The New Statistical Account of Scotland Volume 19 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1836 edition. Excerpt: ...that it is so annexed. A considerable number of individuals, both male and female, has of late years emigrated from the parish, but not to the sensible diminution of the population, as the place of those who have left it is more than supplied by new settlers. A great increase has taken place since the taking of the last census in 1831, so that at present the population exceeds 4000, and about 2600 live in villages; that of Stanley alone is 1455. The yearly average of births for the last seven years, -56 of deaths for the last five years, -48 of marriages for the last seven years, 28 During the last three years, there have been in Stanley 9 illegitimate births; and 5 in the other districts of the parish. No register of deaths was kept in the parish till the beginning of 1833, when one was begun by the present minister. The only families of independent fortune residing in the parish are those of James Wylie, Esq. of Airlywight; and of George Buchanan, Esq. of Stanley. There is nothing peculiar in the strength, size, complexion, or any other of the personal qualities of the people. Many of them are the descendants of those who inhabited the same places in the parish several generations ago; and the intermarriages which have taken place among them have formed them into an extended community of blood-relations. The most prevalent surnames are Paton, Crichton, Duff, Chalmers, and Dow; and, on the whole, the inhabitants of the landward part of the parish afford very favourable specimens of the Scottish peasantry. There are at present three insane, four fatuous, and two blind persons in it. There are four families in the western districts which claim both the English and the Gaelic as their native language. As they say themselves, they speak the.