Kirkcudbright, Galtway, and Dunrod
Kirkcudbright is a parish on the coast of Kirkcudbrightshire. It is bounded on the north by Kelton, on the east by Rerrick, on the south by the Irish Sea, and on the west by the River Dee, which divides it from Borgue, Twynholm, and Tongland. (1867: The Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland, by John Marius Wilson).
Bombie, Dunrod, Galtway, Kirkcudbright, Kirkland, Parkgate
Fludha, Janefield
PRE-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
POST-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
The parishes of Kirkcudbright, Galtway, and Dunrod were united about 1663.
Kirkcudbright. The church of Kirkcudbright was dedicated to St Cuthbert. It belonged to the Abbey of Holyrood. There were two chapels in the parish: St Andrew's in the town of Kirkcudbright, and St Bride's at Kirkbride. There was also near the town a Well of St Margaret. In Kirkcudbright the Grey Friars had a priory which was suppressed at the Reformation. In 1564 its priory church was made the church of the parish. The ruins of the church now standing in the churchyard belong to a rebuilding in 1730. A new church on a site in the middle of town was built in 1838.
Galtway. The church of Galtway was dedicated to St Michael. It belonged to the Abbey of Holyrood. Within the parish, a little way from the church, stood the Augustinian Priory of Trail dedicated to St Mary, and known as St Mary's Isle. It was founded in 1129 by Fergus, Lord of Galloway.
Dunrod. The church of Dunrod was dedicated to St Brioch. It belonged to the Abbey of Holyrood.
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 |
| 1743-1854 | Kirkcudbright | 871 | OPR |
| 1855-1856 | Kirkcudbright Burgh | 871-1 | RD |
| 1855-1856 | Kirkcudbright Landward | 871-2 | RD |
| 1857-1971 | Kirkcudbright | 871 | RD |
| 1972-2004 | Kirkcudbright | 865 | RD |
| 2005-2009 | Dumfries and Galloway, Kirkcudbright | 865 | RD |
| 2026 | Dumfries and Galloway Council; Royal Burgh of Kirkcudbright and District 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
Anderson, Brown, Campbell, Clark, Gordon, Kirkpatrick, Milligan, Rae, Smith, Stevenson
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 Robert Muter, D. D..
"The number of souls in the parish of Kirkcudbright, as taken, with great accuracy, at different visitations, both in the town and country will appear from the following: In 1792, in the burgh were 809 males, 832 females, 1641 total. In the country were 310 males, 344 females, 654 total. In the whole parish were 1119 males, 1176 females, 2295 total. The number of householders was 252. Among the whole 2295 that compose the parish, there is not one Dissenter, or Seceder, of any denomination whatever.
There were 2 surgeons, 49 men servants, 123 women servants, 45 apprentices, 35 journeymen, 14 ship carpenters, and 88 sailors. About a year ago, some faint appearances of manufactories, in the cotton line, began to shew themselves. A woollen manufactory is also begun, as well as a candle and soap manufactory. There is a custom-house that consists of a collector, comptroller, surveyor, landwaiter, 4 tidemen, and 4 boatmen.
The people of Kirkcubright are, in general, of a pleasant, social and agreeable disposition, and their morals are fully as good as those of their neighbours. Few or none are ever incarcerated for crimes or misdemeanors. In point of taste, they are much superior to most people of the parishes around them. Their reading is extensive; and being furnished with an excellent subscription library of the best modern books, they have access to all the improvements in literature and politics."
(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 11, p. 1
New Statistical Account of Scotland (1834-1845), Volume 4, Section II, p. 1
See Parish Page Sources for all source information and links.
