Parish Number - 96b
Births: (Film # 990665 ) 1766 to 1854 [Regular entries commence 1779]
Marriages: (Film # 990665 ) 1778 to 1854 [Irregular entries 1782 to 1796]
Census: 1841 (Film # 1042637), 1851 (Film # 1042063), 1861 (Film # 103884)
1871 (Film # 103996), 1881 (Film # 203418), 1891 (Film # 208635)[In the 1861 census Duthil is parish 132/1 and it is enumerated with the county of Elgin. In the 1871 to 1891 censuses, it is parish 96b/1.]
[Duthil and Rothiemurchus have the same parish number 96b and were for civil purposes treated as the same parish. For ecclesiastical purposes, however, Rothiemurchus was treated as a seperate parish (quoad sacra) and maintained separate parish records. In 1870, the portions of the parish of Duthil situated in the county of Elgin were transferred to the county of Inverness. In 1891, the Inverness-shire portion of the parish of Cromdale was transferred to the parish of Duthil.]
Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland, 1868
DUTHIL, a parish, containing the post office hamlet of Carr-bridge, at the south-west extremity of Morayshire. It is bounded on the north by Nairnshire, on the north-east by a detached district of Inverness-shire, on the northern part of the east by the parish of Abernethy, and on all other sides by the mainbody of Inverness-shire. The Spey runs for 7 1/2 miles upon its eastern boundary, and the Dulnan intersects it nearly along the middle. The parish is mountainous, and contains much grand scenery. The surface consists principally of belts of alluvial land along the Spey and the Dulnan, a ridge of mountain extending between these rivers upward to Craigellachie, and a mass of wild upland all to the left of the Dulnan, tracked by a few small streams, and ascending to the watershed of the Monadhleagh mountains along the boundary. The military road passes through this parish. On this road is the stage-inn of Aviemore, which commands a fine view of the great fir woods of Rothiemurchus. Opposite to the inn is Cairngorm; and about a mile to the west is the beautiful and bold projecting rock of Craigellachie, the "rock of alarm". From its swelling base, and rifted precipices, the birch trees wave in graceful cluster, their bright and lively green forming a strong contract, in the foreground, to the sombre melancholy hue of the pine forests, which, in the distance stretch up the sides of the Cairngorm. Craigellachie is the hill of rendezvous to the Grants, "stand fast, Craigellachie!" is the slogan, or war-cry, of that clan, -- the occupants of Strathspey, - the name of whom prevails here to the exclusion of almost every other. This truly Highland district altogether is exceedingly interesting and romantic. Its ancient name signified "the glen of heroes," and also "the excellent valley". Three miles to the east of Duthil manse stands the picturesque ruin of the old tower of Muckerath, a seat of the Grants of Rothiemurchus, and which was erected in 1598. The burying place of the Seafield family is in this parish; and a splendid mausoleum was erected in it in 1837. The Earl of Seafield is the sole landowner. The parish of Rothiemurchus belongs politically to Duthil, but was erected in 1830 into a quoad sacra parish. Kirk Session Records
The Kirk Session of a parish consists of the the minister of the parish and the elders of the congregation. It looks after the general well-being of the congreation and, particularly in centuries past, church discipline within the parish. These records can sometimes provide invaluable information that is available nowhere else. An example would be the case of an illegitimate child. In many cases, the fornication resulting in the birth of the child would be a matter of church discipline and would thus be recorded in the minutes of the Session. It has been known ot occur that the parish register recorded the name of the mother of an illegitimate child in error, such error being brought to light by examing the Kirk Session records dealing with the birth of the child. There is also a possibility that other valuable information concerning the parents might be contained in the Kirk Session records. Kirk Session records are generally held at the Scottish Record Office in Edinburg. These records have not in most cases beeen microfilmed by the LDS Church.
There are Kirk Session minutes for this parish are available from 1820 onwards.