Dunse
Duns is a parish nearly in the centre of Berwickshire. It is bounded by Longformacus, Abbey St Bathans, Bunkle, Edrom, and Langton. (1867: The Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland, by John Marius Wilson).
Bridgend, Duns, Grueldykes, Manderstone, Wedderburn
Manderston
PRE-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
POST-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
In 1342 became a prebend of the Collegiate Church of Dunbar, and was served by a vicar. The dedication is uncertain, but the fair day was the Monday after Trinity Sunday. It was proposed by the Synod, 10 July 1611, to make Birkenside a separate charge, but this was not carried out. Birkenside is now called Chapel, and marks the site of a chapel dedicated to St Magdalene. It was formerly the kirklands of Ellem.
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 |
| 1615-1854 | Duns | 735 | OPR |
| 1855-1971 | Duns | 735 | RD |
| 1972-2006 | Duns | 785 | RD |
| 2007-2009 | Scottish Borders, Duns | 785 | RD |
| 2026 | Scottish Borders Council; Duns 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
Aitchison, Brown, Johnston, Pringle, Purves, Robertson, Scott, Smith, Thomson, 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 Dr Robert Bowmaker.
"By a very exact list, taken 3 years ago, the number of souls in the town was 2324; in the country part of the parish, 1000. In all, 3324. There is 1 physician, 3 surgeons, and 8 gentlemen of the law in the town. There is an Antiburgher, a Burgher, and a Relief minister, whose congregations are made up of a mixed multitude from all quarters.
There are no manufactures carried on here to any great extent; a woollen manufacture is to be set on foot at Whitsunday first, the houses are building, and the spinning machines are already brought from England. There is a very small tannery. We have here a very large bleach-field. We have abundance of freestone quarries in the parish."
(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. 378
New Statistical Account of Scotland (1834-1845), Volume 2, Section III, p. 246
See Parish Page Sources for all source information and links.
