Gigha and Cara
Gigha is a parish comprising the islands of Gigha, Cara, and Gigulum, in Argyleshire. (1867: The Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland, by John Marius Wilson).
Ardminish, Cara, Gigha
PRE-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
POST-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
The ancient church of Gigha was dedicated to St Catan. It now stands in the old churchyard on the east side of the island. The parish of Gigha was united to Jura in the sixteenth century. In 1641 it was severed from Jura and joined to Saddell. In 1659 it was disjoined from Saddell and united to Killean. On 22 January 1726 the Commissioners of Teinds severed Gigha from Killean, making it, as of old, a separate parish. The island of Cara is in this parish.
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 |
| 1792-1854 | Gigha | 537 | OPR |
| 1855-1970 | Gigha and Cara | 537 | RD |
| 1971-1971 | Gigha | 543 | RD |
| 1972-2006 | Gigha | 547 | RD |
| 2007-2008 | Gigha, Argyll and Bute | 547 | RD |
| 2009 | Argyll and Bute, Gigha | 547 | RD |
| 2026 | Argyll and Bute Council; Gigha 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
Barr, Clark, Duncan, Galbraith, Graham, Henderson, Johnston, Leitch, Orr, Smith
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 William Fraser.
"By a list made out in January 1792, the number of souls, of both islands, was found to be 614. In Gigha there were 304 males, and 288 females, total 592. In Cara there were 11 males, and 11 females, total 22. There were 26 farmers in Gigha, 1 in Cara; 20 crofters in Gigha, 0 in Cara; 51 cottagers in Gigha, 2 in Cara. There were 60 fishermen, 6 sailors, 6 weavers with 3 apprentices, 4 tailors, 2 shoemakers, 1 millers, 1 blacksmith, 1 boat carpenter, 1 mason, 1 distillers, 1 innkeepers, 1 fiddler, and 2 pipers.
All the inhabitants of both islands are Protestants of the established church of Scotland. The majority of them are of the names of Galbreath and M'Neill. The people are honest and inoffensive, willing to oblige, and ready, by every exertion, to relieve the distress of seafaring men. They are, upon the whole, in a thriving condition, content with their situation, and greatly attached to their native country."
(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. 37
New Statistical Account of Scotland (1834-1845), Volume 7, Section II, p. 394
See Parish Page Sources for all source information and links.
