Burgh Court records
See the individual burghs and royal burghs on the relevant pages: Arbroath, Brechin, Carnoustie, Forfar, Kirriemuir, Monifieth, Montrose
Commissary Court records
As the Commissary Courts were the successors of the pre-reformation church courts, they were based on the old church dioceses. Their functions were taken over by the Sheriff Courts in the 1820s. The relevant Commissary Courts are:
Aberdeen (https://catalogue.nrscotland.gov.uk/nrsonlinecatalogue/search.aspx">NRS CC1, for 1538-1828) - for three of the northernmost parishes of Kincardineshire: Banchory Devenick, Banchory Ternan and Maryculter
Brechin (https://catalogue.nrscotland.gov.uk/nrsonlinecatalogue/search.aspx">NRS CC3, for 1576-1823) - for Brechin, Carmyllie, Careston, Cortachy and Clova, Dundee, Dunnichen, Farnell, Glenbervie, Glenisla, Guthrie, Kingoldrum, Lethnot and Navar, Lochlee, Maryton, Monikie, Montrose, Oathlaw, Panbride, Stracathro and Strachan
Dunkeld (https://catalogue.nrscotland.gov.uk/nrsonlinecatalogue/search.aspx">NRS CC7, for 1663-1824) - for the parishes of Alyth, Auchterhouse, Coupar Angus, Fern, Ruthven and Tealing
St Andrews (https://catalogue.nrscotland.gov.uk/nrsonlinecatalogue/search.aspx">NRS CC20, for 1549-1824) - for Aberlemno, Airlie, Arbirlot, Arbroath, Arbuthnott, Barry, Benholm, Bervie, Craig, Dun, Dunnottar, Durris, Eassie & Nevay, Edzell, Fettercairn, Fetteresso, Fordoun, Forfar, Garvock, Glamis, Inverarity & Methy, Inverkeilor, Kettins, Kingoldrum, Kinneff, Kinnell, Kinnettles, Kirkden, Kirriemuir, Laurencekirk, Liff & Benvie, Lintrathen, Logie-Pert, Lunan, Lundie & Fowlis Easter, Mains & Strathmartine, Marykirk, Monifieth, Murroes, Newtyle, Nigg, Rescobie, St Cyrus, St Vigeans and Tannadice
Additionally, the Commissary Court of Edinburgh (https://catalogue.nrscotland.gov.uk/nrsonlinecatalogue/search.aspx">NRS CC8, for 1514-1859) is relevant for all of Angus & Kincardineshire.
Search using the search page of the National Records of Scotland for further details.
The following are the top-level categories. Below these, there are sub-categories such as CC1/1/...
Aberdeen (NRS CC1, for 1538-1828)
Nature of record Dates NRS ref. CC1/... Diet Books 1721-1823 1 Minute Books of Decreets 1748-1823 2 Processes, Warrants of Decreets, etc. 1713-1828 3 Miscellaneous Court Records 1722-1825 4 Minute Book of Testaments 1715-1823 5 Warrants of Testaments and Inventories 1657-1747 (with gaps), 1715-1823 6 digital images can be seen free of charge in person in NRS, or copies may be purchased at ScotlandsPeople Petitions 1721-1823 7 Edicts of Executry 1720-1823 8 Warrants of Tutorial and Curatorial Inventories 1722-1823 9 Edicts of Tutory and Curatory 1721-1805 10 Inventories and Minute Books of Records 1720-1823 11 Miscellaneous Papers 1578, 1611, 1731-49 12 Register of Inventories 1804-1823 13 Register of Settlements 1812-1823 14 Registered Extracts 1722-4 15 Registered Deeds 1721-1811 16 Registered Protests 1721-1809 17 Brechin (NRS CC3, for 1576-1823)
Nature of record Dates NRS ref. CC3/... Act Books 1579/80-82, 1599-1605, 1610-1823 (with gaps) 1 Parties to CC3/1/2 (for 23 Jun 1599 to 24 Aug 1605) are here
Parties to CC3/1/3 (for 7 Feb 1610 to 24 Mar 1614) are here
Parties to CC3/1/4 (for 9 Jan 1611 to 19 Jun 1613) are here
Parties to CC3/1/5 (for 25 Aug 1621 to 15 Aug 1625) are here
Parties to CC3/1/6 (for 21 Sep 1625 to 2 Jun 1629) are here
Parties to CC3/1/7 (for 2 May 1629 to 19 Dec 1635) are here
Processes 1658-1823 (with gaps) 2 Register of Testaments 1576/7-1823 (with gaps) 3 digital images can be seen free of charge in person in NRS, or copies may be purchased at ScotlandsPeople Warrants of Testaments 1596-1823 4 Register of Inventories and Settlements 1806-23 5 digital images can be seen free of charge in person in NRS, or copies may be purchased at ScotlandsPeople Petitions 1773-1823 6 Edicts 1661-1823 (with gaps) 7 Bonds of Caution 1664-1823 (with gaps) 8 Register of Deeds etc. 1594-1602, 1605-40, 1656-68, 1680-1714, 1773-1809 9 Parties to CC3/9/1 (for 24 Oct 1594 to 19 Apr 1602) are here
Parties to CC3/9/2 (for 3 Jan 1605 to 16 Aug 1609) are here
Parties to CC3/9/3 (for 12 May 1610 to 31 Oct 1614) are here
Parties to CC3/9/4 (for 2 Nov 1614 to 28 Dec 1619) are here
Parties to CC3/9/5 (for 2 Jan 1615 to 9 Feb 1618) are here
Parties to CC3/9/6 (for 5 Jan 1620 to 3 Sep 1623) are here
Parties to CC3/9/7 (for 3 Sep 1623 to 30 Sep 1629) are here
Parties to CC3/9/8 (for 1 Oct 1629 to 10 Sep 1635) are here
Warrants of Deeds 1636-1740, 1742-1810 10 Warrants of Protests 1724-68 (with gaps) 11 Inventory of Records --- 12 Miscellaneous Papers 1644-1750 13 Dunkeld (NRS CC7, for 1663-1824)
Nature of record Dates NRS ref. CC7/... Diet Books, etc. 1690-1823 (with gaps) 1 Minute Books of Decreets 1800, 1804-23 2 Extracted Processes 1680, 1687-1706, 1708-1823 3 Unextracted Processes 1712-1823 4 Miscellaneous Court Records 1684-1823 5 Register of Testaments 1687-96, 1712-76, 1804-23 6 digital images can be seen free of charge in person in NRS, or copies may be purchased at ScotlandsPeople Warrants of Testaments 1663, 1680-1823 (with gaps) 7 Indexes to Testaments 1712-82 8 Superseded by free indexes at ScotlandsPeople Register of Inventories and Settlements 1805-23 9 digital images can be seen free of charge in person in NRS, or copies may be purchased at ScotlandsPeople Warrants of Inventories, etc. 1805-24 10 Petitions 1810-23 11 Edicts 1690-1823 (with gaps) 12 Warrants of Tutorial and Curatorial Inventories 1684-1791 (with gaps) 13 Register of Deeds and Protests 1687-1702, 1712-77, 1804-09 14 Minute Books of Deeds and Protests 1687-1809 15 Warrants of Deeds and Protests 1628-1809 (with gaps) 16 Inventories of Records 17 Miscellaneous Papers 1725-1810 18 St Andrews (NRS CC20, for 1549-1824)
Nature of record Dates NRS ref. CC20/... Act books etc. 1563/4-66, 1573/4-1791 (incomplete) 1 Register of decreets 1595-1823 (incomplete) 2 Processes 1718-1823 (incomplete) 3 Register of testaments 1549-51, 1583-1823 (incomplete) 4 digital images can be seen free of charge in person in NRS, or copies may be purchased at ScotlandsPeople Minute book of testaments 1718-1823 5 Warrants of testaments and inventories 1668, 1707, 1714-1823 (incomplete) 6 Register of inventories and settlements 1806-23 7 digital images can be seen free of charge in person in NRS, or copies may be purchased at ScotlandsPeople Petitions 1809-23 8 Edicts 1713-1823 (incomplete) 9 Warrants of tutorial and curatorial inventories 1750-99 10 Register of deeds and protests 1564-74, 1592-95, 1618-1809 (incomplete) 11 Minute book of deeds 1671-1745, 1780-1809 12 Warrants of deeds and protests 1649, 1667, 1673, 1694, 1696-1809 (incomplete) 13 Index of deeds and protests 1564-1809 14 Inventory of records --- 15
Regality Court records
In addition to the regalities based in Angus - Arbroath, Brechin and Kirriemuir - the regalities of Coupar Angus, Lindores and St Andrews are also relevant to the history of Angus & Kincardineshire, up to the abolition of most heritable jurisdictions in 1747. Of these regalities, all except Kirriemuir were ecclesiastical.
Regality of Arbroath
- Regality Court Book, 1681-1738, NRS ref. GD16/36/19
- Land records, 1253-1789, NRS ref. GD16/21/...
- Title Deeds, NRS ref. GD16/21/1-31
- Wadsets & Heritable Bonds, NRS ref. GD16/21/32-47
- Apprisings, NRS ref. GD16/21/48-49
- Inventories of Writs, NRS ref. GD16/21/50-52
Regality of Coupar Angus
- Deeds Warrants, 1667-1715; NRS ref. SC49/69/1
- Deeds Warrants, 1716-1740; NRS ref. SC49/69/2
- Particular Register of Hornings and Inhibitions, 1731-1746; NRS ref. DI112
Regality of Lindores
Regality of St Andrews
The widespread barony of Rescobie - seemingly unrelated to the parish of Rescobie but partly in Angus, Kincardineshire and Aberdeenshire - was in this regality.
There are further records of the regality, but it is unclear whether they, or those listed below, have any relevance to Angus or Kincardineshire.Nature of record Dates Ref. Register of Hornings and Inhibitions 1715-1728 NRS GD1/361/2 do 1728-1746 NRS GD1/361/3 Particular Register of Hornings and Inhibitions 1 Jun 1673-2 Oct 1677 NRS DI125/1 Admiralty Court Book 1671-1730 NRS RH11/61/1 Regality Court Book 1731-1741 St Andrews University Library, ref. B65/21/1
Sheriff Court records
Summary of the Records of Forfar Sheriff Court, 1568-1984 [NRS ref. SC47/...]
Search using the search page of the National Records of Scotland for further details.
Classification of the records
- Ordinary court - SC47/1 to SC47/25
- Workmen's compensation - SC47/26 to SC47/29
- Small debt court - SC47/32 to SC47/35
- Debts recovery court - SC47/36 to SC47/38
- Summary removing court - SC47/39
- Commissary records - SC47/40 to SC47/48
- Criminal courts - SC47/50 to SC47/55
- Register of deeds, protests, etc. - SC47/56 to SC47/62
- Administrative records - SC47/66 to SC47/69
- Miscellaneous records - SC47/70 to SC47/79
- Summary cause - SC47/80
The following are the top-level categories. Below these, there are sub-categories such as SC47/1/...
| Nature of record | Dates | NRS ref. SC47/... | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Court, Minute & Act Books | 1568-1857 | 1 | |
| Roll Books | 1769-1974 | 2 | the daily business of the court, with the stage each action had reached |
| Register of Ordinary Actions ('A' register) | 1899-1978 | 3 | |
| Register of Summary Applications ('B' register) | 1906-1979 | 4 | |
| - | |||
| Register of Decrees | 1711-1978 | 7 | |
| Register of extract decrees of affiliation and aliment | 1911-1969 | 7A | |
| Decreet Roll Books | 1788-1808 | 8 | |
| Register of Sequestrations | 1839-1951 | 9 | |
| Register of Sequestrations for Rent | 1867-1964 | 10 | |
| Registers of Indorsations | 1907-1965 | 11 | |
| - | |||
| Register of Curatorial Inventories | 1827-1910 | 14 | inventories of both heritable and moveable property of deceased persons leaving heirs in their minority |
| Process Borrowing Receipt Books and Inventories | 1800-1897 | 15 | records of borrowing of processes from the court by law agents |
| Register of Law Agents | 1850-1960 | 16 | |
| Admission of Procurators, Sheriff Officers Etc (Petitions) | 1829-1907 | 17 | |
| Caveats | 1809-1921 | 18 | |
| Fiars Court records | 1895-1975 | 19 | |
| Records of Fatal Accident Inquiries | 1954-1975 | 20 | |
| Miscellaneous Court Books | 1825-1962 | 21 | |
| Processes - Preservation 1st Series | 1622-1980 | 22 | |
| Adoption Processes | 1930-1980 | 23 | CLOSED |
| Processes - Limbo | 1933-1980 | 24 | |
| Processes - Preservation, 2nd Series | 1867-1932 | 25 | |
| Workmen's Compensation: Special Register - Memoranda of Agreement | 1899-1954 | 26 | |
| Processes - Limbo | 1932-1946 | 27 | |
| Medical Referees' Reports | 1916-1950 | 28 | |
| Minute Book of Memoranda of Agreement | 1933-1978 | 29 | |
| - | |||
| Small Debt Court Books | 1825-1976 | 32 | |
| Small Debt Court Books (Brechin District) | 1895-1927 | 33 | |
| Small Debt Court Books (Kirriemuir District) | 1830-1913 | 34 | |
| Small Debt Court Reports of Poindings & Sale | 1830-1845 | 35 | |
| Debts Recovery Court Books | 1868-1908 | 36 | |
| Debts Recovery Court Book (Brechin District) | 1868-1907 | 37 | |
| Debts Recovery Court Book (Kirriemuir District) | 1868-1904 | 38 | |
| Summary Removing Court Books | 1970-1976 | 39 | |
| Register of Inventories | 1824-1967 | 40 | digital images can be seen free of charge in person in NRS, or copies (pre-1902) may be purchased at ScotlandsPeople |
| - | |||
| Indexes to Register of Inventories | 1824-1958 | 42 | |
| Register of Wills | 1902-1984 | 43 | |
| Register of Confirmations | 1824-1984 | 44 | i.e. confirmations of executries |
| Indexes to Register of Confirmations | 1831-1965 | 45 | |
| Minute books of inventories | 1966-1980 | 46 | |
| Commissary Minute Books | 1824-1898 | 47 | |
| Commissary Court Minute Books | 1847-1965 | 48 | |
| - | |||
| Record of Criminal Trials | 1829-1897 | 50 | |
| Criminal and Quasi-criminal Roll Books | 1905-1980 | 51 | |
| Indictments - Solemn jury trials | 1967-1982 | 52 | |
| Criminal Processes | 1854-1966 | 53 | |
| Juvenile Court Register | 1934-1963 | 54 | |
| Miscellaneous Criminal Registers | 1737-1827 | 55 | |
| Register of Deeds & Protests Etc (First Series) | 1623-1809 | 56 | |
| Register of Deeds (Second Series) | 1809-1980 | 57 | |
| Minute Books of Deeds | 1724-1942 | 58 | |
| Registered Deeds | ca. 1620-1980 | 59 | |
| Register of Protests | 1809-1974 | 60 | |
| Minute Books of Protests | 1809-1965 | 61 | |
| Protests - Warrants | 1890-1965 | 62 | dates should perhaps be 1809-1965 |
| - | |||
| Jury Books | 1839-1949 | 66 | |
| Commissary Clerks' Commissions | 1840-1856 | 67 | |
| Sheriff Clerk's Correspondence | 1795-1943 | 68 | |
| Register of Deeds Etc Annual Returns | 1810-1936 | 69 | |
| Register of Improvements to Entailed Estates | 1770-1874 | 70 | |
| Commissioners of Supply | 1622-1825 | 71 | |
| Militia | 1799-1823 | 72 | |
| Gas, Harbour & Water Commissioners' Accounts | 1871-1903 | 73 | |
| Style Book | ca. 1724 | 74 | |
| Account Book (Barony of Dod) | 1704-1713 | 75 | |
| Corn Law Returns | 1782-1818 | 76 | |
| Fiars Court Records | 1780-1966 | 77 | |
| Register of Game Certificates | 1798-1806 | 78 | |
| Miscellaneous Records | 1908-1912 | 79 | |
| Summary cause registers of summonses for payment (RSC 1) | 1976-1978 | 80 |
There is also the following series of Diligence Registers for Forfar Sheriff Court:
Minute Books of the Particular Register of Hornings and Inhibitions, etc., 1599-1872 - NRS ref. DI59/...
Summary of the Records of Stonehaven Sheriff Court, 1652-1975 [NRS ref. SC5/...]
Search using the search page of the National Records of Scotland for further details.
Classification of the records
- Ordinary court - SC5/1 to SC5/31
- Workmen's compensation - SC5/32 to SC5/33B
- Small debt court - SC5/34 to SC5/36
- Commissary records - SC5/40 to SC5/45
- Criminal court - SC5/48 to SC5/54
- Juvenile court - SC5/55
- Registers of deeds and protests - SC5/58 to SC5/63
- Other records - SC5/65 to SC5/76
The following are the top-level categories. Below these, there are sub-categories such as SC5/1/...
| Nature of record | Dates | NRS ref. SC5/... | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Court and act books (old series) | 1652-1796 | 1 | |
| Diet and roll books | 1743-1971 | 2 | |
| Motion rolls | 1832-1915 | 3 | |
| Minute books of decrees | 1743-1882 | 4 | |
| Registers of ordinary actions ('A' registers) | 1899-1972 | 5 | |
| Registers of summary applications ('B' registers) | 1920-1963 | 6 | |
| Record of extract decrees | 1719-1967 | 7 | |
| Processes - preservation, 1st series | 1671-1970 | 8 | |
| Processes - limbo | 1934-1970 | 9 | |
| Processes - preservation, 2nd series | 1910-1934 | 10 | |
| Adoption processes | 1932-1970 | 11 | CLOSED |
| Adoption registers | 1955-1970 | 12 | CLOSED |
| - | |||
| Caveat books | 1835-1935 | 14 | |
| Mandates to procurators | 1784-1894 | 15 | |
| Process borrowing and receipt books | 1795-1937 | 16 | |
| Avizandum books | 1782-1851 | 17 | |
| Registers of indorsations | 1839-1924 | 18 | |
| - | |||
| Sequestration books | 1839-1966 | 20 | |
| Registers of poindings and arrestments | 1754-1913 | 21 | |
| Minute books of hornings and inhibitions | 1661-1685 | 22 | |
| Registers etc of services, curatories and transumpts | 17th century-1869 | 23 | |
| Services of heirs, etc | 1665-1854 | 24 | |
| Bonds of caution | 1681-1858 | 25 | |
| - | |||
| Minutes of Fatal Accident Inquiries | 1917-1970 | 28 | |
| Records of fatal accident inquries | 1913-1970 | 29 | |
| Registers of clubs | 1904-1971 | 30 | |
| Club applications | 1950-1970 | 31 | |
| Registers | 1904-1948 | 32 | Sheriff courts had jurisdiction in proceedings under the Workmen's Compensation Act of 1897, etc., concerning compensation by employers to workmen for personal injury. |
| Medical referees' reports | 1926-1945 | 32A | |
| Memoranda of agreement (warrants etc) | 1910-1951 | 33 | |
| Processes - limbo | 1917-1947 | 33A | |
| Minute Book of Memoranda of Agreements | 1932-1961 | 33B | |
| Roll books | 1825-1969 | 34 | |
| District roll books | 1838-1889 | 35 | |
| Miscellaneous Small Debt Court books | 1854-1933 | 36 | |
| Processes | 1854-1872 | 37 | |
| - | |||
| Record of confirmations | 1824-1967 | 40 | |
| Record of Inventories, Wills & Confirmations | 1824-1984 | 41 | digital images can be seen free of charge in person in NRS, or copies (pre-1902) may be purchased at ScotlandsPeople |
| Minute books of inventories | 1911-1975 | 42 | |
| Commissary Court diet books | 1824-1876 | 43 | |
| Minute books of bonds of caution | 1835-1907 | 44 | |
| Bonds of caution (Commissary proceedings) | 1824-1862 | 45 | |
| - | |||
| Record of proceedings (summary) | 1698-1953 | 48 | |
| Processes in summary proceedings | 1863-1915 | 48A | |
| Record of criminal jury trials | 1822-1948 | 49 | |
| Minute books of proceedings on criminal complaints | 1828-1837 | 50 | |
| Criminal and quasi-criminal roll books | 1912-1970 | 51 | |
| Record of criminal jury trials | 1678-1970 | 52 | |
| Bail bonds | 1754-1858 | 53 | |
| Miscellaneous criminal books and papers | 1742-1858 | 54 | |
| Record of proceedings | 1936-1957 | 55 | |
| - | |||
| Registers of deeds, protests etc (old series) | 1675-1767 | 58 | |
| Registers of probative writs (old series) | 1715-1809 | 59 | |
| Registers of deeds and probative writs (new series) | 1809-1968 | 60 | |
| Registers of protests (new series) | 1809-1970 | 61 | |
| Minute books of protests | 1697-1968 | 62 | |
| Deeds - warrants | 1656-1970 | 63 | |
| - | |||
| Registers of improvements on entailed estates | 1820-1853 | 65 | |
| Papers relating to entailed estate improvements | 1820-1848 | 66 | |
| Fiars Court records | 1750-1975 | 67 | |
| Miscellaneous court administrative papers | 1708-1865 | 68 | |
| - | |||
| Head court, freeholders' and electoral records | 1710-1892 | 70 | |
| Oaths of allegiance etc | 1746-1865 | 71 | |
| Royal proclamations etc | 1688-1952 | 72 | |
| Rogue money accounts | 1764-1831 | 73 | |
| Papers relating to roads and bridges | 1825-1877 | 74 | |
| Papers relating to James Grant, merchant in Montrose and factor to Sir James Carnegie of Pitarrow | 1686-1833 | 75 | |
| Miscellaneous | ca. 1600-1949 | 76 |
Summary of the Records of Dundee Sheriff Court, 1803-1984 [NRS ref. SC45/...]
Search using the search page of the National Records of Scotland for further details.
Classification of the records
- Ordinary court - SC45/1 to SC45/19
- Workmen's compensation - SC45/20 to SC45/24
- Small debt court - SC45/25 to SC45/27
- Debt recovery court - SC45/28 to SC45/29
- Summary removing court - SC45/30
- Commissary records - SC45/31 to SC45/36A
- Criminal court - SC45/37 to SC45/41
- Registers of protests, etc. - SC45/42 to SC45/45
- Miscellaneous - SC45/47 to SC45/51
- Summary cause - SC45/52 to SC45/53
- Social work - SC45/54
Summary of the Records of Arbroath Sheriff Court, 1827-1984 [NRS ref. SC43/...]
Arbroath Sheriff Court dates from 5 Oct 1887 (for civil actions), but the records include earlier small debt cases of Forfar Sheriff Court relating to Arbroath. Civil cases for Barry and Panbride, including Carnoustie, could be heard at Arbroath from Nov 1889. The commissary and criminal jurisdiction of Arbroath dates from 1975.
Search using the search page of the National Records of Scotland for further details.
Classification of the records
- Ordinary court - SC43/1 to SC43/26
- Workmen's compensation - SC43/27 to SC43/31
- Small debt & summary removing court - SC43/32
- Criminal courts - SC43/35 to SC43/36
- Debts recovery court - SC43/38
- Commissary court - SC43/42 to SC43/43
- Registers of deeds, etc. - SC43/46 to SC43/48
- Register of summary causes - SC43/50 to SC43/51