Borders Family History Society

Westruther

Berwickshire map

Westruther lies in southern slopes of the Lammermuir Hills in western Berwickshire being bounded on the north by the Parish of Longformacus, on the east by the Parishes of Longformacus, Greenlaw and Gordon, on the south by the Parishes of Gordon and Legerwood and on the east by the Parish of Lauder. Old Parish Birth Records exist from 1657 to 1854. Marriage Records from 1658 to 1854. There are no death records. Sales List; 1841 census Westruther. 1851 census Westruther. 1861 census Westruther. Gordon, Nenthorn and Westruther Memorial Inscriptions edited by Elspeth Ewan 1999 (contains Hearth Tax, Militia List, List of Ministers and transcription of the War Memorial). See our sales list for full details and cost of postage.

Westruther Parish Church

Volumes available for consultation within our Archive;

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;

• Spottiswoode - Life and Labour on a Berwickshire Estate 1753 to 1793 by Tom Barry and Douglas Hall - 1993.

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

• Westruther Public School Log Book 1873 to 1898 ref; B/ED/2/63.
• Westruther Continuation School Log Book 1895 to 1898 ref; B/ED/2/63.
• Pyatshaw School Log Books 1933 to 1966. ref; B/ED/2/5.

The National Archives of Scotland hold the following records;

Westruther Parish Church;

• Minutes 1655, 1659 to 1660, 1678 to 1682 and 1704 to 1930.
• Communion lists 1843 to 1867 ref; CH2/369.

Westruther Free Church;

• Minutes 1843 to 1930 ref; CH3/462/1.
• Marriages 1889 to 1931 ref CH3 462/2.
• Births 1889 to 1919 ref; CH3/462/3.

Websites;

Berwickshire Community Site contains information on the history of Westruther.

First Statistical Account by the Rev. William Shiels. (click "browse scanned pages" and insert Parish name).

Second Statistical Account by the Rev. Robert Jamieson. (click "browse scanned pages" and insert Parish name).

A vision of Britain through Time contains a history of and general information on Westruther.

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 on C.D. in Society Archives).

Place and Farm names in Census Records;

1841 census: Westruther, Westertown, Broomybank, Hayfield, Thornidyke, Thornidyke Mains, Jordanlaw, Cowstrand, Easter Town, Ferneyknowe, Wedderlie, Ivelaw, Harelaw, Hindberry, Pyetshaw, Gateside, Spottiswoode, Bruntiburn Mill, Bruntyburn, Raecleugh, Flass, Woodheads, Red Hall, Houndslow, Hyndesidehill, Whiteburn, Browns Hall, Bassendean.
1851 census: Westruther, Westertown, Broomybank, Hayfield, Thornidyke, Thornidyke Mains, Jordanlaw, Cowstrand. Easter Town, Ferneyknowe, Wedderlie, Ivelaw, Harelaw, Hindberry, Pyetshaw, Gateside, Spottiswoode, Bruntiburn Mill, Bruntyburn, Raecleugh, Flass, Woodheads, Red Hall, Houndslow, Hyndesidehill, Whiteburn, Browns Hall, Bassendean.
1861 census: Westruther, Westertown, Jordanlaw, Thornidykemains, Thornidyke, Whiteburn, Pyetshaw, Gateside, Bruntiburn Mill, Spottiswoode, Raecleugh, Bruntiburn, Flass, Wedderlie, Evelaw, Whitehill, Whiteknows, Greenlees, Cowstrand, Houndslow, Bassendean, Broomiebank, Eagle Lodge, Hindsidehill, Brown's Hall, Harelaw, Cammerlaws, Whitehall, Hayfield.

Population;

The population has been recorded as follows: 1755 - 591, 1783 - 685, 1791 -770, 1801 - 779, 1811 - 822, 1821 - 870, 1831 - 830, 1841 - 829, 1851 - 791, 1861 - 786.