Birth records prior to 1855

Before statutory recording was enforced in 1855, the  birth records that exist would be baptism records kept by the minister. They are on Scotlandspeople under Old Parish Registers.

They do exist in microfiche as well. The Carnegie Library in Ayr appears to have them and there will be other centres who have them, so do ask locally.

They vary in detail and style. The wording might be along the lines of

John, lawful son of John Brown weaver in Cumnock and his spouse Mary Smith was born on 15 March and baptised by my on the 18th

or the more colourful

Jean Black daughter in fornication of John Black smith in Glasgow and Jean White in this parish was born on 3rd April and baptised on the 18th May.

"natural" is another word for illegitimate as in "natural son of " slightly kinder than the previous wording.

Not everyone had their child baptised and not all ministers were very organised with their record keeping and not all of the parish records have survived so you may never find a birth record for your ancestor.

However if they were alive on or after 6 June 1841 they should be present in the censuses so you will have an idea of the year and place of birth.

If they married or died 1855 onwards you will get an age.

Otherwise a gravestone may give you a date and or and age.

A newspaper may give you a death notice or an obituary. Some newspapers have been digitised, and can be searched. Most sites require a subscription.

We'll look at illegitimate births in a future post.