Sorbie is a parish on the south-east coast of Wigtownshire. It is bounded by Wigtown Bay, and by the parishes of Whithorn, Glasserton, and Kirkinner. (1867: The Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland, by John Marius Wilson).
Cruggleton, Garlieston, Innerwell, Millisle, Pouton, Sorbie
PRE-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
POST-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
The parishes of Sorbie, Kirkmadryne, and Crugilton were united before 16 July 1633.
Sorbie. The church of Sorbie was dedicated to St Fillan. Prior to the Reformation it belonged to the Abbey of Dryburgh. At Kilfillan, near Millisle in this parish, there was a Chapel of St Fillan.
Kirkmadryne. The church of Kirkmadryne was dedicated to St Medran of Muskerry. It belonged previously to the Priory of St Mary's Isle.
Crugilton. The church of Crugilton belonged to the Priory of Whitern (Whithorn). Of late years it has been restored from ruin, and public worship is held in it.
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 |
| 1700-1854 | Sorbie | 897 | OPR |
| 1855-1966 | Sorbie | 897 | RD |
| 2009 | Dumfries and Galloway, Whithorn | 875 | RD |
| 2026 | Dumfries and Galloway Council; Sorbie 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
Bell, Edgar, Hannah, Little, Muir, Potts, Smith, Stewart, Thomson, Walker
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 Dr Isaac Davidson.
"The present population is 1069; of these there are 515 males and 554 females; 276 are under 10 years old. In the village of Garliestown there are about 450; in the village of Sorbie about 80. There are 24 Episcopalians, 60 Antiburgher Seceders, 4 Catholics, and 2 Cameronians. In the year 1774 several families emigrated to America. In the parish are 43 farmers, 63 mechanics, 11 apprentices, and 30 seamen. There are 3 corn mills, and 2 cloth mills."
(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. 242
New Statistical Account of Scotland (1834-1845), Volume 4, Section III, p. 22
See Parish Page Sources for all source information and links.
