backwards and forwards throughout the Session Minutes.

There is some interesting information contained in the Session Minutes.  For example, one of the earliest OPR baptisms shows that Donald McKenzie in Rinancoillach had an illegitimate child in 1718, but the Session Minutes also relate that his parents were David McKenzie and Elspeth McKenzie, and that he had a sister.

Anyway comments and suggestions would be appreciated. Here is the link:-

http://www.borenich.co.uk/Session_Minutes.html
Title: Re: Blair Atholl parish Session Minutes
Post by: MonicaL on Monday 05 May 14 22:24 BST (UK)
Throth, just been having a look now. Goodness, what a major piece of work has been done there.

Not an area I have family in, but your site is a fantastic collection  :)

Monica
Title: Re: Blair Atholl parish Session Minutes
Post by: Ruskie on Monday 05 May 14 23:00 BST (UK)
Some very interesting reading there Troth (and I don't even have any Scottish ancestors let alone Blair Athol ones  ;)).

It's an education that's for sure.
Title: Re: Blair Atholl parish Session Minutes
Post by: Anneatki on Tuesday 06 May 14 00:13 BST (UK)
Wow! I tried doing some transcribing for Scotland's Places, but gave up, so I think you've done an amazing job!
I wonder what the church would have done without the 'fornicators'? Does anyone know what £6 scots would have been worth in the1700's?
Cheers, Anne
Title: Re: Blair Atholl parish Session Minutes
Post by: MonicaL on Tuesday 06 May 14 08:20 BST (UK)
Anne, not sure about Scot pound versus the pound value in general but, have a go at this currency converter from the National Archives www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/currency/default0.asp#mid

Monica
Title: Re: Blair Atholl parish Session Minutes
Post by: Throth on Tuesday 06 May 14 09:13 BST (UK)
One pound Stirling was equivalent to twelve pounds Scots at this time - which probably doesn't help much.  So, to put it in context, here is part of the charter for the 8 merk land of Wester Bohespic dated 28th September 1720.

.... for yearly payment of 8 stone of cheese and 8 quarts of (rancid) butter (or £26 Scots); a sufficient Mart cow (or £13 Scots); and two wedders (castrated male sheep) and two dozen poultry (or £8 Scots)

Of course you might note the hypocrisy of chasing after these poor sinners.  There is no mention of Charles Stewart the younger, of Ballechan, who had an illegitimate son (John) with Margaret Wallace in Shierglas, baptised by the same minister (20 October 1718).

By the way, don't bother looking for the entry in the IGI database, it's not there (just one of many), but it is in the Blair Atholl OPR (baptisms)
Title: Re: Blair Atholl parish Session Minutes
Post by: Throth on Wednesday 02 July 14 21:52 BST (UK)
The Session Minutes have been extended to July 1722.  Little bits of general interest:

"Duncan Seaton, sometime in Balrobie, now in the New Plantations, abroad".  This is the earliest record that we have come across for this part of Scotland.

The parish had an official midwife in 1722 - Katherine McGlashan

Metal was purchased to make a case for the sand-glass.  This suggests that the Minister was using a 'Sermon Glass' to time his sermon.  Apparently this was not uncommon and the hour-glass did not limit the length of the sermon.  A Minister in full flow might say to his Congregation "Let us take another glass" (and he wasn't suggesting a wee dram of whisky) and turn the hour-glass over to start the sand pouring for a second time!

Isis (www.borenich.co.uk)
Title: Re: Blair Atholl parish Session Minutes
Post by: Ruskie on Thursday 03 July 14 02:36 BST (UK)

Metal was purchased to make a case for the sand-glass.  This suggests that the Minister was using a 'Sermon Glass' to time his sermon.  Apparently this was not uncommon and the hour-glass did not limit the length of the sermon.  A Minister in full flow might say to his Congregation "Let us take another glass" (and he wasn't suggesting a wee dram of whisky) and turn the hour-glass over to start the sand pouring for a second time!



How fascinating!  :)

Thank you for posting.
Title: Re: Blair Atholl parish Session Minutes
Post by: isk on Thursday 03 July 14 06:15 BST (UK)
Throth
Having done some indexing of Kirk Session Minutes for the National Archives of Scotland, I really appreciate the enormous task you have undertaken.  Hard work but absorbing and fascinating.  Thank you.  isk
Title: Re: Blair Atholl parish Session Minutes
Post by: Throth on Thursday 03 July 14 06:57 BST (UK)
Duncan must have survived working in the New Plantations as a daughter, Isobel, was born to Duncan Seaton and Elspeth Stewart in Ardtulichan (which is next to Balrobie) on 14th April 1728.

Title: Re: Blair Atholl parish Session Minutes
Post by: Anneatki on Thursday 03 July 14 07:45 BST (UK)
I really enjoy reading these sorts of things, it adds 'life' to the facts we find out about our ancestors.
Thankyou Throth!    :)
Title: Re: Blair Atholl parish Session Minutes
Post by: jennywren001 on Friday 04 July 14 11:10 BST (UK)
Hi Throth,
I'm sitting here transcribing 1861 census details written in beautiful copperplate and still having to double and triple check words.  What you're done must have taken a monumental effort.
'Withdrawing services' get a completely new take when it's a wet nurse wanting her payment! Many thanks for this - really appreciated.
Jen

Title: Re: Blair Atholl parish Session Minutes
Post by: Throth on Wednesday 05 November 14 22:46 GMT (UK)
The Blair Atholl parish Session Minutes are now complete from 1718 until November 1723 when they cease, and are available on the web-site.

They don't start again until 1741 - just before the last Jacobite Rising.

The hyper-link is still on the first entry, but you may need to refresh.

Isis (www.borenich.co.uk)
Title: Re: Blair Atholl parish Session Minutes
Post by: tidybooks on Thursday 06 November 14 10:37 GMT (UK)
Hi Throth,

Read the Kirk Session minutes that you have made available online. Fascinating reading, I cannot get Billy Connolly out of my head saying, "Thou Shalt Not!"

With all their goings on, I am surprised the church membership is going down. When did these Kirk Session meetings stop calling offenders to their meetings. Assuming that the practice has stopped.

Tom
Title: Re: Blair Atholl parish Session Minutes
Post by: Skoosh on Thursday 06 November 14 15:01 GMT (UK)
Stopped long ago Tom, maybe if it had continued the kirks would be packed!   ;D

Skoosh.
Title: Re: Blair Atholl parish Session Minutes
Post by: tidybooks on Thursday 06 November 14 15:42 GMT (UK)
Hi Skoosh,


Put me down to be an elder sitting on the Kirk Session, more entertaining than Strictly and the X Factor. Save the licence money, as well, as it would be a full time job nowadays.

Tom
Title: Re: Blair Atholl parish Session Minutes
Post by: Throth on Thursday 06 November 14 16:40 GMT (UK)
What we found difficult was the Presbyterian / Episcopalian issue.  St Brides is in Old Blair and Kilmaveonaig church is just the other side of the river Tilt - very close together.  Now we had assumed that the two churches were running in parallel with the former Presbyterian and the latter Episcopalian, but that does not seem to have been the case.

In the 1600s it would appear that Blair Atholl was Episcopalian in attitude. The two ministers prior to Mr Duncan Stewart were the grandfather and father of Mungo Campbell of Clune-more (Dr Hamilton's chief Elder). So although Mungo was a Presbyterian Elder, his ancestors were Episcopalian ministers.

Whether they were using one church or both churches is unclear, certainly neither would have been large enough to hold even a fraction of the parish inhabitants at that time.

Robertson of Lude invited Mr Duncan Stewart to follow on from the Campbells, and the minister was strongly Jacobite and Episcopalian (maybe the trouble was that they tended to go hand-in-hand). Anyway the new minister must have been on good terms with Atholl, as Mr Duncan Stewart lent him the money to go down to London when he was elevated to Duke of Atholl (around 1703).

Mr Duncan Stewart seems to have been using St Brides as his accounts in the Session Minutes seems to be referring to the repair of the porches and kirkyard wall of St Brides.  Was Kilmaveonaig kirk in ruins?

Eventually the Duke of Atholl told the Dunkeld Presbytery that he was withdrawing his support for Mr Duncan Stewart as he would not pray for the Hanoverian King (read this as - no stipend for the minister!), and eventually Dr Hamilton was appointed to the parish.  He found St Brides in a shocking state.  No pulpit and no communion cup etc.  So had Kilmaveonaig been the church of worship, and St Brides the neglected church?

Certainly the Episcopalian minister continued to preach (possibly at Orchil) even after he had been ousted, and despite the later banning of Episcopalian meetings. So some of the poor sinners were being hounded by both branches of Christianity.
Title: Re: Blair Atholl parish Session Minutes
Post by: Skoosh on Thursday 06 November 14 19:14 GMT (UK)
These old parish churches were indeed to wee to hold the congregation, particularly with the Presbyterian emphasis on preaching. The services must have been largely outdoor affairs (weather permitting) just as Highland funerals still are in places, the church not being used.
 The Atholl religious situation was unusual in that the family were dyke-jumpers par excellence, whatever way the wind blew there was a duke to fit. :)

Skoosh.
Title: Re: Blair Atholl parish Session Minutes
Post by: Throth on Thursday 06 November 14 20:01 GMT (UK)
Unlike the West Coast outdoor meetings, there is plenty of evidence that in Blair Atholl the church was used. 

The Session Minutes mention the door box for offerings, the lack of a pulpit for preaching, naming who was to take the offerings in different parts of the church, and who was to round up the stragglers from the change houses (inns) on the Sabbath.

Title: Re: Blair Atholl parish Session Minutes
Post by: Skoosh on Thursday 06 November 14 20:43 GMT (UK)
Of course the churches were used for services but were incapable of holding the congregation once Sabatarianism got a grip, which is why so many now stand roofless beside the replacement kirks.

Skoosh.
Title: Re: Blair Atholl parish Session Minutes
Post by: treedahlia on Thursday 14 May 15 11:10 BST (UK)
Hi,
I came across the Borenich web site a few months ago while researching
a few details re my late husband's ancestry and the Session minutes afforded me
both an insight into the lives of some of the locals inhabitants and the authority
of the church or kirk seemingly held over their lives.
To be honest I was totally fascinated by the pettiness of the church and
the vast sums extracted for a bit of hanky panky by the locals and the
dispersal of said sims.

The whole website is a wonderful treasure  and I hope that you will continue
adding to it in the years ahead.

regards from Wendy in NZ
 
Title: Re: Blair Atholl parish Session Minutes
Post by: Throth on Thursday 14 May 15 13:22 BST (UK)
Hi Treedahlia,

Did your ancestors come from Blair Atholl parish?

We are working on the Session Minutes which start again in 1741 but it's hard going and the originals are only available in Edinburgh.  Pity that they are not on-line.

Throth (www.borenich.co.uk)
Title: Re: Blair Atholl parish Session Minutes
Post by: Skoosh on Thursday 14 May 15 13:23 BST (UK)
Wendy,  those were very different times, the church looked after folks spititual welfare but also helped support the school, the poor, the widows & orphaned. There were no vast sums, the church lands had been grabbed by the nobility at the Reformation, The Kirk was permanently skint as a result and the heritors were reluctant to part with a shilling in return. Illegitimate births placed an extra burden on a congregation who largely lived on oatmeal and supported their own families in a largely hand to mouth existance. There was no centrally funded welfare or social security, it was a very hard life.

Skoosh.
Title: Re: Blair Atholl parish Session Minutes
Post by: treedahlia on Friday 15 May 15 00:04 BST (UK)
Hi Treedahlia,

Did your ancestors come from Blair Atholl parish?

We are working on the Session Minutes which start again in 1741 but it's hard going and the originals are only available in Edinburgh.  Pity that they are not on-line.

Throth (www.borenich.co.uk)

Hi Throth ..I'm a 4th gen kiwi of English extraction but my late husbands
extended family (Stewarts) were from Blair Atholl
and the research has all been done and very meticulously by one of his brothers..
so i have a copy of some of that research and was able to confirm some details
I didnt have on your website.
Also from pics on youir website I can see that Perthshire is certainly
a most beautiful area of Scotland.

kind regards from
Wendy
Title: Re: Blair Atholl parish Session Minutes
Post by: treedahlia on Friday 15 May 15 00:26 BST (UK)
Wendy,  those were very different times, the church looked after folks spiritual welfare but also helped support the school, the poor, the widows & orphaned. There were no vast sums, the church lands had been grabbed by the nobility at the Reformation, The Kirk was permanently skint as a result and the heritors were reluctant to part with a shilling in return. Illegitimate births placed an extra burden on a congregation who largely lived on oatmeal and supported their own families in a largely hand to mouth existance. There was no centrally funded welfare or social security, it was a very hard life.

Skoosh.

Hi Skoosh..
 :-[  but also cognisant of the fact that the kirk or church ruled
the lives of the inhabitants with an iron fist to to the degree whereby it was
demanding monies from the poor to seemingly feather its own nest;
 with paltry sums being occasionally handed out to those in dire need of assistance.
Just my impression gleaned from  the session notes.

I must add here that my late husbands grandfather  worked
as a gamekeeper for and was highly regarded by the Duke in the latter
half of the 1800s and into the early 1900s..so he wasnt exactly
a poor man.

Being a kiwi it is also difficult for me to understand
at times the views of Scottish people
but thats what makes life  interesting eh.. we can all learn
to appreciate the views and opinions of others without
judging them.

kind regards
Wendy
Title: Re: Blair Atholl parish Session Minutes
Post by: bleckie on Monday 18 May 15 11:53 BST (UK)
Hi All

If you look at the link below the book gives an indication of how all powerful the kirk was.

http://www.rootschat.com/links/01fbm/

Yours Aye
BruceL
Title: Re: Blair Atholl parish Session Minutes
Post by: Throth on Tuesday 19 May 15 19:48 BST (UK)
After the departure of Dr John Hamilton the Session Meetings continued but either the proceedings were not recorded or they have been lost.  They start again, on "the sixth day of May 1741, which day Mr Alexander Stewart was ordained in the church of Blair".

So far we have transcribed the first seven months, but it is hard going and we need to check some of the text again.  Anyway, here is the link to the work in progress.........

http://www.borenich.co.uk/Session_Minutes_1741.html

Title: Re: Blair Atholl parish Session Minutes
Post by: AncesStory on Thursday 03 September 15 13:54 BST (UK)
Living overseas, your Borenich web site has been invaluable to us in researching
my husband's Stewart and McFarlane ancestry. Without the information in this website, we would be stuck at the 1841 census in Perthshire, knowing that family came from Blair Atholl, but not knowing which particular family to research.

 We were excited to see the placenames Pittagowan/Pitagowan, Clachan of Struan, Cailbruar, as they are all places confirmed by OPR birth and marriage documents. The maps locating these settlements have been fantastic. We managed to trace my husband's ancestry back to Alexander Stewart and Ann McIntosh from Cailbruar through the website.

The painstaking work involved in  transcribing the  Kirk   Session minutes has been instrumental in informing us how his ancestors lived - we can't wait until the 1740's have been completed and look forward to additions as they are entered. Thank you all!
 
Title: Re: Blair Atholl parish Session Minutes
Post by: Throth on Thursday 03 September 15 23:53 BST (UK)
Thanks for the kind comments about the Borenich web-site.

We are working on cataloging births/baptisms for the whole of Blair Atholl parish 1718-1799, so perhaps you could tell us if our catalogue is robust.

Is this your family?

Alexander Stewart 5   Ann McIntosh   Cailbruar   Katharine   15 Nov 1751
Alexander Stewart   Ann McIntosh   Cailbruar   John   22 Feb 1754
Alexander Stewart   Ann McIntosh   Cailbruar   Margaret   30 Nov 1756
Alexander Stewart   Ann McIntosh   Cailbruar   Christian   5 Apr 1759
Alexander Stewart   Ann Mackintosh (Ann McIntosh)   Cailbruar   Katharine   11 Jun 1761
Alexander Stewart   Ann McIntosh   Cailbruar   Ann   27 Mar 1764
Alexander Stewart   Ann McIntosh   Cailbruar   Alexander   26 Nov 1766
Alexander Stewart   Ann McIntosh   Cailbruar   Janet   7 May 1769

5 Alexander Stewart in Cailbruar and Ann McIntosh in Balnacroft of Cailbruar, married 27 Jun 1750.

Thanks

Throth (www.borenich.co.uk)
Title: Re: Blair Atholl parish Session Minutes
Post by: AncesStory on Friday 04 September 15 15:35 BST (UK)


Is this your family?

..................
Alexander Stewart   Ann McIntosh   Cailbruar   Christian   5 Apr 1759
...................

5 Alexander Stewart in Cailbruar and Ann McIntosh in Balnacroft of Cailbruar, married 27 Jun 1750.

Yes! Alexander Stewart of Cailbruar  married Ann McIntosh from Balnacroft (of Cailbruar) on June 27, 1750, in Blair Atholl, Perthshire. They had seven children in 18 years, one of whom, Christian Stewart, was born in Cailbruar, in 1759. Christian Stewart from Cailbruar married John McFarlane from Clachan of Strewan on December 9th 1780 and they had eight children together between 1781 and 1797. Christian McFarlane, born at Pitagowan on 2nd Aug 1790 married a Thomas Stewart, bleacher in Moneydie, and  had two sons and eight daughters with Thomas between 1814 and 1833 one of whom, Ann Stewart, married a Thomas Stewart, miller in Moneydie. It has been tricky to account for the " family visitors" with McFarlanes visiting Stewarts, and Stewarts visiting McFarlanes on the 1841, 1851 and 1861 Scotland census in Perthshire, but your website has provided stellar information we have relied on.
I am thrilled that the births will be published on the website - this will perhaps help us in tracing John McFarlane from Clachan. Thanks again for all the work you are doing - much appreciated.
Title: Re: Blair Atholl parish Session Minutes
Post by: Throth on Friday 09 October 15 23:23 BST (UK)
The Kirk Session minutes have been transcribed from November 1741 to September 1743, and added to the previous transcription.

http://www.borenich.co.uk/Session_Minutes_1741.html

Throth
Title: Re: Blair Atholl parish Session Minutes
Post by: Throth on Tuesday 10 November 15 16:53 GMT (UK)
Transcription has now reached 14th March 1744.

Some events dating back to 6th March 1743 have been expanded.

The new transcriptions give the parentage of Margaret Duff in Dalnamine, Janet Robertson in Kirkton of Lude and Isobel Stewart in Runroy, all of which pre-date the register of marriages / banns.

http://www.borenich.co.uk/Session_Minutes_1741.html

Throth
Title: Re: Blair Atholl parish Session Minutes
Post by: Throth on Sunday 10 January 16 19:07 GMT (UK)
Sorry that there was a glitch on the 1718 Session Minutes which gave most of the text in bold font, instead of just the names of people.

It is fixed, but you may need to refresh your page before viewing.

Throth
Title: Re: Blair Atholl parish Session Minutes
Post by: Throth on Thursday 04 February 16 23:23 GMT (UK)
The Session Minutes have been extended to May 1745 with some updates to the previous material.

Throth
Title: Re: Blair Atholl parish Session Minutes
Post by: Throth on Friday 12 May 17 08:36 BST (UK)
The Blair Atholl Session Minutes are now completed up until the end of 1749, and we are starting work on 1750-59.

http://www.borenich.co.uk/Session_Minutes_1741.html

We have indexed the Minutes (1718-23), so if you are searching for somebody in this parish, please contact us. There is no index yet for 1741-49 as there are hundreds of people mentioned and is a major undertaking, but we may recollect a particular name.

There are some interesting items: 

Female camp followers are rarely named in the '45 Jacobite Army, but one of them was Florence McNab.

Elspeth Kennedy, daughter to Malcolm Kennedy in Bochonie, was called and was asked who had fathered the child lately brought forth. She answered it to be Alexander Robertson, son to Robert ('Ban') Robertson in Milntown of Invervack. Asked whether she had acquainted the said Alexander Robertson with her pregnancy, she replied that she had not the opportunity, but that she sent Elspeth McDonald in Toulich (of Glen Errochty) to acquaint him, about the latter end of October last. Elspeth McDonald was summoned and said that she had delivered the message to Alexander Robertson who had answered that he would, if ever he returned from the (Jacobite) army, do all duty to the said Elspeth Kennedy, as father to her child, and also would write to Alexander Robertson in Kinaldy, the Elder, on her behalf. (Unfortunately, Alexander Robertson was killed at Culloden).

It had been reported to the Minister that Elspeth Robertson in Dalinrich, a dumb woman since birth, had brought forth a child begotten in fornication with John Campbell, servant to Patrick Robertson of Trinafour, dwelling at Dalnacardoch. Both appeared before the Session and, by signs being made to her (was she also deaf?), asked to know the father of her child. She pointed to John Campbell but he positively refused that he had ever had any carnal knowledge with her. Despite exhortions, both persisted with their version. By signs, it was confirmed that the circumstances corresponded with the date of birth. Both were questioned in private, but to no avail.

Alexander Gow snr. in Blair, gave in an account of 4s Sterling due to him by the Session, several years ago, for repairing the quire (choir? or possibly the Precenter's seat), repentance stool, seat and bars, which the Session ordered to be paid to him presently.

Happy reading,

Throth
Title: Re: Blair Atholl parish Session Minutes
Post by: Throth on Tuesday 21 November 17 20:31 GMT (UK)
While working through the 1750 Kirk Session Minutes we discovered a case of adultery which had occurred nearly 30 years earlier and was concealed at the time, so we have amended our original entry.

31st April 1722

Isobel McLauchlane in Monzie was brought to bed on the 29th April and Robert Stewart acknowledged the child. John Stewart his brother and Donald McLauchlane in Drumnabechin were cautioners for a bill, and had the child baptised. (see Baptisms - 31st May 1722)

(However, on his death-bed, Donald Stewart sometime in Inverslanie admitted that he was the true father and that it had been covered up by his brothers in Shinigaig, as he had been a married man - see Kirk Session Minutes, 4th November 1750)

The Session Minutes are now midway through 1751 and we are working on the index for the 1740s

Throth (www.borenich.co.uk)
Title: Re: Blair Atholl parish Session Minutes
Post by: Throth on Friday 22 December 17 20:42 GMT (UK)

The Blair Atholl Kirk Session Minutes are now available from 1718 to May 1751 and indexed which should make it easier for searching.

       http://www.borenich.co.uk/Session_Minutes_1718.html
       http://www.borenich.co.uk/Session_1718_Index.html

       http://www.borenich.co.uk/Session_Minutes_1741.html   
       http://www.borenich.co.uk/Session_1741_Index.html

       http://www.borenich.co.uk/Session_Minutes_1750.html   
       http://www.borenich.co.uk/Session_1750_Index.html
 
Title: Re: Blair Atholl parish Session Minutes
Post by: Skoosh on Saturday 23 December 17 11:39 GMT (UK)
Nice work Throth! Merry Xmas!

Skoosh.
Title: Re: Blair Atholl parish Session Minutes
Post by: Throth on Saturday 24 March 18 22:36 GMT (UK)
The Session Minutes have been extended to April 1753 and the index has been up-dated.

These are very hard times.  Lots of testificates for people leaving the parish, one of them a merchant, and the Session had to pay for the burial of two women who were destitute.  So it is good to see that the Duchess of Atholl gave substantial sums to help the poor of the parish.

At the same time a loft (balcony) was added to the church at Struan, the Struan bridge was repaired yet again, and the loft seating at St Brides was replaced.

In terms of naughtiness, James Cook was involved in a 'riot', while Charles Stewart in Glaicneid
discovered that it was cheaper to have naughtiness in another parish!

(The error with the 1750 index has been rectified - remember to refresh your web-page)

Throth (www.borenich.co.uk)
Title: Re: Blair Atholl parish Session Minutes
Post by: Throth on Sunday 12 August 18 20:30 BST (UK)
The Session Minutes have been extended to June 1755 and the index has been up-dated.

All the usual naughtiness, but some interesting social points:

In November 1753 things were so bad that the Session bought shoes for the most needy.

Patrick Stewart of Easter Invervack died. He was involved in the '45 Rising, had been captured and pardoned on condition that he enlisted. The Session decided that he no longer had to pay his fine and make appearance before the Congregation for a previous naughtiness, as he was dead.

The residents of Glentilt petitioned for a wooden bridge across the river, but being unable to agree about who paid what, the scheme came to nothing.

Kincraigie's son denied that he was responsible for Isobel Richie's pregnancy which she tried , unsuccessfully, to terminate with Juniper sabina.

'A Call to the Unconverted' by Richard Baxter, (1615-1691) became a best-seller in Blair Atholl.

Clach na Bratach, the famous Clan Robertson rock crystal charm stone was providing mystical cures at Carie.

And at long last we discover that the surname given to William the 'exposed child' was - Blair (Obvious really, - and reminds us of Angus Coupar, the exposed child at Coupar Angus)

Happy reading - Throth
Title: Re: Blair Atholl parish Session Minutes
Post by: Throth on Tuesday 16 October 18 14:09 BST (UK)
A bit more added to the Session Minutes - now at March 1756.

Patrick McLean loses everything in an accidental fire, his corn, cattle and nearly his wife.

The Minister questions the judgement of Duncan McIntosh in Achleanie in proposing to get married.

Thomas McKenzie of Rinancoillach and the Minister continue their on-going battle over payment of dues, and the Minister gains the upper-hand when Thomas commits a 'riot' on the Sabbath.

Patrick McGlashan (of Lambton) is forced by the Minister to help his poor old aunt, which is pretty bad considering that 'Lambton' had his finger in most financial dealings in Blair.

Grissel Stewart goes home to Invervack with an illegitimate child claiming that she was raped, only to find that a letter from the Perth Session, telling a rather different story, has arrived first.  Oops!

Anyway it is reassuring to see that the poor are being cared for (at last). And finally it is decided to build a bridge over the river at Struan. We can only hope that it lasts longer than the previous ones!

Throth

Title: Re: Blair Atholl parish Session Minutes
Post by: annies199 on Friday 09 August 19 22:47 BST (UK)
Joining in the post very late as just discovered this post.

John MacFarlane b at 1755 and Christian Stewart b 5 Apr q759 are my 4x great grand parents.
My connection is through their daughter Margaret b 8 Jan 1788 who married Alexander Stewart in 1810. Eventually coming to New Zealand.
Lots of paper work when there are Stewart's marrying MacFarlane etc.
Keen to connect with other distant family members. Have already made contact throughDNAmatching with some descendants of Christian McFarland and Thomas Stewart's daughter Catherine and son Thomas.
Anne
Title: Re: Blair Atholl parish Session Minutes
Post by: Throth on Thursday 15 August 19 21:48 BST (UK)
Hi Anne,

We are not quite certain how your people link to the Session Minutes topic, so it might be easier to contact us directly through the borenich web-site.

When John MacFarlane married he was living at Clachan of Struan which was situated where the road to Struan church leaves the Glenerrochty road. The farm has recently been converted into a summer let. Christian Stewart was living at Cailbruar which was mostly demolished when the railway line from Perth to Inverness was built.

After marriage they initially lived at Pitaldonich which was on the opposite side of the river from the present day House of Bruar centre. After the births of their first two children they moved to Pitagowan, which is still next to the House of Bruar. There were two John MacFarlanes living there at the time and Christian's husband was the younger of the two.

Margaret was the fourth of eight children.

Do you have the subsequent families documented in a family bible or such like?  The reason that we ask is that the Margaret McFarlane of the 16 December 1810 marriage to Alexander Stewart came from the parish of Little Dunkeld, and not the parish of Blair Atholl.  It may be the same woman but we have no evidence either way.

When and where did her sister marry Thomas Stewart?

Throth (www.borenich.co.uk)
Title: Re: Blair Atholl parish Session Minutes
Post by: Throth on Tuesday 18 May 21 23:03 BST (UK)
The Blair Atholl Kirk Session minutes have been transcribed and indexed up to the end of 1759.

 http://www.borenich.co.uk/Session_Minutes_1750.html   

 http://www.borenich.co.uk/Session_1750_Index.html

Lots of interesting snippets and we are picking up approximate dates of deaths as there is a charge for using the parish mortcloth at funerals. After we have had a rest, having indexed everyone in the 1750s - a tedious business - we might make an index of deaths if that would be useful.

Throth (www.borenich.co.uk)
Title: Re: Blair Atholl parish Session Minutes
Post by: Throth on Thursday 03 February 22 20:36 GMT (UK)
Researchers might like to know that the Blair Atholl Kirk Session minutes now have been transcribed and indexed up to the end of 1769, and we are working on the 1770s.

As there was an Accounts Ledger by the 1760s, we have tried to match the dated entries to the Session Minutes. So, when the Session Minutes record that money was distributed to objects (poor people), we have included lists of the recipients and where they were living.

Here are the new links

 http://www.borenich.co.uk/Session_Minutes_1760.html   

 http://www.borenich.co.uk/Session_1760_Index.html

An index of deaths which are mentions in the Session Minutes will be added soon.  This is based upon payments for the use of the parish mortcloths (one of fine weave, and the cheaper one of a coarser weave). For the poorer people the Kirk Session Index shows charity was given on a regular basis to some in the parish. When it suddenly stops the recipient probably had died.

Throth
Title: Re: Blair Atholl parish Session Minutes
Post by: Throth on Saturday 27 August 22 23:03 BST (UK)
Well, it has nearly taken 8 months but, at last, we have finished the transcription of the Blair Atholl Kirk Session minutes for the 1770s, including additional information from the Accounts Ledger.

Here are the links:

 http://www.borenich.co.uk/Session_Minutes_1770.html   

 http://www.borenich.co.uk/Session_1770_Index.html

We also have an index of deaths which are mentioned in the Session minutes from 1718 to 1779, which is mainly based upon payments for the use of the parish mortcloths

 http://www.borenich.co.uk/Mortcloth.html

Throth