Replacing the Irish Census Diane L
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Irish Census Sub FC.qxd 7/28/2010 9:32 AM Page 1 Resources Replacing the Irish Census Diane L. Richard looks at Irish census substitutes that can benefit your research. UNLIKE ENGLISH, WELSH and Scot- Census Records Ireland (PRONI) for the Northern tish censuses, which are available Just because “most” of the census Ireland counties. for much of the 1800s, Ireland’s records for 19th century Ireland do Some family historians prior to history is a bit different. The first not survive, that doesn’t mean that World War I used the earlier cen- full government census of Ireland all of them were destroyed. Do suses for research. Many of their was taken in 1821, with further check a resource, such as census transcriptions and abstracts were censuses at 10 year intervals from finder, www.censusfinder.com/ donated after 1922 to replace 1831 through to 1911. No census ireland.htm, to see what census records lost in the fire. Check the was taken in 1921, because of the records may survive. holdings of the National Archives War of Independence. The first Some of the surviving 19th-cen- of Ireland. census of the population of the tury census fragments include: There are also 17th and 18th Irish Free State was taken in 1926. • 1821: parts of Counties Cavan, century census-like documents At this point, I’m sure that you are Fermanagh, Galway, Meath and that might survive; discussed thinking that this sounds won- Offaly (known as King’s County towards the end of this article. derful. then) However, the problem is that • 1831: a few fragments for Directories the census returns for 1861 and County Derry Directories are always a good 1871 were destroyed shortly after • 1841: only the Killeshandra alternative to substitute for a the censuses were taken, those for parish, County Cavan missing census record. Unfortu- 1881 and 1891 were pulped during • 1851: some parishes in County nately, though, most directories World War I and the returns only listed heads of house- for 1821, 1831, 1841 and 1851 holds and those who chose to were, apart from a few sur- be listed. This means that vivals, destroyed in 1922 in they have limited value with the fire at the Public Record regards to children and/or Office at the beginning of wives. Although, later direc- the Irish Civil War. The first tories did often list the names surviving census is for 1901. of wives and as children Therefore, unlike the US aged, you might find them and most of the UK, Ireland listed separately, at the same does not have any surviving address as the parents. nation-wide 19th-century Slater’s produced the Royal census records. Fortunately, National Directory and also recent access has been commercial directories which granted to the 1901 and 1911 listed merchants and promi- census records, which helps nent private citizens for each with more modern emi- county, plus a description grants.You can access these An example of a Griffith’s Valuation. and history of the area. two censuses via a dedi- For example, the 1846 cated webpage on the National Antrim. directory is available at www. Archives of Ireland page, The above mentioned website also failteromhat.com/slater.htm and the www.census.nationalarchives.ie/. lists some of the records that one Clare County contents can be These records are available can alternately use, which will be found at www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas both offline, in print or on micro- discussed later on. /coclare/genealogy/directories/slaters film, as well as online. In some Additionally, when Great /slaters_directory_1846.htm. Directo- cases, guidance to online sources is Britain instituted the Old Age Pen- ries do survive for many other provided. If you don’t have sion of 1908, some people used the years and locations! For example, Internet access and you do have a 1841 and 1851 censuses as proof of John Walker Nelson married Mary Family History Center that is local, age. These forms, taken from the Ann Lillie in Dublin in 1875 (as check its holdings for Ireland or original censuses, have survived reported in a Scottish newspaper, use your local library’s interlibrary and are available at the National Wigtown Free Press) and then, loan service to get access to these Library of Ireland (NLI) for current through directories, was found to rich census substitutes! Irish counties, and at Belfast’s be living in Limerick, plying his Public Records Office of Northern trade as a watchmaker (haven’t Family Chronicle • September/October 2010 29 Irish Census Sub FC.qxd 7/28/2010 9:32 AM Page 2 Resources figured out the connection between 1823 and 1837 in order to Landowners in Ireland (1876) between addresses on opposite determine the amount which occu- In 1876, a list was compiled of coasts, but those are for another piers of agricultural holdings those who owned one acre, or day). should pay in tithes. There is a more, of land. The full title is Land This directory information manuscript book for almost every Owners in Ireland: Return of Owners eventually led to birth records for parish, giving the names of occu- of Land of One Acre and Upwards in his children and his eventual death piers, the amount of land held and the several Counties, Counties of in Inverness, Scotland, where his the sums to be paid in tithes. Cities and Counties of Towns in Ire- sister and family lived. Unfortu- These books can be accessed at land and was published in Dublin, nately, John was not a landowner several websites in addition to 1876. This provides an alphabetical and was Presbyterian, which Irish Origins, including list of landowners in each county, reduced the substitute documents Ancestry.com, as well as locale with their residence and the size in which he might be listed. sites, such as the County Clare and value of their landholdings Library site, www.clarelibrary.ie and includes the records of 32,614 Griffith’s Valuation /eolas/coclare/genealogy/genealog.htm, owners of land in Ireland. The This was the first full scale valua- and in many other places. entries record the address of the tion of property in Ireland and is a According to Irish Origins, “in owner, along with the extent and primary substitute for the lost cen- 1830 and 1831, many people valuation of the property. Only a suses for landed individuals in the refused to pay this tithe, and so minority of the population actually mid-19th century (though it does started the Tithe War. The names owned the land they occupied, list anyone leasing land from the in these records are those recorded and, if you don’t look, you won’t owner). It was overseen by by the Church of Ireland clergy know whether your ancestors are Richard Griffith (hence its name) who refused to pay their tithe.” listed. Two of many online ver- and was published between 1847 The surviving Tithe Defaulters sions are available at Fáilte and 1864. It is available in various database contains almost 29,000 Romhat, www.failteromhat.com/ forms (e.g., index to and/or full names from 232 parishes in 12 lo1876.htm, and Digital Irish details of), at a multitude of web- counties. Almost 20,000 of these Genealogy Data, www.ajmorris. sites, both subscription and free, names are from two counties; com/dig/toc/_01irlo.htm. including and not limited to: about 10,000 each from Kilkenny • Ask About Ireland, www.askabout and Tipperary. There are nearly Freeholders, Voters Lists, Poll ireland.ie/ 3,000 names from Wexford and Books, Electoral Records • Fáilte Romhat, about 2,000 each from Cork and Freehold property is held either by www.failteromhat.com/ Waterford. Seven other counties fee simple, with absolute freedom • Irish Family History Foundation, have fewer names; Kerry, Meath to dispose of it, by fee tail, in www.RootsIreland.ie and Offaly have just two or three which the disposition is restricted • Ancestry.com, www.ancestry.com. dozen. This information is not just to a particular line of heirs, or For a nice discussion of how to available through Irish Origins. If simply by life tenure. Freeholders use the Griffith’s Valuation as a you do a Google search on the lists were drawn up regularly census substitute and also some Internet, you will find where pro- because the right to vote was, for information on offline sources, jects for several counties at least the most part, based on being a check out this article on the Irish make an index available of those freeholder with property of or Genealogical Society International who defaulted. above a certain value. As with the website at www.irishgenealogical. 1876 Landowners lists, only a org/extra_griffiths.asp. National School Records small percentage of the population (1831-1921) will be included in Freeholder Tithe Applotment Books and In 1831, a countrywide system of lists. Learn more about Free- Tithe Defaulters Lists primary education was established holders on the PRONI website, As described by the Irish Origins which resulted in the creation of www.proni.gov.uk/index/search_the_ website, www.originsnetwork.com/ school registers that record the age archives/freeholders_records.htm or at help/aboutio-tithe.aspx, “all occu- of the pupil, religion, father’s ProGrenealogists “Irish Free- pants of land were required to pay address and occupation and gen- holders, Freemen and Voting Reg- an annual tithe (or religious tax) of eral observations. Unfortunately, isters”, www.progenealogists.com/ 10 percent of the agricultural pro- these are not centralized in the ireland/freeholders.htm. duce generated by that holding.