Ancrum is a parish nearly in the centre of Roxburghshire. It is bounded by the parishes of St Boswells, Maxton, Roxburgh, Crailing, Jedburgh, Bedrule, Minto, Lilliesleaf, and Bowden. (1867: The Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland, by John Marius Wilson).
Ancrum, Belses, Longnewton, Nether Ancrum, Over Ancrum
Kirklands
PRE-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
POST-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
Ancrum. There was already a church at Ancrum in 1116. At Malta Walls on the farm of Copland, in the parish, the Order of St John of Jerusalem, called the Knights of Malta, had a preceptory. A new church was built at Ancrum village in 1889.
Langnewton, or Longnewton. Previous to the Reformation the church belonged to the Abbey of Jedburgh. The parish was in the Presbytery of Melrose, but was annexed to Ancrum, 6 February 1684.
Includes ministers, licentiates, assistants, readers, and clerks.
Ancrum (QO)
Langnewton, or Longnewton (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 |
| 1703-1854 | Ancrum | 780 | OPR |
| 1855-1967 | Ancrum | 780 | RD |
| 2009 | Scottish Borders, Jedburgh | 822 | RD |
| 2026 | Scottish Borders Council; Ancrum 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, Davidson, Graham, Gray, Hogg, Johnstone, Rutherford, Scott, Thompson, Turnbull
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 Thomas Somerville, D. D., Minister of Jedburgh.
"An enumeration of the people has been lately made by the schoolmaster for the purpose of this work, and stands as follows: In Ancrum, 337 males, 387 females, 223 children under 10 years, 947 total in Ancrum. In Langnewton, 69 males, 82 females, 48 children under 10 years, total 199 in Langnewton. Total in both, 1146. The people, in general, are industrious, healthy, and robust."
(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 10, p. 289
New Statistical Account of Scotland (1834-1845), Volume 3, Section I, p. 241
See Parish Page Sources for all source information and links.
