Dunbartonshire church records - Urquhart

[Johnoz]

I'm on the quest to find the roots of one of my great grandmothers, Jessie Gourlay nee Urquhart. We know from several censuses that she was born at Helensburgh or nearby Rhu [or Row] c 1845. There is no record of her birth on Scotlandspeople and it has been suggested to me by a kind Rootschatter that I should try this Dunbartonshire forum to see where I can access the parish records of the Free Church of Scotland or Episcopal records, for these locations as apparently they are not on the official site.

According to Jessie's marriage certificate her parents were James Urquhart and Jessie Henderson and on her death certificate they are given as William Urquhart and Ann Henderson.

John Gourlay
Melbourne, Australia

[annejay]

Hi John
 I have a similar problem but have just found that the Kirk sessions of the Church of Scotland will be transcribed on Family search from the end of this October onwards.They are available on film from LDS centres.
 Annejay NZ.

[Johnoz]

Dear Annejay

Thanks for that. I'm away on holiday at the moment. Will follow up with my local LDS when I return.

John Gourlay

[Surreycat]

Hello John
Just wondering if you are still searching for Jessie Urquhart Gourlay - I am her gt gt granddaughter through her eldest son John - like you I haven't had much success with the1851 census or finding a birth certificate. My grandfather was Alexander Gourlay - he took over his fathers newsagents in Dura st Dundee. His son, my uncle John Gourlay died a few weeks ago at the age of 85 in Canada - he emigrated there with his wife and son in the 1970s.My mother and her sister live in Kirriemuir .
We are a bit thin on descendants in this part of the family! My cousin and myself are the only gt grandchildren of John Urquhart Gourlay - my cousin has no children and I have just one daughter.

[Elwyn Soutter]

like you I haven't had much success with the1851 census or finding a birth certificate.

You won’t find a birth certificate for a birth c 1845 as statutory birth registration did not start in Scotland till 1855. You might find the baptism but, as has been mentioned previously only the Church of Scotland and the RC church records are on-line (on Scotlandspeople). For other denominations eg the Free Church of Scotland & Episcopal church you need to try and trace the records (if they have survived.) If the churches still exist, you could contact them. If not, you could try the National Records in Edinburgh (according to a reference book I have the CH3 repertory might contain some Free Church records) or try the local museum in Helensburgh or Dumbarton to see if they know where the records are held.

[Surreycat]

Thanks for the info Elwyn -will try and find out about the church records

[rosie17]

Do you know names of other family member's I live in Helensburgh and Know that a lot of family members changed the name Gourlay to Mcgourlay if you give me some other names I will see what I can find

[sarah]

Hi Surreycat,

Welcome to RootsChat I am afraid the John is no longer picking up his emails, maybe he has changed email address

Regards

Sarah