Ballingry, Fife, Scotland Genealogy

Ballingry #408                        [Return to parish list.]

This is a guide to the history and major genealogical records of Scotland as they pertain to the parish of [Parish]. To learn more about how to use these records to search for your ancestors, go to the Scotland: Research Strategies.

= History =

Ballingry is said to signify the village of the cross, and to be compounded of the Gaelic word Bal, a village, and the initials inscribed on crosses in the fields, J.N.R.J. for Jesus Nazarenus Rex Judaeorum, or Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.

The population in 1755 was 464, in 1799 was 220, and in 1831 was 372. Produce of grain of all kinds as well as potatoes, turnips, and hay are grown. There are two coal works within the parish but no limestone at present.

A new parish church was built in 1831. The number of families attending the Established Church is 53 and that of Dissenters is 16. There is one parochial school, built in 1825. There are two ale house but there is no drunkeness.

The above extract is taken from the account written in December 1837.

Source:  The New Statistical Account of Scotland, for Fife. FHL book 941 B4sa, 2nd series, vol. 9. Also available online at http://edina.ac.uk/stat-acc-scot/. Browse the scanned pages via the parish reports.

= Census Records =

A census is a count and description of the population, taken by the government, arranged by locality and by household. Read more about census records.

Here is a list of the Family History Library microfilm numbers for the census records of [Parish] as well as the library numbers for any surname indexes available:

The 1901 census of Scotland is indexed on www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk. To use it, you must register and pay a small access fee. All available censuses, 1841-1901, are indexed on this website. It may be easier for you to pay to use the website rather than access indexes through the library.

= Church Records =

The Established Church of Scotland was Presbyterian. Read more about church records.

Here are the pre-1855 records that exist for this parish.

Conditions 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: Births are recorded in parallel columns of the same pages with deaths and marriages, 1670–1701. There are no entries 1701–1722. From 1722–1745 births are entered in alternate pages of the same register with marriages. No birth entries 1745–1754 except for a few irregular entries. Marriages: Marriages are recorded on parallel columns of the same pages with births and deaths for 1670–1701. Record is incomplete 1695–1701 with a separate entry for contracts, which to some extent supplement the record. There are no entries 1701–1722. From 1722–1745 they are usually entered on alternate pages of the same register with the births. There are no entries 1745–1754; except a few irregular entries, and none for 1819. Deaths: Deaths are recorded on parallel columns of the same page with births and marriages for 1670–1701. Records are burials to December 1684 and deaths for 1685–1701, inclusive. There is a page containing irregular entries. Source: Key to the Parochial Registers of Scotland, by V. Ben Bloxham, pub. 1970. FHL British Book 941 K23b.

Established Church—Kirk Session Records
Minutes 1669–1681, 1702–1745, 1757–1808, 1852–1882 Accounts of Rents of Lands Belonging to the Poor 1687–1702 Accounts 1719–1745, 1819–1831 Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH2/382.

Glencraig and Lochore United Free Church, later Church of Scotland
History— No records are available.

Records— Baptismal Register 1843–1852 Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH2/1407.

= Civil Registration Records =

= Probate Records =