Introduction

This page lists some of the available sources of information about Musselburgh and Inveresk before 1900, in particular, records that are held in the National Archives of Scotland in Edinburgh, where they are open to the public at no charge.

The Old Parish Registers of births/baptisms, marriages and deaths/burials (1606-1854) and the census records for the parish for the years 1841, 1851, 1861, 1871, 1881, 1891 and 1901 are widely available in libraries on microfilm. Microfiche indexes to the pre-1855 registers of baptisms/births and marriages (for all Midlothian) and of the censuses of 1881 and 1891 are also widely available.

Records of births, marriages and deaths since 1 January 1855 can be seen in New Register House in Edinburgh on payment of a fee.

The parish lies within the area covered by the Lothians Family History Society.

Note that although the parish of Inveresk lies within the county of Midlothian for historical purposes, since 1974 it has been within the area administered by East Lothian Council. So information about the area's history is to be found at Haddington Library, though some is also available at Midlothian Local Studies Library, Clerk Street, Loanhead, Midlothian.

Abbreviations

Adjacent parishes

West of Inveresk: Duddingston MLN, Liberton MLN, Newton MLN
South of Inveresk: Dalkeith MLN, Cranston MLN
East of Inveresk: Tranent ELN, Prestonpans ELN

Note There are places called `Newbigging' in many parts of Scotland. In particular, in addition to the Newbigging in the parish of Inveresk, there is (or, rather, was) a Newbigging in the parish of St Cuthberts, at Lochrin.

Books

• Adam, Alastair T. - Bruntons 1876-1962 (1962, privately printed) [History of the wire-making mill at Musselburgh]
• Burnet, Jane E.M. - A Reason for Inveresk: a Scrapbook of History (Inveresk: Courtyard Press, 1999: ISBN 0-9537450-0-7) [Interesting book about the village of Inveresk and its mainly well-to-do inhabitants; well illustrated with portraits, photos and plans]
• Carlyle, Alexander - Autobiography (Edinburgh: 1860). See Carlyle for Carlyle's comments on the philosopher, David Hume.
• Lambie, Paul - A Walk around Historic Musselburgh (E. Lothian Tourist Board, 1993)
• Langhorne, Rev. W.H. - Reminiscences Connected Chiefly with Inveresk & Musselburgh & Sketches of Family Histories (Edinburgh: 1893) [Info about episcopacy in Musselburgh & generally; Loretto; Dr Moir; the Rev. John Gardiner Beveridge; the Langhorne family; etc.]
• McWilliam, Colin - The Buildings of Scotland: Lothian except Edinburgh (Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1978: ISBN 0-14-0710-66-3) [Pages 332-344 are on Musselburgh & Inveresk; pp. 351-3 on Newhailes]
• Maughan, Wm Charles - Picturesque Musselburgh & its Golf Links (Paisley: Alex Gardner, 1906) [Mainly about golf]
• Paterson, James - History of the Regality of Musselburgh (Musselburgh: James Gordon, 1857) [Contains a wealth of facts; a serious and useful history, contrasting sharply with much of the dross published in the 19th century.]
• Stirling, R. McD. - Inveresk Parish Lore from Pagan Times (Musselburgh: 1894)
• Whyte, Ian & Kathleen - Discovering East Lothian (Edinburgh: John Donald, 1988: ISBN 0-85976-222-X) [Only 4 pages devoted to Musselburgh, and a few mentions through the book.]
• Wilkie, James (ed.) - St Michael and Inveresk (Edinburgh: Oliphant, Anderson & Ferrier, 1894)

Photo-books - old photographs of Musselburgh

• Lindgren, Donald - Old Musselburgh (Catrine: Stenlake Publishing, 2001)
• The Old Musselburgh Club - Musselburgh (Stroud: Sutton Publishing, 2000: ISBN 0-7509-2531-0)
• The Old Musselburgh Club - Musselburgh Revisited (Stroud: Sutton Publishing, 2003: ISBN 0-7509-3266-X)

Statistical accounts

General descriptions of the state of the parish at different times

• Reports on the State of Certain Parishes ..., 1627

  Inueresk alias Mussilburgh, pp. 75-81 of Reports on the State of Certain Parishes in Scotland made to his majesty's commissioners for plantation of kirks &c. in pursuance of their ordinance dated April xii M.DC.XXVII (Edinburgh: 1835)
  Full text is here.

• Old Statistical Account
  Vol. 16, pp. 1-49 & 642-643, by Dr Alexander Carlyle (1795)

• New Statistical Account
  Vol. 1, pp. 246-304, written Oct 1839 by Revs L. Moodie & J. G. Beveridge (Edinburgh: Blackwood, 1845)

• The Third Statistical Account of Scotland
  Vol. 22, The County of Midlothian, pp. 126-148, ed. by Hilary Kirkland (Edinburgh: Scottish Academic Press, 1985; SBN 7073-0339-7)

Images of the original printing of the Old and New Statistical Accounts are available here.

Maps

A Plan of Edinburgh and Places adjacent by John Laurie, Geographer, 1766. (Includes the parish of Inveresk).

Hay's New Plan of Musselburgh & its Environs, 1824, by James Hay, surveyor, Musselburgh & Charles Thomson, engraver, 19 Shakespeare Square, Edinburgh. (NAS ref. RHP1855, reproduced in facsimile at about one inch to 100 yards by East Lothian District Library, 1993)

Musselburgh: the Reform Act Plan of 1832 (reproduced in 1992 by Historical Discovery, 9/11 Market St., Crewe, Cheshire CW1 2EW, England - ISBN 1 85796 509 4).

Ordnance Survey 1:2500 scale map (Edinburghshire sheet 4.11), surveyed 1893, published 1895 (reproduced in 1987 as Musselburgh at scale of ca. 1:4340 or 15 inches to the mile by Alan Godfrey.

Ordnance Survey maps of Fisherrow and Musselburgh at 1:2500 for 1853, and 1:500 for 1893, among others, are held on microfiche at the Local History Centre, Haddington Library, Newton Port, Haddington (closed Wednesdays, tel: +44-1620-822531). Photocopies can be ordered.

Parish church

Dedicated to St Michael, the church is located in Inveresk village, outwith the burgh, at national grid ref. NT344721, at the site of a Roman fort. The present church was opened in 1806, to replace the previous small church, which could no longer accommodate the growing congregation. The old church incorporated materials of Roman date. It was 102 feet by 24 feet internally, with 2 aisles added on each side. These aisles were built by individuals for their family burials after burials within churches were banned in 1590; from the extant burial records, they were the Carberrie aisle, Stoneyhill aisle, Whitehill aisle and Mr Cout's (Colt's) aisle.

Engraving of Inveresk Kirk in 1547

Photographs of Inveresk Kirk

Parish ministers 1560-1910

adm.: admitted, bapt.: baptised, el.: elected, ind.: inducted, inst.: installed, ord.: ordained, pres.: presented, tr.: translated

Assistant ministers of the parish

Ministers of Northesk Church
Northesk Church was opened in 1838 and the quoad sacra parish of Northesk dates from 1859.

Session clerks, kirk treasurers & precentors

• Mr Robert Bonaloy, assistant minister, was Session Clerk until his death on 18 Feb 1745
• William Newlands, precentor in Inveresk Church, admitted BM 1790
• Thomas Young, BM, tanner, was appointed English Schoolmaster in 1720 & Session Clerk Depute in 1740. He figures prominently as a baptismal witness from then until his death on 18 May 1756.

Other ministers in the parish

Presbyterian

(1) Listed in Poll Tax of 1695

(2) Burgher (later, United Presbyterian) Kirk

The Burgher chapel, built ca 1768, was in Bridge Street, west of the River Esk.

(3) Relief Kirk

The Relief kirk, built 1783, was on the south side of Millhill, towards the west end. The building is now St Andrews Church of Scotland.

(4) Free Kirk, Musselburgh, from 1843

At the West Port, south side of Musselburgh High Street, facing the New Bridge over the River Esk

Members & adherents of the Free Kirk, Musselburgh, 1856-9 - NAS CH3/1496/14

Non-Presbyterian

(1) Congregational

The Congregational Chapel is on the north side of Fisherrow High Street, east of its junction with Bridge Street.

(2) Episcopalian

Until 1785, episcopalians met in Sharp's Land (now 8 Pinkie Road). An Episcopal chapel was built in 1785 on the north side of Millhill, towards its east end. The congregation later moved to the present church (St Peter's, by Paterson & Shiells, Edr) on the south side of Musselburgh High Street, at the East Port, the old chapel becoming a school.

Monumental inscriptions

The kirkyard contains memorials dating from about 1700. The present cemetery is immediately adjacent to the west and is being steadily expanded westwards over the site of the Roman fort. Monumental inscriptions in the kirkyard that were extant in 1857 are in the Appendix of Paterson's book and a transcript of these inscriptions is here. It seems probable that many monuments were moved, lost or destroyed during the building of the present church.

All known inscriptions are in R. Torrance (ed.), North-East Midlothian Monumental Inscriptions, Scottish Genealogy Soc., Edinburgh, 2000, ISBN 0-901061-88-3. It would have been nice to have been able to report that this was an accurate record (e.g. William Aitchison of Drummore b. 1753, d. 1939). The editing is woefully inadequate. Parts of some inscriptions are in square brackets, but no explanation is offered for that. We are told that some stones have been renewed and have less detail than the originals, but we are not told which stones they are. The original transcriber (Cramer) is said to have combined inscriptions from separate stones, where they appeared to relate to the same family; why is there no indication of where this has occurred, or why have the inscriptions not been separated again before publication?

Stones mentioned in the burial records for 1750-1763

The dates are the earliest mentions of the stones (or railings in some cases). Some of the entries below undoubtedly refer to the same stones. A "through stone" is a horizontal stone. Date format is dd.mm.17yy. The given names "Patrick" & "Peter" were used interchangably at this time. Very few of these stones can now be identified.

Surviving Old Parish Registers (1606-1854)

These are held in the New Register House, Edinburgh, and are open to the public on payment of a fee. They are also widely available on microfilm in libraries. Microfiche indexes (for all Midlothian) of the baptisms/births and marriages in these registers are also widely available in libraries.

1. Births & baptisms
   • 1607 - Apr 1709
   • Jun 1709 - 31 Dec 1854 (but defective in mid 1750s)

   In the National Archives:

   • 1769 - 1854 (NAS CH2/531/5)
   • 1785 (only) for Burgher Kirk, Bridge Street (NAS CH3/1495/24)

2. Banns & Marriages
   • 1606 - Jun 1615
   • Jul 1620 - Dec 1622 & 1 entry in 1623
   • 1667 - 1675 not on microfilm or OPR index (see NAS CH2/531/55)
   • 1687 - 1690 not on microfilm or OPR index (see NAS CH2/531/54)
   • May 1690 - 31 Dec 1854 (but 2 pages are missing from the microfilm)

   I will provide details of individual entries in the Inveresk marriage register, Aug 1719 to Oct 1750 free, on request.

   Marriages in which one party was residing in Inveresk, the other in Prestonpans, 1719-50, are here

   Mentions of people in the parish of Inveresk found in the marriage register of the parish of Edinburgh:

   • For 1595-1700
   • For 1701-50
   • For 1751-1800

   Mentions of people in the parish of Inveresk found in the marriage register of the parish of Canongate:

   • For 1564-1800

3. Deaths & Burials
   • Jan 1750 - Aug 1750 damaged
   • Apr or May 1751 - Aug 1763
   • 1783 - 31 Dec 1854 ("indexed" 1820-1854; barely coherent circa 1800)

Marriage contracts

Church Session Records of the Parish Church

Schoolmasters

• George Adie [or Aldie or Adam] (with wife, 4 children & 1 servant) appears in Poll Tax for 1695
• George Allan, schoolmaster in Fisherrow (m. Sep 1749); English Schoolmaster, admitted BM 1750
• Mr James Bayne, schoolmaster at Musselburgh (m. Violet Aird, 16.5.1703 Edr)
• Robert Borthwick, English Schoolmaster (mar. cautioner Nov 1749); 1759
• Robert Clarkson, in Fisherrow (1813); in Millhill (1819)
• Mr Walter Danielstoune: his son Robert appr. 10.12.1690 to Patrick Crichton, founder, burgess of Edr)
• John Dumbar, died before 1751
• Archibald Duncan (with wife & servant) listed in Poll Tax for 1695
• Mr David Fraser, master of the Grammar School (m. Margaret Broun, Dec. 1731; Mary Dick, 26 Nov. 1738 Edr)
• Thomas Handyside, doctor [i.e. teacher] to the English School (bapt. witness 7.5.1748); teacher, 1757 (see also Duddingston entry)
• Mr William Jaffrey/Jeffrey, Schoolmaster to the Latin School (i.e. Grammar School), appointed 27.4.1722; died 5.4.1763
• Mr Jerven 1757 [same as Jeffrey?]
• John Kellto or Keltie, schoolmaster in Inveresk (m. Mary Broun June 1730, still in Invk in 1751)
• John Murray A.M., Rector of the Grammar School, d. 26.4.1794, aged 68 (m. Mrs Helen McEwan; dau. Martha b. 1.11.1789)
• John Murray (perhaps son of above?), schoolmaster in Musselburgh; his son David appr. at Edr 15.2.1798
• Mr John Nicolson, master of the Grammar School (marriage cautioner, July 1721)
• Mr Ramsay (m. Helen Douglas; dau. Elizabeth b. 25.11.1789)
• Mr Thomas Robertson, Rector of the Grammar School (m. Jemima Douglas, 2.7.1813 S. Leith) d. 3.8.1835, aged 48
• John Taylor A.M., Rector of the Grammar School (d. before 3.2.1824; his dau. Matilda m. Alex Vernor, esq., of Holmes, 3.2.1824)
• William Walker, Musselburgh (19th century) (m. Elisabeth Ellis)
• Thomas Young, BM, tanner, Session Clerk & English Schoolmaster, d. 18.5.1756 (appointed schoolmaster 1720)

Surgeons & apothecaries

• Robert Anderson, surgeon at Musselburgh (d. bef. 28.9.1718; his dau. Margaret m. John Robertson, tailor, 31.10.1718 Edr)
• Alexander Bruce, surgeon in Musselburgh; his sons Alex & George appr. at Edr in 1800
• Thomas Dallas, surgeon in Musselburgh, testament (Edr) 15.5.1770; his son Thomas appr. at Edr 26.5.1785
• Benjamin McEven (McEwen), chirurgeon-apothecary (marriage cautioner, March 1723)
• Alexander Neilson, with wife & 2 servants, listed in Poll Tax of 1695
• Alexander Reid, surgeon in Fisherrow; his dau. Ann mar. Thomas Fyfe, tailor, 14.7.1730 Edr
• Mr Archibald Scot, surgeon, m. (in Aberdeen) Oct 1744 Elisabeth Chalmers (dau. to Mr Wm Chalmers, merchant, late provost of Aberdeen) (See also Consistorial processes, Nos 881, 1017)
• George Turnbull, with wife & servant, listed in Poll Tax of 1695
• George Turnbull (same man?), chirurgeon-apothecary (marriage cautioner, July 1721)
• Robert Wilson, surgeon in Musselburgh (spouse Margaret Handasyde d. 7.5.1836)

Clockmakers & watchmakers

• James Bishop in Musselburgh, c & w maker, admitted BM 1787
• George Blackie in Musselburgh, c & w maker, adm. BM 1796
• Thomas Hencher in Musselburgh, c & w maker, adm. BM 1778
• Francis Henderson, late in Musselburgh, now in Edinburgh, c & w maker, Process of Divorce, 1790 (See Consistorial processes, No. 944)
• Alexander Moffat, watchmaker, Musselburgh, adm. BM 1790, d. 26.9.1830, testament (Edr) 1831

Customs men

• John Anderson, tidewaiter, admitted BM 1754
• Hugh Fraser, officer of customs in Fisherrow, mar. Jean Linnen, 17.8.1735 Edr
• James Grieve, land-waiter residing in Fisherrow, testament (Edr) 4.11.1777
• Lowrie Lees, tidewaiter in Fisherrow, d. 29.6.1756
• David Robertson, land waiter, Fisherrow (dau. Rachel's testament, 29.1.1814)
• David Stewart, customer at the Lodge, adm. BM 1746
• Andrew Tough, tidewaiter in Fisherrow in 1751
• Charles Venter(s)/Ventire, tidewaiter in Fisherrow, adm. BM 1751

Excise men

• Thomas Campbell, supervisor of excise at Musselburgh; his son Thomas appr. at Edr 1.7.1790
• John Christian, late collector of excise, d. 21.1.1758, Fisherrow
• James Finlay, officer of excise, m. (irreg.) 18.6.1725 Marion Ramage
• Mr Good, officer of excise, marriage cautioner 17.11.1741
• Alexander Hill, officer of excise, West Pans (dau. Lucy buried 12.12.1814 Invk)
• John Hunter, late collector of excise, d. 3.10.1753, Millhill
• Thomas Melvill, retired officer, excise, Fisherrow, d. 1.2.1835, testament (Edr) 1835
• Alexander Robertson, officer of excise, d. 6.7.1840, aged 68
• Anthony Smith, officer of excise at Fisherrow, testament (Edr) 29.11.1735
• Robert Smith, officer of excise at Musselburgh; his son Robert appr. at Edr 14.11.1793
• George Welsh, officer of excise, m. 12.9.1748 Margaret Smith, Invk

Customs or Excise?

• Mr John Hamilton, collector (marriage cautioner, July 1724)

Population statistics

Distribution of the population in Nov./Dec. 1792

Source: Old Statistical Account

Poll tax records for 1695

NAS ref. E70/8/10
Manuscript transcript available in Scottish Genealogy Society Library. Also now published as part of R. Torrance (ed.), North-East Midlothian Monumental Inscriptions, Scottish Genealogy Soc., Edinburgh, 2000, ISBN 0-901061-88-3. Contains names of 682 heads of household and some others; wives, children and servants are mentioned but in most cases not named.

Lists of inhabitants of the parish

(See also Poll tax records above)

Nos 1-5 were drawn up by the kirk session to provide the names of children to be examined in their catechism, and were probably used by Dr Alexander Webster in computing the total population of Scotland in 1755.

1. 4 Dec 1741 with alterations Jan 1744: List of examinable persons east of the River Esk (NAS ref. CH2/531/54)
2. 30 Nov 1742: A list of examinable persons west of the River Esk (NAS ref. CH2/531/54)
3. Jan 1749: A list of persons east of the River Esk (NAS ref. CH2/531/55)
4. 14 Feb 1749: List of examinable persons on north (i.e. west) side of water (NAS ref. CH2/531/55) (parishioners over about 7 years of age). [Transcript & index in preparation. Meantime, please contact me if you'd like to know if a family is on the list, which covers Fisherrow, Market Street, Bridgend, Monktonhall, etc.]
5. 15 Jan 1755: List of people of all ages on the east side of the water of Musselburgh (i.e. the River Esk) (NAS ref. CH2/531/55). Incomplete.
6. 1831: Population of parish (NAS ref. CH2/531/57)
7. 1833-38: Population of parish (NAS ref. CH2/531/58)
8. 1835: Ecclesiastical census of part of the parish (NAS ref. CH2/531/59).
9. 19th century: District roll (NAS ref. CH2/531/60)
10. 19th century: Roll of parish (NAS ref. CH2/531/61)

Census records

Records of the official censuses of the parish in 1841, 1851, 1861, 1871, 1881, 1891 and 1901 are held in the New Register House, Edinburgh and are open to the public on payment of a fee.

However, microfilm copies are widely available in libraries, as are microfiche indexes (for all Midlothian) for the censuses of 1881 and 1891.

The 1881 census is also now available on CD-ROM, but be warned that numerous inhabitants of Inveresk on the CD-ROM are incorrectly listed as having been born in "Middlesex, England" instead of "Midlothian, Scotland", which clearly illustrates that census transcription and indexing MUST be done by local people if it is to be of any value.

The 1841 and 1851 censuses for Inveresk have been indexed and published by the Lothians Family History Soc.. No indexes are yet available for 1861 or 1871. The censuses of 1801-31 do not name individuals.

Street directories

579 residents listed in the Musselburgh section of the Edinburgh & Leith Post Office Directory for 1842/43 are available here.

Directories for other years are available in book form and some are available on fiche.

Arms & Seal of the Burgh of Musselburgh

Arms of the Burgh of Musselburgh

Common Seal of the Burgh of Musselburgh

Town Clerks of Musselburgh (incomplete)

• Robert Bennett, fl. 1560-1585
• George Dickson, early 17th century
• John Cass, in office Dec 1636
• George Vallange, mid 17th century
• William Smyth, portioner of Monktonhall, d. 12.5.1678[?] aged 31
• Robert Litster, writer (i.e. lawyer) in Edinburgh, appointed 2 Jun 1679, d. ca. 1695, his memorial in Inveresk kirkyard extant in 1759; m. Margaret Duncan who d. 15.9.1690 aged 29
• Robert Vernor, writer in Edinburgh, appointed 17 May 1697, testament (Edr) 12 Mar 1707
• James Paterson, testament (Edr) 10 Nov 1708
• Thomas Tod yr, in office by 22 Jun 1713; still in office 24 Jul 1731; testament (Edr) 14 May 1735
• Robert Herriot, in office 20 Jan 1733, 14 Jun 1734
• [...] Smith, his memorial first mentioned in burial register in 1752; perhaps same as William Smyth above
• Thomas Tod, in office 2 Feb 1745, 21 Jan 1748; m. Margaret Smart 14 Feb 1745; m. Agnes Milne 8 Jun 1750; testament (Edr) 5 Mar 1773
• Thomas Thomson, 1784; d. 30.12.1817 aged 87; m. Margaret Nelson
• George Thomson, 1819, 1823; d. 20.3.1846 aged 69; m. Margaret Stewart
• Thomas Lees, d. 18.1.1878; m. Margaret Crease

Notaries' Protocol Books

Provosts of Musselburgh from 1833 (incomplete)

Musselburgh Town Council

Musselburgh belonged anciently to the Abbey of Dunfermline in Fife. An attempt in 1632 to raise its status to that of 'Royal Burgh' was squashed by Edinburgh Town Council, who feared competition on their doorstep. This prevented Musselburgh from engaging in foreign trade.

Until the reforms of 1833, there were 18 councillors, including two bailies (magistrates). Two councillors retired each year at Michaelmas, 29 September, & two new councillors were elected. Of the total of 18, 10 had to reside within the burgh, 6 in Fisherrow, Bridgend or Marketgate, and 2 in Newbigging, Millhill or at the salt pans.

[Source: Paterson's book. Paterson is referring to a time, perhaps as early as 1700, when the 'burgh' included nothing more than the houses in Musselburgh High Street. The limits of the burgh were steadily expanded, as is clear from Population in 1792.]

Bailies (magistrates) & town treasurers of Musselburgh

List of bailies & town treasurers 1503 & 1626-1825 (incomplete)

Burgesses

• Roll of burgesses of Musselburgh, 1742-1974, NAS ref. B52/11/2

• Roll of honorary burgesses of Musselburgh, 1758-1973, NAS ref. B52/11/1

Musselburgh burgess tickets in the NAS

Burgess ticket of Lieut. John Bain of the 4th Battalion, Royal Scots, dated 9.7.1812

Inveresk men admitted as burgesses of St Andrews in Fife

Sources:
David Dobson - The Burgess Roll of St Andrews 1700-1750 (St Andrews: David Dobson, 1994)
David Dobson - The Burgess Roll of St Andrews 1751-1775 (St Andrews: David Dobson, 1995: ISBN 1-899686-21-5)

Men with Inveresk connexions admitted burgess of Edinburgh (BE) or burgess & guildbrother of Edinburgh (BGE)

1. Entries in the Edinburgh burgess rolls that mention Inveresk
   List for the years 1406-1841 is here.

2. Entries in the Edinburgh burgess rolls for men who originated in Inveresk
   Information additional to that in the burgess roll is in square brackets

   name	designation	admitted as	by right of	date
   Robert Brysson	brewer [BM, ex Fisherrow]	BE	wife Jean, dau. to Martin Robertson, brewer	11.3.1657
   John Burton	baxter in [South] Leith. [ex Carberry] [1st cousin to Mr Alex. Robertson]	BGE		30.6.1669
   Mr Alexander Robertson	[merchant, brewer, son of Martin R.]	BGE	[first] wife Margaret, dau. to Robert Young [merchant, brewer]	3.6.1674
   Martin Robertson	[BM, indweller in Invk; later brewer in the Society]	BE		27.8.1656

Boys from Inveresk apprenticed to Edinburgh masters

See the list for the years 1583-1800 here

Musselburgh burgh records

Musselburgh chartularies in NAS

Craft guilds of Musselburgh

• Baxters (bakers)
• Fleshers (butchers)
  • Dissolving of the Musselburgh Fleshers' Society 1860, NAS ref. B52/8/7
• Gardeners: charter of 1744
• Hammermen (smiths): charter of 1674
  1. Account book 1761-1801, NAS ref. B52/8/4
  2. Account book 1799-1827, NAS ref. B52/8/5
  3. Account book 1800-1813, NAS ref. B52/8/6
• Shoemakers: charter of 1666
• Tailors
• Weavers
• Wrights
  1. Account book 1668-1785, NAS ref. B52/8/1
  2. Legal documents, sasines, bonds 1574-1780, NAS ref. B52/8/2
  3. Miscellaneous correspondence, vouchers, etc. ca.1686-ca.1883, NAS ref. B52/8/3

Fisherrow Sailors' Society

Manuscripts in the National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh

• MSS 1995, 1996: Minute books for the years 1669-1816
• MSS 1997, 1998: Cash books for 1689-1889
• MS 1999: Loose papers for 1684-1889

Miscellaneous items in the National Archives of Scotland

• Collection of papers, Alexander Penman, Musselburgh, RH9/1/263
• Collection of papers, Lands of Monktonhall, RH15/94
• Papers of Dalrymple of Newhailes, part of GD246. They include:
  • Writs of lands of Inveresk 1619-78
  • Papers re action of declarator, Sir Charles Dalrymple of Newhailes, Bt, vs Burgh of Musselburgh 1903-4
  • Plans and papers re alteration of school at Newhailes into dwelling house 1826-88
  • Papers re Newhailes public roads 1790-1872
  • Papers re Newhailes coal workings 1710-1835
  • Papers re Inveresk church and churchyard 1805-16
• Buccleuch Muniments, GD224. They include:

  Musselburgh Volunteers, 1797-8: Rolls, letters from bailie & major George Young, etc.	GD224/687/2
  Rentals of Dalkeith, Musselburgh & Inveresk, 1723-27	GD224/983/1
  do, 1728-35	GD224/983/2
  do, 1736-44	GD224/983/3
  do, 1761-8, 1771-2	GD224/983/4
  Rectified locality & rental of parish of Inveresk, 1781, with account of feu & teind duties due from lordship of Musselburgh, crop 1714, & rental of feu & teind duties of Musselburgh & Inveresk, crops 1748-50	GD224/984/1
  Rentals of Dalkeith, Musselburgh, Inveresk, etc., from 1812/3 to 1828/9	GD224/987/1

Miscellaneous items in the National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh

• Morton Papers: 75, no. 75: undated letter of James Richardson of Smeaton
• Morton Papers: 84, no. 45: letter of 1627 signed by Sir James Richardson
• Charter 1157: Feu contract with Musselburgh of 1826
• Charters 6230 & 6236: deeds of & concerning James Richardson of Smeaton of the year 1576
• Charter 6239: deed of or concerning James Richardson of Smeaton of the year 1577
• MS 2956, ff.198-200: Discharges to Musselburgh Town Council of 1627 & 1642
• MS 6481, fo. 1: Agreement concerning mill of Musselburgh of 1582

Mills
(Records: A table for the multures payable to millers 1705, NAS ref. B.52/11/10)

• Sheriff, Shire or Shirrie Mill

  Located south of Musselburgh, on the River Esk, at Cowpits

• Old & New West Mills

  Adjacent to one another at the West Port of Musselburgh (west end of the High Street). Occupied in 17th century by several generations of a family called Scot.

• Sea Mill

  At the foot of the vennel called Ker's Wynd, north of Musselburgh High Street

• Brunstane Mill

  Between Easter Duddingston & Fisherrow, on the Brunstane Burn, & probably originally in Liberton parish. The "New Mill of Gilbertoun, commonly called Brunstane", built on the acre known as Farthinghaugh, was in use by 1628. Farthinghaugh was the property of a family called Robertson from 1628 until 1742 or later. The site of the "Old Mill of Gilbertoun", in ruins in 1670, is unknown, though there are references to an upper & nether mill. See Paterson for a somewhat confused account.

  See John Shaw, Water Power in Scotland 1550-1870 (Edinburgh: John Donald, 1984):

  1. page 281: ref. to Andrew Pringle, millwright at Brunstane Mill, who claimed in 1790 to have invented a water-powered teazer, & was awarded £30 for his efforts by the Board of Trustees for Manufactures. See NAS ref. NG.1/1/27 for 10 Feb 1790 & 8 Dec 1790.
  2. p. 466: ref. to use as woollen cloth manufactory from circa 1781, & as a skinnery by Peter Wilson 1794-1802, & for both uses 1802-1810.
  3. p. 472: ref. to flint mill for glass or pottery upstream of Brunstane Mill, working 1812. See John Knox's Map of Lothian 1812.

  William Baird (Annals of Duddingston & Portobello, Edinburgh: Andrew Elliot 1898) states that John Thomson of Priorletham began a woollen factory at the mill in 1793, abandoning it a year or two later.

Militia Regiments at Musselburgh (1803-1814)

Refs:

• Flora Davidson - Marriages of the Forfarshire Militia when in Inveresk Parish Midlothian (1803-06) (Tay Valley Family Historian, no. 59, pp. 30-2, May 2001 [Tay Valley Family History Soc., Dundee, 2001: ISSN 0267-9884])
• Robert W. Weir - History of the Scottish Borderers [Dumfriesshire Militia]
• Hay's map of 1824 indicates the site of barracks - "Barracks for 1000 Infantry were erected here 1803 - Demolished 1814." - on the south side of Pinkie Road, immediately east of the old railway line that led north from Pinkie Coal Work.

The following militia regiments were at Musselburgh in the period 1803-14:

1. Berwickshire Militia
   Originally stationed at Port Seton, by Prestonpans. Moved ca 17.6.1805 to Musselburgh.
2. Dumfriesshire Militia (alias Dumfriesshire, Roxburghshire & Selkirkshire Militia)
   Embodied 5.4.1803. In barracks at Musselburgh from 26.5.1803. Moved to Edinburgh Castle, 12.10.1806. Moved to Dalkeith, 5.6.1807. Moved back to Musselburgh, 20.5.1809 and 2 days later to Haddington. Disbanded 13.8.1814.
3. Forfarshire Militia
   In Musselburgh by 30.7.1803 and still there 14.10.1806 [on basis of banns listed by Davidson].
4. Renfrewshire Militia
   Left Musselburgh 17.6.1805 for England.

Some of the militia stationed at Musselburgh were moved to guard French prisoners at Penicuik MLN after 27.4.1805.

Photographs & Portraits

Engraving of Inveresk Kirk in 1547

Photographs of Inveresk Kirk

Photographs of houses - just 3, but I hope to add many more in 2007 or 2008 or ...

Portraits of Dr Alexander Carlyle

Place-names in the Parish

Just a list at present. I hope to add details soon. If you know of other pre-1900 place-names and their locations, please let me know.

Place-names

Consistorial processes and decreets at Edinburgh [NAS CC8]

Ref.: Francis J. Grant (ed.), The Commissariot of Edinburgh: Consistorial Processes and Decreets, 1658-1800, Scottish Record Soc., Edinburgh, 1909

Records of the Poor

National Archives of Scotland, ref. GB234/DC5. These are records for the years 1804 to 1975 for Musselburgh District Council and its predecessors, including records of the parochial board.

Testaments, recorded at Edinburgh, of people with Inveresk connexions

Held in the National Archives of Scotland, ref. CC8/8/...

Note that hardly any of these testaments before 1800 include the will of the deceased, being largely accounts of the 'goods and gear' of the deceased and of debts owed and owing. Some of them mention relatives.

Mh = Musselburgh; Fw = Fisherrow; Edr = Edinburgh; Invk = Inveresk
Newbg = Newbigging; mert. = merchant; portr. = portioner
rel = relict; serv. = servant; sp = spouse; s.t. = sometime

16th century testaments of people with Inveresk connexions
An almost complete list of those for whom there are testaments and who were resident in Inveresk.

Testaments 1514-1600

17th century testaments of people with Inveresk connexions - just a few so far

Testaments 1601-1700

18th century testaments of people with Inveresk connexions - not yet a full list

Testaments 1701-1800

19th century testaments of people with Inveresk connexions - just a few so far

Final column: T = testate (i.e. deceased left a will); I = intestate (i.e. no will)