Why did your Ancestors settle in Perth
Old Parish Records
OPR's began in Perth in 1561. Perth is Parish no 387 in the County of Perth.
The Name
Perth is the Scottish Gealic name Peairt which is wood or copse. However in medieval times it was known as St. John's Toun after St John the baptist.
The Early Years
Perth was one of the richest trading burghs in the kingdom (along with such places as Berwick, Aberdeen and Roxburgh), residence of numerous craftsmen, organised into guilds (e.g. the Hammermen [metalworkers] or Glovers). Perth also carried out an extensive trade with Europe with luxury goods being brought back in return, such as Spanish silk and French pottery and wine. Medieval crafts are still remembered in some of the town's old street names, e.g., Skinnergate. The royal castle was destroyed by a flood of the Tay in 1209, one of many that have afflicted Perth over the centuries.
The 1700 and 1800s
In 1760, Perth Academy was founded, and major industry came to the town, now with a population of 15,000. Linen, leather, bleached products and whisky were its major exports, although the town had been a key port for centuries.
The first railway station in Perth was built in 1848. Horse-drawn carriage became popular in the 1890s although they were quickly replaced by electric trams. Despite being a garrison town and major developments, social and industrial, during the First World War, Perth remained relatively unchanged.