CARNBEE PARISH

Carnbee originally belonged to the Abbey of Dunfermline, and, when it was formed into a temporal lordship, the patronage went along with the teinds and other church property. The name of Melville, Laird of Carnbee, appears in public documents as early as 1466.,-the property having been acquired by that family in the reign of Robert the Bruce, and remaining in it till it was sold by Sir James Melville in 1598. One of them was killed at the battle of Flodden field, and honourable mention is made of them both before and after the Reformation.

Subsequently Sir James Galloway, created Lord Dnnkeld by Charles 11., held the lands and the patronage. Carnbee Place (as the old mansion-house was called, and which was only taken down in 1813), was long the residence of the family of Lord Dunkeld, whose names are often mentioned in the parish records. The third and last Lord Dunkeld joined Viscount Dundee at the battle of Killiecrankie, after which he was attainted, and died in the French service. The patronage has since passed into the family of Kellie, and is now, along with the lands, vested in that of Balcaskie.

Tbe population of Carnbee has decreased considerably. In 1752 it was 1290. At the date of the last Statistical Account it was 1041; in 1811,1098; in 1821,1048; in 1831,1079; and in 1841, 1 043. The decrease since 1752 is to be ascribed to the change in the system of farming.

Tbe average number of communicants is 375; of baptisms, 28 ; of marriages, 5; and of deaths, 13.

The parish is strictly agricultural. It is at present divided into 32 farms, the largest of which is 390 Scots acres, and the smallest about 40, the average being about 150. Tbe system of management is that generally pursued on the stiff clay lands of this part of Fife, as already described in the reports of parishes similarly situated, and it is therefore unnecessary to give a detailed account of it. The same remark will apply to the produce, rates of wages, and the general expense of farm operations. The rent ranges from L.1, 8s. to L.3, 2s. per Scotch acre. Furrow-draining is going on vigorously, and cannot fail to effect a most decided improvement on a soil such as that of which the parish chiefly consists. Almost the whole of it has been limed.

The east end of the parish is within two miles of Anstruther, a sea-port, corn-market, and post-town. Pittenweem, also a sea- port and post-town, is within two and a-half miles of the church ; and Colinsburgh, a corn-market and post-town, is within a mile of the west side of the parish. The church and manse are about eight miles distant from St Andrews. The produce is shipped chiefly at Anstruther, but also at Pittenweem and Elie. There are two corn mills and one lint mill in the parish.

The church is not centrical, being near the eastern extremity of the parish. It was built in 1793, and is large and commodious, containing accommodation for about 500. The chapel at Largo Ward affords accommodation to the inhabitants of the north-west part of the parish.

The manse and offices were built in 1820, and are in all respects substantial and commodious.

There has not hitherto been any dissenting meeting-house in the parish, the few Dissenters who reside within the bounds attending the Relief chapel at Pittenweem, or the Burgher chapel at Largo Ward. A Free Church meeting-house is at present erecting at Arncroach, but it would be premature to pass any opinion as to the support which it will receive from the parishioners.

Mr David Wemyss represented the kirk of Carnbee in the first General Assembly. In the same Assembly he is also mentioned among such as were thought best qualified for the preaching of the word, and ministering of the sacraments at St Andrews, and he was afterwards settled there.

Education.

There is one parochial, one private, and one female school. The salary of the parochial teacher is the maximum, with house and garden, and, in addition to this, he has a portion of land at Over Kellie, yielding a rent of L.20. The number of scholars may be stated at 70. The teacher of the female school has a salary of L.10, and a free house and school room, together with the school fees. The number of scholars, 35. The teacher of the private school depends altogether upon the school fees, which are inadequate for his support. There is also a Sabbath school.

Registers.

The earliest of the registers extant is of date 1650. They have been well kept.

Poor's Funds.

The only property vested in the kirk session for the relief of the poor is L.320, L.l00 of which was bequeathed to them by the Rev. Mr Thomson. A legacy of 1000 dollars has, within the last few months, been left to them by the late Joseph Pitcairn, Esq. of New York, for the same purpose. The interest of the above sum, the collections at the church doors, parish dues, and a voluntary contribution from the heritors, has hitherto been sufficient to relieve the wants of the ordinary and occasional poor.