Kirkandrews Balmaketh
Balmaghie is a parish in the centre of Kirkcudbrightshire. It is bounded by the parishes of Kelton, Crossmichael, Parton, Kells, Girthon, Twynholm, and Tongland. (1867: The Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland, by John Marius Wilson).
Bridge of Dee, Castle Douglas, Glenlochar, Laurieston or Cullenoch
PRE-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
POST-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
The church of Balmaghie was dedicated to St Andrew. In early times it belonged to the Priory of Iona, but at the Reformation it was in the possession of the Abbey of Holyrood. The parish church was rebuilt in 1794.
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 |
| 1768-1854 | Balmaghie | 857 | OPR |
| 1855-1864 | Balmaghie | 857 | RD |
| 1865-1968 | Balmaghie | 857a | RD |
| 1865-1968 | Bargrennan | 857b | RD |
| 1972-1995 | Balmaghie | 853 | RD |
| 1972-1992 | Bargrennan | 854 | RD |
| 2009 | (Balmaghie) Dumfries and Galloway, Castle Douglas | 852 | RD |
| 2009 | (Bargrennan) Dumfries and Galloway, Newton Stewart | 872 | RD |
| 2026 | (Balmaghie) Dumfries and Galloway Council; Balmaghie Community Council | ||
| 2026 | (Bargrennan) Dumfries and Galloway Council; Cree Valley 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
Irving, Jardine, Kerr, Maxwell, Muir, Murray, Smith, Sproat, Thomson, Tracey
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 John Johnstone, Minister at Crossmichael.
"In 1793 there were in the parish 862 souls, 152 families, 433 males, and 429 females. There were 208 persons under 10 years of age. There were 838 of the Established Church, 14 Roman Catholics, 2 Antiburghers, and 8 Cameronians. There were 30 born in Ireland, and 1 in England.
Of professions there were 64 farmers, 132 farm servants and labourers, 2 schoolmasters, 2 blacksmiths, 3 millers, 8 shoemakers, 12 weavers, 7 masons, 8 carpenters, 8 tailors, 2 boatmen, and 8 dram sellers."
(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 13, p. 640
New Statistical Account of Scotland (1834-1845), Volume 4, Section II, p. 178
See Parish Page Sources for all source information and links.
