Deskford is a parish in the north of Banffshire. It is bounded by the parishes of Cullen, Fordyce, Grange, and Rathven. Its northern boundary is within 1¾ mile of the town of Cullen. (1867: The Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland, by John Marius Wilson).
Auldmore, Berryhillock, Clunehill, Deskford or Kirktown of Deskford, Milton, Ramore, Squaredoch
PRE-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
POST-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
The old church of Deskford was dedicated to St John the Evangelist. Near it is St John's Well. The parishes of Fordyce and Deskford were united about 1650. They were severed again in 1654.
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 |
| 1659-1854 | Deskford | 151 | OPR |
| 1855-1958 | Deskford | 151 | RD |
| 1968-1971 | Dufftown | 151 | RD |
| 1972-2002 | Dufftown | 297 | RD |
| 2009 | (Deskford) Moray, Buckie | 290 | RD |
| 2009 | (Dufftown) Moray, Keith | 295 | RD |
| 2026 | (Deskford) Moray Council; Cullen and Deskford Community Council | ||
| 2026 | (Dufftown) Moray Council; Dufftown & District 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
Duncan, Gray, Milton, Morrison, Reid, Smith, Stephen, Taylor, Wood, Wright
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 Walter Chalmers.
"At present the number of inhabitants is 752; 359 of which are males, 393 females. There are 68 male servants, 44 female servants, 18 weavers, 8 shoemakers, 4 tailors, 2 wrights, 2 cart and plough wrights, 2 wheel wrights, 3 masons, and 2 blacksmiths. There are 46 persons in the parish who do not properly belong to any of the preceding descriptions. There are 2 Roman Catholics; all the rest Presbyterians. The prevailing surnames in the parish are Reid and Lawrence. Of each there are 9 families.
The people are in general sober, industrious, and regular in behaviour. There is but one ale-house in the parish, and which is little frequented. Though not rich, several of them are substantial in their stations. The late unfavourable seasons, with the consequent failure of crops, have reduced their circumstances in some instances.
In consequence of their sobriety and regularity, the people are prolific and long-lived. The wife of one of the elders brought him lately 3 daughters at one birth, who are all alive, and doing well. There are 3 families consisting of eight children each, and several of 7 and of 6."
(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 4, p. 358
New Statistical Account of Scotland (1834-1845), Volume 13, Section I, p. 63
See Parish Page Sources for all source information and links.
