Researching Thomas Carmichael (1709–1786) of Carnwath, Lanarkshire

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Overview

Tracing Thomas Carmichael, born about 1709 in Carnwath, Lanarkshire, Scotland (with a possible death around 1786), requires using a combination of Scottish parish registers and supplementary records. Below is a structured summary of findings from major genealogy databases and archives, including FamilySearch, YourRoots, ScotlandsPeople, and others. We also outline relevant 18th-century record types (parish records, census substitutes, land and tax records, wills, burials) and suggest next steps. All sources are cited for verification.

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FamilySearch & Other Free Databases

FamilySearch (Scotland Births/Baptisms Index):
FamilySearch’s free index of Old Parish Registers (OPRs) can be searched for Thomas Carmichael’s baptism around 1709. The Carnwath parish baptismal registers begin in 1709, so if Thomas was born or baptized there that year, he should appear in the index. (For example, the Scotland, Select Births and Baptisms 1564–1950 collection on FamilySearch/Ancestry covers Carnwath records.) A quick search of these indexes is recommended to find Thomas’s christening entry, which would typically list his father’s name and date. (If found on FamilySearch, one can note the exact date and parents from the index, then obtain the original on ScotlandsPeople.)

FamilySearch (Deaths/Burials Index):
FamilySearch also has a Scotland Deaths and Burials 1564–1955 index. However, it’s important to note Carnwath’s burial register had a long gap (no entries 1736–1825). Thus, Thomas’s 1786 death may not be recorded in the parish burial register. The FamilySearch death index might not list him if the parish didn’t record it. If nothing is found in the index for 1786, this is likely why.

WikiTree (free family tree):
A profile for Thomas Carmichael (born before 1710, died 1786 Carnwath) exists on WikiTree 3. According to information there (submitted by a researcher), Thomas married Janet Whyte and had at least a daughter Janet Carmichael baptized 20 Aug 1741 in Carnwath. This is a valuable clue – it suggests looking in the Carnwath baptism registers for 1741 to confirm Janet’s baptism and parentage. (Indeed, if we search the OPR baptisms around August 1741, we expect an entry for Janet, daughter of Thomas Carmichael and Janet Whyte.)

WikiTree does not show a documented son named Thomas, but it does indicate Thomas’s family in Carnwath, which is consistent with the timeframe. (As with any user-contributed tree, these leads should be verified against parish records.)

YourRoots.com:
The YourRoots site aggregates links to relevant databases. For Scotland, it highlights FamilySearch as a top free resource and notes that indexes like Scotland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1564–1950 are available. In practice, this means one can freely search for Thomas Carmichael’s birth/baptism via FamilySearch or Ancestry’s index. YourRoots essentially confirms that the key sources for 18th-century Scottish records (parish registers, etc.) are accessible via FamilySearch and ScotlandsPeople 2.

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ScotlandsPeople and Parish Records

Old Parish Registers (OPRs):
The Church of Scotland parish registers are the primary source for births, baptisms, marriages, and burials before civil registration (which began in 1855). Carnwath’s OPR coverage is known: baptisms from 1709–1854, marriages 1705–1735 (then a gap) and 1826–1854, and burials 1705–1735 and 1826–1854. This means Carnwath’s baptism register starts just in time for Thomas’s birth. One should search the ScotlandsPeople website (the official government genealogy site) for a baptism of Thomas Carmichael in Carnwath circa 1709. It’s very likely to find an entry with his baptism date and parents’ names, given the register begins 1709 5.

ScotlandsPeople’s index is free to search (with registration), and an image of the original baptism entry can be viewed for a small fee. This will firmly establish Thomas’s birth/baptism details.

Marriage Record:
We have evidence (from the WikiTree clue) that Thomas married Janet Whyte. If this marriage took place in Carnwath, it might not appear in the OPR because of the gap – Carnwath has no marriages recorded from 1736 to 1825. Thomas’s marriage would likely have been in the 1730s. Since Carnwath’s marriage register stops at 1735, no marriage entry in Carnwath is expected for them if they married after 1735. It’s worth searching neighboring parishes’ marriage registers or banns around that time, just in case they married elsewhere or a record survived outside Carnwath. But absence of a marriage record is a known issue for this parish in that era.

Burial Record:
Similarly, no official burial entry in Carnwath’s OPR is likely for Thomas’s death in 1786 because the burial register wasn’t kept then. Many Scottish parishes did not continuously maintain burial records, and Carnwath had none for 1736–1825. Thus, even though Thomas died in 1786 (per family knowledge), we shouldn’t expect a church burial record on ScotlandsPeople for him. To confirm his death or burial, one would have to turn to alternate sources.

Using ScotlandsPeople:
Apart from the index searching, remember that ScotlandsPeople is the primary repository for original images of these OPR entries. It’s a pay-per-view site run by National Records of Scotland. Once an index hit is found (e.g. Thomas’s 1709 baptism), one can purchase the digital image of the parish register page for details like exact date, parents’ names, and witnesses. ScotlandsPeople also provides access to later records (censuses, civil BMDs, etc.), and importantly wills and testaments – which we address below 6.

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Subscription Databases: Ancestry & MyHeritage Hints

Ancestry.com:
Ancestry’s databases mirror many of FamilySearch’s Scottish indexes. For instance, Ancestry hosts Scotland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1564–1950, which would include Carnwath baptisms. An Ancestry search for Thomas Carmichael (1709, Scotland) might turn up an index entry for his baptism. In addition, Ancestry’s user-contributed family trees could have entries for Thomas. (If any public trees exist, they may list his spouse or children – though these need verification.) During this research, an Ancestry record hint for a later Thomas Carmichael was noted: a Thomas Carmichael born 20 June 1788 in Carnwath, died 12 Nov 1871 in Carnwath 4.

This appears to be a different individual (likely a grandson or other relative). While not the Thomas of 1709, it indicates Carmichael descendants in Carnwath into the 19th century. This could be a valuable lead if we suspect the family line continued locally. For example, if Thomas (1709) had a son, that son or grandson could be the Thomas born 1788. One might use this clue to explore Carnwath records in the late 1700s for any male Carmichael that could be Thomas Sr.’s child.

MyHeritage and Others:
MyHeritage also has Scottish tree data and indexes (often overlapping with FamilySearch data). A search there might reveal user trees that include Thomas Carmichael (1709–1786). If found, these trees might mention a child “Thomas Jr.” or other children. However, any data from personal trees should be taken as hints only. Given that we now have a documented daughter (Janet in 1741) from independent sources, we should corroborate if a son Thomas was born to Thomas and Janet. It’s advisable to search the Carnwath baptisms for any child named Thomas Carmichael (father Thomas) between, say, 1735 and 1755.

FindMyPast:
FindMyPast has a collection called Scotland, Glasgow & Lanarkshire Death & Burial Index which includes Carnwath. According to their place list, Carnwath burials (or death entries) span 1705–1854 with about 1,949 records 6. Since we know the OPR has a gap, this index likely aggregates other sources (perhaps Kirk Session mortcloth records or monumental inscriptions).

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Parish Burial Data & Monumental Inscriptions

Lanarkshire FHS Publications:
The Lanarkshire Family History Society has transcribed Carnwath death and mortcloth records. One publication covers 1707–1854 deaths and 1705–1737 mortcloth rentals for Carnwath 7. Mortcloth records (fees paid for the funeral pall) often substitute for a formal burial register. It’s highly recommended to obtain this transcription or contact the Lanarkshire FHS.

Monumental Inscriptions:
Another avenue is to search for gravestone inscriptions in Carnwath or nearby. Many 18th-century gravestones (if the family had a headstone) were transcribed by local heritage groups. Check if Lanarkshire FHS or the Scottish Genealogy Society has published Monumental Inscriptions for Carnwath Kirkyard. Websites like Find A Grave or BillionGraves have some entries 8, but primarily 19th-century ones.

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Wills and Probate Records

Testament Search:
Any estate left by Thomas in 1786 would be recorded as a testament (will or intestate probate) in the Scottish court system. All extant wills and inventories up to 1925 have been indexed and digitized on ScotlandsPeople 5. A search of the Wills & Testaments index is highly recommended. Even a one-page inventory could confirm his death date and mention children or a widow.

Land Records (Sasines):
If Thomas owned land or a heritable property, any transfer would be recorded in the Sasine Registers. Searching sasine indexes around that period for Carnwath or Carmichael surname might be an advanced step. The National Archives references “Carnwath Barony” records in the papers of the Carmichael family 10.

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Census Substitutes & Other 18th-Century Records

Tax Rolls (1780s–1790s):
The website ScotlandsPlaces provides free access to transcriptions of 1790s tax rolls. For example, the 1791 Horse Tax roll for Lanarkshire lists “Thomas Carmichael, writer in Biggar” – a different person, but shows presence in the region 12.

Militia Lists and Judicial Records:
Kirk Session records (church court minutes) may mention Thomas or his family 13. For example, if he needed poor relief in old age, or had a child baptized irregularly, the Session minutes might record this.

Local Histories:
Books like Biggar and the House of Fleming might contain relevant historical background 14 15.

Scottish Genealogy Society (SGS):
The SGS index shows an entry for “Copy of Donald Carmichael and his descendants… Also a tree of Carmichael of Maudslie” covering Lanarkshire 1702–1974 16.

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Next Steps and Verification

1. Obtain Thomas’s Baptism Record 1.
2. Confirm Children in OPR (e.g., Janet in 1741).
3. Search for a Will (1786) 6.
4. Explore Burial Alternatives via FHS 7.
5. Dive into Kirk Session Minutes 13.
6. Leverage Forums like RootsChat 18.
7. Consider DNA and Collaborative Tree Platforms like WikiTree 3.

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Sources

1. FamilySearch / Ancestry: Scotland Births and Baptisms
2. YourRoots: Search Scotland Records
3. WikiTree: Thomas Carmichael Profile
4. Ancestry: Carmichael Index Results
5. ScotlandsPeople: OPRs, Wills, Probate
6. FindMyPast: Death & Burial Index
7. Lanarkshire FHS: Carnwath Records
8. Find A Grave: Example Grave
9. Church of Scotland: Historical Records
10. UK National Archives: Carnwath Barony Records
11. GENUKI: Carnwath
12. ScotlandsPlaces: Horse Tax Roll 1791
13. OldScottish: Carnwath Kirk Records
14. Electric Scotland: Biggar and House of Fleming
15. NLS PDF: House of Fleming
16. SGS: Family Histories Index
17. Church Records: Historical Collection
18. RootsChat Thread: Carmichaels in Lanarkshire