The Kirk Session of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland played a major role in policing the behaviour of parishioners in past times. Fornicators, adulterers, drunkards, sabbath-breakers, quarrelsome characters and the like (see Walls Kirk Session records for examples) could be called to account for their behaviour, fined and eventually readmitted to communion. Public rebuke, chiefly | more…
Blog category: General, page 18
Neptune’s baptism
A few weeks ago I came across a very unusual baptism record, dated 12 April 1750, in the parish of Kirkwall, Orkney. It was the baptism of “a Negroe usually called Neptune”. He was “in the service of Mr Fraser Officer in the Military” and, the record continues, “after having Resided several months in this | more…
Valuation rolls – how valuable?
What information do they have? Valuation rolls give you: a description and location for the house or property, the name of the proprietor (owner), the name of the tenant and/or occupier sometimes the occupation of the occupier and the yearly rent or value. Doesn’t sound very exciting? Read on… A scenario I was researching someone | more…
