Mastertoun, Masterton
Newbattle is a parish in the eastern division of Edinburghshire. It is bounded by Lasswade, Dalkeith, Cranston, Borthwick, and Cockpen. (1867: The Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland, by John Marius Wilson).
Barleyknowe, Blinkbonny, Dalkeith, Easthouses, Gorebridge, Hunterfield, Masterton, Newbattle, Newton-Grange, Stobhill
PRE-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
POST-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
Newbattle. Previous to the Reformation the church, dedicated to St Mary, belonged to the Abbot of Newbattle.
Melville. Previous to the Reformation the church of Melville, dedicated to St Andrew, belonged to the Abbey of Dunfermline. The parish was united to Newbattle by the General Assembly about the end of 1583, but on 28 June 1633 annexed by Parliament, the larger portion to Lasswade, and the lesser to Dalkeith.
Disjoined Quoad Sacra Parishes:
Stobhill. Disjoined from Borthwick, Cockpen, Newbattle, and Temple, and erected into a parish quoad sacra, 16 March 1859.
Includes ministers, licentiates, assistants, readers, and clerks.
Newbattle (QO)
Melville (QO)
Stobhill (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 |
| 1618-1854 | Newbattle | 695 | OPR |
| 1855-1897 | Newbattle | 695 | RD |
| 1898-1920 | Newbattle | 695a | RD |
| 1898-1920 | Newcraighall (City of Edinburgh) | 695b | RD |
| 1921-1971 | Newbattle | 695 | RD |
| 1921-1929 | Newcraighall | 685-16 | RD |
| 1972-1984 | Newbattle | 763 | RD |
| 2009 | Midlothian | 762 | RD |
| 2026 | Midlothian Council; Eskbank and Newbattle 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
Brown, Lockhart, Moffat, Pryde, Reid, Rutherford, Scott, Smith, Thomson, Young
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 James Brown.
"From a minute enumeration made of the inhabitants in March 1793, the exact state of the population is 606 males, and 689 females, or 1295 souls; of whom 1017 are of the established Church, and 278 of the Secession.
The farmers of this parish, though reduced in point of numbers, have improved, on the other hand, in their consequence and character; and their mode, both of thinking and living, is much more liberal than that of their predecessors. The lower orders, when their manners are considered, are likewise entitled to a favourable report. They are, for the most part, industrious, which procures them a competence, and frugal, which preserves them in the possession of this blessing; after which, it is unnecessary to add, that they are, in general, satisfied with their condition."
(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. 212
New Statistical Account of Scotland (1834-1845), Volume 1, p. 63
See Parish Page Sources for all source information and links.
