SCOTTISH RECORD SOCIETY PARISH LISTS OF WIGTOWNSHIRE AND MINNIGAFF 1684 Edited By William Scot. EDINBURGH: PRINTED FOR THE SOCIETY BY J. SKINNER & COMPANY, LTD. 1916 INTRODUCTION THE following Lists appear to have been drawn up in accordance with instructions to the Episcopalian Curates of Galloway and Dumfriesshire to furnish nominal Rolls of all persons, male or female, over the age of 12 years, resident within their respective parishes -grouped according to their residences, farms and house- holds, and specially indicating such as were "irregular," that is non-conforming. The author of "The Hereditary Sheriffs of Galloway," Vol. II., p. 139, refers to the extreme leniency exercised by the Curates in their reports. A Summary is appended showing the apparent number of persons over 12 years of age, and the very small number reported as "irregular" or "recusant." {Appendix I.} Statistical allowance has not been made in this Summary for such facts as that the Curate of Port Patrick mentions by name merely the head of the household, adding "and his wife and family and servants," and further, it is by no means certain that Roman Catholics were not specially exempted from this Census. The Lists, with the exception of that of Port Patrick, appear to have been carefully drawn up, and to have been complete so far as Wigtownshire and Minnigaff Parish were concerned. Wodrow, "Sufferings of the Church." Vol. II., Book III., pp. 316-317, refers to the Porteous Rolls of earlier date, and quotes a paper which was sent to the Clergy headed:- "Lists of the Things to be done by the Minister in each Parish, 1683," wherein they are called upon to " Give a full and complete Roll of all within the Parish." (See Appendix II.) The following lists, however, apparently conformed to a supplementary order of later date, possibly issued by John Grahame of Claverhouse, who had been appointed Sheriff of Wigtownshire, and later received "Commission of Justiciary and extraordinar Commission." (See Register of the Privy Council, 1683, third series, Vol. VIII., p.44). Through the courtesy of Sir Andrew Agnew, Baronet of Lochnaw, I was permitted to make transcripts of these Lists, but as page 4 I was engaged on medical duties at the time, my transcription was necessarily, very hurriedly done. I offered the transcripts to the Scottish Record Society for publication, subject to my proviso that my work should be checked by competent authority, and I suggested the name of Mr. John MacLeod, to whose revision and corrections this publication owes its value. Delay in the carrying out of these arrangements was occasioned by the outbreak of war, which has also prevented my going into the subject in as much detail as I should have liked. Most grateful thanks are due to Sir Andrew Agnew for the loan of the original Lists for transcription and reproduction by photography, and to Mr. John MacLeod, who, as is his custom where the Society's Publications are concerned, has most kindly given the Society the benefit of his valuable assistance free of charge. For the benefit of those who may desire in any particular instance to refer to the original, it may be stated that a series of photographs of the documents in facsimile has been deposited in the Historical Department, H.M. Register House. WILLIAM SCOT. 15 CLAREMONT CRESCENT, EDINBURGH. page 5 APPENDIX I. TABLE OF WIGTOWNSHIRE PARISH LISTS. 1684. PARISH. No. of No. of No. of TOTAL Males Females. Recusants. Glasserton 188 235 0 423 Glenluce 359 255 6 614 Inch 319 306 0 625 Kirkcolm 251 250 0 501 Kirkcowan 232 259 2 491 Kirkinner 303 325 10 628 Kirkmaiden 290 331 1 621 Leswalt 213 246 1 459 Minnigaff 367 374 3 741 Mochrum 259 311 8 570 Penninghame 284 305 14 589 Portpatrick 115 139 0 254 Sorbie 209 228 0 437 Stoneykirk 304 321 0 625 Stranraer 117 183 0 300 Whithorn (Burgh) 123 156 0 279 Whithorn 234 274 3 508 Wigtown (Burgh) 147 193 1 340 Wigtown 132 139 5 271 4446 4830 54 9276 APPENDIX II WODROW'S "Sufferings of the Church," Vol.II., Book III., p. 317 "To prepare Matters for the Circuits, and make the Persecution as extensive as might be, the Clergy are engaged and were most ready to give their utmost Assistance. "I have before me a paper dispersed among them, and Copies sent to every Congregation. "What time it was given the Curates, I cannot say: but 'tis probable that it was spread in the time of the forming of the Rolls. Whether it was spread by the Bishops' Orders or came from the Council, I know not; but the Episcopal Ministers were very willing to fulfil it in all its Parts, and were most useful to the Clerks in making up the Rolls. "The title of the paper is :- "LIST OF THINGS to be done by the Minister in each Parish, 1683. "That the Ministers give in upon Oath a List of their Sessioners, their Clerks and Bellman, of Withdrawers from the Church, and Noncommunicants. "That to their Knowledge they give Account of all Disorders and Rebellions, and who are guilty of them, Heritors or others. "That they give a full and complete Roll of all within the Parish. "That they give a particular list of all the Heritors. "That all Women who are Delinquents, be given up as well as Men. "That they give Account of all Persons who have gone out of their Parishes, and the Reasons of this withdrawing. "That they give up particular Accounts of Fugitives, their Wives or Widows within the Parish, and all Resetters of them, and of Chapmen and Travellers. "That they declare who are the People in their Parishes who can give the best Account of all these Particulars, besides their Sessioners, that such may be brought in and examined.' "This last clause seems plainly to refer to the Examination of the Circuit Clerks, when they came about, accordingly to the Council's Instructions, to receive Information and make up the Rolls. "No Remarks need be made upon these Demands made upon every Curate in every Parish; they are plain enough, as also their Design."