Boleskine, Inverness-shire, Scotland Genealogy

Boleskine (with Fort Augustus and Abertarff), Inverness-shire, Scotland (#92)

History
Abertarff had been joined to the parish in Glenmoriston. In very early times it was disjoined from Glenmoriston and joined to the parish of Boleskine. Boleskine has a seven mile long hill intervening between the two parishes and often impassible in the winter. The name Abertarff comes from two rivulets that fall into Loch Ness a few yards from each other. Boleskine is derived from Gaelic meaning the town hanging above Loch Ness. The land is used largely for raising sheep.

There were two places of worship for the Established church in the parish. The parish church and the other at Fort-Augustus. Average attendance used to be 280 but by 1831 that number had declined. There were 318 Papists in the parish meeting in a farm farthest wet in the parish adjoining Glengarry Parish. There were no Dissenters or Seceders identified in the parish.

(Source: New Statistical Account of Scotland, dated 1835; FHL book 941 B4sa, series 2, vol. 14.)

Established Church—Old Parochial Registers
Years Covered     FHL Film Number  Births: 1737–1854           0990663 Marriages: 1759–1854    0990663 Deaths: No entries          0990663

Condition of Original Registers— "In Abertarff an incomplete register of baptisms had been kept since January 1737 and marriages from November 1739 by resident missionary ministers at Fort Augustus. Neglect with the appointment of replacement missionaries resulted in a laps of ten years in the records. Also some records were lost when the bearer was passing a stream. There are no records for Boleskine prior to 1798. Records for Boleskine and Abertarff were combined about the first of January each year." (Source: New Statistical Account of Scotland, dated 1835; FHL book 941 B4sa, series 2, vol. 14.)

Births: Boleskine births have only one entry April 1781–April 1784. Many irregular entries after 1792, the earliest being dated 1764 and the latest for 1854, among which there are seven entries of marriages for 1789–1821. Fort Augustus birth records commence January 1760, entries prior to that date, 15 of them, are irregular. After 1813, there are fifteen irregular entries for 1815–1830; three entries 1762–1769 and one for 1786. Marriages: Boleskine marriage records have one entry for 1804 and two for 1813. Fort Augustus has no marriage entries January 1761–June 1765 and September 1771–February 1773. There is only one entry for each of the following periods of time; June 1779–April 1782, August 1790–March 1793, and January 1794–May 1797 and there are three entries for November 1798–November 1803. No entries for 1804, 1810, and 1811. Source: Key to the Parochial Registers of Scotland, by V. Ben Bloxham, pub. 1970. British Book 941 K23b.

Established Church—Kirk Session Records
Joined with Abertarff 1688–1883 Minutes 1801–1857 Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH2/792.

Other:School Minutes 1811–1835 Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH2/1433.

Free Church in the Village of Fort Augustus
History— Practically all the people here joined the Free Church in 1843. A minister was settled in 1844. The same year the church was erected. It was rebuilt in 1871. Membership: 1848; 61. Source: Annals of the Free Church of Scotland, 1843-1900, ed. Rev. William Ewing, D.D., 2 vols. pub. 1914. FHL Film #918572.

Records— No known pre-1855 records.

Fort Augustus and Glenmoriston Free Church
History— To Mr Lauder of Glengarry, the only missionary in the extensive district of Glenmoriston who adhered to the Free Church in 1843 was entrusted the work of organising the Free Church congregation. A site was granted at Fort Augustus by the proprietor of Albertarn where church and manse were erected. The charge was sanctioned in 1844. Services were held alternately at Fort Augustus and Glenmoriston. Source: Annals of the Free Church of Scotland, 1943–1900, ed. Rev. William Ewing, D.D., 2 vol., pub. 1914. FHL Film #918572. More details may be given in the source.

Records— No known pre-1855 records.

Fort Augustus Catholic Church
History— In 1760 the joint parish of Boleskine and Abertarff, which included Fort Augustus, had 250 Catholics and 650 Protestants. In 1763 the whole Lochaber mission was said to have 3000 communicants. St. Peter's church in Fort Augustus dates from 1844. It was previously part of the Glengarry church. St. Peters was closed in 1888. They are now served by St. Benedict's Monastery, Fort Augustus. Source: Catholic Missions and Register, 1700–1880, Volume 6, Scotland, by Michael Gandy, pub. 1993. FHL Ref. Book 942 K24gm, vol. 6.

Records— Ft. Augustus Baptisms 1842–1894 Ft. Augustus Marriages 1842–1871 Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record RH21/24.

See also Bunroy under Kilmonivaig parish.