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Tracing Your Irish Roots
Posted on Sunday, February 27 @ 05:54:47 EST by odyssey |
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dpeddie writes "For those of you with Irish heritage in your past, I am sure you have discovered by now how difficult researching your Irish roots can be. However, with some patience and some basic information that this article will provide, you can trace your Irish roots there quite successfully.
I. Learn everything possible about the immigrant and his family from North American records. It is nearly impossible to trace ancestors without first knowing the place of origin in Ireland. You will want to have search every possible source for clues as to this place of origin before you begin research in Irish records. If you do this it will greatly improve your chance of success in doing Irish research.
a. vital records (family records - old letters)
b. obituaries
c. church records
d. land records
e. naturalization records
f. immigration records
g. military records
h. court records
i. counties or local histories
j. probate records k. census records
II. Facts to keep in mind:
a. there were no exact sailing schedules as late as 1850. This resulted in some people moving for a short time to a seaport town. Main seaports towns are: Belfast, Dublin, Cork, and Waterford.
b. Many small ships took people to England (especially Liverpool) to await a larger ship going to America. Some people may have remained in England for a short period.
c. Place names may have been misheard, mispelled, or misquoted.
d. traditions may be entirely incorrect.
e. Emigrants often moved in groups. If you cannot get the place of origin for your ancestor, trace one or more of the families who might have moved with him or lived near him. They often stayed near each other after settling in North America.
f. Few emigration records exist for people leaving Ireland. There are no official records for emigration from Ireland to North America prior to 1815. Your best source would be United States or Canadian immigration records.
g. History is important because conditions in certain parts of the country (Ireland) might have been causes for emigration.
III. If, after exhausting all American records, you have not determined the place of origin in Ireland, there are several general indexes for Iteland which could be consulted.
a. Civil Registration. 1845-present. Genealogical Society.
b. Surname Index to Tithe Applotment Records (c. 1830). Ireland.
c. Surname Index to the Valuation Records (c. 1850-55. Ireland.
d. Registry of Deeds, Surname Index, 1708-1904. Genealogical Society.
e. Probate Indexes. These are not always for the entire country but rather for ecclesiastical areas and may be found useful in locating residence. Genealogical Society.
f. general books about Irish surnames. Genealogical Society.
g. Index to the Collections at the Genealogical Office in Dublin. Genealogical Society.
h. Index to the Collections at the Public Record Office in Belfast. Genealogical Society.
IV. Determine the jurisdiction of your place in Ireland in as much detail as possible. The following jurisdictions will -all- be important and should be determined:
a. Province - there are four provinces in Ireland consisting of several counties each. They are: Ulster, Leinster, Connaught, and Munster.
b. County - there are 32 counties in Ireland. There are two counties that have changed their names, Leix or Laoighis or Laois formerly Queen's County and Offoly (Ua Failghe) formerly King's County.
c. Barony - the barony is usually an area of land within a county. It is based on old tribal jurisdictions. There are 325 baronies.
d. Diocese - this is an ecclesiastical division. Ther are 28 dioceses for the Church of Ireland. The boundary of each diocese does not always correspond to the counties boundaries.
e. Parish - this is a smaller division of diocese. It can contain several towns or cities or there may be many parishes in a large city. There were 2,447 parishes in Ireland.
f. City and/or town - this is civil jurisdiction.
g. Townland - these are small parcels of land which sometimes represent small farms or acreage. There are about 60,000 of them.
V. For additional information, there are several printed works.
a. Margaret Dickson Falley. "Irish and Scotch-Irish Ancestral Research", 2 volumes, 1961-62.
b. Wallace Clare, "A Simple Guide to Irish Genealogy", 3rd edition, 1966.
c. Patrick Henchy, "Irish Emigration to North America for the Past Three Centuries", World Conference on Records Paper, 1969.
d. Heraldic Artists Ltd., "Handbook on Irish Genealogy", 1973.
Jurisdictions can be determined by using the following reference books: - "1871 Census Alphabetical Index to the Towns and Townlands of Ireland", 1877. Excellent and most useful Irish reference book. It lists each townland alphabetically and gives the parish, county, and barony for each one. There is also an alphabetical index by parish and barony. Very helpful. - "Topographical Dictionary of Ireland", by Samuel Lewis, 1837. Gives details on parishes. - "County Maps of Ireland, Showing Civil and Catholic Parishes and Baronies", prepared by the National Library of Ireland, Dublin. - "Special Report on Surnames in Ireland, Together with Varieties and Synonymes and Christian Names in Ireland" by Sir Robert E. Matheson, Baltimore, Genealogical Publishing Co, 1968. This book should be checked to determine the different spellings and variations of surnames.
Additional references: "A Simple Guide to Irish Genealogy" compiled by Rev. Wallace Clare, 1937, 3rd edition, revised by Rosemary Follitt, 1966, Irish Genealogical Research Society, c/o The Irish Club, 82 Eaton Square, London, SW 1. "Irish and Scotch Irish Ancestral Research" by Margaret Dickson Falley. 2 vols, Strasbourg, Virginia, 1962. "A History of Ireland", Edmund Curtis, 1936.
@CREDO = IRISH LAND AND PROBATE RECORDS
@BULLET = Roberta Gaynor
@TOC TITLE = LAND RECORDS
A. Registry of Deeds
1. It was established for the protection of the purchases of land. It began recording deeds 25 March 1708 and continues to the present. The Registry is housed at: Registry of Deeds; Henrietta Street; Dublin Ireland.
2. The records contain deeds of sale, mortgages, transfer leases, conveyances, and sometimes wills.
3. There are two index series to these records. The Names Index to Grantors (Seller) and the Lands Index. The LDS Genealogical Society has both of these on microfilm.
4. The LDS Genealogical Society also has what is called "Transcript of Memorials of Deeds" on microfilm. These are detailed abstracts of the original do*****ents.
@TOC TITLE = B. Estate Records
1. Most of the land in Ireland was held by large land owners. The records of their estates can be very helpful.
2. These records contain the following typed do*****ents: Rent Rolls, leases, rent ledgers, maps, wage books, land agents, notebooks, etc.
3. A few estate records are available at LDS Genealogical Society. Many at Public Record Offices in Dublin and Belfast. Many are still in local custody. "Analecta Hibernica" Volumes 15, 20, and 25 (941.5 B2ah) contains a "Survey of Do*****ents in Private Keeping".
C. Griffith's Valuation (1848-68). This was a survey made by the government to determine the amount of tax that each rate should pay to support the upkeep of the poor. Arranged by Poor Law Union it lists the following information: name of lessor, each occupies or tenant, townland or city, parish, holdings and tax. These are all available at LDS Genealogical Society. The National Library of Ireland has prepared a surname index arranged by parish and county.
@TOC TITLE = PROBATE RECORDS
@TOC TITLE = (from Paul F. Smart)
I. 1536 to 1858 -- Wills were probated in one of two ecclesiastical jurisdictions: Perogative (covers all Ireland) or Diocesan (one for each of the 28 dioceses). Many of these wills were destroyed, but some useful material is still extant.
@TOC TITLE = A. Perogative Court of Armagh
1. Original and printed indexes 1536-1858 (LDS-GS)
2. Scattered few original wills, 18th century (LDS-GS)
3. Betham's Abstracts of Wills, pre-1800 (LDS-GS)
4. Betham & Burke's Will Pedigrees, pre-1800 (LDS-GS)
@TOC TITLE = B. Diocesan Courts (Consistory Courts)
1. Original and printed indexes, 1536-1858 (LDS-GS)
2. Some few original wills, late 18th century (LDS-GS)
3. Various types of copies of wills are being collected by the Public Record Office in Dublin. They have a card index to these copies and have a large collection of substitutes for the missing wills. If a will is found in a diocesan index, an inquiry should be sent to the Public Record Office, Front Courts, Dublin, Eire.
II. 1858 onwards -- these wills are probated by civil courts. There were twelve of these courts. These courts turned in copies of their wills to the Public Record Office; and, thus, most of them were destroyed up to about 1904. In many cases, however, the district registries kept copies and these exist today.
There is a general index to wills and administrations proved in the "Principal Probate Registry" and in the "Several District Registries," 1858-1920 at the LDS Genealogical Society. Most of the original wills before 1904 were destroyed, especially for the Principal Registry in Dublin. Copies exist for the eleven District Registries, 1858 to about 1890 at the LDS Genealogical Society. In cases where it appears no wills exist, inquiries should be made to the Public Record OFfice in Dublin as in the case of the Diocesan Courts above.
@CREDO = Irish Census Records and Substitutes for Missing Censuses
Roberta Gaynor
@TOC TITLE = I. Background
Religious census returns for certain places were taken in the 18th Century (c. 1740-66). These were some of the first census returns in Ireland and some still survive today. However, the first complete census returns were taken in 1813. This enumeration was followed by others in 1821, 1831, and every ten years thereafter until 1911. Most of these census returns have been destroyed. The 1901 census is the first complete census in existance today. Although many of the census records were destroyed, there are some substitutes that may be helpful.
@TOC TITLE = II. Content ( available censuses only)
A. Religious censuses (1740-66) vary in their details, but may include the heads of households, parish by parish, and indicate their religion; or may give statistics only. Some returns are available for Dioceses such as Ardagh, Armagh, Clogher, Cloyne, Connor, Cork, Derry, Dromore, Down, Elphin, Ferns, Kildare, Kilmore, Ossory, Raphoe and Ross.
B. 1821 Census gives names of inhabitants, relation to head, ages, occupations, and information about the house and property. Some returns are available for parishes A-M, County Gavan; A-D, County Offaly; A-R, Fermanagh; A-L, Galway; A-T, Meath.
C. 1831 Census gives names of inhabitants, relation to head, ages, occupations, and information about the house and property. Some returns are available for the following parishes in Londonderry County: Agevey, Aghanloo, Arboe, Artrea, Benagher, Glendermot, Killowen, Macosquin, Tamlaght-Finlagen, Templemore, and Termoneeny.
D. 1841 Census gives names of inhabitants, ages, sex, relation to head, marital condition, year of marriage, occupation and birthplace (country, county, or city). The only return available is for Killeshandra Parish, County Cavan.
E. 1851 Census gives the same information as the 1841 plus a list of those people belonging to the family that are not present (including their names, ages, sex, relation to head, present occupation, and country, county, or city of current residence) and a list of those family members who died while residing with the family during the last 10 years (including names, age, sex, relation to head, occupation, season and year of death). Returns are available for Drumkeeran, County Fermanagh and the following parishes in County Antrim: Aghagallon, Aghalee, Ballinderry, Ballymoney, Carncartle, Craigs (Ahoghill), Dunaghy, Grange of Killyglen, Killead, Kilwaughter, Larne, Rasharkin, and Tickmacreevin.
F. 1901 Census gives name of inhabitants, relation to head, religion, age, sex, occupation, marital condition, birthplace (country, county, or city), information on house and property including the name of the lease holder. This census is available in its entirety.
G. 1911 census gives same information as the 1901 plus the number of years married, total number of children born alive, and number of children still living. This census is also entirely available.
@TOC TITLE = III. Availability
A. Most of the existing census records are on film at the Genealogical Society up to 1901. For the 1911 census, only parts of County Antrim are at the Genealogical Society.
B. In Ireland, these records are found at the Public Record Offices in Belfast and Dublin and the Genealogical Office in Dubin.
@TOC TITLE = IV. Substitutes
A. "Old Age Pensioner's Claims" (1841-51). In 1908 the Old Age Pension Act was passed and with this act came the need for proof of age. In many instances, census returns of 1841 and 1851 were used. In some cases, actual extracts are available for these censuses. In most cases, Old Age Pension Search Forms are all that survive. These search forms ask for the claimant's name, father, mother, exact address when census was taken, age in census, age at claim, and census year for which the search is requested. These records exist primarily for Northern Ireland and most are on film at the Genealogical Society.
B. "Tithe Applotment Books" (1823-38). This record provides a detailed account, parish by parish, of the land occupiers in each townland and includes the extent and value of their individual farms. Those in urban aras are not included. The Tithe Applotment Books for all of Ireland are on microfilm at the Genealogical Society. Indexes for these records are available at the Public Record Offices in Belfast and the National Library in Dublin.
C. Griffith's Valuation (1848-64). This government survey of all privately held lands and buildings was taken to determine the amount of tax that each person should pay toward support of the poor and destitute in each Poor Law Union. All occupiers or tenants, and the immediate lessors of all lands, buildings, etc. for private or business use were liable for the tax. In some areas, these valuations start in 1839; but the majority exist from 1848-64. Such information as the name of tenants, lessor, townland, parish, and tax will be found on these records. They exist for all of Ireland and for the most part are available at the Genelogical Society. An index by surname by parish and county is available at the National Library of Ireland in Dublin.
@TOC TITLE = D. School Records (c. 1850-1920).
These are primarily records of public schools and include names of pupils, ages, religion, days absent or present, occupation of parents, residence of family, and the name of the school. Sometime the name of the county and school last attended may be given or the cause of withdrawal and destination of the pupil. Most of these records are indexed and are at the Public Record Office in Dublin and Belfast or the Genealogical Office in Dublin. The Genealogical Society has microfilmed many of those available from Northern Ireland.
@TOC TITLE = Irish Church Records
Roberta Gaynor
@SUBHEAD = I. Background
1541 Henry VIII becomes King of Ireland 1560 Episcopalian Church becomes state Church of Ireland under Elizabeth I 1605-9 Ulster plantation. Many Scotch Irish Presbyterians into Ulster. 1619 Earliest known Church of Ireland Parish Registers (St. John, Dublin). 1634 Law passed requiring Episcopalian registers to be kept. mid1600 Quakers, Congregationalists, Baptists start movements. 1674 Oldest known Presbyterian Registers (Antrim, Co. Antrim) 1695 Penal Laws against Catholics 1703 More penal laws. Catholics forbidden to keep registers. 1750s Some urban Catholic registers start. Many Episcopalian registers begin. Methodist movement gets underway. 1800-1 Ireland became part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. 1819 Presbyterian records required to be kept. 1829 Emancipation of Catholics. Many Catholic records begin. 1871 Disestablishment of the Church of Ireland. 1876 Law passed requiring Anglican registers be turned into the Public Record Office in Dublin. 1878 Law of 1876 amended allowing those with suitable storage facilities to retain their records. 1922 Separate records repositories set up for Northern Ireland. Public Records Office at Four Courts, Dublin is burned. Many Episcopalian records destroyed.
@TOC TITLE = II. Content
A. Christenings and/or births: name, christening and/or birth place
and date, parents' names, including mothers maiden names (Church of
Ireland records do not give maiden names), residence and occupation,
witnesses or sponsors.
B. Marriages: name of both parties, date and place of marriage, residence
of both parties, witnesses.
C. Burials: names, burial place and date, residence and age, parents'
names (usually only for infants).
@TOC TITLE = III. Availability
A. Church of Ireland (Episcopalian) About 50 percent of these records are extant today as many were destroyed in 1922. Many Northern Ireland parishes never sent theirs in. Records usually begin about 1750- 1800. A fairly complete listing of those registers now extant and their place of deposit will be found in Falley's book.
1. Most records are in local custody. (See "Crockford's Clerical Directory"
for addresses.)
2. Some records or transcripts are available at the Public Record Offices, Fourt Courts, Dublin, Eire; and Law Courts Building, May Street, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
3. LDS Genealogical Society has some printed copies.
B. Roman Catholic. Records from about 1750, with most starting about 1830, are all extant. Many of these records are in Latin.
1. Originals are in local custody. (See any good Catholic directory
for addresses.)
2. Microfilm copies of originals, except those from Dublin Diocese, are on film at the National Library of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin, Eire. Access to these records is only through the staff at the Genealogical Office., Inquiries should be addressed to the Chief Herald, Genealogical Office, Dublin Castle, Dublin, Eire.
3. LDS Genealogical Society is obtaining copies of those records at
the National Libraty.
C. Presbyterian. Records generally start about 1800 and all are extant. A fairly complete listing will be found in Falley's book.
1. Originals are mostly in local custody with some of the very early ones at the Presbyterian Historial Society, Church House, Fisherwick Place, Belfast, Northern Ireland. Addresses of ministers may also be obtained from the above named organization,.
2. Some microfilm copies are available at the Public Record Office
in Belfast.
3. LDS Genealogical Society has some printed copies.
D. Society of Friends. Records date from c.1670 and are quite good.
1. Records and indexes from Eire are housed at the Friends House Library, 6 Eustace Street, Dublin. (See "Guide to Irish Quaker Records" by
Olive C. Goodbody.)
2. Records and indexes for Northern Ireland are at the Friends' Meeting House, Railway Stret, Lisburn.
3. LDS Genealogical Society has many transcript copies of the original records arranged in alphabetical order.
E. Methodist (Wesleyan). Records exist after 1878. Before that time, Methodists were mostly recorded in the Church of Ireland or Presbyterian registers. Methodist records after 1878 are in local custody.
F. Other Denominations (Baptists, Congregationalists). Many of these groups came to Ireland about 1640 as soldiers with Cromwell. Records are generally in local custody.
NOTE: An excellent guide to Irish Church records is Margaret Dickson Falley's "Irish and Scoth-Irish Ancestral Research".
@TOC TITLE = Irish Civil Registration
Roberta Gaynor
I. On 1 April 1845, the registering of Protestant (non-Catholic) marriages
began in Ireland, Nineteen years later, 1 January 1864,the registering of all births, marriages, and deaths became mandatory. As in England, Ireland was divided into Registration Districts, each of which was under the supervision of a Superintendant registrar. These registrars took down the information and sent a copy to the Registrar General. The family could also purchase a copy of the certificate. In 1922, when six ofthe counties of Ulster voted to remain with the United Kingdom, two registries were established.
@TOC TITLE = II. Content of the records
A. Births Name (if given); when and where born including sex; father's name, surname, occupation and residence; mother's name including maiden surname; informant's signature, qualificiation, and residence; baptismal name and date if added after registration of birth.
B. Marriages Names of both parties; marriage date and place; age of both parties (sometimes "full" etc); marital status, occupation, and residence of both parties; name and occupation of the father of the bride and groom; denomination performing the marriage; signature of
both parties and witnesses.
C. Deaths Name nad surname; when and where died; sex, age, and marital condition; occupation (varies with age and sex of deceased); cause of death and duration of illness; informant's signature, qualification and residence.
@TOC TITLE = III. Availability
A. The certificate and indexes for Protestant marriages 1845-64; all births, marriages, and deaths of Ireland 1864-1922; and births, marriages, and deaths of the Republic of IReland 1922-present are with the Registrar General in Dublin. All inquiries should be addressed to:
The Registrar General Custom House Dublin C.10 Eire
B. The certificate and indexes for all births, marriages, and deaths for Northern Ireland (includes the six counties of Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry, and Tyrone) from 1922 to the present are with the Registrar General in Belfast. All inquiries should be
addressed to:
The Registrar General Central Register Office Fermanagh House Ormeau Avenue Belfast, BT2 8HK Northern Ireland
C. The LDS Genealogical Society has microfilm copies of the following:
Area Record Indexes Certificates
All Ireland B 1864-1921 1864-Mar 1881, B 1900-1913 M 1845-1921 1845-1870 D 1864-1921 Ireland B 1922-1959 1922-1959 M 1922-1959 1922-1959 D 1922-1959 1922-1959
@TOC TITLE = IV. Peculiarities
A. Indexes and certificates were kept on an annual basis until 1878. Beginning with 1878, both indexes and certificates were kept on a
quarterly basis.
B. There are supplemental volumes of births, deaths, and marriages up to 1870. These are arranged at random by registration district.
C. Superintendent Registrars may or may not give out copies of certificates. They are generally moere willing in Northern Ireland.
D. Many births in Ireland may be listed as just "male" or "female" with the surname. A person may be given one given name at birth and another at the christening., Use caution in searching the indexes.
E. Surnames are problems because of accents dialects, and spelling errors. Again use caution in the indexes. Watch for all variations.
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