The Parish of Stow lies in the old county of Edinburghshire with Gala Water running down the length of the Parish. Bounded on the east by Channelkirk, Lauder and Melrose, Caddonfoot and Heriot to the west and Fala and Soutra to the north. The lands from the watershed at Fala to Bowland in the south were in the county of Edinburghshire until the 1970’s when the lands became part of Selkirkshire.
The old Parish Church, built in the 15th century, close to the ruins of the Bishop of St Andrews’ House. The church was rebuilt in the 17th century and its those ruins which may be seen today, surrounded by the old churchyard. The new church building sits on a raised mound to the south of the village.
Old Parish Records cover the periods:
Monumental Inscriptions for the old St Marys churchyard and for the new cemetery off the Lauder Road have been transcribed and photographed by BordersFHS volunteers. Published in 2014 including List of the Ministers of Stow, Parishioners of Stow in 1530, 1694 Poll Tax, Militia Lists of 1798 and 1799, Population of Stow 1801 and a List of the Heads of the different families with Burial Places 1850. The War memorial and Roll of Honour have also been transcribed.
Both the churchyard and cemetery are managed by Scottish Borders Council.
The 20 most common surnames on gravestones recorded by us in the Stow monumental inscriptions volume are (number of gravestones in brackets): BROWN (63), SCOTT (40), TAIT (39), HENDERSON (38), LEES (35), YOUNG (33), ANDERSON (29), WILSON (29), HOGG (28), LUMSDEN (28), STEWART (25), PRINGLE (21), BRYDON (20), ELLIOT (20), HALL (19), MITCHELL (19), WATSON (19), JOHNSTONE (17), WALKER (17), GRAHAM (15).
| Title | Author | Issue Number | Article Size | Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Two Stories of 19th Century Emigration to Australia and New Zealand - The Kidstons of Stow | John Kidston Tait | 12 | 1 page or more | A very comprehensive account of the early Rev Kidston from Stow and their thirteen children and who they married. |
| The Reverence Alexander Naughley | Eddie Wren | 31 | 2 pages or more | A very interesting account of a Parish Clergyman from Stow to Threlkeld and his life story. |
| Erin to Edinburgh | Enid Cruickshank | 97 | less than 1 page | Notes on talk and book by Ellis Owens on her family's migration from Ireland to Stow and Edinburgh. |
| The Case of the missing Registers | Gavin Waddell | 22 | 3 pages or more | In 1818 Jean Waddell a humble tailor's daughter found by chance she could inherit a estate in Linlithgowshire. How she went about trying to prove her case. |
Historical maps © National Library of Scotland, CC BY 3.0, served via MapTiler.
• Kirk Session Minutes 1626 – 1682, 1690 – 1885, 1886 - 1939
• Communion Roll 1875 – 1881, 1900 - 1968
• Minutes 1872 – 1901
• Communion Roll 1875 – 1893
• Papers of the Innes Family, Stow (ref GD113)
Stow and Heriot Parish church website
1841 census: Selkirk, South Port, Townhead, Haining, Heatherly, Bellsheugh, Greenfoot, Dunsdale, Dunsdale Haugh, Sloethoirnbank, Pine Grove, Greenbank, Raebank, Halliday Park, Broomhill, Deanburn, Myrtle Bank, Pine Bank, Byethorn, Ladylands, Loanhead, Philiphaugh, Bowhill, Gilkkeekit, Carterhaugh, Oldwark, Newark, Blackandrew, Fastheugh, Broadmeadows, Yarrow, Fowlshiels, Falside, Harehaed, Todrig, Haining Rig, Hartwoodburn, Greenderning, Brounmoor, Moat, Middlestead, Hartwoodmyres, Oakwod, Fauldshope, Shielshaugh, Howbottom, Collons Bridge, Oakwoodmill, Howden, East Comm, Lochslacks, Deepslades, Shawpark, Shawmount, St. Helens, Shawburn, Yair, Ralees, Sunderland Hall, Linglee, Sweepsnest, Ettrick Bank, Greenhead, Whitmuirhall, Whitmoor.
1851 census: Selkirk, Kirkwynd, Haining, Heatherly, Bullsheugh, Greenfoot, Dunsdalehaugh, Shawburn, Elmpark, Haladays Park, Dovecote Park, Knowpark, Philiphaugh, Bowhill, Old Newark, Fastheugh, Broadmeadows, Foulshiels, Fallside, Howden Oakwood, Hartwoodmyers, Shielshaugh, Carterhaugh, Bowhill, Middlestead, Brownmoor, Hartwoodburn, Todrig, Bleachfield, Shawmount, Shaw, Shawpark, Sweepsnest, Linglie, Sunderland Hall, Ralees, Yair, Craig, Williamhope, Greenhead, Whitmuirhall, Ettrickbank.
1861 census: Selkirk, Dunsdale Haugh, Shawburn, Heatherlie, Philiphaugh, Foulshiels, Broadmeadows, Bowhill, Fastheugh, Newark, Oldwark, Carterhaugh, East Fauldshope, Shielshaugh, Oakwood, Hartwoodmyers, Howden, Hainging, Sunderland, Raelees, Yair, Whitmuir, Greenhead.
The population has been recorded as follows:1755 – 1793, 1801 – 2098, 1811 – 2422, 1821 – 2696, 1831 – 2833, 1841 – 3484, 1851 – 4347, 1861 - 4739
