Kelton is a parish nearly in the centre of the southern half of Kirkcudbrightshire. It is bounded by Crossmichael, Buittle, Berwick, Kirkcudbright, Tongland, and Balmaghie. (1867: The Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland, by John Marius Wilson).
Auchlane, Buchan, Carlinwark, Castle Douglas, Gelston or Gilston, Kelton Hill, Keltonhill or Rhonehouse, Lochdougan
Daldawn or Dildawn
PRE-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
POST-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
Kelton. The church of Kelton, dedicated to St Oswald the Martyr, belonged in early times to the Priory of Iona, but was owned afterwards until the Reformation by the Abbey of Holyrood. In the churchyard are the ruins of the old church as rebuilt in 1743. A new church was erected on another site in 1806.
Gelston. The church of Gelston belonged to the Priory of Whitern (Whithorn). At Kirkmirren, in the parish, within its own ancient burial ground, is the much-ruined chapel of St Mirren, and near it is St Mirren's Well.
Kirkcormick, previously Kilcormic. The church of this parish was dedicated to St Cormac. In early times it belonged to the Priory of Iona. Afterwards it passed into the possession of the abbey of Holyrood, by which it was owned at the time of the Reformation. St Ringan's Cave and Well in the parish are dedications to St Ninian.
Disjoined Quoad Sacra Parishes:
Castle Douglas. In 1866 a mission station was begun in the Town Hall, Castle Douglas, for the town people, owing to the distance of the parish church at Kelton. A site for a church was given by Sir George Abercromby of Birkenbog and Forglen, Bart., and a church was opened in 1869. The parish of Castle Douglas was disjoined quoad sacra from Kelton and Crossmichael, and erected by the Court of Teinds, 1 December 1873.
Includes ministers, licentiates, assistants, readers, and clerks.
Kelton (QO)
Gelston (QO)
Kirkcormick (QO)
Castle Douglas (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 |
| 1717-1854 | Kelton | 869 | OPR |
| 1855-1968 | Kelton | 869 | RD |
| 2009 | Dumfries and Galloway, Castle Douglas | 852 | RD |
| 2026 | Dumfries and Galloway Council; Kelton 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
Blacklock, Brown, Campbell, Clark, Gordon, Haugh, Johnstone, Smith, Stewart, Thomson
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 Thomas Halliday.
"The present state of population in Kelton is 1600 souls. There are 14 merchants, 9 wrights, 7 smiths, 10 tailors, 14 weavers, 3 butchers, 1 surgeon, 5 shoemakers, 1 clockmaker, 1 hair-dresser, 2 bakers, 14 masons, 1 slater, 1 stocking-weaver, 1 saddler, 2 tobacco spinners, and 2 carriers.
Within the limits of the burgh of Castle-Douglas, there are, at present, between 600 and 700 inhabitants, where, 26 years ago, there were not 20. At this town a banking branch is now established, and two companies are engaged in the manufacture of cotton. Here, likewise, a soap-work, brewery, tannery, and woollen manufactory, are in contemplation.
The inhabitants of Kelton are, in general, an intelligent, polite, social, and hospitable people. In regard to elegance in houses, neatness of dress and genteel living, they are equal, if not superior to their neighbours around them. The sentiments of the people of Kelton, with respect to religion and morality, are, for the most part, rational, just, and free from bigotry. None belonging to the parish, in the memory of the oldest now living, have suffered the pains of law for any capital crime."
(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 8, p. 297
New Statistical Account of Scotland (1834-1845), Volume 4, Section II, p. 144
See Parish Page Sources for all source information and links.
