Dumfries Kirk Sessions

The Kirk Session and Presbytery Minutes of Dumfries is from 1687 to 1695 for Presbytery records, and 1735 to 1795 for Kirk Session records. The reference numbers of the volumes are those allocated by the National Archives of Scotland and can be found at Dumfries Archive Centre

St Michael's Church, Dumfries Kirk Session Minutes

BAIRD Robert 18/05/1749
Allowed a certificate. Ref: CH2/537/3 Page: 136

BAIRD Jean 18/10/1749
1/6 from poor fund. Ref: CH2/537/3 Page 233A

BAIRD Charles 06/05/1757 Trade: Flaxdresser
Irregularly married to Elisabeth Frood at Longtown on 7 Sep 1756 by Isac Barber, minister. Rebuked, James Scott of Longtown witness. Notes: Ref: CH2/537/5 page 232,233

BAIRD Charles 19/11/1779 Trade: Innkeeper
Spoke to Mrs. Newall re. Elizabeth Buller's child. [further notes] Elizabeth Bullerwell with child; acknowledged guilt and named William Lawson as the father; did not compear again said to be in Carlisle Ref: CH2/537/8 Page: 128

BAIRD John 26/10/1793 Trade: Soldier
Daughter of the late Robert Wilson, gardener; gave birth to an illegitimate child and named John Baird of the Breadalbane Fencibles, now in Dumfries, as father of the child.
James Baird acknowledges he is father of Mary Wilson's illegitimate child. Also sister of Mary Wilson, Isabel gave birth to an illegitimate child and named James Muir, blacksmith, as father of the child, who acknowledged his guilt Ref: CH2/537/9 page 288

BAIRD James 22/08/1794 Trade Labourer
Named as father of Agnes Gillespie's illegitimate child; rebuked and dismissed. Ref: CH2/537/9 page 312

BAIRD James 29/01/1796
Irregularly married to Betty Scales last November, paid usual fine. Ref: CH2/537/10 Page: 7

BAIRD James 25/06/1796 Trade Labourer
Named as the father of Agnes Gillespie's child; had acknowledged his guilt and given satisfaction as noted in a minute of August 1794. Ref: CH2/537/10 Page: 13

BAIRD James 30/03/1798 Place: Lochmaben
Named as the father of Agnes Gillespies' child; denied all guilt though admitted being the father of her previous child. Ref: CH2/537/10 Page(s): 70, 75, 77, 79 & 83

Shipping Registers

By law, from 1 January 1824, ships had to be registered in their home ports, with details of where and when they were built, their type and physical structure, their masters and the names of who owned the 64 shares into which ships were divided for purposes of ownership.
The following includes, the Shipping Registers of Dumfries (1824 to 1904), Kirkcudbright (1824 to 1841), Stranraer (1824 to 1908) and Wigtown (1836 to 1920). Note: The registers for Dumfries covers the port of Annan also.

Date: 1826 Ship: Bee Port: Stranraer Master: Jonathan Alexander
Description: A Sloop built at Lancaster, Co Lancaster 1791, registered at Stranraer 15 May 1815. one deck, one mast. running bowsprit. square stern, carvel built. no galleries, no figurehead
Owners: John Baird (Merchant) of Town of Stranraer, Co Wigtown, 32 shares.
11 Sept: 1834 Executors of late John Baird sold his 32 shares to Janet Alexander (the relict of now deceased Jonathan Alexander) and her children.
Andrew Alexander of Clayhole of Stranraer, Pa of Leswalt, Co Wigtown, 32 shares.
21 March 1832 - Andrew Alexander sold his 32 shares to Jonathan Alexander (Ship Master).
Archive Ref: CE 77/11/1 Folio No: 46

Date: 1826 Ship: Keith Douglas of Annan Port: Dumfries Master: George Weild
Description: A Sloop built at Annan 1826, registered at Dumfries 15 Nov. 1826. registered de novo at Newcastle 16 Aug. 1830. Rigged with running bowsprit. one deck, one mast. square sterned, carvel built. no galleries, no figurehead.
Owners: Edward Hill Annan, Writer 40 shares. Charles Baird Dumfries, Writer 8 shares.
William Pagan Curriestanes, Troqueer, farmer 16 shares.
Archive Ref: CE 51/11/2 Folio No: 86

Date: 1829 Ship: Eliza Port: Stranraer Master: John Wright
Description: A Sloop built at Ayr, Co Ayr in present year (1829). one deck, one mast, running bowsprit, square stern, carvel built. no galleries, no figurehead
Owners: Hugh Kerr (farmer) in Big Park, near Ballantrae within District of Stranraer, 32 shares.
Andrew Baird residing town of Ballantrae, district and Co, 32 shares.
28 Jan 1833, Hugh Kerr and Andrew Baird have transferred by Bill of sale dated 26 Jan 1833 their 64 shares to:- Stair Kerr (Farmer) in Kirminnoch, Pa of Kirkcolm, Co Wigtown.
Archive Ref: CE 77/11/1 Folio No: 68

Date: 1820 Ship: Smyrna Port: Kirkcudbright Master: Thomas Baird at Liverpool 1839.
Description: A Brig built at Whitehaven in Co Cumberland 1820, registered at Liverpool 12 May 1825. 30 Jan. 1850 - re registered de novo at Workington. One deck, 2 masts, standing bowsprit, square stern, carvel built. no galleries, no figurehead.
Owners: Samuel McKnight Jnr. of Barlochan in Buittle, Merchant 32 shares.
John Gibson of Barlochan of Buittle, Ship Owner 32 shares.
Archive Ref: CE 51/5/17 Folio No: 54

Date: 1839 Ship: Susan and Margaret Port: Dumfries Master: Thomas Baird until 1841
Description: A Schooner, built at Kippford 1839, registered at Dumfries 16 Nov. 1839 Rigged with standing bowsprit, one deck, 2 masts, square sterned, carvel built. no galleries, female bust figurehead.
Owners: John Watson Shawhead, Grain Dealer 32 shares.
Robert Anderson Drummore, Wigtown, Farmer 32 shares.
Archive Ref: CE 51/11/4 Folio No: 84

Date: 1840 Ship: Isabella Port: Dumfries Master 1841: Thomas Baird at Liverpool
Description: A Brigantine, built at Anstruther, 1826, registered at Kirkcaldy 15 Aug. 1838. Vessel lost 10 April 1854. Rigged with standing bowsprit, one break deck, 2 masts, square sterned, carvel built. no galleries, woman bust figurehead.
Owners: William Davidson, Kirkcudbright, Ship Master 32 shares.
Joseph Grieve, Carsethorn, Shipmaster 32 shares.
Archive Ref: CE 51/11/4 Folio No: 91

Date: 1845 Ship: Celt Port: Dumfries Master: Thomas Baird
Description: A Brig built at Dundee 1837, registered at Dundee 1837 (No 60) Cancelled -transferred to Sunderland 10 Oct. 1851. Rigged with standing bowsprit. one deck, 2 masts. square sterned, carvel built. no galleries, mans bust head.
Owners: John Martin, Glencaple, Ship Owner 64 shares.
Archive Ref: CE 51/11/4 Folio No: 175