Greenlaw is a parish in Berwickshire. It is bounded by Longformacus, Polwarth, Fogo, Eccles, Hume, Gordon, and Westruther. (1867: The Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland, by John Marius Wilson).
Angelraw, Greenlaw, Lambden
Rowchester
PRE-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
POST-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
Previous to the Reformation the church belonged to the Abbey of Kelso. It was dedicated by David de Bernham, 4 April 1242. There is no record of a patron saint, but a fair was held here on St Helen's Day. The tower was built originally as a jail, in 1712. In a charter of 1159 chapels at Lambden and Halyburton are mentioned. There was also a chapel at Rowiestone.
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 |
| 1699-1854 | Greenlaw | 743 | OPR |
| 1855-1971 | Greenlaw | 743 | RD |
| 1972-1978 | Greenlaw | 790 | RD |
| 2009 | Scottish Borders, Gordon | 791 | RD |
| 2026 | Scottish Borders Council; Greenlaw and Hume 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, Miller, Purves, Renton, Robertson, Smith, Tait, Turnbull, Wilson, Wood
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 Simson.
"An accurate enumeration of the inhabitants of the parish was made in summer 1785. They amounted then to 1210, of whom 223 were below 8 years of age. Of the 987 who were above 8 years, 832 were of the Established Church; 62 were Burghers, 82 Antiburghers, 7 Cameronians; and 4 of the Relief persuasion. About one half of the inhabitants live in the town of Greenlaw; the rest live in farmsteads and detached houses, and in a small village, in the North part of the parish, which contains about 60 people.
Manufactures have not yet been introduced into this parish. The only branch that has been attempted, is one of woollen cloth; but how it will succeed, it is impossible to say, as it is yet in its infancy. Cabinet-makers work is extremely well executed here: 8 or 10 tradesmen are constantly employed in making household furniture for gentlemen in the neighbourhood; but none is made but what is commissioned.
The inhabitants of this parish are, in general, a sober and industrious people. There are some, indeed, of a different character: These, however, are but few. No inhabitant of the parish has either suffered capital punishment, or been banished for many years past; and only one instance of suicide has occurred in the memory of the oldest person living."
(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 14, p. 501
New Statistical Account of Scotland (1834-1845), Volume 2, Section III, p. 40
See Parish Page Sources for all source information and links.
