Inverarity and Meathie (Angus)

Introduction

The parishes of Inverarity and Meathie-Lour were united in 1612, part of Meathie parish (Lour) being transferred to Forfar parish at that time. The former parish of Kirkbuddo or Carbuddo, which became a detached part of the parish of Guthrie, now forms the eastern end of Inverarity and Meathie.

Please also visit the page of general information applicable to all of Angus & Kincardineshire.

The arms of Baxter of Kincaldrum (1855)
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Abbreviations

NLS	National Library of Scotland
NRS	National Records of Scotland, formerly called the National Archives of Scotland [NAS] and, before that, the Scottish Record Office [SRO] HM General Register House, Edinburgh EH1 3YY (Tel: +44-131-535-1314)
OPR	Old Parish Registers of Births/baptisms, Banns/marriages & Deaths/burials (pre-1855)

Books & articles

• See also, for history of the parish:
  • The Statistical accounts of Inverarity
  • General histories listed on the page for Books about Angus & Kincardineshire, in particular Warden, vol. 3, pp. 400-425.

• Robert James Adam - Meathie-Lour: a parish exploration (Records of the Scottish Church History Society, 25 (1993), pp.41-67)

• Inverarity: a Parish Patchwork

Statistical accounts of Inverarity

• Old Statistical Account of the 1790s - vol. 4, p. 124
• New Statistical Account of the 1840s - vol. 11, p. 234

Maps of Inverarity & Meathie

• 1:25000 Ordnance Survey map - published 1957
• 1:10560 (Six inch) Ordnance Survey map - surveyed 1860-1, published 1865

For the full range of maps of Inverarity & Meathie, see National Library's Maps.

Photographs of places

See Geograph.org: Inverarity - recent photographs of Inverarity. National Grid ref. NO4544.

See Geograph.org: Meathie - recent photographs of Meathie. National Grid ref. NO4646.

Inverarity parish church

Inverarity parish kirk is located at National Grid ref. NO452443. Built 1754. The bell hung on the pre-reformation church, and is dated 1614.

Above: Inverarity kirk

The ruins of Meathie Kirk are at NO465462.

Parish ministers

adm.: admitted, ass.: assistant, bapt.: baptised, contr.: contract, dem.: demitted, dep.: deposed, ind.: inducted, lic.: licensed, mar.: married, min.: minister, ord.: ordained, pres.: presented, rel.: related, res.: resigned, suc.: successor, test.: testament, tr.: translated

Ministers of Inverarity 1560-1982

David Lindsay of Pitcairlie	1560	min. of Oathlaw, with charge here also
Sir Hew Lindsay	1561-1563	vicar 1561-3; chaplain of Denside 1566
James Blindschall	1563	reader
James Fotheringham	1563-1568	also had Meathie and Kinnettles in the charge
Charles Welwood	1594-1605	M.A.; adm. 1594; tr. to Kirkden 1595; prob. held both for a time; dem. here bef. 22 Apr 1605
David Williamson	1605-1622	pres. 22 Apr 1605; removed from Meathie on its union with Inverarity; tr. to Kilspindie PER 1 Aug 1622
William Rigg	1622-1656	b. ca. 1597 Edinburgh, son of John Rigg, min. of Dunnichen; M.A. Edinburgh 1617; pres. to Meathie 10 Oct 1622; d. Jul 1656; mar. Margaret, dau. of Colin Campbell, min. of Dundee; issue: John, min. of Strathmiglo FIF; William, min. of Lundie; Thos, writer in Edinburgh; Margaret (mar. Andrew Oliphant of Prinlaws, min. of Rossie); Eliz. (mar. Andrew Arrot of Dumbarrow); Agnes (mar. John Peter of Chapel, W.S.); Lilias (mar. David Halstoun of Craigton)
Frederick Bower	1662-1663	bro. of Alexander Bower of Kincaldrum; M.A. St Andrews 1649; adm. bef. 29 Oct 1662; d. Sep/Oct 1663, aged ca. 35; mar. Helen Fotheringham, who survived him; issue: Jean (mar. Alexr Graham, merchant burgess of Montrose); Lilias
George Grahame	1665-1694	M.A. St Andrews 1657; ord. 17 May 1665; dep. 1694 for drunkenness
John Milne	1701-1710	formerly min. of 2nd charge Montrose; intruded here 1701; dep. 1710
Robert Young	1710-1734	M.A. St Andrews 1703; clerk to Synod of Fife; ord. 6 Jun 1710; d. Dec 1734; mar. Eliz. Anderson; issue: John, min. here; Robert, min. of Benholm
John Grub	1715-1716	M.A.; intruded here Sep 1715 to Feb 1716
John Young	1735-1778	b. ca. 1711, son of above; ord. 20 Feb 1735; D.D. St Andrews 1763; d. 20 Jun 1778; mar. 1737 Jean Hay; issue: Robert, Maurice
John Webster	1779-1807	b. 1755, son of John W., bailie of Forfar; M.A. St Andrews 1773; ord. 8 Apr 1779; d. 10 Nov 1807; mar. 1793 Mary, dau. of Patrick Bryce, min. of Carmyllie; issue: Mary; John, M.D.; Patrick; Margaret; Eliz.; Geo., solicitor, London; Chas, barrister, London; James; Francis, W.S.; Wm Maul, solicitor, London; Thos, advocate
William Rankine	1808-1830	ord. 3 Nov 1808; d. 11 Feb 1830; mar. 1798 Margaret Scott, who survived him; issue: Isabella; Margaret; Mary Fothringham; Ann Eliz. Fothringham; Chas F.; Wm; Thos F.; Fredk F.
George Loudon	1831-1867	b. 1792 Tannadice, son of John L., farmer; M.A. St Andrews 1817; ord. to Lintrathen 28 Sep 1819; tr. & adm. 10 Mar 1831; d. 9 Mar 1867; mar. 1825 Mary, eldest dau. of Robert Montgomerie of Barnahill; issue: Mary Marian Montgomerie (mar. James Cruickshank Easton, min. of Meldrum); Eliz. Macfarlane
Patrick Stevenson	1867-1905	b. 24 Jul 1835 Coupar Angus, son of Peter James Stevenson, D.D., min. of Coupar Angus; ass. Dundee, Farnell, Alyth, Carluke LKS and Mount Stuart BUT; ord. 23 Aug 1867; d. 20 Aug 1905 unmar.; learned in medicine, botany and astronomy; student of the Diatomaceae
George Bremner	1906-1921	M.A., B.D.; b. 19 Mar 1875 Forres, son of Geo. B., burgh officer; ord. 18 Jan 1906; tr. to St Margaret's, Barnhill 13 Jul 1921; d. 27 Nov 1946 Broughty Ferry; mar. 1907 Jeanie Mackay
James Miller	1921-1927	b. 26 Nov 1880 Alloa CLK, son of James M.; business career for 15 years; ass. St Mary's Edinburgh; ord. 9 Nov 1921; tr. to Martyrs Glasgow 17 May 1927; mar. 1910 Laurenca Hamilton, dau. of Colin Finnie, Pollokshields; had issue
Walter Kilgour Black	1927-1945	b. 25 Feb 1875 Largo FIF, son of Andrew B.; ord. to Dudhope Free Church Dundee 5 Feb 1909; adm. Delting SHI 29 Aug 1912; tr. & adm. to Kirriemuir South 17 May 1915; tr. & adm. here 11 Aug 1927; dem. 30 Jun 1945; d. 1951 Edinburgh; mar. 1911 Mary Jane, dau. of Geo. Crichton, Largo; issue: Sir Douglas Andrew Kilgour, P.R.C.P.Lond.; WKG bicycled round the parish, in spite of an artificial leg
William Fimister Paxton	1946-1958	b. 1911 Kirkcaldy, son of Walter A.F.P.; educ. Kirkcaldy High School; M.A.(Edinburgh); ass. Dysart Barony; ind. to Laurieston West, Falkirk, 17 May 1937; tr. & ind. 25 Apr 1946; d. 12 Apr 1958 Edinburgh; mar. 1937 Margaret G. McGill
David George H. Whyte*	1959-1982	b. 1911 Inch WIG; divinity stud., St Andrews 1939; tr. from Keig & Tough & ind. 6 Apr 1959; ret. 23 Mar 1982; d. 24 Oct 1990 Stracathro; mar.(1) 1944 Grace N. Dunlop; had issue; (2) 1982 Jane A.G. Donaldson

* He was also minister of Kinnettles.

Ministers of Meathie 1560-1612

James Fotheringham	1567	min.
John Watson	1574	reader
John Nevay of that ilk	1577	min. of Glamis 1571; min. here 27 Apr 1577
John Strachan	1575-1586	reader
David Guthrie	1588-1591	reader
James Bannerman	1599-1600	M.A.; min. in 1599; tr. to Logierait PER 1600
David Williamson	1600-1612	adm. 1600; removed to Inverarity on union of parishes in 1612

Monumental inscriptions

Monuments in Inverarity Kirkyard (ca. 100 stones) and in Meathie Kirkyard (2 stones) bearing pre-1855 information are listed in Alison Mitchell (ed.), "Pre-1855 Monumental Inscriptions in Angus, Vol. 1: Strathmore" (Edinburgh: Scottish Genealogy Soc., 1993), which can be bought from the Scottish Genealogy Society. (It's listed as "Angus MI - Vol. 1. Pre-1855 Strathmore" in their online shop.)

Andrew Jervise recorded some monuments at Inverarity in his "Epitaphs & Inscriptions", vol. 2, pp. 298-304.

A partial listing of monuments at Kirkbuddo is given on the page for Guthrie.

A few monuments in Inverarity Kirkyard:

Mr THOMAS RITCHIE farmer East Tarbrax died 2nd April 1873 aged 77 years ELIZABETH URQUHART wife of the above died 17th October 1885 aged 91 years

in memory of the Right Honourable WILLIAM EDWARD BAXTER D.L., J.P. of Kincaldrum, for 30 years member of parliament for the Montrose District of burghs, who died on the 10th of August 1890, in the 66th year of his age, eldest son of EDWARD BAXTER of Kincaldrum, and his wife EUPHEMIA WILSON. Also in memory of JANET SCOTT wife of WILLIAM EDWARD BAXTER, who died on the 7th October 1910 in the 87th year of her age.

In loving memory of EDWARD ARMITSTEAD BAXTER D.L., J.P. of Kincaldrum and Kilmaron born 25th of September 1848 died 17th of January 1933 eldest son of the Right Hon. W. E. BAXTER and to his wife ISOBEL SCOTT-ELLIOT died 26th of December 1943 in the 91st year of her age

In loving memory of WILLIAM EDWARD ELLIOT BAXTER of Kincaldrum 30.VII.1880 - 28.I.1955 and of his wife INGRID RASMUSSEN SKOWSGAARD 24.II.1896 - 3.IX.1950

[For more on the above Baxters of Kincaldrum, see Here.]

Inverarity war memorial
Located in the kirkyard

See also The Scottish War Memorials Project: Inverarity.

Births, Marriages & Deaths, 1855 to present

Indexes and actual records for Statutory Registers of Births, Marriages & Deaths, beginning 1 Jan 1855, are available online, following registration and the purchase of credits, at the official web-site, ScotlandsPeople.

• Births & baptisms

  Additionally, in the National Records:

  • 1837 - 1947 for Church of Scotland [NRS CH2/381/7]

• Banns & Marriages

  Additionally, in the National Records:

  • 1837 - 1947 proclamations, for Church of Scotland [NRS CH2/381/7]

Births, Marriages & Deaths, before 1855

Indexes and actual records for all extant Old Parish Registers (OPRs) (pre-1855) of the Established Church of Scotland are available online, following registration and the purchase of credits, at the official web-site, ScotlandsPeople.

• Births & baptisms

  • 1710 - 1854

  Additionally, in the National Records:

  • 1837 - 1947 for Church of Scotland [NRS CH2/381/7]

• Banns & Marriages

  • 1710 - 1854

  Additionally, in the National Records:

  • 1837 - 1947 proclamations, for Church of Scotland [NRS CH2/381/7]

• Deaths & Burials

  • 1716 - 1819

Marriage contracts

Date	Type	Parties	NRS ref.
1707	antenuptial	Mr Thomas Thomson, notary public at Chance Inn & Jean Milne, 3rd dau. of Mr John Milne, minister at Inverarity	RH9/7/252

Church Session Records of Inverarity Parish Church
(Inverarity-Kinnettles from 1959)

Nature of record	Dates	NRS ref. CH2/381/...
Minutes	1714-1741	1
do	1742-1769	2
Minutes & accounts	1769-1836	3
Minutes	1837-1883	4
Cash book	1834-1854	5
do	1854-1856	6
Proclamations & baptisms	1837-1947	7
Minutes	1883-1968	8
Baptisms	1948-1970	9
Cash book	1911-1945	10
Accounts	1940-1958	11
Communion roll	1927-1956	12
Proclamations	1948-1978	13
Communion roll	1957-1972	14

Inverarity Heritors' records

Nature of record	Dates	NRS ref. HR55/...
Minute book (with accounts)	1880-1930	1
Letter re insurance of ecclesiastical buildings	1929	2
Receipts by Parish Council for records	1927	3

Land owners

The principal proprietors of land in the parish in 1835:

• Col. Fothringham
• Robert S. Graham
• Capt. John Laurenson of Invereighty

Census records

Records of the official censuses of the parish in 1841, 1851, 1861, 1871, 1881, 1891, 1901, 1911 and 1921 are held in Register House, Edinburgh and are open to the public on payment of a fee.

Indexes to all the original census records, and the records themselves, can be accessed online at modest charge at ScotlandsPeople.

Microfilm copies are also widely available in libraries. The 1881 census is available on CD-ROM.

The early censuses of 1801-31 do not name individuals.

Population statistics

Year	male	female	total	ref.
1755			996	Dr Alexander Webster
1789			900	Old Statistical Account
1801			820
1811			865
1821	464	502	966
1831			904
1841
1851			948
1871	465	423	888
1881	463	399	862

After change of parish boundary:

Year	male	female	total
1891	501	425	926
1901	450	373	823
1911	474	387	861
1921	455	354	809
1961			687

Testaments & wills

Inverarity & Meathie was in the Commissariot of St Andrews.

Indexes to all extant pre-1926 testamentary records (wills & inventories of moveable property) can be searched free of charge at ScotlandsPeople. Digital (and paper) copies of the documents can be purchased at that site. See further the introduction to Angus & Kincardineshire at Testaments.

Testaments of Inverarity & Meathie people from the Register of Testaments of the Commissariot of St Andrews, 1549-1823

David Adam	in Cottertoune of Kincaldrum, par. of Innerairetie	15 Nov 1620
Robert Adamson	late tenant in the Mains of Inverarity, thereafter tenant of the half of the Mains of Balfour, par. of Kingoldrum	11 Mar 1776
Alison Airth	relict of John Taylor, residing at Whigstreet, Inverarity	3 Apr 1820
John Barrie	tailor in Hapes, par. of Inneraritie	22 Oct 1599
David Bellie	in Quhischit-grein of Ounstoun, par. of Innerarretie	11 Nov 1619
Agnes Burn	in Hapes, par. of Inneraritie, spouse of Thomas Hog	22 Oct 1599
Alexander Butchart	in Muirtoun of Easter Methie, par. of Methie	22 Sep 1617
Adam Condie elder	in Barnhill of Strowie, par. of Methie	30 Jul 1616
Patrick Croall	in Arnehall, par. of Enneraratie	19 Dec 1649
John Daes or Daiss	in Gaitsyde of Kintreith, par. of Methie	6 May 1600
Peter Dawson	flax dresser in Ground of Kilcaldrum, par. of Kingoldrum [?]	22 Mar 1817
John Dean	in Kincreich, par. of Inveraritie	16 Mar 1626
Alexander Dog	tailor in Tarvett, par. of Innerarity	18 Jun 1596
Isobel Drummond	relict of Mr George Elphingstone, sometime schoolmaster at Inverarity	29 Jul 1772
James Gardine	in Carrat, par. of Inneraritie	26 Aug 1614
John Gibson of Gallowfauld	par. of Inneraretie	25 Apr 1620
Mr Alexander Grahame of Wester Meathie	par. of Inveraritie	28 Sep 1713, 7 Apr and 15 Nov 1714 and 6 Jan 1717
Margaret Gray	spouse to James Ramsay, in Unstone, par. of Inveraritie	24 Sep 1640
Janet Halkney	spouse to William Wilson, in Easter Methie, par. of Methie	6 Dec 1614
Margaret Hay	spouse to John Nevay of that Ilk, par. of Methie	13 Jan 1615
Isobel Henderson	Kincreigh	27 Jun 1809
James Henderson	tenant of the possession of Cuttyhaugh	12 Apr 1813
Marjorie Henderson	spouse to William Nevay, in Cottoune of Kincreich, par. of Methie	25 Mar 1620
David Kerr	at the Grange of Kincrech, par. of Methie	2 Apr. 1618
Euphaim Kerr	sometime spouse to Walter Mitchelsone, portioner of East Grange of Kincreich, par. of Methie	28 Nov 1614
James Kerr	tenant at Little Lower	21 Dec 1818
Thomas Kerr of Ovenston	at Seggiden, par. of Inverarity	6 Feb 1755, 17 Nov 1756 and 29 Mar 1758
John Laing	at the Miln of Innerairty, par. of Innerairity	4 Sep 1753
Grissell Millar	spouse to Andrew Schiphird, in Lour, par. of Methie	30 Jul 1616
John Milne	in Aidgertoun, par. of Methie	30 Apr 1617
James Mitchelson	in the Kirktoune of Inveraretie	3 Jun 1626
Janet Mitchelson	spouse to John Gibson, flesher in Gallofauld, par. of Inveraretie	7 Oct 1625
Matild Mitchelson	spouse to John Butter, in Balgirsche, par. of Inneraretie	4 Jun 1621
Walter Mitchelson of Easter Grange of Kincreich	par. of Methie	5 Jun 1635
Janet Moffat	spouse to David Schiphird, in Little Lour, par. of Methie	30 Jul 1616
Alexander Mylne	in Quhittehauch, par. of Methie	30 Jul 1635
Bessie Mylne	spouse to umquhile Patrick Trest, in Newtoune of Methie, par. of Methie	22 Nov 1627
Isobel Mylne	in Grange of Kincreif, par. of Inveraritie	24 Sep 1640
Margaret Ness	spouse to James Malcom, in Carrat, par. of Inneraretie	15 Jun 1619
Katherine Philip	in Hapess, par. of Inneraritie	22 Oct 1599
William Pirie elder	in Kirktoun of West Grange of Kincreich, par. of Methie	27 Jul 1616
Janet Ritchie	in Happis, par. of Inneraritie	15 Mar 1597-8
Robert Small	farmer at Mill of Kincaldrum, afterwards residing in Forfar	10 Dec 1823
Andrew Steven	in Kincreich, par. of Methie	12 Jan 1616
Christian Steven	spouse to William Ritchardsoune, now in Arnahall, par. of Methie-lour	7 Jun 1624
James Steven	husbandman at the Milne of Kincreich, par. of Methie	19 Nov 1599
John Trest	in Methie, par. of Innerraretie	4 Mar 1635
Christian Walker	sometime spouse to Walter Michelsoun, portioner of Eastgrange of Kincreith, par. of Methie	21 Jul 1595
Christian Watterstoun	spouse to Gilbert Guthrie, in Carrat, par. of Inneraretie	15 Jun 1619
Patrick Waugh	in Glenboy, par. of Methie	4 Mar 1597-8
Dr John Young	minister at Inverarity	29 Jul 1778

Testaments registered at St Andrews that have been lost, for which only entries in the minute books are extant

Adam Archer	in Kaphouse, par. of Inverarity	10 Nov 1725
Alexander Bower	in Kilcaldrum, par. of Inverarity	23 Mar 1761
James Bower of Methie	par. of Inverarity	23 Aug 1738
David Gordon	in Labothy, par. of Inverarity	9 Jun 1731
John Jarren	in Kincaldrume, par. of Innerichtie [Inverarity]	20 Jul 1737
James Morgan	in Wester Methie, par. of Inveraity	25 Jan 1738

Testaments of Inverarity & Meathie people from the Register of Testaments of the Commissariot of Brechin, 1576-1800
'T' before the date indicates that the copy in the register is lost, but the original testament is extant.

Grissell Adam	servitor to Thomas Keill, in the Pietter Loone of Ineraritie	T. 24 Jun 1657
John Bressak	portioner of Inverarity	T. 6 Nov 1779
Mr Alexander Graham of Wester Meathie		25 Sep 1735
James Graham of Meathie		T. 9 Nov 1792
Mr William Rigg	minister at Ineraritie	13 Aug 1656

Testaments of Inverarity & Meathie people from the Register of Testaments of the Commissariot of Edinburgh, 1514-1600

Katherine Gray	spouse of umquhile Thomas Guthrie, in the Bonitoune of Inneraratie	25 Mar. 1569
John Kinnear	in Haltoun of Inveraritie in Angus	4 Mar 1587-8
David Lindsay	minister at Inneraretie	1 Jul 1581
David Lindsay	in Bonytoun of Innereritie	29 Nov 1592
John Maxwell	in Balgirscho, par. of Inneraritie, sher. of Forfar	13 May 1586
Elizabeth Nevay	sometime spouse to James Wychtand, in the Mylne of Inneraritie	9 Jul 1577
Grissell Nevay	sometime spouse to James Bouchart, portioner of Eister-Grange, par. of Inneraritie, sher. of Forfar	19 Jun 1587
Katherine Strachan	sometime spouse to John Nevay of that ilk, par. of Methie, sher. of Forfar	17 Jun 1587

Clock & watch tax, 1797-8

Images of the original records for Inverarity:

NRS ref. E326/12/2/57

Farm horse tax, 1797-8

Images of the original records for Inverarity:

• NRS ref. E326/10/3/41
• NRS ref. E326/10/9/135