Mauchline is a parish nearly in the centre of the district of Kyle, Ayrshire. It is bounded by Craigie, Galston, Sorn, Auchinleck, Ochiltree, Stair, and Tarbolton. (1867: The Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland, by John Marius Wilson).
Auchmillan, Crosshands, Haugh, Mauchline
Ballochmyle, Barmure, Barskimming
The parish of Sorn had a small detached part which was surrounded by the parish of Mauchline. This detached part has been transferred to the parish of Mauchline. See affected properties and landholders. (1892: Boundary of counties and parishes in Scotland as settled by the Boundary Commissioners under the Local Government Act, 1889, by Hay Shennan)
PRE-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
POST-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
The church of Mauchline belonged to the Abbey of Melrose. It was dedicated to St Michael, and near it was St Michael's Well. An autumn fair was held at Mauchline on St Francis' Day. Near the parish church there was founded, in or about 1165, St Mary's Cistercian Priory of Mauchline, a cell of Melrose Abbey. In 1647 the General Assembly passed an act for erecting a second charge here. The measure, however, was so carried out that, instead of Mauchline becoming a collegiate parish, there was severed from it the new parish of Dalgain, now called Sorn. Mauchline Church was rebuilt in 1829.
Includes ministers, licentiates, assistants, readers, and clerks.
(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 |
| 1670-1854 | Mauchline | 604 | OPR |
| 1855-1971 | Mauchilne | 604 | RD |
| 1972-2005 | Mauchline | 676 | RD |
| 2006-2008 | Mauchline, East Ayrshire | 676 | RD |
| 2009 | East Ayrshire, Mauchline | 676 | RD |
| 2026 | East Ayrshire Council; Mauchline 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
Campbell, Clark, Gibson, Hamilton, Mitchell, Reid, Smith, Templeton, Wallace, 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 William Auld.
"The number of inhabitants, in 1791, was 1800, of whom 870 were males and 930 were females. There were 1000 inhabitants in the town, and 800 in the country. There were 10 merchants, 20 weavers, 20 masons, 12 wrights or carpenters, 2 tanners, 12 shoemakers, 10 tailors, 2 butchers, 4 hosiers, 1 saddler, 6 smiths, 2 messengers, 3 sheriff officers, and 73 farmers.
In such a number there must be some exceptions: but, in general, they are a sober and industrious people, charitably disposed: careful and even punctual in attending the church on Sundays, and on sacramental occasions; and their practice in the main is agreeable to their profession. The inhabitants are of a middle size, from 5 feet 5 inches to 6 feet 2 inches, and make a decent appearance, particularly at public meetings. The manner of living and dress, is much altered from what it was about 50 years ago."
(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 2, p. 109
New Statistical Account of Scotland (1834-1845), Volume 5, Section I, p. 158
See Parish Page Sources for all source information and links.
