New Cumnock is a parish in the district of Kyle, forming the south-eastern limb of Ayrshire. It is bounded on the east by Dumfriesshire, on the south by Kirkcudbrightshire, and on the other sides by the parishes of Dalmellington, Ochiltree, and Old Cumnock. (1867: The Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland, by John Marius Wilson).
Afton-Bridgend or Bridgend, Castle, Connell Park, Craigbank, Dalleagles, Mansfield, New Cumnock, Pathhead, Pollshill
PRE-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
POST-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
This parish was disjoined from Cumnock by the Commissioners for the Plantation of Kirks on 11 July 1650. On 14 July 1667, the Commissioners recalled this decision and set aside the disjunction. On 11 March 1691, however, they renewed the decree of 1650, and confirmed the erection of the parish. The church of New Cumnock was rebuilt in 1832.
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 |
| 1706-1854 | New Cumnock | 608 | OPR |
| 1855-1971 | New Cumnock | 608 | RD |
| 1972-2005 | New Cumnock | 685 | RD |
| 2006-2008 | New Cumnock, East Ayrshire | 685 | RD |
| 2009 | East Ayrshire, New Cumnock | 685 | RD |
| 2026 | East Ayrshire Council; New Cumnock 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
Brown, Campbell, Ferguson, Gibson, Houston, Kerr, Park, Smith, Walker, Wilson
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 James Young.
"In 1755, the number of souls was 1497; though, when the present incumbent was settled, about 1757, the number was little more than 1000. The population now (November, 1790) may amount to about 1200, two villages having been built near the church, and on Afton-water, where there was but one house in 1757. There may be 80 farmers and storekeepers, and more cottagers, 200 men-servants, near as many women-servants. About 12 of the inhabitants are Seceders."
(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 6, p. 98
New Statistical Account of Scotland (1834-1845), Volume 5, Section I, p. 509
See Parish Page Sources for all source information and links.
