Aberlemno and Aldbar
Aberlemno is a parish in the centre of Forfarshire. It is bounded by the parishes of Tannadice, Caraldston, Brechin, Guthrie, Rescobie, and Oathlaw. (1867: The Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland, by John Marius Wilson).
Aberlemno, Carsegownie, Crosston, Mains of Balgavie, Mains of Melgund, Netherton
Flemington
PRE-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
POST-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
The parishes of Aberlemno and Aldbar were united early in the seventeenth century.
Aberlemno. The church of Aberlemno belonged to the Priory of Restenneth. The present church was erected in 1722, and was restored in 1856.
Aldbar. The church of Aldbar belonged to the collegiate church of Methven. It was restored in 1853, and is now a private chapel at Aldbar House.
(1928: Fasti Ecclesiæ Scoticanæ, by Hew Scott, D. D.)
Includes ministers, licentiates, assistants, readers, and clerks.
Aberlemno (QO)
Aldbar (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 |
| 1706-1854 | Aberlemno | 269 | OPR |
| 1855-1968 | Aberlemno | 269 | RD |
| 2009 | Angus, Forfar | RD | 364 |
| 2026 | Angus Council; Aberlemno and 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
Bruce, Davidson, Duncan, Forbes, Henderson, Lindsay, Mollison, Potter, Stewart, 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 Mr Andrew Mitchell.
"The present amount of the population is 1033, of whom 514 are males, and 519 are females. There are about 30 farmers, about 170 inhabited houses. There are 74 weavers, 5 smiths, 7 carpenters, 11 tailors, 10 shoemakers, 6 millers, 2 masons, 4 merchants, 3 gardeners, 4 flax-dressers, 47 male labouring servants, and 33 female labouring servants.
The principal manufacture is linen. Few enlist in the army. The people are industrious, economical, and, in general, humane in their disposition. There is a great alteration for the better, in the manners, dress and style of living within these 40 years. The parish always supplies itself with provisions and sometimes exports large quantities of grain. There are two inns on the great road between Brechin and Forfar, for the entertainment of travelers. Few services are performed by tenants or subtenants, excepting the carriage of the landlord's coals."
(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. 47
New Statistical Account of Scotland (1834-1845), Volume 11, Section I, p. 626
See Parish Page Sources for all source information and links.
