Penpont is a parish in Upper Nithsdale, Dumfriesshire. It is bounded on the west by Kirkcudbrightshire, and on other sides by the parishes of Sanquhar, Durisdeer, Morton, Keir, and Tynron. (1867: The Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland, by John Marius Wilson).
Auchenbainzie, Brierbush, Burnhead, Penpont
Bailford
PRE-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
POST-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
This charge before the Reformation was a vicarage. The church belonged to the Abbey of Holyrood.
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 |
| 1728-1854 | Penpont | 845 | OPR |
| 1855-1966 | Penpont | 845 | RD |
| 1967-1968 | Penpont and Tynron | 834 | RD |
| 2009 | Dumfries and Galloway, Thornhill | 833 | RD |
| 2026 | Dumfries and Galloway Council; Penpont 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
Brown, Carson, Dalziel, Hunter, Hyslop, Kerr, Maxwell, Smith, Wallace, Wilson
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 Keyden.
"The number of inhabitants in 1790 was 800, of whom 77 were Cameronians and 73 Seceders. There is one village at the church, which contains above 100 inhabitants. There are 7 carpenters, 4 masons, 4 smiths, 9 shoemakers, 12 weavers, and 6 tailors. The people in this parish are clean and stout, and generally above the middle size. Their houses, dress, manners, and mode of living, are much improved."
(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. 203
New Statistical Account of Scotland (1834-1845), Volume 4, Section I, p. 499
See Parish Page Sources for all source information and links.
