Kirkmichael is a parish in the north-west of Annandale, Dumfriesshire. It is bounded by the parishes of Kirkpatrick-Juxta, Johnstone, Lochmaben, Tinwald, Kirkmahoe, and Closeburn. (1867: The Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland, by John Marius Wilson).
Courance, Kirkmichael, Kirkmichael Mains, Nethermill, Parkgate
PRE-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
POST-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
Kirkmichael. The church of Kirkmichael in Annandale, dedicated to St Michael, belonged to the Abbey of Kilwinning.
Garrel, previously Garvald. Garrel was united to Kirkmichael in 1674.
Includes ministers, licentiates, assistants, readers, and clerks.
Kirkmichael (QO)
Garrel, or Garvald (QO)
(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 |
| 1727-1854 | Kirkmichael | 836 | OPR |
| 1855-1969 | Kirkmichael | 836 | RD |
| 2009 | Dumfries and Galloway, Dumfries | 834 | RD |
| 2026 | Dumfries & Galloway Council; Kirkmichael 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
Bell, Carruthers, Dobie, Gracie, Hyslop, Johnstone, Rogerson, Scott, Smith, Thomson
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 Dr John Burgess, Minister of the Parish.
"The numer of inhabitants is 950, viz. 505 males, and 445 females. The number of Seceders, Cameronians, and Relief people, young and old, are about 50. All the rest are of the Established Church. There are no Catholics nor Episcopalians.
There are 60 farmers, 5 blacksmiths, 4 carpenters, 3 millers, 4 shoemakers, 6 tailors, 16 weavers, 3 clog-makers, 3 little merchants, and 1 surgeon. There are three small villages in the parish; the largest consisting of 100 souls, and each of the other two of about 70 or 75. The people, in general, are economical and industrious. Very few of them have gone into either the army or navy these many years. They enjoy, in a reasonable degree, the comforts and advantages of society, and seem to live contented. They are in general charitably disposed."
(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 1, p. 54
New Statistical Account of Scotland (1834-1845), Volume 4, Section I, p. 67
See Parish Page Sources for all source information and links.
