Carnbee, Fife, Scotland Genealogy

Parish #413

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

= History =

This parish seems to have borne the same name in Roman Catholice times when it was attached to the Abbey of Dunfermline. The name is derived from two Gaelic words, carn and bee, the first signifying birch and the second hill. The parish is crossed by two major and one lesser turnpikes. The parish is divided north to south by a high ridge. The soil of the southern half is well suited to cultivation but the soil of the northern half is better suited to pasture. The parish is well supplied with springs of excellent water. Coal is found at several places and there are at present two collieries---one at kellie and another at Cassingray. Limestone is also found and wrought at various places, and there are several excellent freestone quarries. There are two corn (grain) mills and one lint mill in the parish. The parish is strictly agricultural and there are 32 farms ranging from 40 to 390 acres.

The church is not central, being near the eastern extremity of the parish. It was built in 1793 and seats about 500. The chapel at Largo Ward affords accommodation to the inhabitants of the north-west part of the parish. There has not hitherto been any dissenting meeting-house in the parish, the few Dissenters who reside within the bounds of the parish attend the Relief chapel at Pittenweem or the Burgher chapel at Largo Ward. A Free Church meeting-house is at present begin erected at Arncroach. There is one parochial, one private, and one female school.

The above extract is taken from the account written in December 1844.

Source: The New Statistical Account of Scotland, for Fife. FHL book 942 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 Carnbee 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 =

Condition of Original Register—
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 intermixed with marriages until 1654. There are no entries October 1654–January 1662, October 1674–October 1692; September 1698–January 1701 and November 1704–Jul 1705. Mother's names are not recorded until 1692. Marriages: There are contracts of marriage prior to 1654. No entries, except entries of indirect reference to marriages, June 1654–July 1669. Contracts and marriages were recorded 1669–1684. There are no entries June 1684–May 1687, from which date there are contracts until 1699. No entries October 1699–July 1705, May 1752–September 1761, December 1781–November 1783, from which date the marriages again occur among the births. Entries are fuller after 1786. Deaths: Mortcloth Dues are intermixed with other matters until 1760. There are no entries 1699–1706 and 1760–1784. Burials are recorded 1784–1786, then no entries until December 1790 from which date they are deaths. 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 and Accounts 1742–1748 Minutes 1817–1860 Accounts 1761–1847 Cash Book 1847–1929 Note: Available at St. Andrews University Library, St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland, record CH2/1032.

Carnbee Free Church
History— In April 1844 supply was arranged for this district, and a church was built, and opened in 1845. A manse also was provided. Partly on account of efforts to unite Pittenweem with this congregation, the charge was not sanctioned until 1851. Membership: 1855, 74; 1900, 64. Source: Annals of the Free Church of Scotland, 1843–1900, ed. Rev. William Ewing, D.D., 2 vols. pub. 1914. Film #918572. More details may be given in the source.

Records— Minutes 1852–1929 Cash Book 1817–1929 Note: Available at St. Andrews University Library, St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland, record CH3/1030.