Reay, Caithness, Scotland Genealogy

Reay # 40

Condition of Original Registers—
Index: For an index to these records, see the Scottish Church Records Index on computer at the Family History Library under “Databases on the Network.” Births: Prior to 1745 there are only ten entries and there is only one entry from September 1700-April 1783. There is a duplicate of the record for 1783-1791. Marriages: No entries exist for December 1763-February 1768 and December 1768-January 1784. There is a duplicate record for 1784-1791. Source: Key to the Parochial Registers of Scotland, by V. Ben Bloxham, pub. 1970. British Book 941 K23b.

Established Church—Kirk Session Records
Minutes (mostly of poor fund) 1835-1866 Poor Roll 1835-1845 Poor Fund 1845-1847 Accounts 1845-1868 Collections 1844-1872 Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH2/698.

Reay Free Church
History— The minister of Reay and a large congregation left the Established Church in 1843. The population decreased thereafter. Membership: 1855, 665 including adherents; 1900, 88. 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 records is unknown. No pre-1855 records may exist.