SARAH YOUNG lives in Colchester, Essex, and has been researching her tree for 15 years
Established in 1560, kirk sessions were Scottish courts presided over by the local minister and church elders. They discussed parish business such as the allocation of poor relief, and punished parishioners for drunkenness, swearing and perceived sexual misdemeanours.
Crucially, they kept minutes that form a rich and illuminating social history of Scotland. These documents are available to search online and in archives.
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