Coupar Angus (Angus/Perthshire)

Records, sources & information about the Parish of Coupar Angus

Parish number 279


map of Coupar Angus

More maps of Coupar Angus

Introduction
Births & baptisms
Books & articles
Burgh records
Census records
Church Session
Clock & watch tax
Deaths & burials
Farm horse tax
Heritors' records
Land owners
Libraries
Maps
Marriages
Ministers of the parish
Monumental inscriptions
Old parish registers
Parish Church
Photographs of places
Places of interest
Population statistics
Provosts of Coupar Angus
Societies
Statistical Accounts
Testaments & wills
Town clerks
War memorial

Introduction

Until the reorganisation of parish boundaries in 1891, 184 acres of Coupar Angus lay in Angus and 4515 acres in Perthshire; thereafter, Coupar Angus was entirely in Perthshire.

Note that there is also a parish and royal burgh called Cupar (always without an 'o') in the county of Fife.

seal of Coupar Angus

The Common Seal of the
Burgh of Coupar Angus

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

Abbreviations

NLSNational Library of Scotland
NRSNational 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)
OPROld Parish Registers of Births/baptisms, Banns/marriages & Deaths/burials (pre-1855)

up

Books & articles

up

Statistical accounts of Coupar Angus

up

Maps of Coupar Angus

1:25000 Ordnance Survey map - published 1959

1:10560 (Six inch) Ordnance Survey map - surveyed 1863, published 1867 (The Perthshire part of the parish)

For the full range of maps of Coupar Angus, see National Library's Maps.

ScotlandsPlaces: Coupar Angus - an extensive collection of photographs, maps and records

map of Coupar Angus

Above: modern street map of Coupar Angus (© OpenStreetMap contributors, CC-BY-SA)
Click on the map above to go to OpenStreetMap centred on Coupar Angus

up

Photographs of places

up

Local societies

Coupar Angus & District Heritage Association

up

Parish church

Located at National Grid ref. NO223397. Enlarged 1831.

There is an article, with photographs, on Coupar Angus Abbey in A Corpus of Scottish Mediaeval Parish Churches.

up

Parish ministers 1560-1947

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

Henry Guthrie1611min. of Bendochy PER; had charge here ca. 1611
David Leitch1622min. here 26 Aug 1622
Robert Lindsay1625-1645M.A. St Andrews 1611; schoolmaster here by Jan 1625; prob. adm. here 1625; killed Apr 1645, aged ca. 54; mar. Margaret Rhynd, who survived him;
George Haliburton (1)1647-1659?M.A.; adm. bef. 10 Oct 1648; suspended bef. 15 Sep 1650 but reponed Nov 1652
George Haliburton (2)1659-1682b. 1635; M.A. 1652 St Andrews; adm. to parish and deaconry of Dunkeld and min. here ca. 14 Jun 1659; D.D. St Andrews 1673; elected bishop of Brechin 7 May 1678, consecrated 13 Jun 1678; tr. to see of Aberdeen 5 Jul 1682; dep. 11 Apr 1689; intruded at Halton of Newtyle 1698-1710; d. 29 Sep 1715 Coupar Angus; mar. (1) Agnes Campbell, widow of David Haliburton of Pitcur; (2) -- Rutherford; issue: Patrick; John; James, of Wattriebutts; Margaret (mar. John Lindsay of Wormiston, advocate);
George Hay1682-1698prob. son of George Hay of Naughton (by Wormit, Fife); adm. to Balmerino FIF bef. 22 Sep 1678; tr. & adm. 26 Nov 1682; deprived 2 Aug 1698; mar. Margaret Haliburton; issue: Wm, Geo., James, Geo., Jean, Anna, Margaret, another dau.
Thomas Mitchell1699-1702M.A.; ord. 17 Oct 1699; tr. to Longforgan PER 28 May 1702
Thomas Ogilvie1703-1741eldest son of Thomas Ogilvie of Turfauchie; ord. Strathmartine 13 May 1697; tr. & adm. 18 May 1703; d. 22 May 1741; mar. Eliz., dau. of Henry Smith of Glasswall; issue: Henry, min. of Lunan; Eliz. (mar. [1] John Dunbar, min. of Menmuir, [2] Thomas Ogilvie of Coul); Isobel (mar. --- Geikie)
James Spankie1742-1778b. 1711; M.A.; teacher, Geo. Heriot's Hosp., Edinburgh 1731; chaplain to fam. of Vere of Stonebyres; ord. 10 Mar 1742; dep. for irreg. mar., but re-inst. by decision of synod; d. 3 May 1778; mar. 1736 Margaret, dau. of Wm Inglis, surgeon, Lanark; issue: Rachel; Thos, prob. min. of Falkland FIF; Ann; Geo.; Isobel (mar. Robt Young, farmer); Margaret
Charles Keay1779-1807b. 10 Feb 1740, 2nd son of James Keay of Snaigow; ord. Old Deer ABD 14 Dec 1769; tr. & adm. 18 May 1779; d. 9 Apr 1807 unmar.
John Halkett of Balendoch1807-1828b. 1770; M.A. St Andrews 1789; tutor to fam. of George Douglas of Cavers; ord. 25 Sep 1807; d. 21 Apr 1828; mar. 1811 Grace, 2nd dau. of Charles Hay of Beechhill & Balendoch; issue: James; Charles Hay; John Gilbert, of Balendoch; David Henderson
Patrick James Stevenson1828-1880b. 1802, son of Patrick S., Edinburgh; ord. 26 Sep 1828; D.D. St Andrews 1857; d. 29 Oct 1880; mar. 1834 Margaret Emily, dau. of John Peter; issue: Patrick, min. of Inverarity; John, LL.D., min. of Glamis; Janet Euphemia (mar. David Bett); Alexr Brunton
Finlay Robert Macdonald1881-1901b. 13 Oct 1843 Canada; min. at Newcastle, New Brunswick 1869-74; ass. Barony Glasgow; ord. Martyrs' Paisley 25 Sep 1874; tr. & adm. 18 Aug 1881; d. 22 Nov 1901; mar. 1870 Agnes Jaffray Marshall
Charles Stewart1902-1947b. 12 May 1868 Lochee, son of Wm S., architect; M.A. 1888 B.D. 1891 St Andrews; ass. Greyfriars Dumfries; ord. Tannadice 19 Apr 1895; tr. & adm. 12 Jun 1902; dem. 26 Oct 1947; mar. 1895 Edith Susan, dau. of Wm Smith Kerr, M.D., Dumfries; issue: Chas, M.B., Ch.B.; John Kerr; Mary Eliz. Murray; Edith

Ministers of the Free Church, Coupar Angus

Thomas Bain?-1851-1874-?b. ca. 1815 Fortrose; d. 8 Mar 1884 Edinburgh; mar. 1844 Elisabeth Christina, dau. of Wm H. Burns, min. of Dun, thereafter of Kilsyth STI; issue: Eliz. C.; Christian L.; Agnes C.; Thos; Wm H. B.; Margt G.; John T.; Chas S.; Cath. H.

Ministers of the United Presbyterian Church (later South United Free Church), Coupar Angus
Opened 1743

Thomas Small?-?b. ca. 1743; d. 2 May 1772
Alexander Allan?-?b. ca. 1752; d. 30 Jan 1824
Charles Muirhead?-?b. ca. 1800; d. 2 Aug 1830
William Marshall1830-1880b. Sep 1806 Moneydie PER, son of David M.; ord. 28 Dec 1830; D.D.(1865 New York); D.D.(1865 Hamilton); d. 23 Aug 1880 Dysart; mar. 1835 Leah Young; issue: David; Wm; Jane; Mary; James
Thomas Granger1873-1910b. 1 Dec 1844 Hamilton; ind. Nov 1873 as colleague & succ.; ret. Apr 1910; d. 19 Jan 1919 Stirling; mar. 1875 Jane Kirkland

Ministers of Campbell Street Relief Church, Coupar Angus
Opened 1787

William Dunn?-?A.M.; b. ca. 1774; d. 17 May 1829; mar. Martha Crosbie
Robert Wallace?-1861-1871-?b. ca. 1819 Old Deer ABD; d. 26 Oct 1888 Langside, nr Glasgow; mar. 1858 Margaret Wylie, dau. of James Pope, merchant; issue: Robt H.; Jane E.; Mary L.; Rosa M.; Rosalee E.; Chas J. M.

up

Monumental inscriptions

Monuments in Coupar Angus Kirkyard bearing pre-1855 information (ca. 160 stones) are listed in Alison Mitchell (ed.), "Pre-1855 Monumental Inscriptions in East Perthshire: Strathmore & the Carse of Gowrie" (Edinburgh: Scottish Genealogy Soc., 1997), which can be bought from the Scottish Genealogy Society. (It's listed as "Perthshire MI - Perthshire East. Pre-1855" in their online shop.)

Andrew Jervise recorded some monuments at Coupar Angus in his "Epitaphs & Inscriptions", vol. 1, pp. 72-4.

Some monuments in Coupar Angus Churchyard follow. [M1], etc., indicate Mitchell's numbering. Uncertain readings are in parentheses, (); parentheses on the stones are replaced here by braces, {}; square brackets enclose editorial comments.

[M7; flat stone, tipped up] Heir lys ane honest man GEORG WIGHTON merchant husbant to MARGARET MALICE who departed the last day of December 1703 and of his age 33 years ; GW MM ; Oh happy soul that after labours go / To heavens eternal mansions from below / T'enjoy the pleasures of eternall rest / With triumph mongst the angels to be blest / Happy who after so uncertain chance / Can safely to the heavn of heavens advance

[M99] 1805 This stone was erected by PATRICK DUNCAN portioner of the Welltown of Balbrogie and his wife JEAN PIRNIE in memory of their daughter MARGARET DUNCAN who died October 3d 1805 aged 15 years Also JEAN DUNCAN, of Wellton born January 1795. Died 29th January 1871.

In loving memory of CHARLES BRUCE PATERSON saddler, Coupar Angus, died 14th January 1907, aged 44. Also JANET ADAM his wife died 28th October 1901, aged 39. And their daughter JANET BRUCE ADAM PATERSON died 29th July 1975, aged 75.

In loving memory of captain ALEXANDER BUCHAN master mariner who died 26th January 1938. Also his wife ELSIE ROBERTSON who died 4th March 1951 And their daughter HELEN RIDDOCH BUCHAN who died 5th January 1982 And their son LESLIE ALEXANDER JOHN ROBERTSON BUCHAN died 10th Sept. 1985 aged 83

[broken pillar with grieving woman] In loving memory of our dear son GILDO GENNARI MORTALI died 9th Sept. 1930 aged 20 years. R.I.P. Frena il nostro dolor / La cara speme / Che un dí nel ciel / Sarem riuniti insieme

up

Coupar Angus war memorials

Coupar Angus Abbey - WW1 - photographs & names

Coupar Angus Abbey - WW2 - photographs & names

Coupar Angus - WW1 civic memorial

up

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, 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.

up

Church Session Records of Coupar Angus (Abbey) Church

Nature of recordDatesNRS ref. CH2/395/...
Minutes1682-17201
do1703-17242
do1724-17263
do1726-17474
do1748-17745
Accounts1748-17705
Minutes1775-18226
Copy letters1844-18456
Burials18496
Minutes1825-18497
do1849-18748
Cash book1772-18079
Heritors' minutes1775-17919
Cash books1808-198910 to 17
Fabric Fund cash book1928-194818
Minutes1874-190519
do1906-193320
do1933-194821
Congregational Board minutes1948-196322
do1963-197723
Women's Guild minutes1969-199224
Communion rolls1864-194825 to 31
Proclamations1937-194832
Seat letting book1966-197833
Marriages1855-197734

Church Session Records of Coupar Angus South U.P. Church (Antiburgher)
later, Coupar Angus South United Free; united in 1927 with Coupar Angus North U.F. as Coupar Angus U.F.

Nature of recordDatesNRS ref. CH3/1509/...
Minutes1901-19271
Communion roll1920-19302
Baptismal register1873-19483

Church Session Records of Coupar Angus Free Church
later, Coupar Angus North United Free; united in 1927 with Coupar Angus South U.F. as Coupar Angus U.F.; St Andrew's Ch. of S.

Nature of recordDatesNRS ref. CH3/1510/...
Minutes1843-18691
do1869-19282
do1928-19483
Deacons Court minutes1891-19274
Miscellaneous administrative papers1908-19275
Congregational board minutes1927-19486
Communion roll1923-19277
do1944-19478
Register of baptisms, marriages, deaths and communion services1918-19279
Cash book1927-193710
do1938-194811
Printed annual reports1931-193812
Badminton club minutes1928-195713
Sabbath collection cash book1894-189914
do1899-190315
Church and Sunday School collection cash book1913-193516

up

Coupar Angus Heritors' records

Nature of recordDatesNRS ref. HR492/...
Minute book1861-19281
Minutes1863-19282
Cash Book1877-18983
Accounts1859-19284
Accounts and vouchers1859-19005
Papers re ecclesiastical buildings, etc. (church, manse, churchyard, school)1848-19236
Papers re transference of property to Church of Scortland General Trustees1926-19307
Correspondence1859-19288
Miscellaneous papers1829-18939

up

Land owners

The principal proprietor in 1793 was the earl of Moray, and there were a further 34 heritors of the parish at that time. By 1843, there were more than 21 owners of land valued at more than £50 per annum.

up

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.

up

Population statistics
These figures are for the whole parish:

Yearmalefemaletotalref.
17551491Dr Alexander Webster
17932076Old Statistical Account
1801
1811
1821
18312615
1841*117313592532
1851

* figures for 1841 exclude the estate of Kinloch

The following are data for the part of the parish in Angus:

Yearmalefemaletotal
1755Dr Alexander Webster
1792Old Statistical Account
1801247
1811244
1821292
1831306

up

Provosts of Coupar Angus, to 1974

NameIn officeBornDiedInfo
Charles Enverdale Anderson?183827 Jan 1902 New York
David McFarlane1875-1895ca. 1815 Cargill PER23 May 1898 Coupar AngusPortrait
--- Davidsonbef. 1901
John Adam?-1897-?Coupar Angus4 Jul 1915joiner
George Ross1901-1904
James Dron?-1906-1910-?
James Chalmers?-1912-1916-?Dec 1930 Coupar Angus
Thomas Stuart?-?1859 Speyside3 Feb 1939 Coupar Angus
James Bruce?-1925-?Coupar Angus30 Apr 1936 Coupar Angus
T. W. Dunbar?-1930-1931
D. C. Steen1931-1934
The Rev. Austin Clark Barnacle1934-1936
Miss Annie Robertson1936-1939
John D. Davidson1939-1962

up

Town clerks of Coupar Angus

NameIn officeBornDiedInfo
Robert Watson1880-193024 Feb 1932
Alexander Ferguson Laing1930-1963-?

up

Testaments & wills

Coupar Angus was in the Commissariot of Dunkeld [NRS CC7] but some testaments were recorded at Dunblane [NRS CC6].

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 Coupar Angus people from the Register of Testaments of the Commissariot of Dunkeld, 1682-1800
'T' before the date indicates that the copy in the register is lost, but the original testament is extant.

Andrew Archersometime tenant in Broomhill, thereafter in Coupar-Angus20 Mar 1775
John Bell, seniorwright in Coupar-Angus14 Mar 1749
George Bruceportioner of Couper-Angus18 Aug 1748
Thomas Brucein Coupar of Angus3 Dec 1728
John Burnmanin Coupar-AngusT. 21 Jul 1781
George Campbellflesher in Cupar16 Dec 1740
George Campbellbutcher in Coupar-AngusT. 7 Dec 1784
John Cargillweaver in Coupar-AngusT. 9 May 1786
Andrew Chapmanlate brewer in Coupar, sometime servant to James Yeaman of Muirie6 Aug 1754
Patrick Chrystesonesurgeon in Couper of Angus24 May 1720 and 22 May 1753
David Clarkchapman in Coupar T. 29 Nov 1701
David Clarkmerchant in CouparT. 9 Feb 1703
Euphemia Crichtonin Coupar-Angus14 Feb 1776
George Crockatsurgeon in Cupar-Angus26 Oct 1763
Andrew Dougallin Bullions Boat, thereafter tenant in Arthurstone, par. of Coupar-AngusT. 29 Nov 1782
Margaret Dow in Coupar-Angus, relict of Andrew Scott, sometime in Muirtown of PerthT. 15 Nov 1800
John Drummondin Couper2 Aug 1695 and 16 Jan 1696
George Edwardportioner in Coupar of Angus20 and 20 Mar 1736
William Edwardmerchant in Coupar24 Sep 1717
William Edwardin Coupar of Angus(19 Dec 1727) 9 Mar 1731
John Geikiebaker in Coupar-Angus31 Jul 1771
Patrick or Peter Gowin Coupar-AngusT. 1 Jun 1784
James Haymerchant in Coupar of Angus31 Dec 1774
John Hutchisondrover in Cupar-AngusT. 7 Jun 1800
Adam Listervintner in Cupar-AngusT. 3 Feb and 2 Jun 1789
Anna Lyonrelict of George Campbell, late in Coupar of Angus22 May 1727
Mr Harry Malcolmsometime in Kinloch, par. of Coupar28 Oct 1714 and 10 Jul 1717
Alexander Martinemerchant in Coupar-Angus27 Apr 1740
Christian Martinein Boigside of Cupar, relict of James Watson, flesher in Cupar23 Nov 1758
David Melissflesher in Coupar of Angus20 Apr 1773
Isobel Menziesresidenter in Coupar-AngusT. 31 May 1777
William Menziesstamp-master at Coupar of Angus1 Feb 1763
Margaret Mitchell in Casawayend of Coupar in Angus, widow of Andrew Donn, sometime flesher there19 Jun 1766
James Murraytailor in Coupar12 Dec 1717
David Mylesbaxter in Coupar of Angus(29 Sep 1730) 19 Jan 1731
Mr James Ogilvielate bailie depute of the Regality of Coupar19 Oct 1714, T. 18 Aug 1715, and 29 Oct 1717
Mr John Ogilvielate bailie of Coupar-Angus31 Jan 1728 and T. 16 Oct 1735
John Ogilvieonly lawful son to the deceased Mr John Ogilvie, late bailie depute of the Regality of Coupar in Angus13 Jan 1736
Margaret Ogilvierelict of Mr Alexander Airth, sometime schoolmaster of Coupar-Angus4 May and 16 Nov 1749
Donald Patersonin Auchterhouse, par. of Coupar-Angus22 Jun 1775
Thomas Paton, alias Neill Stewartin Coupar7 Mar 1745
Elizabeth Ramsayonce widow of John Ogilvey, vintner in Coupar-AngusT. 4 Dec 1782
William Rattrayclerk to the Regality of Coupar22 Jan 1760
William Smalltenant in Culdham, par. of Cupar-AngusT. 30 May 1782
James Spankieminister at Coupar-AngusT. 15 Mar and T. 12 Jun 1779
John Stewartin Cupar, par. of Cupar23 Feb 1688
Neill Stewart alias Thomas Patonin Coupar7 Mar 1745
Patrick Stewartin Couper19 Feb and (147) 19 Mar 1689
Jean Turnbullspouse to James Sym, in CouparT. 8 Apr 1689
Janet Westbaker in Coupar-AngusT. 5 Apr 1800
George Wightonmerchant in CuparT. 28 Mar 1710
George Wightonmerchant in Coupar-Angus, and Anna Wighton, his only lawful daughter9 Aug 1733
James Wightonmerchant in CouparT. 21 Jan 1702
John Wilsonlate merchant in Coupar of Angus6 Sep 1770 and 1 Feb 1773
William Windramdyer at Waulk-miln of Coupar in Angus11 Dec 1739 and 16 Dec 1740
George Younglate merchant in Coupar-Angus16 May 1772

Testaments of Coupar Angus people from the Register of Testaments of the Commissariot of Dunblane, 1539-1800

David Campbell, fiar of Kethickpar. of Coupar17 Jun 1654
Mr James Halyburtonnotar in Coupar19 Jan 1653
Agnes Mitchell spouse to Alexander Michale, in Coupar of Angusp. 174, 31 Jan 1653
James Wilkieat the Boat of Coupar14 Mar 1659

Testaments of Coupar Angus people from the Register of Testaments of the Commissariot of Edinburgh, 1601-1700

Alisone Couperrelict of Captain Daniel Pittilloch, in Coupar Angus28 Jun 1687

Testaments of Coupar Angus people from the Register of Testaments of the Commissariot of Edinburgh, 1701-1800

David Brownsometime residenter in Coupar of Angus13 Mar 1753
Mr Alexander McGivenlate officer of Excise at Coupar-Angus5 May 1720
George Wilsononly living child of the deceased Margaret Crockat, who was only daughter of the deceased George C, surgeon in Cupar-Angus, by David Wilson, merchant in Cupar-Angus, her husband19 Dec 1793

up

Burgh of Coupar Angus: burgh records, 1873-1975

A summary of the records is on page 6 of the document Perth & Kinross Council Collections: Small burghs

up

Clock & watch tax, 1797-8

Images of the original records for Coupar Angus:

NRS ref. E326/12/2/43

up

Farm horse tax, 1797-8

Images of the original records for Coupar Angus:

up

Libraries

Details for Coupar Angus Library are at Coupar Angus Library

up

Places of interest

up

This page updated 9 Sep 2022