HALFMORTON, a parish, in the county of Dumfries,
6 miles (N. W.) from Longtown; containing 737
inhabitants. This place derives its name from its having
formed part of the ancient parish of Morton, on the suppression
of which in the early part of the seventeenth
century, one-half was merged in the parish of Canobie,
and the other, named Halfmorton, though it still remained
as a parish quoad civilia, was ecclesiastically
united to the parish of Wauchope. On the subsequent
erection of Wauchope and Staplegorton into the present
parish of Langholm in 1703, the minister of that parish
officiated only every fourth Sunday at Halfmorton, which
in 1839 was consequently disjoined from Langholm by a
decree of the Court of Teinds, and erected into an independent
parish. It is situated in the south-eastern part
of the county, and is bounded on the east by the river
Sark, which separates it from Cumberland. The parish
comprises an area of about 5700 acres, of which 1'25 are
woodland and plantations, 400 moss, and the remainder
chiefly arable, with a due proportion of meadow and pasture.
Its surface is agreeably diversified, and the scenery
embellished with thriving plantations. The Sark is the
principal river, and a small stream called the Logan flows
through the parish: in both these are found trout, but
not in great abundance.
The soil along the banks of the river is deep and rich,
and the arable grounds produce valuable crops: there
are considerable tracts of peat-moss. The system of
agriculture is improved, and the lands have been drained
and partly inclosed. On the pastures are kept sheep of
the Cheviot breed, and black-cattle; a considerable
number of horses are reared in the parish, mostly for
agricultural uses, and on some of the farms great numbers
of swine are fed. The substrata are chiefly red
sandstone, clay, and gravel; and limestone is found in
several places. The annual value of real property in the
parish is £3176. The only approximation to a village
is the small hamlet of Chapelknowe, in which the church
is situated. A few persons are employed in hand-loom
weaving for the manufacturers of Carlisle. There are a
subscription library, and a library belonging to the
church. Facility of communication is afforded by roads
kept in good order by statute labour. Ecclesiastically
the parish is within the bounds of the presbytery of
Langholm, synod of Dumfries: the minister's stipend is
about £200; patrons, the Crown, and the Duke of Buccleuch,
alternately. Halfmorton church, a plain structure
built in 1744, has been lately enlarged. There is a
place of worship in connexion with the Free Church.
The parochial school is well conducted; the master has
a salary of £25. 13., with a house and garden, and the fees
average £30. There are no remains of the ancient
church of Morton; but the churchyard is still used.