Rosskeen is a parish in the eastern part of Ross-shire. It is bounded on the south-east by the Firth of Cromarty, and on other sides by the parishes of Alness, Kincardine, Edderton, and Kilmuir. (1867: The Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland, by John Marius Wilson).
Ardross, Bridgend, Dalmore, Invergordon, Saltburn
Kincraig, Newmore
PRE-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
POST-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
The church was dedicated to St Ninian and was a prebend in the Chapter of Fortrose Cathedral.
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 |
| 1781-1854 | Rosskeen | 81 | OPR |
| 1855-1971 | Rosskeen | 81 | RD |
| 1872-2006 | Rosskeen | 195 | RD |
| 2009 | Highland, Rosskeen | 195 | RD |
| 2026 | Highland Council; Invergordon 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
Campbell, Fraser, MacDonald, MacKay, Mackenzie, MacLennan, MacLeod, Munro, Ross, Urquhart
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 Thomas Urquhart.
"The number of inhabitants has of late been much increased, by a species of cottagers, here called meallers*, who build a small house for themselves, on a waste spot of ground, with the consent of the proprietor, and there, are ready to hire themselves out as day-labourers. At their spare hours, they trench and improve small bits of the muir around them, which they first plant with potatoes, and afterwards sow with grain. Though their improvements, taken individually, are trifling and slow, yet in the aggregate, they amount, in a course of years, to something considerable. They pay hardly any consideration to the landlord, during the life of the first settler. But, upon the whole, it is observed, that from their labour, and the industry of their wives and children, they live more comfortably, than those in a supposed superior class, and enjoy perfect independence.
The Gaelic language is universally spoken, by the country people in this, as well as all the other parishes in this presbytery; but it is worthy of remark, that, though that language does not seem to be losing ground in this parish, many more read and understand English language, than did some years ago; a circumstance which is to be attributed to the Society's schools, which have been endowed in the height of the parish."
*Maillar: A tenant-famer who pays his rent in money.
(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 2, p. 558
New Statistical Account of Scotland (1834-1845), Volume 14, Section II, p. 233
See Parish Page Sources for all source information and links.
