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Peebles
The parish of Peebles lies in the eastern half of the county of the same name. Eddleston is on the northern boundary with Innerleithen and Traquair to the east. The southern tip borders onto Selkirkshire parish of Yarrow with Lyne, Stobo and Manor on the wast. The town originated at the pont where Eddleston Water enters the Tweed. John Buchan the author and William Chambers, the publisher and orignator of Chambers dictionary were both born in Peebles. There are now two parishes in Peebles - the Old Parish Church (to which Eddleston is now linked) and St Andrews Leckie
Old Parish Records cover the periods:
Births: 1622-1659, 1660-1819, 1819-1854 (Mothers' names are rare until 1742)
See our sales list for full details and cost of postage.
Volumes available for consultation within our Archive
Pre 1855 Monumental Inscriptions of Peeblesshire by S.A. Scott published by Scottish Genealogical Society 1971.
Rutherford's Southern Counties Register and Directory 1867.
County Directory of Scotland 1912 - Borders Towns and Villages.
CD Extracts from the Records of the Burgh of Peebles 1652 to 1716.
Magazine Articles
Please note that the heading Author includes persons who have compiled or transcribed records; and that the topics indexed, and the synopses are subjective opinions. See the Sales List to buy copies of the magazines containing articles in which you're interested.
Title
Synopsis
Size Description
Issue No
Author
The Railways of Peebles
Information on a new publication entitled 'The Railways of Peebles' which traces the competition between two railway companies to open a line to Peebles, the competing lines which were opened and their subsequent history.
1 page or more
84
Restoration of Gravestone at Peebles - James Sloane
An account of the restoration of a gravestone in the churchyard at Peebles of James Sloane who was rector of Peebles Grammar School between 1802 and 1843. Also extracts on James Sloane from a book 'Glimpses of Peebles and Forgotten Characters in its History' by Alexander Williamson published in 1895.
2 pages or more
84
Secret Peebles
Review of the book 'Secret Peebles' by Liz Hanson.
less than 1 page
95
Ronald Morrison
Peebles History Tour
Review of a book compiled by Liz Hanson being a photographic tour of Peebles.
less than 1 page
97
Ronald Morrison
David Reid Dewar - Another of War's Victims
The story of David Reid Dewar, originally from Cumnock but who moved to Peebles before enlisting and being severely mentally affected by his experiences in the Great War and of his subsequent life when he was described as 'confused, incoherent and delusional'.
2 pages or more
89
Margaret Ross
The Presbytery of Melrose and Peebles
Book review. Author: Fraser Simm. A summary of the upcoming merger of the presbyteries in the Borders from 1/January 2023. The current 3: Duns, Jedburgh and Melrose & Peebles, will be merged. This commemorative booklet combines the achievements each congregation has achieved in the past, with 122 photographs to back up the text. Many parishes in the Melrose & Peebles parishes are listed.
less than 1 page
110
Fraser Simm
Newspapers published in the Borders
Border newspapers published in the Borders, 65 in total.
2 pages or more
5
Peter Elliot
Maps
Brief notes about Borders maps available from the Society, and on the Internet.
1 page or more
43
Peter Munro
Peebles Combination Poorhouse
A brief history of poorhouses in general and Peebles Poorhouse in particular. It includes some information about staff and inmates in the late 19th century.
5 pages or more
74
Janis Miller
Alexander Turnbull and his Family
If you have any Turnbulls in your family and you think that you came from the Borders, this is a must for you. Turnbulls from Galashiels, Selkirk and Hawick.
5 pages or more
25
Jane Gibson
Recording the Jardines - A one-name study
17 years of research of the Jardine Clan Society. A history of the Clan and the worldwide story of the Jardines.
4 pages or more
27
Violet Jardine
John White and Margaret Brown
A summary of research into John "Jock" White and Margaret "Maggie" Brown born in Scotland, but lived in Hyde Park Massachusetts. Census records revealed John's father (John White Senior) was born at Needlehall, Galashiels, May 1852, near the Needle Ha' ford across the Tweed. Jock was brought up in Galashiels (Low Buckholmside per the 1861 census) and Maggie married in Innerleithen - both were power loom weavers. They, and 2 sons, and John Senior emigrated to the USA July 1884. Maggie's father was William Brown (born Yarrow 1827) and Jane Anderson (1816), with previous generations hailing from Peebles and Innerleithen.
2 pages or more
105
Jane Stephenson
William Kerr--Portrait of a Canadian Immigrant
John Kerr from Peebles, emigrated to America, fought in the Civil War, was honourably discharged and settled down to a farmer's life.
1 page or more
12
Colin Wood
Forgotten Borderers
James Grieve and his interesting contribution to the lowly apple.
1 page or more
28
Jean M. Smith
Links with old Peebles Families
A investigating search into old Peebles families.
2 pages or more
12
Rena Stewart
The Descendants of James Borrowman
(1744-1813)
The history of the name Borrowman from Edinburgh down to Peebles and beyond, with a pedigree chart.
2 pages or more
17
Philip R Borrowman
Peeblesshire's First Car
An account of Peeblesshire's first car built by Laurence Bell in a rented shed in Peebles and how from such humble beginnings developed the Scottish Motor Traction Company (SMT).
2 pages or more
82
Gwen Stein
Map of Peebles from UK Great Britain, Ordnance Survey one-inch to the mile (1:63,360), 'Hills' edition, 1885-1903 by kind permission of the National Library of Scotland. Use the control at the top left of the map to zoom in or out and drag the map left, right, up, or down as you wish.
Map of Peebles from UK Ordnance Survey Historical Maps from 1919-1947 by kind permission of the National Library of Scotland. Use the control at the top left of the map to zoom in or out and drag the map left, right, up, or down as you wish.
Other Sources
The Buildings of Scotland - Borders, Cruft, Dunbar & Fawcett, Yale University Press, London 2006
A History of Peeblesshire (3 Vol) - Buchan & Paton, , Jackson, Wylie and Co, Glasgow 1925-7
The Statistical Accounts of Scotland compiled initially between 1791 and 1799, with a subsequent edition between 1834 and 1845 are a valuable record of the geography, history, economy, people and customs recorded by local ministers. You'll need to search for the parish name.
Proclamations of Marriage 1794-1802, 1803-1822, 1825-1893
Peebles Free Church (CH3/44 and 396)
In 1843, a group of parish members adhered to the Free Church and with others from surrounding parishes formed a new congregation. They had their own building first in School Brae and then Eastgate.
Free Presbytery Minutes 1843-1857
Deacons' Court Minutes 1844-1885
West Church Relief Presbyterian (CH3/397)
This congregation began in 1827 when several residents of Peebles who were dissatisfied with their minister applied for and obtained supply of sermon from the Relief Presbytery of Edinburgh. They built a church in 1828.
Session Minutes 1829-1876
Communion Roll, 1830-1876
Management Committee Minutes 1827-1883, 1827-1850
Cash Book 1827-1904
Peebles, St. Joseph's Catholic Church (RH21/81)
A domestic chapel was located at Traquair House from the 17th century, but there are no known registers. In 1850 a congregation was started at Peebles and a church consecrated to St. Joseph.
Baptisms 1850-1863
LDS Family History Library
East Church, Leckie Associate Burgher Presbyterian ( Film Number 1886231)
