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Orkney
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.

1821 CENSUS INDEXES & TRANSCRIPTIONS
Parishes in the 1821 Census held in the AIGS Library on microfiche.
Burray (see South Ronaldshay & Burray) (29)
Deerness (14)
Orphir (23)
Sandwick (27)
 South Ronaldshay & Burray (29)
St. Andrews (25)
Stromness (30)

1851 CENSUS INDEXES & TRANSCIPTIONS
Parishes in the 1851 Census held in the AIGS Library on microfiche.
Birsay (13)
Burray (see South Ronaldshay & Burray) (29)
Deerness (14)
Eday & Pharay (15)
Egilshay (see Rousay & Egilshay) (24)
Evie & Rendall (16)
Firth & Stenness (17)
Graemsay (see Hoy & Graemsay) (16)
Harray (18)
Hoy & Graemsay (16)
Kirkwall & St. Ola (21)
North Ronaldshay (22)
Orphir (23)
 Pharay (see Eday & Pharay) (15)
Rendall (see Evie & Rendall) (16)
Rousay & Egilshay (24)
Sanday (26)
Sandwick (27)
South Ronaldshay & Burray (29)
Stenness (See Firth & Stenness) (17)
St. Andrews (25)
Stromness (30)
Stronsay (31)
St Ola (see Kirkwall & St. Ola) (21)
Walls & Flotta (32)
Westray & Papa Westray (33)
Master Name Index
 (fiche Oki 40D-43D)

1861 CENSUS
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.
Birsay (13)
Deerness (14)
Eday & Pharay (15)
Evie & Rendall (16)
Firth & Stenness (17)
Harray (18)
Holm & Paplay (19)
Hoy & Graemsay (20)
Kirkwall & St. Ola (21)
Ronaldshay (22)
Orphir (23)
Rousay & Egilshay (24)
St. Andrews (25)
Sanday (26)
Sandwick (27)
Shapinshay (28)
South Ronaldshay & Burray (29)
Stromness (30)
Stronsay (31)
Walls & Flotta (32)
Westray (33)

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 Orkney, ships are listed in the following Registration Districts: -  Kirkwall, Orphir, Stromness & Westray.  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 The Orkney Islands 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 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 & Co. Directory of Scotland
CD
1837 Slaters Directory of  The Orkneys

fiche Oki 6
1852 Slaters Directory of  The Orkneys
fiche Oki 7
1915 Directory of Orkney Isles
Part of The Nick Vine Hall Collection
fiche Oki 8
1915 Directory of Scotland [Private Residents & Trades]
Part of The Nick Vine Hall Collection
fiche Sct 419-425
1926 Orkney Almanac & County DirectoryCD

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 Records Held in Edinburgh and available Worldwide on microfilm for the Counties of Orkney and Shetland.
Complete Set of Ordnance Survey Plans for Scotland

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.
Kirkwall PR [21]  B.1666-1820, Index to births.  C. 1820-1854
Note:  Out of order dated christenings at end of 1854.  Note states mainly dissenters registering late. 		Film Oki 2
Lady PR.  C. 1735-1820,   M. 1818-1819
Film Oki 1
North Ronaldshay [22] PR.  Index to Christenings.  M. 1827 [in Index at W] Film Oki 1
Sanday PR [26] (includes Parish of Cross & Burness)
C.  1758-1819, 1821-1836, 1820-1854,   M, 1854,   B. 1831-1841
 Film Oki 1
Stronsay Parish Register [Blotter] [31] Contains Kirk Session minutes 1753-1760 (Item 4) LDS Film 1068235

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 Glasgow covers the whole of the County of  Orkney.
fiche T39
Index to the Particular Register of Sasines for the Sheriffdom of Orkney & Zetland 1617-1660.
fiche Oki 1-5
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   1846 - 1867
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, Orkney and Zetland (RH 3/211/2)
Film Sct 2

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. 2013
Updated 6 February 2013