LIST 22 - BAPTISMS - SCOTS KIRK SYDNEY

 
 
Scots Kirk Sydney was founded in 1823 becoming the first Presbyterian 
Church parish established in the colony. There were 
159 baptisms performed during the years 1826 to 1830, although 10 refer to 
children born before 1821 and 2 adult baptisms, plus 27 performed after 1830 
for children born between the years 1821 and 1830. On average there was about 
one baptism performed per fortnight over the decade.
 
The information recorded for each child is exactly as described for the post 
1826 presentation of St Phillips Sydney in List 3 even for the pre 1826 entries 
since Rev Lang regularly recorded the place of birth and the father's 
occupation.
 
The list is presented in chronological order by date of baptism then 
alphabetically by father's surname. 
 
With regard to the fathers; the arrival details of a 26 remain unknown whilst 
in 18 cases the ship of arrival remains unknown (22%).
 
Thirty nine were convicts or former convicts (21%), ten were soldiers or 
former soldiers (5%), 103 came free (54%) and six were colonial born (3%). 
Notice how for the Scottish that the proportion of convicts was lower and 
the proportion of free arrivals was higher.
 
With regard to the mothers; the names of two were not recorded and the arrival 
details of a further 32 remain unknown whilst in 10 cases the ship of arrival 
remains unknown (23%).
 
Twenty four were convicts or former convicts (13%), 95 came free (52%) and 
32 were colonial born (17%).
 
Thirteen (16%) of the births were illegitimate.
 
There was one duplicate entry.
 
The Reverend John Dunmore Lang arrived in the colony in May 1823 on board 
'Brixton' as the second Presbyterian chaplain appointed to the colony (the Rev 
Archibald Macarthur having arrived in Van Diemens Land in December 1822).
 
Unfortunately his earliest records appear to have been lost since his first 
recorded baptism is on the 15th January 1826. He was replaced in September 
1830 by the Rev John McGarvie who took over the running of the parish whilst 
Lang made one of his many return trips to Scotland.
 
The information in the original baptismal register is organized into seven 
columns:
 
 When baptized
 When born 
  Child's Christian name
 Parent's names 
 Abode
 Quality or profession of father 
 By whom ceremony performed 
 
Unlike the Anglican registers, the mother's maiden name was invariably 
recorded but it is not stated if the parents were in fact married or not. 
Both chaplains were most diligent in recording the occupation of the father. 
 
Again unlike the Anglican and Catholic churches the original kirk register is 
available for the post 1826 period.
 
Where the mother's surname has a second name separated by a slash, the 
surname after the slash is her married name at the time of the recording 
being made if she was married more than once. 
 
The reference number would direct the reader to the relevant entry in the 
original source document. 
 
Entries on this list have the reference identifier "SKS" on List 1. To locate 
an entry on this list; firstly an alphabetical search on the name would be 
made on List 1 from which the date of baptism would be retrieved, secondly using 
the appropriate date, the baptism would be located on this list and finally 
an alphabetical search on the name would be made on the baptismal date if 
there should be more than one entry for that date. 

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