Southdean is a parish on the southern border of Roxburghshire. It is bounded by England, and by the parishes of Castleton, Hobkirk, Bedrule, Jedburgh, Oxnam, and Edgerstone. (1867: The Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland, by John Marius Wilson).
Bairnkine, Chesters, Lethem, Mackside, Southdean
The parish of Jedburgh had two detached parts, both of which were situated to the south of the main portion of the parish, and adjoined the parishes of Oxnam and Southdean. The following adjustments of boundaries were effected:
(a.) So much of the detached part of Jedburgh, situated at Old Jedward, as lay within the farm of Mervinslaw has been transferred to Southdean.
(b.) Part of the parish of Oxnam has been transferred to Jedburgh parish, with the result of uniting the detached parts of Jedburgh parish with the main portion thereof.
(c.) That part of Jedburgh parish which lay east of the part of Oxnam Burn has been transferred to Oxnam.
See affected properties and landholders. (1892: Boundary of counties and parishes in Scotland as settled by the Boundary Commissioners under the Local Government Act, 1889, by Hay Shennan)
PRE-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
POST-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
The parishes of Southdean and Abbotrule were united in 1777.
Southdean. In this parish are the remains of three ancient churches: (1) the original church of the parish, built in the twelfth century, in which the Scottish chiefs met before the battle of Otterburn (1388); (2) a church erected in 1690; and (3) a chapel at Letham. A new church was opened in 1876.
Abbotrule. The parish of Abbotrule was united to Bedrule, but in 1777 was disjoined and divided between Hobkirk and Southdean. Till the middle of the twelfth century the name of the parish was Rule Hervey. It was then granted to the Abbey of Jedburgh, and thenceforward called Abbotrule.
Disjoined Quoad Sacra Parishes:
Edgerston. A church was built at Edgerston in 1838. The parish was disjoined from Jedburgh, Southdean, and Oxnam in July 1855.
Includes ministers, licentiates, assistants, readers, and clerks.
Southdean (QO)
Abbotrule (QO)
Edgerston (QS)
(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 |
| 1696-1854 | Southdean and Abbotrule | 806 | OPR |
| 1855-1967 | Southdean | 806 | RD |
| 2009 | Scottish Borders, Hawick | 823 | RD |
| 2026 | Scottish Borders Council; Southdean 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
Armstrong, Douglas, Elliot, Oliver, Pringle, Rutherford, Scott, Telfer, Thomson, Waldie
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 Scott.
"There are at present 714 souls in the parish; 569 are above 10 years of age. There are 22 greater, and 19 smaller tenants, 36 shepherds, 4 masons, 7 wrights, 2 blacksmiths, 5 tailors, and 8 weavers."
(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 12, p. 67
New Statistical Account of Scotland (1834-1845), Volume 3, Section I, p. 98
See Parish Page Sources for all source information and links.
