Borders Family History Society

Cockburnspath

Berwickshire map

Cockburnspath is a coastal Parish situated in the north east of Berwickshire being bounded on the north by the County of Midlothian and by the North Sea, on the east by the North Sea and the Parish of Coldingham, on the south by the Parishes of Coldingham and Abbey St. Bathans and on the west by the County of Midlothian. Old Parish Birth Records exist from 1642 to 1700 and from1705 to 1854. Marriage Records exist from 1642 to 1699 and from 1709 to 1854. There are no death records. Sales List; 1841 census Cockburnspath. 1851 census Cockburnspath. 1861 census Cockburnspath. We are currently working on recording the gravestone inscriptions. See our sales list for full details and postage costs.

Cockburnspath Parish Church

Volumes available for consultation within our Archive;

Cockburnspath Historical Hamlet - Cockburnspath Community Council.
Pre 1855 Memorial Inscriptions of Berwickshire by David Cargill.
The Churches and Churchyards of Berwickshire by G.A.C. Binnie.
C.D. The Churches and Churchyards of Berwickshire by James Robson 1896.
Index to Particular Register of Sasines for Berwickshire.
Pigot's 1837 Directory of Berwickshire and Roxburghshire.
Rutherford's Southern Counties Register and Directory 1867.
C.D. Slater's Directory of Berwickshire 1903.
County Directory of Scotland 1912 - Borders Towns and Villages.

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.

Other Sources;

• Cockburnspath - a Documentary Social History of a Border Parish by Eric Rankin 1981.
• Cockburnspath - a history of a people and a place by Sally Smith 1999.

Scottish Borders Council and Family History Centre, the Hub Hawick holds the following records;

• Cockburnspath Public School Minute books 1873-1947 - ref; B/ED/1/17-21.
• Cockburnspath Public School Log Books 1893-1953 - ref B/ED/8-10.
• Ecclaw School Log Books 1902 to 1945.

The Scottish National Archives Edinburgh hold the following records;

Cockburnspath Parish Church;

• Minutes 1844 to 1936 ref; CH2/68.

Stockbridge Associate Session, later Cockburn and Stockbridge United Free Church;

• Minutes 1795 to 1937.
• Seat Rent Books 1838 to 1864.
• Baptisms 1795 to 1937.
• Marriages 1795 to 1927.
• Managers' Minutes and Accounts 1828 to 1871 ref; CH3/57/1-5.

Cockburnspath and Oldhamstocks Free Church;

• Register of Members' Contributions 1851 to1880 ref CH3/58/9-12.
• Association and Deacons' Court Minutes 1843 to 1937.
• Cash Books 1843 to 1867.
• Births 1846 to 1937. 
• Marriages 1846 to 1927 -ref; CH3/58/14.

also the following Maps;

• 1805 Plan of Blackburn Estate - ref RHP.1035/1.
• 1882 Plan of Branxton Estate RHP.3311.

Berwickshire Naturalists' Club has published the following articles;

• Vol. 8 Cockburnspath -its owners.
• Vol. 28 Blackburn Mill - cinerary urn and plate.
• Vol. 28 Raided 1544.
• Vol. 36 Church photo.
• Vol. 29 Sundial by W. E. Rankin.
• Vol. 36 Ministers of the 17th. century.
• Vol. 37 Craftsmen.
• Vol. 38 St. Helen's Church by J Hood.
• Vol. 38 Cockburnspath Tower visited by Dr. Hardy.
• Vol. 38 Ewieside Hill visited by Dr. Hardie.
• Vol. 38 Mail Robbery 1690.
• Vol. 38. Arnots of Sparrow Castle (postmasters).
• Vols. 40 and 41 Parish School. 
• Vol. 41 Heriot Water Bridge.
• Vol. 41 Post Office.
• Vol. 45 Cockburnspath Parish Church by Edward Hay. (available in Society Archives).

Websites;

Cockburnspath and Cove Village Website .

First Statistical Account by The Rev. Mr. Andrew Spence. (click "browse scanned pages" and insert Parish name).

Second Statistical Account by the Revs. Andrew Spence and Andrew Baird. (click "browse scanned pages" and insert Parish name).

RCHAMS website Scotland's Places contains details of;

Farm Horse tax 1797-1798.
Medical Officer's of Health Reports 1891.
Land Ownership Commission Report 1872 -1873 (available in Society Archives).

Place and Farm names in Census Records;

1841 census: Cockburnspath, Pathhhead, Kirklands, Nook, Stockbridge, Hoprig, Fulfordlees, Hoprigshiel, Whiteburn, Bowshiel, Edmonsdean, Ecklie, Blackburn, Blackburnrigg, Burnfoot, Old Toll, Dunglass Toll, Cove, Linhead, Copath Tower, Chapelhill, Bridgend, Redheugh, Headchesters, Oldcambus, Townhead, West Mains, Pease Mill, Woodend, Penmanshiel, Oakenside.
1851 census: Cockburnspath, Bridgend, Chapelhill, Tower, Pease Mill, Linhead, Cove, Pathhead, Cove, Dunglass, Burnfoot, Kirklands, Nook, Stockbridge, Woodend, Oldcambus, Redheugh, Headchesters, Old Townhead, Penmanshiel, Oakenside, Bowshiel, Edmonsdean, Eccly, Blackburn, Blackburn Rigg, Blackburn Mill, Fulfordlees, Hoprig, Hoprig Shiels, White Burn.
1861 census: Cockburnspath, Bridgend, Chapelhill, Tower, Linhead, Cove, Pathhead, Dunglass, Burnfoot, Kirklands, Hoprig, Fulfordlees, Stockbridge, Neuk, Pease Mill, Woodhouse, Woodend, Oldcambus, Redheugh, Penmanshiel, Blackburn Rig, Blackburn, Whiteburn, Hoprig Shiels, Ecclie, Edmonsdean, Bowshiel.

Population;

The population has been recorded as follows: 1755 - 919, 1793 883, 1801 - 930, 1811 - 904, 1821 - 966, 1831 - 1143, 1841 - 1149, 1851 - 1196, 1861 - 1191, 1891 1112 - 1901 - 982, 1911 - 997, 1921 - 941, 1931 - 877. 1951 -761.