Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland Genealogy

New Statistical Account of Scotland (FHL book 941 B4sa, series 2) Today’s date: 23-Jan-08

Vol. # ___5_ County: _______Ayr____________ Parish: ________Ayr________________ For each parish, browse through the write-up and extract the following information:

1- Year written (usually found at the end of the parish write-up): 1837

2- Anything about the origin of the parish: In all probability, it derived its name from the river at whose mouth it stands.

3- Its location in relation to major county towns: Ayr

4- A particular feature, person, or event the parish was known for: The word Ayr probably means clear because the river runs clear. By far the most celebrated character that the parish of Ayr has produced was Robert Burns, the Ayrshire poet.

5- Who the major land owners were: The lands are in possession of several proprietors, but the superiority remains with the magistrates.

6- What the land was primarily used for, such as raising grain or cattle: oats, wheat, hay, potatoes, turnips, bear, beans, peas, corn, salmon 7- What the population was in about 1790 and at the last listed census (give year): 1791=4100 1836=7475

8- Info as to the condition and keeping of the parish registers, or lack of, including any notes as to the reason for the loss of earlier registers: Not given

9- The religious attendance of the parishioners and whether there were any places of worship, besides the parish church, within the parish: Establishment--4136 Reformed Presbyterians-60 United Sessions Church ---264 Associate Original Seceders --288 Relief ---1144 Scottish Epis Communion 193 Roman Catholics ---203 Indepen. Congregational Union ---39 Methods -140 Moravians 85 Universalists --7 Baptists 1