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Urquhart Census of Portpatrick

In October 1831, Andrew Urquhart, from Kilbirnie in Ayrshire, arrived in Portpatrick as the new assistant minister of the Established Church, succeeding Rev. John Mackenzie as minister in 1836. Portpatrick was being transformed, permanently in the hopes of many, into a major port and commercial center for Irish traffic, but the change was transitory and by 1873 all such trade had left the town and harbor, unsuited as it was for steamships. Urquhart's parish therefore saw many changes, the rise and fall of the harbor works, an influx and fall in associated employments, and also in Irish migration. His primary interest from 1832 through 1834 was to know his people, especially their standard of education., and his first census was conducted during those years. Before the Disruption of the Scottish Kirk in 1843, after which the Evangelicals, including Urquhart, seceded to form the Free Church, he had a fairly wide access to all inhabitants of the parish, but thereafter somewhat less. His later, and somewhat less thorough censuses of 1844, 1846 and 1852 are therefore more limited in their scope.

The first census records Name; Native or Resident (and no. of years resident): Age: Marriage Status (single, married once, or twice etc., widowed, unmarried): Occupation, for those employed: Baptized, or Communicant church member: Scholarship (ability to read, or to write, or in arithmetic): School attended. The later censuses are more ecclesiastically oriented. The following list shows two numbers derived from an index to the censuses, which will approximate to the number of heads of household for each surname, first in the 1832-4 listings, and secondly in the 1844, 1846 and 1852 listings taken together. It is interesting to note that of the approximately 450 different surnames Urquhart recorded in 1832-4 over 30% are absent in his later tabulations. Many of the departing names appear to be English or Irish and these may well have represented part of the large labor force that was employed on the harbor works in the 1820s and 1830s when the parish economy flourished on that account.

The source for this information, which is hereby acknowledged, is "The Urquhart Censuses of Portpatrick" ed. N.L. Tranter, publ. by the Scottish Record Society in their New Series as Nr. 8, Edinburgh, 1980.

Crawford MacKeand, March 2005

EXAMPLE Adair listings, 10 in 1832-4, 15 for the later censuses taken together.

Adair 10, 15, Adams 3, 5, Agnew 5, 1, Agnews 0, 1, Aird 0, 1, Alexander 5, 12, Alison 1, 0, Anderson 4, 6, Andrew 1, 0, Andrews 0, 2, Annandale 1, 0, Archibald 1, 0, Armour 0, 2, Armstrong 8, 10, Auld 2, 1

Bailey (Bailie, Baillie) 3, 0, Balmer 0, 2, Barr (Bar) 2, 0, Barclay 1, 0, Beattie 2, 1, Beggs 4, 5, Bell 3, 0, Belsham 1, 0, Bennett 0, 1, Bewick 1, 0, Biggam 1, 3, Birie 1, 0, Bitcon 1, 0, Black 2, 0, Blackburn 2, 2, Blakely 1, 0, Blackie 0, 1, Blainey (Blaney) 1, 4, Blane 1, 0, Blair 0, 2, Boal 2, 0, Boden 2, 0, Bone 2, 5, Bones 0, 1, Booker 1, 0, Boyd 4, 10, Boyten 0, 2, Bray 0, 2, Broadfoot 1, 3, Brodie 2, 0, Broomlaw 1, 0, Brown 8, 4, Bryce 1, 2, Brydone 1, 0, Buckle 0, 2, Buntin 1, 0, Bruns 5, 1, Buyers (Byers) 2, 4, Byron 0, 1

Cain 1, 0, Callochan 0, 1, Campbell 18, 23, Carnochan 0, 1, Carothers (Caruthers, Carruthers) 3, 2, Carson 1, 1, Caudheham 0, 1, Caughie (Caughy) 1, 3, Cavan 5, 1, Chambers 1, 0, Christian 1, 2, Clark 1, 0, Cluckie 0, 1, Cochran (Cochrane) 6, 5, Coffey 1, 0, Coffley 0, 1, Coleman (Colman) 1, 4, Colin 0, 1, Collins 1, 2, Corriston 1, 3, Cosh 10, 2, Cougan 0,1, Cousins 1, 4, Cowan 2, 1, Craig 1, 5, Crannie 1, 0, Craven 0, 1, Crawford 1, 3, Crockard 2, 3, Crookshanks 2, 2, Culley 0, 2, Cumming 3, 3, Cummins 0, 1, Cunningham 2, 6, Currie 0, 1

Daily 3, 1, Dallow 1, 0, Dalrymple 1, 0, Darrock 0, 1, Davidson 3, 7, Davies 2, 1, Dawe 0, 1, Dawson 1, 0, Dempster 0, 1, Devas 0, 1, Diamond 3, 1, Dixon 2, 1, Docherty 1, 1, Donachie 2, 0, Donaldson 0, 1, Donan 1, 2, Donelly (Donolly, Donley) 1, 3, Donlan 0, 1, Dormont 3, 0, Dorows 0, 1, Dougan 0, 3, Douglas 1, 3, Doulan 0, 5, Downes 0, 2, Downie 0, 1, Drennan 1, 0, Drynan 0, 1, Duff 0, 1, Duffie 0, 1, Duffin 1, 1, Dugan 2, 2, Dunbar 1, 0, Durham 2, 0

Edgar 3, 5, Eldrie 1, 0, Enislie 1, 0, Espie 1, 2, Ewart 0, 3, Ewens 0, 2

Fagan (Fagans) 0, 3, Fairlie 0, 1, Fayner 1, 0, Fergusson 3, 2, Fernie 0, 2, Ferris 1, 0, Findlater 1, 0, Finlay 2, 5, Fisher 1, 0, Fleming 1, 4, Fordice 1, 0, Forsyth 2, 1, Foster 0, 3, Fox 2, 3, Francis 0, 1, Fransham 0, 1, Frazer 1, 4, French 0, 1, Friend 0, 2, Fulton 1, 1

Gala 0, 1, Galbraith 1, 2, Galloway 1, 1, Garrett 1, 0, Gebbie 1, 5, Gerran 1, 0, Gibb 6, 0, Gibson 13, 3, Gillespie 2, 7, Glass 0, 4, Glen 1, 0, Glendinning 0, 2, Glinton 0, 3, Golpin 1, 0, Gooldie 2, 3, Gordon 3, 13, Gracie 0, 2, Graham (Grahame) 6, 4, Gray (Grey) 6, 2, Green 0, 1, Gribbin 1, 0, Grierson 0, 1, Gullach 0, 1, Gullan 0, 1, Gunnion 1, 0

Hainey 1, 0, Haining 1, 0, Hamilton 1, 3, Hand 0, 2, Hane 1, 0, Hanna 0, 1, Hannay 9, 10, Harcus 1, 0, Harsel 1, 0, Hawes 1, 2, Hawthorn 1, 5, Hay 1, 3, Haynes 2, 1, Hays 0, 1, Heachie 1, 0, Hempton 1, 0, Henderson 3, 0, Henry 5, 7, Heron 2, 0, Hill 2, 3, Hog (Hogg) 1, 1, Holland 1, 3, Holmes 0, 1, Horner 0, 3, Hughes 2, 0, Hunter 4, 7, Hutton 3, 0, Hynds 0, 1, Hyslop (Hislop) 3, 10

Innes 1, 0, Irvine 1, 2, Irving 0, 1

Jackson 2, 5, Jamieson 1, 0, Jardine 1, 0, Jeffers 1, 0, Jeffery 1, 0, Jess 2, 5, Johnston (Johnstone) 9, 9, Jones 0, 1, Just 1, 0

Kellops 0, 1, Kelly 9, 3, Keltie 0, 1, Kempton 1, 0, Kennedy 8, 2, Kennett 1, 0, Kerr 15, 16, Kerrs 1, 0, Kie 0, 3, Killin 1, 0, Kilpatrick 3, 4, King 2, 0, Kyle 1, 0

Lagan 0, 1, Laidlaw 2, 3, Laird 1, 0, Lamb 1, 4, Lambie 0, 1, Lang 1, 4, Laurie 0, 1, Laverty 1, 0, Lavery 1, 0, Law 1, 0, Leach 1, 4, Leggatt 0, 1, Lennox 3, 0, Lindsay 0, 1, Lister 1, 0, Lithgow 0, 3, Little 2, 0, Littlewood 1, 0, Lockery 1, 0, Logan 2, 5, Lone 1, 0, Long 2, 0, Longmuir 1, 0, Lundrie 0, 2, Lymburn 0, 4

Mahargue 1, 0, Main (Maine) 1, 1, Malcolmson 1, 0, Malones 0, 1, Maltman 1, 6, Man 1, 1, Manderson 1, 3, Manson 0, 1, Marshall 2, 0, Martin 9, 10, Matthews 1, 3, Mayhew 0, 1

McAdam 1, 0, McAlpine 0, 3, McBride 6, 2, McCaa 0, 1, McCaig 3, 3, McCallister (McAlister) 2, 3, McCan 1, 0, McCargs 0, 2, McCarlie 2, 5, McCarpen 0, 1, McCartney 0, 2, McCavan 1, 0, McCaw 1, 0, McCeaglie 1, 0, McClellan 1, 0, McCleary (McChlery) 3, 3, McClew 1, 2, McClews 0, 1, McClumpha 1, 0, McClure 2, 4, McCluskie (McClusky, McLuskie) 3, 2, McClymont 4, 19, McComb 0, 1, McConnel 1, 1, McConville 1, 0, McCorkindale 2, 1, McCormick 3, 4, McCoskrie 1, 3, McCrabbin 1, 0, McCracken 12, 9, McCrea 2, 4, McCredie 8, 3, McCrubbin 0, 1, McCubbin 0, 2, McCuckram 0, 1, McCulley 1, 0, McCulloch 6, 12, McCune 1, 0, McCurchran 1, 0, McCutcheon 4, 2, McDonald 0, 2, McDougall 1, 0, McDowall 16, 21, McEwan (McEwen) 4, 7, McGaa 1, 2, McGara 0, 1, McGarvie 1, 0, McGaw 3, 0, McGee (McGhee, McGhie) 5, 10, McGelly 1, 0, McGill 3, 3, McGowan (McGown) 1, 4, McGraw 0, 1, McGregor 4, 1, McGubbin 1, 1, McGuffey (McGuffy) 2, 0, McGuire (Macguire) 1, 4, McHallam 1, 0, McHarg (McHargs, McHargue) 4, 5, McHarry 1, 0, McHessock 1, 0, McIntyre 4, 5, McIvor 1, 0, McJoncey 0, 1, McKay 0, 2, McKelvie 3, 2, McKenzie (McKenzey, MacKenzie) 4, 5, McKessock 1, 2, McKie 7, 5, McKinna 0, 3, McKinnell 4, 10, McKinney 1, 0, McKnight 2, 0, McLaurin 1, 0, McLean (McClean) 4, 2, McManamy 1, 0, McMaster (MacMaster) 6, 2, McMeickham (McMeckan, McMeikam, McMickham, McMeickan, McMickan, McMecking, McMeickin) 5, 12, McMenmy 0, 1, McMillan 3, 4, McMinn 1, 0, McMuldrum 1, 0, McMurray 2, 0, McNair 1, 2, McNara 0, 3, McNeill 1, 0, McNeillie 2, 0, McRobert (McRoberts) 2, 2, McRoletts 0, 1, McRory 0, 2, McTaldroch (McTaldrock) 2, 2, McVey 0, 1, McWalker 0, 1, McWaters 0, 2, McWhinery 0, 1, McWhirter 0, 3, McWhistan 1, 0, McWilliam (McWilliams) 20, 16, McWrath 1, 0

Melville 1, 0, Milhallan (Milhollan, Milholland) 1, 2, Mill 0, 1, Miller (Millar) 2, 5, Milligan 0, 1, Milliken 2, 0, Mills 2, 3, Milmine 3, 10, Milnae 3, 3, Milroy 3, 4, Milvae 1, 0, Milvain 1, 4, Milway 2, 2, Mitchell 2, 2, Moffat 1, 0, Moncrieff 1, 0, Monteith 0, 4, Moone 1, 1, Moore 2, 8, Montgomerie (Montgomery) 3, 2, Moray 2, 0, Morland (Moreland) 0, 2, Morris 1, 0, Morrison 0, 1, Morrows 0, 2, Moulin 1, 0, Muirhead 1, 0, Mullen 1, 0, Murdoch 3, 7 , Murphy 2, 1, Murray 1, 0

Neil (Neill) 2, 0, Neillie 0, 1, Neilson 2, 0, Nelson 3, 12, Newton 0, 1, Niclock (Nibloc, Niblack) 2, 3, Nicol 1, 2, Niven 1, 2

Oak 0, 2, Ochterson 1, 0, O'Donnell 1, 0, O'Hare (O'Heare) 1, 1, O'Neil (O'Neill) 0, 7, Ormrod 1, 0, Ormsby 1, 0, Orr 1, 3, Owens 0, 1

Palmer 0, 1, Park 2, 5, Parker 5, 4, Parr 0, 4, Paterson (Patterson) 2, 2, Patty 0, 1, Paul 0, 3, Paxton 1, 0, Payne 0, 1, Pedlie (Peddlie) 0, 5, Pettigrew 2, 0, Phillips 0, 5, Plunket 0, 1

Quarrels 1, 1, Quay 1, 0, Queen 1, 2, Quin 1, 0

Ramsey 1, 0, Rankine 1, 7, Reid 3, 7, Reilly (Reilley, Riley) 0, 4, Rennie 1, 2, Richardson 1, 0, Richmond 1, 0, Riddy 0, 1, Ritchie 3, 2, Robertson 7, 6, Robinson 1, 0, Roche 0, 1, Rodgers 2, 0, Rome 1, 0, Ross 5, 5, Rowan 1, 0, Runnel 0, 2, Russell 2, 0, Ryce 1, 0

Scott 5, 10, Semple 2, 5, Shane 1, 1, Shannon 1, 0, Sharkie 1, 0, Shaw 0, 3, Shawes 0, 1, Shearer 4, 6, Sherlock 1, 0, Short 1, 1, Simpson 2, 1, Sinclair 1, 1, Skimming 0, 1, Smalls 0, 1, Smellie 3, 2, Smith 9, 22, Spires 0, 2, Sprott 1, 0, Sproule 2, 0, Stevenson 3, 2, Stewart 2, 6, Stitt 0, 1, Stormont 2, 0, Strange 2, 0, Straw 1, 0, Sweeton 1, 2

Tait 2, 1, Tannahill 1, 0, Taylor 7, 2, Thomson (Thompson) 7, 6, Thorburn 5, 6, Tilly 0, 1, Torrance 4, 0, Turnbull 2, 0, Tweedlie 0, 2, Twig 1, 0

Urquhart 1, 5

Venables 1, 0, Vint 1, 3

Walker 3, 1, Wallace 8, 16, Ward 0, 2, Waste 1, 0, Waterson 2, 2, Watson 1, 3, Weir 0, 2, Welsh 1, 3, Whirk 2, 3, Whirters 1, 0, White 1, 5, Wilson 8, 7, Wither 7, 9, Woodhouse 0, 1, Wright 2, 7

Young 5, 7

Occupations Reported in Portpatrick, 1832-1834

The Urquhart census of 1832-1834 has considerable information on the occupations of parishioners, and the reported results are presumably a fair guide to employment in other similar communities in Wigtownshire. It must be remembered however, that Portpatrick was somewhat atypical, even for coastal towns, as the terminal for the Irish packet service. Some of Urquhart's reported occupations appear to be occasional and have been excluded, such as "has a bit of ground". Where a person reports two occupations, both have been counted. Apprentices, where their trade is stated, are counted in that trade. A few entries such as "works at Kibbert" have been just too hard to interpret!

Agent for packet 1, Apprentice (trade not stated) 7, Army pensioner 5

Baker 1, Beggar 1, Boatman 4, Boatman and fisherman 3, Boatswain on packet 1, Butcher 2, Butler 1

Captain of vessel 5, Carpenter (house) 1, Carpenter (ship) 3, Carrier 1, Carter 2, Cartwright 1, Cattleman 1, Cattle herder 1, Chambermaid 1, Charge-house keeper 3, Clerk 3, Coastguard 1, Cobbler 1, Coxswain on packet 1, Cooper 1, Crockery seller 1

Dairymaid 1, Dealer 2, Diver 1, Dressmaker 5, Domestic servant 17

Egg-gatherer 1, Engineman (harbor) 1, Engineman on packet 1

Factor 1, Farm Servant 7, Farmer 34, Fireman on packet 1, Fisherman 9, Footman 1, Forester 1

Gamekeeper 1, Gardener 3, Grocer 8, Groom 2

Hammersman 2, Harbor-master 2, Housekeeper 4

Innkeeper 4

Kitchenmaid 1, Knitter 9

Laborer 57 , Land proprietor 1, Lodging-house keeper 2

Mail-coach guard 1, Mason 9, Mate on packet 1, Midwife 1, Miller 1, Minister 1, Minister (assistant) 1

Nailor 1

Overseer 1

Pauper 15, Plasterer 1, Ploughman 1, Postmaster 1

Ropemaker 1

Sailor 3, Seaman on packet 5, School-teacher 8, Shoemaker 7, Seamstress 4, Sewer of muslin 31, Shopkeeper (other) 2, Sick-nurse 1, Smith 4, Smuggler 1, Spaviour 1, Soft goods vendor 1, Spinster 24, Spirit dealer 2, Steward (Bell-boat) 2, Steward (packet) 1, Stonecutter 4, Storekeeper for packet 1, Surgeon 1, Swine dealer 1, Straw-hat maker 2

Tanner 1, Tailor 5, Toll-keeper 1, Traveling vendor (packman) 3

Washer (clothing) 3, Watchman 1, Weaver 11, Wright 8