Tullynessle and Forbes is a united parish in the Alford district of Aberdeenshire. It is bounded on the north by Leslie, Clatt, and Rhynie, on the east by Keig, on the south by Alford, and on the west by Auchindoir. (1867: The Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland, by John Marius Wilson).
Forbes, Tullynessle
Whitehaugh
PRE-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
POST-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
The parishes of Tullynessle and Forbes were united in 1608.
Tullynessle. Tullynessle was a prebend of Aberdeen. Its church was dedicated to St Neachtan.
Forbes. The church of Forbes now stands ruined in its old churchyard. It was dedicated to the Nine Maidens of St Donald. There was within the bounds a chapel of St Anne. Forbes was a prebend of Aberdeen. The parishes of Forbes and Kearn were united in 1722. In 1808 they were severed again, and Forbes was joined to Tullynessle.
Includes ministers, licentiates, assistants, readers, and clerks.
Tullynessle (QO)
Forbes (QO)
(1928: Fasti Ecclesiæ Scoticanæ, by Hew Scott, D. D.)
Parish registers turned over to the Registrar-General, as a result of the Registration of Births, Deaths, and Marriages (Scotland) Act of 1854. The letters B. D. and M. indicate Births (or Baptisms), Deaths (or Burials), and Marriages (or Proclamations of Banns) respectively. Numbers indicate separate volumes or books. Note: These records are by no means complete or without damage; consult the Detailed List of the Old Parochial Registers of Scotland (1872) to learn more about the condition of the records.
| OPR and RD Numbers | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date Range | Name | Number | Type |
| 1718-1854 | Tullynessle, Forbes and Kearn | 246 | OPR |
| 1855-1967 | Tullynessle and Forbes | 246 | RD |
| 2009 | Aberdeenshire, Alford | 326 | RD |
| 2026 | Aberdeenshire Council; Donside Community Council | ||
(2009: Parishes and Registration Districts of Scotland - Old and New, National Records of Scotland)
Local community councils (2026) are provided as a potential source of additional information for settlements within the original boundaries of the parish. (Source)
Statistics from informal and official censuses
Duncan, Gray, Knowles, Mitchell, Morrison, Reid, Smith, Taylor, Walker, Wilson
Note: Names appearing in research materials, other than censuses. Simple names (First name, surname only) have been omitted unless they appear associated with large properties. All women's names, and men's names with occupations, military ranks, or peerage titles are included.
By the Reverend Mr Andrew Marshall.
"In January 1791 the number of the inhabitants of this parish was found to be 396 individuals, of which 188 were males, 208 females. The population has, however, diminished of late years, partly owing to several of the inhabitants having been allured by manufacturers to remove to Aberdeen, partly by several of the young men going southward in quest of business, and better wages; and partly to the union of farms in one district of the parish.
Those labourers who continue able to work, may and do bring up their families tolerably well. All have a kail yard; almost all a small piece of ground in tillage. The straw of the crop maintains a cow in winter, which grazes with the farmer's cattle during the summer, and many of them have also a few sheep kept upon the farm, or by some person in the neighbourhood, for a mere trifle.
A good deal of money is gained by knitting stockings, the general employment of the women: Young children might also be employed to advantage in that branch; but as there are few enclosures, most of them are occupied in looking after every small parcel of sheep or cattle, during 3-4ths of the year. Hence a labourer's family, while in health, rarely needs assistance.
The general size of the people is from 5 feet 5 inches to 5 feet 10 inches, a few are below, but many above those sizes. They are slender, active, and hardy, differing considerably in make and figure from the people on the south of the Grampians. They are industrious, humane, economical, and enjoy the comforts of society in a reasonable degree, and in proportion to their rank and circumstances."
(This section contains excerpts, at times restructured or paraphrased, from an article appearing in Statistical Account of Scotland, Sir John Sinclair, 1791-1799)
By the Reverend Mr Benjamin Mercer, Minister of the Parish.
"At present (1793) the population amounts to 370. Of these are 181 males, and 189 females. The number of families is 83. The number of souls in these parishes has been much the same as at present for 16 years past.
The chief manufacture, carried on in this and the neighbouring parishes, is knitting of stockings; in which occupation most of the women, throughout the whole year, and some boys and old men, during the winter season, are employed. Some few women are employed in spinning lint.
That the people in this district are satisfied with their present situation, cannot with propriety be said; their rents being triple and quadruple what they formerly were, their lands still unimproved, their leases short, their stock exhausted in the years 1782 and 1783, besides the high rates of servants fees. All these, as well as other circumstances that could be mentioned, keeping them still in pinching poverty, in spite of their utmost industry.
They are, in stature, about the middle size, and, in general, of a somewhat swarthy complexion. As to their manner of life, they are industrious, sober, regular attendants on public worship and other ordinances of the gospel; charitable, and of an obliging temper and disposition."
(This section contains excerpts, at times restructured or paraphrased, from an article appearing in Statistical Account of Scotland, Sir John Sinclair, 1791-1799)
Primary Sources:
Statistical Account of Scotland (1791-1799), Volume 4, p. 27
New Statistical Account of Scotland (1834-1845), Volume 12, p. 439
See Parish Page Sources for all source information and links.
