AIGS Logo  Australian Institute of Genealogical Studies Inc.



Page 1 of 1
Wigtownshire
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.

1841 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
Glasserton (885)
Inch (886)
Kirkcolm (887)
Kirkcowan (888)
Kirkinner (889)
Kirkmaiden (890)
 Leswalt (891)
Mochrum 892)
New Luce (893)
Old Luce (894)
Penninghame (895)
Portpatrick (896) 		Sorbie (897)
Stoneykirk (898)
Stranraer (899)
Whithorn (900)
Wigtown (901) 

1851 CENSUS
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 County Abbreviation and Film Number
Glasserton (885)
Inch (886)
Kirkcolm (887)
Kirkcowan (888)
Kirkinner (889)
Kirkmaiden (890)
 Leswalt (891)
Mochrum (892)
New Luce (893)
Old Luce (894)
Penninghame (895)
Portpatrick (896)
 Sorbie (897)
Stoneykirk (898)
Stranraer (899)
Whithorn (900)
Wigtown (901)

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.
Glasserton (885)
Inch (886)
Kirkcolm (887)
Kirkcowan (888)
Kirkinner (889)
Kirkmaiden (890)
 Leswalt (891)
Mochrum (892)
New Luce (893)
Old Luce (894)
Penninghame (895)
Portpatrick (896)
 Sorbie (897)
Stoneykirk (898)
Stranraer (899)
Whithorn (900)
Wigtown (901)

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 Wigtown, ships are listed in the following Registration Districts: - Kirkmaiden, Mochrum, Old Luce, Portpatrick, Sorbie, Stranraer, Whithorn and Wigtown.  
These entries are all listed on film 902.

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

1871 CENSUS
Parishes in the 1871 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 County Abbreviation and Film Number.
Glasserton (885)
Inch (886)
Kirkcolm (887)
Kirkcowan (888)
Kirkinner (889)
Kirkmaiden (890)
 Leswalt (891)
Mochrum (892)
New Luce (893)
Old Luce (894)
Penninghame (895)
Portpatrick (896)
 Sorbie (897)
Stoneykirk (898)
Stranraer (899)
Whithorn (900)
Wigtown (901)

1881  CENSUS TRANSCRIPT & INDEX
1881 Census Index  for entire County of Wigtown in 6 sets of fiche. 
(Surname Index, Birth Place Index, Census Place Index, As Enumerated, Misc. Notes, 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
1820 Directory of Wigtownshire [Newton Stewart, Stranraer & Wigtown]
Part of the Nick Vine Hall Collection
fiche Wig 18
1837 Directory of Wigtownshire
Part of the Nick Vine Hall Collection
fiche Wig 19
1852 Directory of Wigtownshire
fiche Wig 1
1915 Directory of Wigtownshire
Part of the Nick Vine Hall Collection
fiche Wig 20
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 Records held in Edinburgh and available Worldwide on microfilm for the Counties of Kirkcudbright and Wigtown.
Complete Set of Ordnance Survey Plans for Scotland

MILITARY  RECORDS
Over the centuries Scots men and women served in the British Army, both in Regiments formed in their native Scotland and those formed elsewhere.  The library has a large collection of Army records, details of which can be found in the English Records Catalogue of Microfiche, Microfilm and CDs.
Royal Scots Fusiliers (1st Foot) Militia Attestation 1887-1914
Majority of the men from Ayrshire, Lanark, Wigtownshire and Renfrewshire.
CD
Scotland’s Royal Garrison Artillery Militia Attestations Index - West Scotland 1873-1911
CD

MISCELLANEOUS
Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae - The Succession of Ministers in the Church of Scotland
from The Reformation [Volume 2] Synods of Merse, Teviotdale and Dumfries & Galloway.
CD

NEWSPAPERS
Wigtown Free Press INDEX [Vol 1] Personal Names 1843-1880
fiche Wig 2-6
Wigtown Free Press,INDEX [Vol 2] Personal Names 1881-1914 
fiche Wig 7-11
Wigtown Free Press,INDEX [Vol 3] Personal Names 1915-1925
fiche Wig 12-17

NONCONFORMIST RECORDS

Inch Free Church Register
Marriages 1845-1878,  Baptisms 1845-1878,  Burials 1845-1878,
Memorandum of Parties married but not of this Parish 1850-1879,
Marriages 1880-1893, 1958-1960

Film Sct 30
Kirkcolm Free Church Registers [887].  Baptisms 1843-1852
Film Sct 29
Kirkcolm Free Church Records.
Kirkcolm Free Church, United Free, Kirkcolm & Leswalt Church of Scotland (Ervie),
Session Minutes 1849-1865 which include:-  Register of Births & Baptisms 1843-1853,
Communion Rolls 1844, 1854-1855, Session Minutes 1865-1877.
Film Wig 3
Whithorn Associate Congregation Church (900).  Baptisms 1817, 1851-1860, 
Marriages 1802-1829
Film Sct 29
Wigtown United Associate Congregation (901).  Baptisms 1849-1862, Marriages 1849-1855
Film Sct 29
Wigtown Free Church Registers (901).  Baptisms 1844-1858, 1875-1876
Film Sct 29

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.
Kirkcolm Parish Register [887]
C. 1779-1820,  M. 1791-1820,  B. 1796-1819,  C. 1820-1854,
M. 1820-1854,  B. 1820-1854. 
Film Wig 1
Kirkcowan Parish Register [888].  C. 1788-1819, 1820-1851.
Film Wig 1
Kirkinner Parish Register [889]
C. 1694-1819, M. 1694-1819. C. 1818-1854, M. 1818-1854
Copy Extract of the Minute to the Kirk Session of Kirkinne as according to the sufferings of the Wigtown Martyrs.
Film Wig 1
Kirkmaiden Parsh Register [890].  C. 1718-1780,  M. 1699-1780,  B. 1716-1780,  C. 1779-1820
Film Wig 1
Penninghame Parish Register [895]. 
C. 1695-1819,  M. 1695-1819,  C. 1820-1854,  M. 1820-1854
Film Wig 2
Portpatrick Parish Register [896]
C. 1720-1819, M. 1720-1819, B. 1783-1818 [incomplete run of dates] C. 1820-1854,
Index to Christenings 1853,  Register of Neglected Entries,  M. 1820-1854.
Film Wig 2
Portpatrick Parish Register [896]
Baptisms & Marriages 1820-1854, Register of Neglected Entires
Film Wig 6

Sorbie Parish Register [897]
Baptisms 1700-1819,  Marriages 1700-1819,  Burials 1706-1819, Distribution of Poor Money,
Baptisms & Marriages 1819-1854,  Register of Neglected Entries.
Film Wig 6
Stoneykirk Parish Register [898]
Baptisms 1744-1854,  Marriages 1744-1854,  Burials 1778-1797, 1839-1854, 
Neglected Birth Entry 1830.
Film Wig 6
Stranraer Parish Register [899]
Baptisms  1695-1819,  Register of Proclamations & Marriages  1712-1819,
Baptisms 1820-1854,  Marriages 1819-1853,  Deaths [2 entries] 1847-1850,
Births & Baptisms Index 1820-1854,  Register of Neglected Entries
Film Wig 4
Whithorn Parish Register [900]
Baptisms  1712-1819,   Marriages 1715-1821,
Baptisms  1819-1854,  Register of Births,  Marriages 1820-1854
Film Wig 4
Wigtown Parish Register [901]
Baptisms 1706-1854,  Marriages 1707-1854 [with gaps]
Film Wig 5

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.

Register of Testaments – Pre 1800
The Commissariot of Wigtown covers the County of that name.
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 T48
fiche T11-T23
Land was covered by separate laws and is covered by the records detailed in:
The Service of Heirs Index 1700 - 1859
The Retours of Services of Heirs Index  1544 - 1699		  
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 Ayr, Berwick, Dumfries, Kircudbright, Peebles, Roxburgh, Selkirk & Wigtown from 1846-1867, plus an Addenda.
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. 2012
Updated 14th July 2011