Nenthorn is a parish on the southern border of Berwickshire. The parish, over four-fifths of its length, projects into Roxburghshire so as to be bounded chiefly by that county. It is bounded elsewhere by the parishes of Earlston and Hume. (1867: The Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland, by John Marius Wilson).
Blinkbonny, Girrick, Harrietfield, Mellowleis, Nenthorn
The parish of Hume had a detached part situated on the north-west border of the parish of Nenthorn. An exchange of territory was effected between these two parishes, whereby (a) the detached part of Hume was transferred to Nenthorn, and (b) so much of the farm of Hardiesmill Place as was situated in Nenthorn was transferred to Hume. 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:
Early in the twelfth century there was at Nenthorn a chapel of the parish of Ednam. There was another at Newton Don. About 1160 Nenthorn and Newton Don both belonged to the Priory of Coldingham. In 1316 William of Lamberton, Bishop of St Andrews, granted them to the Abbey of Kelso, in exchange for Cranston and Preston (Little Preston) in Midlothian. A church was erected in 1802 a short distance from the original site. The chapel of Newton probably stood where there is now the old burial-place of the Dons of Newton Don. The united parish, disjoined from the Presbytery of Lauder, was annexed to the Presbytery of Kelso, 28 May 1776.
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 |
| 1702-1854 | Nenthorn | 753 | OPR |
| 1855-1966 | Nenthorn | 753 | RD |
| 2009 | Scottish Borders, Gordon | 791 | RD |
| 2026 | Scottish Borders Council; Floors, Makerstoun, Nenthorn and Smailholm 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
Aitchison, Brunton, Frater, Jacks, Lothian, Moffat, Preston, Scott, Wood, Yule
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 Abraham Ker.
"The present number of inhabitants is between 300 and 400; the diminution being owing to the setting large farms, and casting down two villages. There are 8 farmers, 2 smiths, 4 wrights, 2 weavers, and 3 masons in the parish."
(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. 336
New Statistical Account of Scotland (1834-1845), Volume 2, Section III, p. 215
See Parish Page Sources for all source information and links.
