Olrig, Caithness, Scotland Genealogy

Parish # 39

History
The word Olrick or Olrig, is of Norwegian origin, and may be interpreted as “the son of Erick”. It was applied to this parish in allusion to a settlement made by some chief of that name on this part of the coast, about the end of the eighth or the beginning of the ninth century. It is bounded on the west, east, and south by the parishes of Thurso, Dunnet, and Bower, and the sea is the boundary on the north.

Murkle on the western boundary is a place worthy of note. The name is believed to have been originally Mort Hill, or the field of death, applied in allusion to a battle fought between the Danes and natives, in which the latter were victorious. It is said that the Scottish chief, on seeing a large hollow at the head of Murkle Bay filled with the enemy, called out to his followers, “clear the den,’ which was responded to with such destruction of the invaders, that the place got the name Clear Den, or Clairden, which it bears to this day.

The only two residing heritors are, James Traill, Esq. of Ratter, and James Smith, Esq. of Olrig. Non residing heritors are, the Earl of Caithness; Sir John Gordon Sinclair, Bart.; and the Trustees of the late George Miller, Esq., who bequeathed the small property of Swarclet for the benefit of the poor of the parish of Thurso.

The population in 1755 was reported to be 875 souls, and by the government census of 1831, the population increased to 1146.

The soil throughout the parish may be considered good, there is not a parish in the north of Scotland where better crops of all kinds of useful produce are raised. Also, there is very little of the parish that can be considered as unfit for husbandry, and what is not already under cultivation, affords excellent pasture for young cattle and sheep.

The earliest date for parochial registers is 1700, which period the record of session, including births and marriages, have been regularly kept; but no record of deaths seems to have been kept in this parish at any time.

The present church, conveniently situated for the parish, seems to have been built in 1633, and though frequently repaired, have never had any addition made to it. It afford accommodation for only 403 sitters, at 18 inches; and this being far below what the increasing population require of seat room. The number of communicants is 120. There is no Dissenting place of worship in the parish; the number of Dissenters is under 100; and these belong to the Original Seceders, Independents, and Baptists, the great majority of whom readily signed a late petition to the Legislature in behalf of the extension and endowment of the Established Church.

This account was written October 1840.

Source: New Statistical Account of Scotland, FHL book 941 B4sa, series 2, vol. 15.

Condition of Original Registers—
Index: For an index to these records, see the Scottish Church Records Index available on computers at the Family History Library and family history centers. The records may be indexed in the International Genealogical Index. Births: No entries were found from November 1718-March 1721 and July 1733-June 1735. Irregular entries exist between 1793-1823. Marriages: No entries were found from October 1710-November 1711, November 1712-September 1715, and January 1721-June1735. Source: Key to the Parochial Registers of Scotland, by V. Ben Bloxham, pub. 1970. British Book 941 K23b.

Established Church—Kirk Session Records
Minutes 1700-1798, 1808, 1819, 1825-1846 Accounts 1735-1803, 1823-1846 Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH2/290.

Nonconformist Church Records
The New Statistical Account of Scotland for Olrig for 1840 states: “There is no Dissenting place of worship in the parish; the number of Dissenters is under 100, and these belong to the Original Seceders, Independents, and Baptists.” These would have attended worship services in neighboring parishes.

Olrig Free Church
History— The minister of Olrig and a large congregation adhered to the Free Church in 1843. Soon after, a church and school were built. The minister and congregation remained outside of the Union in 1900. Membership: 1855, 768 including adherents; 1900, 14. Source: Annals of the Free Church of Scotland, 1843-1900, ed. Rev. William Ewing, D.D., 2 vols. pub. 1914. Film #918572. More details are given in the source.

Records— The extent of the records is unknown.

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