Mort cloth records

[nellie d]

I understand that although there may not be records for burials in 17th century Scotland, there may be records of who used the parish mort cloth. From what I have learnt, this record would possibly be within the Kirk Session records.
Do you think it would be listed on a week by week basis and recorded along with the general business, or would there be a separate record containing only, details of the mort cloth users?
Thanks in advance

[RJ_Paton]

Do you think it would be listed on a week by week basis and recorded along with the general business, or would there be a separate record containing only, details of the mort cloth users?
Thanks in advance

Unfortunately there is no "simple" answer - the result depends entirely on which Parish. Some parishes preferred one method while others used something different. Also in some places the records have been lost.
Your really need to check the Parish records held on Scotlands People and look at the Parishes you are interested in to get a feel of how they kept their records.

[nellie d]

Thankyou RJ_Paton
I will do that

[Forfarian]

Your really need to check the Parish records held on Scotlands People and look at the Parishes you are interested in to get a feel of how they kept their records.

The mortcloth payments are usually in the Kirk Session minutes and accounts which are in the Virtual Volumes section of Scotland's People.

[nellie d]

Thank you Forfarian.
I have read through the Kirk Sessions for Dunfermline a few times and there appears to be nothing in the main body of the minutes regarding mort cloths, hence my wondering if they might be kept as a separate record.
I will persevere though 😁

[Forfarian]

Thank you Forfarian.
I have read through the Kirk Sessions for Dunfermline a few times and there appears to be nothing in the main body of the minutes regarding mort cloths, hence my wondering if they might be kept as a separate record.
I will persevere though 😁

Is there a separate accounts book?

[nellie d]

Thank you Forfarian.
I have read through the Kirk Sessions for Dunfermline a few times and there appears to be nothing in the main body of the minutes regarding mort cloths, hence my wondering if they might be kept as a separate record.
I will persevere though 😁

Is there a separate accounts book?

Yes, but where the Minutes start in 1640, the accounts don’t start till 1786 😬

[GR2]

It is very variable. There are detailed 17th century burial records for some parishes. Mortcloth payments tend to be in the accounts, although sometimes no charge was made for its use and sometimes, instead of naming individuals, a total sum taken in for it in any particular month is given.

If the deceased was in receipt of a regular payment as one of the poor of the parish, there might be  reference to the payment for a coffin for them, or reference to the maintenance of any young children. No longer being on the poor roll might indicate that a person had died. Again, if there are records of annual seat rents, the disappearance of the person from the list might be an indication that they had died.

[nellie d]

Thank you GR2.
I will keep that in mind as I continue my search