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Caithness
Catalogue of Fiche, Film and CDs
Note that the spelling of place names may have changed over the years so remember to check all variations.
 Updates highlighted in Red
This catalogue is divided into the following categories.
Choose any link below to go to your area of interest.


1851 CENSUS
Caithness Parishes in the 1851 Census held in the AIGS Library
Note that these items are microfilm of the original Census records and are filed in the Film cabinets under their Parish Numbers.
Bower (34)
Canisbay (35)		 Dunnet (36) Halkirk (37)

1851 CENSUS INDEXES
Parishes in Caithness 1851 Census in the AIGS Library

We have Indexes for the following parishes for the 1851 Census.
Latheron, Thurso & Watten, Wick Burgh

1861 CENSUS
Caithness Parishes in the 1861 Census held in the AIGS Library
Note that these items are microfilm of the original Census records and are filed in the Film cabinets under their Parish Numbers.
Bower (34)
Canisbay (35)
Dunnet (36)
Halkirk (37) 		Latheron (38)
Olrig (39)
Reay (40)
 Thurso (41)
Watten (42)
Wick (43)

1861 Census of Merchant and Royal Navy Ships
The film of 1861 Census of Merchant and Royal Navy Ships in Port covers all of Scotland.  
For Caithness, ships are listed in the following Registration Districts: - Olrig, Thurso and Wick.
These entries are all listed on film 902.

1861 CENSUS INDEXES
Index to the Marine Returns for Scotland
fiche Sct 1E

1881  CENSUS  TRANSCRIPT  &  INDEX
1881 Census Index  for entire County of Caithness in 6 sets of fiche. 
(Surname Index, Birth Place Index, Census Place Index, As Enumerated, Misc. Notes, Ships, Institutions). 
Also on CD (1881 British Census and Index) .

1891 CENSUS INDEX
Parishes in the Caithness 1891 Census in the AIGS Library
We have a complete set of Indexes for all parishes for the 1891 Census on microfiche.


COURT  RECORDS
Decisions of the Court of Session 1781-1822
Published by David Hume in 1839 this is a wonderful record of hundreds of court decisions involving people from all over Scotland.

CD

DIRECTORIES
1825 Pigot's & Co. Directory of Scotland
CD
1852 Slaters Directory of Caithness

fiche Cai 1
1837 Directory of Caithness-shire

fiche Cai 2
1915 Directory of Scotland [Private Residents & Trades]
Part of The Nick Vine Hall Collection
fiche Sct 419-425

GAZETTEERS
Francis Groome's 1896 Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland [6 volumes]
together with additional material and indexes.

CD
Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland
CD

MAPS
The collection of Maps held in the library is in paper format, and will be found in either the Maps Stands or on top of the film cabinets in Map holders.
Civil Parishes and Counties of Scotland showing Overall Dates of Old Parochial Record held in Edinburgh and available Worldwide on microfilm for the Counties of Caithness, Sutherland and Ross & Cromarty.
Complete Set of Ordnance Survey Plans for Scotland

NEWSPAPERS
The Northern Highlands in the 19th Century –
Newspaper Index & Annals. By James Barron [Volume 1] 1800-1824
CD
The Northern Highlands in the 19ts Century –
Newspaper Index & Annals. By James Barron [Volume 2] 1825-1842
CD

OCCUPATIONAL  RECORDS

Merchant Seamen Crew Lists & Agreements. 1863-1913 [CLIP]

 CD

The Register of Apprentices of the City of Edinburgh 1583-1800
Note:  These Apprentices come from all parts of Scotland.          

 CD

Historical Clock & Watchmakers Index  [UK-wide index]

 CD

Merchant Seamen’s Crew Agreement Lists 1851 PRO Catalogue No. BT 98
Note: The area designation relates to the ships’ Port of Registration not the birthplace of the seaman.  A seaman could sign on anywhere and change ships at will, so if you do not find him where expected try other areas.
The files include a Master Surname Index to Lists published to date.
Areas covered are:-Aberdeen, Angus, Cornwall, Lanark, Renfrew, Scotland South- East, Scotland South-West, Highlands & Islands, Wales, Ireland North (Ulster), Ireland Mid  & East (Leinster) Ireland South &West (Munster & Connaught).

CD

PARISH  REGISTERS
Abbreviations used:  B. Burials,  C. Christenings/Baptisms,  D. Deaths,  M. Marriages.
Reay Parish Register (40)  Christenings 1732-1770, 1783-1819,  Marraiges  1745-1819,
B. 1783-1791
Births Bunnerhaven 1784-1796
Listing of Servants Apparel & Wages 1750-1709
Christenings 1820-1854,  Marriages 1820-1854

Film Cai 1
Thurso Parish Register (41)   Christenings1782-1819
Marriages 1671-June 1675, June 1684-February 1713, July 1721-1747, July 1782-1819
Population of Parish 1801
Burials 1671-1675,  Christenings 1820-1854
Deposition regarding birth of Andrew Finlayson 8/4/1776
Supplementary Register 1855
Free Church Births & Baptisms 1843-December 1854,  Marriages 1820-1854
Register of Neglected Entries

Film Cai 2
Midwives Book including Births 1786-1843
Film Sct 30

PARISH REGISTER TRANSCRIPTS
Canisby Parish Registers (35)
Baptisms, Matrimonial Contracts & Marriages
CD

PROBATE  RECORDS  &  WILLS
 Wills before 1875 were proved in Commissariot Courts.
The areas covered by Commissariot Courts pre 1800 in Scotland relate to Church jurisdiction and not county borders so more than one Court can cover a County. 
The Commissariot Court of Edinburgh had jurisdiction for the whole of Scotland and abroad and should also be checked. 
These Testaments are for personal property only.
The Library has a complete set of Indexes for pre 1800 Commissariot Court Wills.
The Commissariot of Edinburgh was the main court and covers all of Scotland and Overseas as well as the local area and should always be checked. fiche T11-T23
The Commissariot of Caithness comprised the County of that name.
fiche T5
Land was covered by separate laws and is covered by the records detailed in:
The Retours of Services of Heirs index 1544 -1699
The Service of Heirs Index 1700 - 1859		  
CD
CD
Scottish Calendar oF Confirmations (of wills) 1876 - 1923
fiche
British Probate Calendar  1858 - 1898
Contains English and Welsh Wills and Administrations as well as some Irish and Scottish entries.
Entries can also be found from around the world and from deaths many years earlier. (See Guide) 
Where a Scottish Testator also held property in England, for the years listed below, wills were also proved in London, and indexes to these are found at the end of the films listing English probate on the last film for each year after the letter 'Z.'
1858 to 1866 inclusive
1869 to 1876 inclusive
Film
Register of Defuncts
Index to the Inventories of the Personal Estates of Defuncts recorded in the Commissary Court Books of Fife, Dundee, Clackmannan, Kinross, Stirling, Aberdeen, Kincardine, Banff, Elgin, Nairn, Inverness, Ross & Cromarty, Sutherland, Caithness, Orkney and Zetland [RH 3/211/2].
Film Sct 5

If you are unable to visit the AIGS Library to use any of the above resources
why not make use of our Research Service

Copyright ©  Australian Institute of Genealogical Studies Inc. 2012
Updated 11th July 2011