The Titteringtons of Northern Ireland

SEARCHING IRISH RECORDS

 

Searching for information about our ancestors in Ireland can be more challenging than in the rest of the UK.  Many records were lost on 30th June, 1922 during the Civil War, when there was a fire caused by an explosion in the Public Records Office in Dublin.  The bulk of the records burnt related to the pre 1700 era as well as the censuses for 1821, 1831, 1841 and 1851.  Over 50% of the Church of Ireland Parish Records, the Wills and Court Records were also lost.  Unfortunately, the censuses for 1861, 1871, 1881 and 1891 no longer exist either, but this is due to a bureaucratic error and not the fire.  Civil registration did not commence until late 1864 for Births, Marriages and Deaths.

 

However, it is still possible to find information recorded in a wide range of sources.  There are a vast number of Security Records and Land Records that have survived.  Historically, Ireland was unsettled and in order to keep control as well as for economic reasons, it was felt necessary to impose a detailed system of record taking which did not always apply to the rest of the United Kingdom.

 

These are some of the records which may be helpful in providing some information about ancestors.

 

1. CENSUS RECORDS

 

There are census search forms for 1841 and 1851.  These amount to 136,152 records. The census records for 1901 (4.3 million records) and 1911 (4.4. million records) have survived.  Those for Northern Ireland may be accessed at http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie  These give details of names, address, age, occupation and religion.

 

2.   LIFE EVENTS

 

These cover Births, Marriages, Deaths, Burials, Memorials and Wills.  Non catholic records were recorded from 1845 and all civil registration records were kept from 1864.  The civil registration records survived the fire of 1922.  About half of the Church of Ireland parish registers also survived due to the fact that many clergymen had not yet sent their registers to Dublin, or had kept copies of the originals.  The Birth, Marriage and Burial records for Roman Catholics, Presbyterians and Methodists were not kept at the Public Records Office and therefore should be accessible.  Indexes to wills and probate bonds have also survived although the majority of wills and testamentary documents were burnt.

 

As already mentioned, there are also Census records for 1901 and 1911.  Pensions were introduced in 1908 for all those aged 70+.  However, applicants were required to prove their age. This could be difficult considering there was not a legal requirement to record a birth until 1864. For this reason Search Forms were introduced to provide such evidence giving names of the parents of the applicant and address in 1851.   A large number of these records have survived.

 

All the legal court documents and government documents relating to the period pre-1900 were also lost in the fire.

 

3.   PARISH RECORDS

 

After the dis-establishment of the state church in 1869, the Anglican Church of Ireland registers were deposited at the Public Records office of Ireland, in Dublin.  Just over half of these were lost in the fire in 1922.

 

Images for the Irish Roman Catholic Parish Registers were published in 2020, but were un-indexed.  This is an important Irish genealogical resource for information prior to the 1901 census.  There are 3,500 parish registers relating to over 1000 parishes.  They cover Ireland from 1750-1880.  In 2021 the Irish Roman Catholic Parish Registers are being indexed and due to be published soon.

 

4.   QUAKER ARCHIVES

 

These records are likely to be published during 2021 and might be helpful to the Researcher. They date back to 1650 and provide details of Births, Marriages and Burials for their members.  There are Minutes of Meetings which were held on a quarterly and annual basis.  Details of tithes (Sufferings) paid to the Church were recorded.  Also records relating to Disownment of individuals were kept.  For example, being guilty of selling spirits or wine, having one’s way with a younger woman who was not a Quaker, buying a piano could all lead to being ‘disowned’ by the Church. The Quakers also kept Records of Movement.  If a Member was moving to a new Meeting House, they would be given a letter of introduction.  Marriages were a community event and detailed records were kept including all the guests at the wedding.  So even if an ancestor was not a Quaker, if they attended a Quaker wedding their name would be on the list.  Occasionally their dates of birth would also be recorded.

 

5.   LANDED ESTATES COURT RENTALS

 

In the mid 19th century, many of the large Irish Estates found themselves in financial difficulty due perhaps to annuities to be paid, huge mortgages, charges etc.  The prices for the sale or rental of land plummeted and combined with the effect of the famine in 1845 and the following years, many of them could no longer survive.  The Landed Estates Court was established in 1848, and the Government took control of many such Estates and sold them off.  Records give details of 8000 rentals and 500,000 names of tenants.  These recorded facts may be useful in genealogical research.

 

6.   GRIFFITHS VALUATION

 

This is the main source for property and land records pertaining to the mid 19th century.  It is complete.  This is a tax record.  It gives the name of the Head of Household, the name of the Lessor and the value of the property.  This property tax was called Rates and they were payable every year.  It is also possible to access maps recording the location of the property with a plot number.  These records were updated annually.  The Revision Books record any changes in tenancy.

 

7.   ELECTORAL REGISTERS

 

As a genealogical resource, these are an important substitute in place of the census records.  However, there were restrictions on those who were allowed to vote and so the registers may be limited in the information that one is able to glean from them.  

 

The Victorian Government of the UK was working towards a structure where it would represent all those persons who paid tax.  The Representation of the People Act for Ireland of 1832 made some effort towards this end by including all those freeholders whose property had a value of £10 or more.  It also included lifelong leaseholders and leaseholders of 60 years or more.

 

In 1850, the Reform Act entitled men over the age of 21 who owned or leased a property valued at over £12 were eligible to vote.  This enabled an increase in the electorate of 16% of adult men.  The Register also included Freemen of the cities (Guild members) and Clergy.  

 

Until 1872 voting was a public affair which could lead to reprisals, especially from landlords.  This was dealt with in 1872 by the introduction of the secret ballot.

 

The Representation of the People Act of 1884 lowered the value of the property threshold.  This then meant that about 50% of the adult male population of Ireland were now able to vote.  However, this compared to about 60% in England where incomes were higher.

 

8.   COURT AND PRISON RECORDS

 

Ireland is a highly litigious country.  It was always strongly policed as trouble was always expected!  However, over half of these records relate to civil disputes and can provide us at times with a wide range of information.  As well as the facts of the incident there might even be a physical description available.

 

• Petty Sessions Courts (Magistrates Courts)

 

These were legally formed by Statute in 1827.  There was a mandatory requirement for record keeping from 1851 and covered criminal and civil law.  There were more than 600 courts excluding Dublin City.  Up to 1912, there were 22 million records giving a full name index and some images.  Unfortunately, all pre-1900 documents from the legal courts were lost in the fire in 1922. 

 

• Dog Licence Books

 

There are 1200 Dog Licence Books in Ireland containing 6 million names.  These give details regarding the names, addresses and occupations of each dog owner.  “Why so many?” one might ask.  Well, all farmers kept dogs.  Dog licences were a major income source for the funding of the courts. So, if an ancestor was a Farmer, then they may well have had a Dog Licence.  Incidentally, it was also necessary to have a licence to distil liquor – but it is questionable as to how many people actually made an application for such a licence!

 

• Prison Registers

 

Ireland has the most prisons per population in the whole of Europe. Records start for Kilmainham, Dublin in the 1790s.    There were 2.7 million prisoners pre-1924 covering up to 105,000 prison sentences each year.  The Registers provide details about the prisoner, relatives and the victims.  The records contain physical details, place of birth and next of kin.  Because Ireland was such a heavily policed country, it is possible to find that people may have been imprisoned for fairly innocuous reasons such as swearing, inebriation and rebellious activities.

 

9.   SCHOOL RECORDS

 

Records found in the Log Books take a narrative form and can provide useful background information.  The School Admission Registers provide facts such as name of student and parent, date of birth and home address as well as year of admission.  It may also be possible to find information relating to an ancestor in the Withdrawal Registers, if they were removed from a school at any time.

 

10.   NEWSPAPERS

 

Between 1700 and 1959 there were 111 newspaper titles in Ireland.  Southern Ireland held 84 titles and Northern Ireland had 27.  Every town in Ireland had at least one newspaper which would record local information and also news from around the whole world.  Researchers may find an ancestor’s birth, marriage and death recorded in the local paper and it was not unknown, for such life events to be recorded locally about family members living abroad.  

 

11.   MUSTER ROLLS and MILITARY RECORDS

 

A muster roll lists all the members of a military unit.  The researcher may find details here of name, rank, and dates of joining and leaving a unit. 

 

After the Easter uprising of 1916, the Army took control and the country was placed under Martial Law.  This resulted in detailed security records being kept such as the Search and Raid reports.  A search of someone’s property would take place and then a detailed report would be made. These reports could be written by the commanding officer of the Royal Irish Constabulary, or Black and Tans Constables.  Each report could contain detailed information regarding the names, ages, occupations of each occupant, any articles found, answers given to questions and arrests made.

 

Court martial cases involved the creation of Registers and Courts of Inquiry would be held in lieu of an Inquest.  Thus, there are many case files to be explored. There was also a Military census in 1922.  This kind of data may also provide a useful resource for the Researcher.  The military archives for Ireland may be searched at www.militaryarchives.ie

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12.   IRISH POVERTY RELIEF LOANS

 

The Irish Relief Committee was established in 1822.  Funds were distributed through local associations.  In the period 1820 – 1840s a credit scheme was set up so that small loans could be given to the “industrious/deserving poor”.  The minimum loan was £1 and minimum age was 21. Women were also eligible and the loans were made for 12 months.  A recipient had to prove that they were able to pay back the loan within the year and this was paid on a weekly basis.  Due to the famine of 1845 and subsequent years, many failed on loan repayment.  About a million people died at this time.  The scheme ceased in 1848 but there are 700,000 names on record.

 

13.   POOR LAW RECORDS

 

Workhouses were introduced to deal with the very large number of people who struggled.  People were interviewed and if accepted moved in with whatever belongings they may have had.  They were given a uniform and fed.  They were only allowed to leave the workhouse if they could prove that they were able to look after themselves.   The Workhouse registers for Dublin and Sligo can be accessed.  The Board of Guardian Minute Books provide an interesting insight into the difficult lives that many led at these times. These are available for the Unions of Dublin and Clare.

 

14.   EMMIGRATION RECORDS

 

There are many ship passengers lists with dates of arrival and departure in America and the UK.  Details usually include the ship name, date of entry, passenger name, nationality, place of birth, age, profession, place of last residence and sometimes even height, eye and hair colour.  Whilst researching I was surprised to come across my own name listed for a journey I made to the United States, many years ago.

 

15.   COMMERCIAL DIRECTORIES

 

Directories such as Slaters, comprise a list of the principal residents, including gentry, tradesmen, medium and large farmers, office holders, professionals, clergy and other officials for each town in Ireland.  Institutions are also listed – hotels, schools, hospitals, churches and pubs.