Wick is a parish on the east coast of Caithness-shire. It is bounded on the east and south-east by the German Ocean (North Sea), and on other sides by the parishes of Latheron, Watten, Bower, and Canisbay. (1867: The Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland, by John Marius Wilson).
Achern, Ackergill, Bankhead, Broadhaven, Bruan, Coldibacky, East Banks, Eriboll, Freswick, Hempriggs, Howe, Janetstown, Keiss, Kilminster, Kirtomy, Lewisburgh or Louisburgh, Newton, Nybster, Papigoe, Pulteneytown, Reiss, Sarclet, Scullomy, Smoo, Staxigoe, Strathypoint, Talmine, Tannoch, Ulbster, West Banks, Whaligoe, Wick
Bilbster
PRE-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
POST-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
The church of Wick was dedicated to St Fergus. It belonged to the Bishop of Caithness. In this parish there were at least eight chapels - St Mary's, on the north side of the Water of Wick; St Ninian's, at the Head of Wick Bay; St Martin's, at Ulbster; St Cuthbert's, at Hauster; St Duthac's, at the Kirk of Moss; and the chapels at Thrumster, Ackergill (St Tears), and Strubster. Fairs of St Fergus and St Margaret were held at Wick. There is now within the bounds a mission chapel at Thrumster.
Disjoined Quoad Sacra Parishes:
Keiss. There was of old a chapel at Keiss. In 1827 a parliamentary church was built here. The parish of Keiss was disjoined from Wick and Canisbay on 4 March 1846.
Pulteneytown. The parish of Pulteneytown was disjoined from Wick on 18 March 1878.
Includes ministers, licentiates, assistants, readers, and clerks.
Wick (QO)
Keiss (QS)
Pulteneytown (QS)
(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 |
| 1701-1854 | Wick | 43 | OPR |
| 1855-1867 | Wick Burgh | 43-1 | RD |
| 1855-1867 | Wick Landward | 43-2 | RD |
| 1868-1971 | Wick | 43 | RD |
| 1972-2006 | Wick | 163 | RD |
| 2009 | Highland, Wick | 163 | RD |
| 2026 | Highland Council; Royal Burgh of Wick 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
Bain, Bremner, Bruce, Cormack, Gunn, Henderson, Manson, Miller, Sinclair, Sutherland
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 Sutherland.
"This parish, and the county in general, is justly characterized for its martial spirit. It has proved an excellent nursery for soldiers and sailors. No where have recruiting officers been more successful. Want of manufactures and other means of employment, make young men, who are averse to labour in husbandry, and have no good way of livelihood, readily betake themselves to the army and navy, more especially when a Highland corps is to be raised."
(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 10, p. 1
New Statistical Account of Scotland (1834-1845), Volume 15, Section II, p. 117
See Parish Page Sources for all source information and links.
