Dumfries and Galloway Family History Society

Run by volunteers, the association was established in 1987 and covers Dumfriesshire, the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright and Wigtownshire.  They currently have over 810 members worldwide.

Their main objective is to promote and encourage the study of family history, especially in these areas.

To further this objective, their newsletter is published three times a year, allowing members the opportunity to publish their interests and queries in the hope that other members can render advice and assistance.

Information about Dumfries and Galloway Family History Society

Research Centre

Many documents can be accessed in their Research Centre, situated in Dumfries.  Free parking is accessible at the rear of the building and the nearby streets.  

If you are travelling to the Office by train, the train station is a fifteen minute walk from the Office.

If you are travelling a long distance to visit the research centre, it is prudent to contact them a long time prior to your visit so that they can ensure that the Centre will be open.

The resources held at the Research Centre include:

• Ayrshire Place Names 1775-2000
• Ardrossan Poor Applications
• Censuses
• Genealogical Reference Books
• Glasgow University Graduates 1727-1897
• OPR Birth and Marriage Indexes (all D&G and Ayrshire Parishes)
• Northern Forebears: Owners of Land in Scotland 1873-1874
• New Zealand Assisted Passenger List
• New Zealand Scots Obituaries
• Newspapers

Maps

Some maps are freely accessible on their site, which include:

• 1862 Map of South West Scotland
• Dumfriesshire Parishes Map
• Kirkcudbright and Wigtownshire Parishes Map

Pedigree Charts

An Index of Pedigree Charts submitted by members is accessible on the site, but in order to access the actual chart, you have to be a current member of the Society and must include your membership number and chart(s) reference number(s) in any correspondence with them.

Society Newsletter

A searchable index of their newsletter is accessible on the site.  You can purchase back copies of some newsletters, although some are unfortunately sold out.

Publications

Many publications are available for sale, which include:

• 1792 Balmaclellan Census
• 1841 Census Indexes
• Annan Census: 1801, 1811, 1821
• Annandale Emigrants (Can/US/Aus/NZ Emigrants from Local Newspaper 1857-1907)
• Annandale People in Carlisle Newspapers M & D Intimations: 1812-1858
• Baptismal Diary of William Inglis: Loreburn and Urr
• Border Annals – BMD’s of Scots in Cumbrian Parish Records
• Burials from Old Parochial Registers (pre-1855)
• Clock and Watchmakers of Southwest Scotland 1576-1900
• D&G Standard Birth, Marriage and Death Notices for the year 1854
• Dumfriesshire People in Carlisle Newspapers: 1775-1858
• Early Annan Census Returns
• Galloway People in Carlisle Newspapers: 1812-1855
• Irish Marriages in Portpatrick, Wigtownshire: 1759-1826
• Irregular Marriages at Annan (1797-1854)
• Kirkconnel: A Pictorial History
• Local History Books
• Marriages at Annan & Kirk Session Minutes
• Memorial Inscriptions from Dumfriesshire, Kirkcudbrightshire, and Wigtownshire
• Photographic Images with Captions of Dumfries and Galloway (Through the lens series by D. & G. Libraries)

Website:
https://dgfhs.org.uk/