Stair is a parish in the district of Kyle, Ayrshire. It is bounded by Tarbolton, Mauchline, Ochiltree, and Coylton. (1867: The Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland, by John Marius Wilson).
Coalhall, Stair
Barskimming, Dalmore
The parish of Stair had two detached parts, one (Stair detached No. 1) wholly surrounded by the parish of Ochiltree, and the other (Stair detached No. 2) adjoining that parish and the parish of Coylton. An exchange of territory was effected between the parishes of Stair and Ochiltree, whereby the divided condition of Stair is done away with, both parishes being now self-contained: (a) Stair detached No. 2 was transferred to the parish of Ochiltree, and (b) the portion of Ochiltree parish described in the Clause I. of the Order was transferred to Stair, and thereby Stair detached No. 1 was united with the main portion of Stair parish. See affected properties and landholders. (1892: Boundary of counties and parishes in Scotland as settled by the Boundary Commissioners under the Local Government Act, 1889, by Hay Shennan)
PRE-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
POST-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
The parish of Stair was disjoined from Ochiltree by the Commissioners of Teinds, 9 July 1673. Its erection was ratified by Act of Parliament, 22 July 1690, and a second time in 1709. Stair church was rebuilt in 1864.
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 |
| 1736-1854 | Stair | 614 | OPR |
| 1855-1968 | Stair | 614 | RD |
| 2009 | South Ayrshire, Ayr | 680 | RD |
| 2026 | East Ayrshire Council; Drongan, Rankinston and Stair 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
Campbell, Cowan, Ferguson, Johnston, Mair, Morrison, Nicol, Sloan, Wilson, Young
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 John Steel, of Gadgirth.
"In 1755, the number of souls in this parish was 369; now it is increased to 518. When the incumbent was first settled, the tenants and labourers were poor, ill clothed, and worse fed; the farm houses were small, ill furnished, and mean in their appearance. Notwithstanding the advanced rents which they now pay, the tenants are in much better circumstances, and their taste for cleanliness, dress, and every decent accommodation, has increased in proportion to their wealth.
The inhabitants in their morals are sober, honest, and industrious; and amidst all the animosities and divisions which have arisen in this country, they have remained steadily attached to the Established Church."
(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. 112
New Statistical Account of Scotland (1834-1845), Volume 5, Section I, p. 637
See Parish Page Sources for all source information and links.
