Delting, Olnafirth, and Laxavoe
Delting is a parish in the middle of the east of Shetland. Its main body is part of the mainland and this is bounded on the north by Yell sounds, on the east by Nesting and Lunnasting, on the south, by Weisdale and Sandsting, and on the west by Sullom Voe and St Magnus Bay. (1867: The Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland, by John Marius Wilson).
Garth, Inhouse, Lees, Moorfield, Mossbank, Olnafirth
Busta
PRE-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
POST-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
These three parishes were united in the 16th century.
Delting. The church of Delting was dedicated to St Paul.
Olnafirth. The church of Olnafirth was dedicated to St Olaf. There is now a mission chapel within the bounds, at the village of Olnafirth.
Laxavoe. The church of Laxavoe was dedicated to St Magnus.
Includes ministers, licentiates, assistants, readers, and clerks.
Delting, Olnafirth, and Laxavoe (QO)
Olnafirth (QO)
(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 |
| 1751-1854 | Delting | 2 | OPR |
| 1855-1971 | Delting | 2 | RD |
| 1972-2006 | Delting | 105 | RD |
| 2009 | Shetland Islands, Delting | 105 | RD |
| 2026 | Shetland Islands Council; Delting 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, Cooper, Henderson, Irvine, Johnson, Murray, Nicolson, Robertson, Tait, Williamson
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 John Morison.
"The people in general are not disposed to industry; for which they cannot, however, be much blamed, as no way has yet been pointed out to them by which they might turn their industry to account. No manufactures are established; and, excepting what the men may gain by fishing, the wives and children at kelp burning during a few weeks in summer; they have not a probable chance of earning a penny, but by the manufacture of single stockings, which is loss of time, to call it no worse."
(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 1, p. 385
New Statistical Account of Scotland (1834-1845), Volume 15, Section IV, p. 56
See Parish Page Sources for all source information and links.
