Where?? in Fife .....

[DavidWW]

This is reposted from another thread:

Back in the days of the OPRs paper was a valuable source, - they'd be horrified to see how casually we treat paper today.

It was most often the case that a minister or session clerk would keep a rough copy of the details of proclamations, marriages, christenings etc., and then, every so often, write up the details in the actual OPR. Going off on a side-track, if you are unlucky the interval may have been long, - several months, - and his memory not just as good as he thought, so that his assumption that he would naturally recall the details that weren't originally written down turned out to be wrong!

The rough drafts sometimes survived and are generally known as scroll or blotter records; "blotter" from the terms used in counting houses to refer to a "waste" copy of a record book, or a rough draft of a letter. "Scroll" derives from a term used for duplicate records, for example where a minister kept a private record of events, i.e. not just a draft but a fair copy.

Apart from the above Aberdeen records, there are blotter records for Glasgow for 1815 to 1854; Barony for 1829 - 1854; Edinburgh St Cuthberts Births and Baptisms 1724 - 1850, and marriages 1744 - 1755 and 1768 - 1772; Edinburgh St Cuthberts again, scroll proclamations 1818 - 1855; Canongate kirk session treasurer's accounts including baptisms, marriage and mortcloth dues 1689 - 1693, plus Rev William Dun's private marriage register 1814 - 1822. And now can be added to this list this Limekilns secession church.

While not strictly speaking in the same category there are also records such as Jenat Thomson's Midwife Register of Births for Kilmarnock 1777 - 1829.

All of the above are in the custody of GROS at NRH.

David

[LesleyB]

Andrew and David

Thank you so much for all your input on this one.

Looks like either visit to Edinburgh is required, or I could order the films from my local LDS, but those would take a few weeks to arrive. I'll have a think about what seems the best option. The Christian Dick born 1801 who I mentioned earlier is under batch C191201 on the IGI so looks like they would be found on the LDS films.

Regarding blotter registers - would that mean that two versions of the registers would in some cases exist; the blotter register and the "official" OPR? And would it be the case that for some Parishes that ONLY the blotter survived?

Best wishes
Lesley

[DavidWW]

...snipped.........Regarding blotter registers - would that mean that two versions of the registers would in some cases exist; the blotter register and the "official" OPR?

Yes!

And would it be the case that for some Parishes that ONLY the blotter survived?

Yes, but I don't know of any such ..........

David

[LesleyB]

Ok, thanks David, just wondered.


best wishes
Lesley

[LesleyB]

Update on location:

Found some Dicks today in the OPRs after all:

Firstly, to the location in question:

Dunfermline OPR 424/14, Page 211, 1843
Robert Dick Clerk Wellwood Colliery & Marion White his wife had a son born 30th April 1843 baptised and named Robert Hall, Witnesses, James Spowart Esq. & Robert Muir

A quick google ( http://www.cmhrc.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/esct.htm ) reveals one James Spowart Esq., Wellwood Colliery

This is interesting (well, it is to me, but I know its not going to excite everyone!) because to the east of Wellwood Colliery is - yes, David & Annette, the toffee apples are yours - Hawkiesfauld! So looks like this is very possibly what was meant on this particular occaision.

However...
...2 generations before that.... (and before life got complicated by the United Association Burgh Seceders )Robert Hall Dick's grandfather is having kids and this produces an interesting sequence of locations names given in 424/6 with Dick births:
1771: George Dick mason at Haggis-Hall...
1772: George Dick Mason in Haggishall...
1775: George Dick Mason in Limekills [sic]
1777: George Dick Mason Halkettshall
1779: George Dick Mason in Halketts Hall
1789: George Dick Mason in Halketts Hall

My guess would be that George Dick was in the same place all along - I reckon Haggis-Hall (honest, thats what it said) is Halketts Hall in er, Limekills.

So, BOTH places have Dick connections. So a toffee apple for you too Andrew! Oh, and I've to eat my words....

Best wishes and thanks to everyone for all your help,
Lesley

...now, those United Association Burgh Seceders ... they're next on the list....