Category Archives: Irish Genealogy

Irish Natural History Society Journal Index, Vol. VIII, 1858-61

Contents
Volume VIII
1857-1861


On the Lifting Powers of Electro-Magnets.
By the Rev. T. R. Robinson, D. D.

On the Annual Variations of Atmospheric Pressure in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
By W. Kelly, M. D

On the Determination of the Intensity of the Earth’s Magnetic Force in Absolute Measure, by means of the Dip Circle.
By the Rev. H. Lloyd, D. D

On an Improved Form of the Theodolite Magnetometer.
By the Rev. H. Lloyd, D.D

On the Opus Majus of Roger Bacon.
By J. K. Ingram, LL. D

On some Ancient Irish Deeds.
By the Rev. J. H. Todd, D. D (dating from the 15th C. Mainly Co. Clare (some Tipperary). Surnames: Mac Gorman ; Mac Loghlainn ; Mac Namara ; Mac Mahon ; Mac Sheedy ; O’Brien ; O’Curry ; O’Daly ; O’Davoren ; O’Dwyer ; O’Giltinane : O’Kearney ; O’Kennedy ; O’Mulregan ; O’Tierney

On the Theory of Reciprocal Surfaces.
By G. Cayley, Esq

On the Effect of a Distant Luminary, supposed Magnetic, upon the Diurnal Movements of the Magnetic Needle.
By the Rev. H. Lloyd, D.D

On Oldhamia, a Genus of Cambrian Fossils.
By J. R. Kinahan, M. D

Notes on the Molecular Constitution of Matter.
By G. J. Stoney, Esq

On the Contents of certain Ancient Tombs in the neighbourhood of Anet, Switzerland.
By the Rev. J. H. Todd, D. D

On an Ancient Inscription, supposed to be in the Etruscan Language.
By W. Drennan, Esq

On the Ancient and Modem Races of Oxen in Ireland.
By W. R. Wilde, Esq

The Report of the Case of M. Groux, and Discussion on same

On Nicotine considered as an Antidote to Strychnia.
By the Rev. S. Haughton, F. T. C. D

On Human Remains found at Barrettstown, County Westmeath.
By W. R. Wilde, Esq.

On the Hymnus Sancti Aidi.
By the Rev. W. Reeves, D. D

On a proposed Scheme for a Uniform Mode of naming Type-Divisions.
By J. R. Kinahan, M. D

On an Ogham Monument discovered in the County of Kerry.
By the Ven. Archdeacon of Ardfert

On certain Ornaments from Morocco.
By F. M. Jennings, Esq

On a Meteor seen near Cork.,
By F. M. Jennings, Esq.

Description of a Horizontal Sundial.
By M. Donovan, Esq.

On the Reflexion and Refraction of Polarized Light.
By the Rev. J. H. Jellett, F. T. C. D.

On a Cast of a Stone Cross discovered in Perthshire.
By T. A. Wyse, M. D

On the Morphology of the Hydrozoa, with reference to the Constitution of the SubKingdom Coelenterata.
By J. R. Greene, Esq.

On some Quatemrnion Equations connected with Fresnel’s Wave-Surface for Biaxal
Crystals.
By Sir W. R. Hamilton, L. L. D

Memoir of the Church of St. Duilech.
By the Rev. W. Reeves, D. D.

Account of three Crannoges.
By W. R. Wilde, Esq.

On certain Crannoges in Ulster.
By the Rev. W. Reeves, D. D.

Remarks on Donations presented.
By W. R. Wilde, Esq.

A Note correcting the Table printed at page 639, vol. xxiii., T. R. I. A.
By H. L. Renny, Esq.

On the Use of the Distaff and Spindle considered as the Insignia of Unmarried Women. By E. Clibborn, Esq.

On the Application of some new Formulae to the Calculation of Strains in Braced Girders.
By B. B. Stoney, Esq., C. E

On the Phonetic Values of Egyptian Hieroglyphics and Assyrian Letters, &c.
By the Rev. E. Hincks, D. D.

On Donati’s Comet.
By A. Graham, Esq.

On the Un-manufactured Animal Remains belonging to the Academy.
By W. R. Wilde, Esq.

An Account of the Crannoge of Inishrush, and its ancient Occupants.
By the Rev. W. Reeves, D. D

On the Tidal Currents in the Arctic Archipelago.
By the Rev. S: Haughton, F. T. C. D

On certain Methods in the Calculus of Finite Differences.
By the Rev. R. Carmichael, F. T. C. D.

On an ancient Deed in the Irish Language.
By the Rev. J. H. Todd, D, D.

Description of Drawings of Irish Antiquities presented by him.
By G. V. Du Noyer, Esq.

On the Wells in or near Dublin, attributed to or named after St. Patrick.
By K Clibborn, Esq.

On the Formation of Sugar and Amyloid Substances in the Animal Economy.
By R. M’Donnell, M. D.

On a Stereoscopic Magnifier.
By G. J. Stoney, Esq

On Anharmonic Co-ordinates.
By Sir W. R. Hamilton, L. L. D.

On Marianus Scotus, of Ratisbon.
By the Rev. W. Reeves, D. D.

Remarks on Artillery.
By Captain A. T. Blakely, R.A

Dr. Hart’s Remarks on Artillery.

On the Formation of Wood in Dicotyledonous Plants.
By D. Moore, Esq.

On the Box of St. Molaise of Devenish Island.
By the Rev. J. H. Todd, D. D.

On the Principles and Invention of the Methods of constructing Ordnance of
Superimposed Rings, with Initial Tension.
By R. Mallet, Esq.

On a new Analyzing Prism.
By the Rev. J. H. Jellett, F. T. C.D

On a Theorem relating to Conical Surfaces.
By H. Hennessy, Esq.

On the Organs which in the Common Ray are homologous with the Electrical
Organs of the Torpedo.
By R. M’Donnell, M. D

Obits of Eminent Individuals connected with Navan, &c.
By the Rev. J. H. Todd, D. D

On a MS. of the Tract intituled “Tipicus ac Tropologicus Jesu Christi Genealogioe Intellectus. quem Sanctus Aileranus Scottorum Sapientissimus exposuit,” preserved in the Imperial Library at Vienna.
By C. Mac Donnell, Esq.

Notice of some of the Lives which seem to have been ready, or in preparation,
for the continuation of the “Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae,” at the death of Colgan.
By C. Mac Donnell, Esq.

On the General Theory of the Integration of Non-Linear Partial Differential Equations. By the Rev. R. Carmichael, F. T.C. D.

On the Ancient Norse and Danish Geography of Ireland.
By J. H. Smith, Esq.

Tables and Diagrams relative to the Rain-Fall as observed in the Magnetic Observatory of Trinity College, from 1850 to 1860.
By the Rev. J. A. Galbraith, F.T.C.D.

On the Storm of the 9th of February, 1861.
By the Rev. S. Haughton, F. T. C. D.

On Clairaut’s Theorem.
By H. Hennessy, Esq.

The Old Countess of Desmond. An Inquiry,- Did she seek redress at the Court
of Queen Elizabeth, as recorded in the Journal of Robert Sydney, Earl of Leycester? And did she ever sit for her Portrait?
By R. Sainthill Esq.

On the Townland Distribution of Ireland.
By the Rev. W. Reeves, D. D

On the Shower of Aeroliths that fell at Killeter, Co. Tyrone, on the 29th April,
1844.
By the Rev. S. Haughton, F. T. C. D.

On the Connexion between Storms and Vertical Disturbances of the Atmosphere.
By H. Hennessy, Esq.

On the Time of High Water in Dublin Bay, on Good Friday, the 23rd April,
1014, the day of the Battle of Clontarf.
By the Rev. S. Haughton. F. T. C.D.

On the History of the Battle of Clontarf, in connexion with Mr. Haughton’s Determination of the Time of High Water in Dublin Bay on Good Friday,
April 23, 1014.
By the Rev. J. H. Todd, D.D.

On the true Height of the Tide at Ireland’s Eye on the Evening of the 6th September, 1852, the day of the Murder of Mrs. Kirwan. By the Rev. S. Haughton, F.T.C.D

On Augustin, an Irish Writer of the Seventh Century.
By the Rev. W. Reeves, D.D.

On the Amplitude of the daily Variation of the Magnetic Dip in Christiania between 10 a.m.. and an hour before Sunset, from 1844 to 1859.
By Professor Hansteen, of Christiania.

On the Degree of Accordance which may be attained in Observations made with
Dr. Lloyd’s Dip Circles.
By G. J. Stoney, Esq

On Geometrical Nets in Space.
By Sir W. R. Hamilton, LL. D.
APPENDICES.

I. Account of the year ending 31st March, 1858
II. Account of the year ending 31st March, 1859
III. Account of the year ending 31st March, 1860
IV. Account of the year ending 31st March, 1861

The PRESIDENT read a paper- ON SOME ANCIENT IRISH DEEDS.

THESE deeds are mostly in the Irish language and character, of the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth centuries. They are of the nature of deeds of mortgage, wills, covenants, deeds of arbitration, indentures, deeds of partition, conveyance of land; and some of them are Brehon Law judgments.

No. I – Is dated A.D. 1450, and also by the local historical fact, “the year in which Donoch O’Brien died.” It is a deed of mortgage by deed poll, but differs from our modern deeds of mortgage in that it does not convey the lands. It consists of five parts. In Part I. it is recited that Donnell oge O’Kearney had possession of the lands of Ballymote, or rather a half quarter of them, for a debt due to him by the owners, Teige Mac Sida (Mac Sheedy), [Mac Namara], and his son. But Teige and his son seem to have been in debt to Donoch O’Brien [first Earl of Thomond ?], whose bailiffs entered the lands of Ballymote, then in the possession of Donnell Oge O’Kearney, and carried three valuable mares. Arbitrators were appointted, and Teige Mac Sheedy and his son were condemned to payfive marks to O’Kearney. As security for these five marks, Mac Sheedy, the son, mortgages a half quarter of Ballymote to O’Kearney. In Part II. it is stated that Mac Sheedy, the son, had been murdered by Donnell Oge Mac Namara, but had by his will left his property to his brother and chief, Donnell Derg [or the red], subject to the debts due to O’Kearney. Part III. is a further mortgage. Donnell Derg, and the two sons of Lochlainn O’Curry, had stolen two pigs from O’Kearney ; an arbitration was agreed to, and a fine of half a mark given for the pigs, with three ‘unigee as costs, and one ‘uinge’ as a twelfth, or umpires’ fees. To meet these charges, Donnell Derg mortgages the lands to the amount of one mark.These facts enable ns to fix the price of pigs in that golden age in Ireland. The mark was two-thirds of £1, or 13s. 4d., and consequently the two pigs, being valued at half a mark, were worth 3s. 4d. each. The other half mark was equal to four’ uinge’, or ounces, and one ‘uing’e is called ‘thetwelfth’ i.e. the twelfth of a pound [of gold ?]. An ‘uinge’ must, therefore, have been 1s. 8d. Part IV. The pig transaction does not seem to have permanently broken friendship between O’Kearney and Donnell Derg; for the former appears to have lent the latter a sum of money, secured by a further mortgage on the lands. Part V. Donnell Derg, however, engaged in gambling, but lost eight marks, and his person appears to have been seized by Hugh Roe Mac Namara, and Owen of the Money, the successful gamblers. He was ransomed by Teige Mac Donnell Mac Namara, who gave a good steed for him to the gamblers; so that the price of a good steed in those days-was about £5 6s. 8dMac Namara, however, owed O’Kearney one ‘uinge’ of gold and six marks for three milch cows; and the rescued gambler, Donnell Derg, mortgaged his lands still further to the prudent O’Kearney, to discharge this portion of his debt to Mac Namara. The lands concerned in this document are situated near Sixmilehridge, County of Clare, and the same remark applies to the next two deeds.

No.2 – Is another deed, of the nature of a mortgage on the lands of Kill Fiontanain, dated August 11, 1612.

No. 3 – Is a statement of the debts or demands of Conor Mac Teige upon the clan Mac Craith, out of the lands of the Lower Corbally. (No date.)

No. 4. – The will of Mortogh Mac Mahon, written after his death by the testamentary priests who were present at his death-bed; it is little more than an acknowledgment of his debts due to Donn Mac Gorman. ( Not dated). He appears to have lived in the neighbourhood of Kilrush, County of Clare.

No. 5. – A deed of mortgage (1549), on the lands of Donnell Oge O’Kearney (see No. 1), to Mac Con Mac Lochlainn, son of Sida [M’Namara). (The date shows that the Donnell Oge O’Kearney here mentioned to have been the son or grandson of the personage mentioned in No. 1.]

No.6.- An endrsement on No.5, dated also 1549, containing a power of redemption, and libertyto O’Kearney to carry off manure from the land, “if there be manure upon it.”

No.7. A deed of arbitration respecting the lands of Garry Orrtha, between Conor Mac Teige and Mac Craith Mac Teige, dated A.D., 1587.

No. 8.-An endorsement on the former, much obliterated.

No. 9.- A deed of indenture, dated 1551, conveying half the land and inheritance of Murchu, son of Conal’, son of Murchu, son of William, of Bally Sidhnoidh for ever, to Philip and Connor, the two sons of Conor son of Teige, and their heirs after them; and a sort of mortgage of theother half of his land to Philip and to Dermot, to whom Murchu promises to pay a rent, whenever”he is able to sit in the land,” and if not able “to sit” in it, then Philip and Dermot were to pay him a rent. This document is subscribed by Murchu O’Mulregan, Conor O’Dwyer, William O’Davoren, Shane O’Dwyer, and Philip O’Dwyer .

No. 10.- A mortgage, dated 1587, to Conor, son of Teige [O’Dwyer?] and Eogan, son of Donnell, on the lands of Matthew, son of Murchu [O’Mulregan ].

No. 11.-A mortgage, dated 1576, to Conor, son of Teige, son of William [O’Dwyer], on two-thirds of the lands of Dromainn-an-Chunna, from Matthew, son of Murchu, son of Conor [O’Mulregan).This deed contains two singular covenants :- lst. That Matthew is to have an invitation at Easter and Christmas, “upon Conor, and upon Eoghan, son of Donnell.” And 2nd. “If it shall happen to Matthew to fall into poverty or distress, Conor and Eoghan are to give him food and clothing, Conor paying two-thirds, and Eoghan one-third, of the burthen, .and Matthew doing the utmost service to them on that account.”

No. 12.-A mortgage, not dated.

No. 13. – An endorsement on No. 12, dated 1531. These are of no particular interest, except that the payment is made in cows, and no mention made of money. The parties seem to belong to the same families of O’Dwyer and O’Mulregan, who are concerned in Nos. 9, 10, and 11. Nos. 7 to 13inclusive relate to a district in the county of Tipperary, on the borders of the county of Limerick. ”

No. 14.-A deed in Latin, nearly obliterated.

No. 15.- A deed of arbitration, in Irish, dated 8th Oct. 1584, containing a very full and formal statement of the names of the parties concerned, the cause of controversy, and the decision of the arbitrators. The original is in Mr. Curry’s collection, and is a very remarkable and valuable specimen of a decree of arbitrators under the Brehon Law between two parties of the O’Kennedys of Lower Ormond, county of Tipperary.

No. 16.-This is very nearly in the form of a modern deed poll, dated 19th July, 1611. It is a lease for twenty-one years, of the western half of the lands of Moy Lacha, parish of Kiliush, barony of Clonderala, county of Clare, from Turloch Roe Mac Mahon, to Shane, son of Teige O’Gilltinane, and after the expiration of the term of twenty-one years, “until redeemed by the payment of ten pounds of the crowned money of the Saxons, of good metal and pure silver.” This deed contains a formal clause of re-entry, the appointment of a bailiff to give possession, and a covenant for peaceable possession. .

There is also a remarkable covenant in which Turloch Mac Mahon, the lessor, acknowledges himself bound “to put this writing into the force of the law of the Saxon king, as the law adviser of the above Shane may advise.”

The originals of this and of the five following are in Mr. Curry’s collection.

No. 17.- A curious document, evidently founded· on Brehon Law, but not dated. It is a statement of certain personal and other injuries inflicted upon Teige, son of Sioda, or Mac Sheedy, by Fingin, son of Mac Con, and his family. It is a kind of bill of indictment.

No. 18 . – A deed of arbitration for certain injuries inflicted on Donnell, son of Rory, by the sons of Lochlainn, son of Fingin, son of Donnchadh [Mac Namara.] These personages appear to have livedin the neighbourhood of Cratloe (county of Clare); and the outrages which gave occasion to the arbitration were committed “in the summer in which Murchadh O’Brien and Donnchadh O’Brien went to England.” The deed was executed in 1550. Nos. 17 and 18 relate to the Mac Namaras mentioned in No. 1.

No. 19.-This document, dated 1591, is a curious compact, in which the descendants of Melachlainn O’Lochlainn of Ballymachane [in Burren, county of Clare], acknowledge themselves bound to Donnchadh O’Brien, by the terms of a compact made with their family by Connor, son of Turloch O’Brien, grandfather of the then Earl of Thomond. In this covenant they acknowledge themselves tenants of certain lands and vassals under the Earl; and he, on the other hand, concedes to them what would now be called tenant-right :- .. “I, the Earl of Thomond, acknowledge upon my honour that I have promised that whenever lands or castles belonging to these people shall be brought to an end” [meaning, it is presumed, by the expiration of their lease or tenancy], ” I will give them the appraisement of Boece [Mac Egan] and John O’Tierney and Eoghan O’Daly.”

No. 20.-A deed of partition, dated April 3, 1675, between Aedh and Cosney, the sons of Gillananoemh Oge O’Davoren, of certain lands of their ancestors, situate in the district of Burren, county of Clare. This document provides that if any part of the lands be lost to the parties, they are to balance the loss with each other, in the same way as in the original partition. Also, that neither party has a right to put away his portion in pledge or perpetuity, so that the other cannot redeem it; also, that if any part of the lands be in pledge, whoever is first able to redeem it shall hold it until redeemed by the other; and if one party shall fail to have heirs, the other shall succeed to his portion of the property. Lastly, that if there be any part of Aedh.’s land which he is unable to occupy, Cosney shall, if able, occupy it without let or hindrance from Aedh.

No. 21.-An agreement between Donnell Oge O’Kearney and Graine, daughter of Mac Con [Mac Namara). Donnell had a mortgage upon the lands of Graine [situate near Six-mile-bridge, county of Clare], to the amount of eleven ‘uinge,’. with a right to two free cows; the lady being advanced in years, gives up her rights and her lands to Donnell, on the condition that he supports her, with power to her son, and to him only, to redeem the lands after her death; but if there be manure or buildings on the lands, they shall be appraised and redeemed according to appraisement. Here is another recognition of tenant-right. This document is dated 1522.

No. 22-1s a copy of a deed, made by Mr. Curry from the original, in the British Museum (Egerton, No. 139, p. 179). It is an agreement dated 1510. Lochlainn Riabhach O’Mullona [Mullowney] mortgaged his lands to Shane O’Radan for four cows, in calf, and a good male pig; Shane O’Radan gives Connor O’Gleeson the privilege of having four cows on the land until it is redeemed.

No. 23.-This is a judgment of four Brehons in a controversy respecting land. The Brehons were of the family of O’Deoradan, Domhnall, Cathal Ferganainm, and Giolla Patrick; and the contending parties were, Gerald, son of Cathal Carrach; Brian, son of Murtoch; and Donnchadh, son of Crimhthan. Witnesses were examined upon oath, and the Brehons, acting upon their testimony, decide; and in an appendix to their decision minutely describe the boundaries of the land. The decision is as follows:- “And in accordance with that” [viz., the evidence], “the Brehons gave it as a judgment that Gerald should have possession of the land, and that neither Teige nor Donnchadh should have any claim on it from that time forth. And the one-eighth part of the sheaf of that year was awarded to Donnchadh in payment for his labour.”

This decision is dated 1560, showing that the Brehon Law continued to be practised in some parts of Ireland to that period; and it can be proved to have continued at least 100 years later. The original is in the Library of Trinity College (H.. 3, 18, p. 455). The lands and parties mentioned in this document belonged to the county of Wexford.

No. 24. – Is a letter of confraternity, in Latin, granted by Patrick Culvyn, local Prior of Dublin, of the order of Friars Eremite of St. Augustine, to John Stackpoole, and Genet Gwyth, his wife. Dated 31st of August, 1507.

Dr. Todd then made some remarks on the historical and antiquarian value of the deeds described, and exhibited to the Academy some of the deeds, together with a MS. book containing transcripts (made by Mr. Curry for the University Library), in which the whole are written, without the contractions of the originals, and rendered accessible to ordinary readers of Irish.

Civil Parishes Donegal Ireland

Civil Parishes Donegal Ireland – I wonder, how many know the names of each civil parish in Co. Donegal? 
Donegal County has, or had 52 civil parishes.  She has 40 Roman Catholic Parishes.  She had 10 Poor Law Unions (these later became Civil Registration Districts).  For Donegal the Church of Ireland Representative Body Library in Dublin has parish records .


Civil Parish
Aghanunshin
All Saint's
Aughnish
Burt
Clonca
Clondahorky
Clondavaddog
Clonleigh
Clonmany
Convoy
Conwal
Culdaff
Desertegny
Donagh
Donaghmore
Donegal
Drumhome
Fahan Lower
Fahan Upper
Gartan
Glencolumbkille
Inch
Inishkeel
Inishmacsaint
Inver
Kilbarron
Kilcar
Killaghtee
Killea
Killybegs Lower
Killybegs Upper
Killygarvan
Killymard
Kilmacrenan
Kilteevoge
Leck
Lettermacaward
Mevagh
Mintiaghs of Barr of Inch
Moville Lower
Moville Upper
Muff
Raphoe
Raymoghy
Raymunterdoney
Stranorlar
Taughboyne
Templecarn
Templecrone
Tullaghobegley
Tullyfern
Urney

The ‘civil’ parish and the Roman Catholic parish are NOT the same group of townlands They are separate entities in relation to genealogical research.  Catholics can or could live in one civil parish and be members of a relgious parish with a different name. 

Please remember some of these parish spellings might not be exactly as they are today.

‘Search Page’ the IrlAtlas Townland Search form. When you go to this page you will find a form into which you place names and then learn more about these places at the time of the 1851 census of Ireland.  You do not have to fill out every column of the form.

The web page to which you are being directed above is hosted by the Leitrim Roscommon Genealogy web site.  The book from which the list of placenames was created was based on the townlands listed in the Irish 1851 census and a man who we all knew as John Broderick a.k.a. Sean Ruad (R.I.P.) was responsible for having the whole book typed up by helpful individuals over a number of years.  This book the ‘General Alphabetical Index to the Townlands and Towns, Parishes & Baronies of Ireland’, which was printed by Alexander Thom & Co. of Dublin, gives you the size of a townland, the barony that the townland was in, the name of the civil parish, and the name of the Poor Law Union. 


Donegal Roman Catholic Parish records available online at the National Library of Ireland website

Poor Law Union. Civil Registration District

Poor Law Union & Civil Registration District Ireland


The Poor Law Union had what was called a ‘Workhouse’ and ”in theory” the area of the Poor Law Union (PLU) spread approx 10 miles in a circle around this workhouse (not ALWAYS).

The Workhouse of the Poor Law Union (PLU) was supposed to ‘mind’ the poor people – as in take care of them medically, take them in – divide them up, try and keep them alive. Each PLU was divided into areas, these areas had people in charge of them, the PLU had a Doctor attached to it.

Civil registration of marriages of non Catholics in Ireland began in 1845. This is where people get mixed up, you see, some people who were of the Catholic faith, they married people who were not of the Catholic faith and the marriages of these Catholics are listed in there in the post 1845 pre 1864 marriages. It’s very hard to explain this to people and few think about it.

The Poor Law Union was an area of townlands around the Workhouse…….approximately a ten mile circle.The Poor Law Union and Civil Registration Districts, they don’t necessarily take in one county, they can actually take in up to 3 counties, depending on how close they are to county border. 

State registration of non-Catholic marriages began in 1845.

The Victorian public health system was based on the ‘Poor Law’ an attempt to help the very poor in some way. Between 1838 and 1852 – 163 ‘Workhouses’ were built in Ireland – each workhouse was at the centre of a land area known as the ‘Poor Law Union’

The Workhouses were usually located in a large market town (Donaghmore in Laois is literally out in the middle of ‘nowhere’ as we’d say). The Poor Law Union comprised the town and its’ catchment area and so county and parish borders were ignored.

People living in one house could be part of one Poor Law Union (PLU) and their next door neighbours might belong to a different PLU about 10 miles away. It all depended on the townlands in the Poor Law Union and their location.

In the 1850’s a large scale public health system was created with the help of numan that is based on the areas (townlands) covered by the Poor Law Unions. Each Union was divided into ‘Dispensary Districts’ with an average of 6-8 districts per Union. A Medical Officer (sometimes Doctor) was responsible for the public health in each district.

When the registration of civil records began these ‘Dispensary Districts’ became the ‘Registrar’s Districts’

So, we have Workhouses and an area of land that the workhouse was responsible for. Then we have that area of land, the Poor Law Union being broken up into districts (but the townlands are all still part of the same Poor Law Union)

Civil Registration was introduced in 1845 for non Catholic marriages but what everyone forgets is that people who were NOT Catholic sometimes married Catholics and so it’s not just non Catholic marriages cos there are Catholics thrown in to the mix.

I’m always seeing people ask if there are any records of the people who ‘stayed’ in Workhouses and I am always seeing people say there aren’t. That statement is incorrect.

The thing about a Workhouse is that it was Government operated, it did NOT break the law. Every child who was born or died in a Workhouse will have been registered with the State once civil registration was introduced. Every marriage in a workhouse will have been registered. Every death in a workhouse will have been registered. More than likely 95% of all babies you see listed in civil registers as having died at 0 years old will have been born in a Workhouse. To me, those records are ‘Workhouse’ data.

The Poor Law Unions ignored county and parish borders. This also means that the Civil Registration Districts also ignored those borders. You could be born in Co. Antrim but still have to be registered in Co. Down because you were born in a teeney weeney bit of the Poor Law Union area of Magheramesk………BUT your descendants would be looking for you in records belonging to Co. Antrim

Remember Poor Law Union area = Civil Registration District of later years.

In order to KNOW the names of all the townlands in any Civil Registration District there is one web site that I would recommend that you go to. It’s not any of these modern townland web sites.  There are some  mistakes in this index

IF you search for any townland in this database you are getting the names of townlands as spelled in the 1851 census of Ireland. It also gives you the size of the townland, the name of the civil parish that the townland was in, the name of the Poor Law Union (PLU) and the Barony that the townland was in.

Again – remember the Poor Law Union townlands became the Civil Registration townlands.

Officially Civil Registration of ALL births, marriages & deaths began (about Easter) of 1864.

My experience – and at this point I have almost finished indexing all Civil Registration Details of baptisms for one town from 1864 until the early months of 1881 for people of the town, while I have totally finished indexing the baptisms and marriages for Roman Catholic parish records of same town – I can promise you that of all the religious baptisms only 1 or 2 children of any year were not registered in the civil books.

Ireland has all her baptisms from 1864 to 1918 freely available online – THAT means that we’re not far off having our 1926 census online!!

Poor Law Unions – later Civil Registration Districts e.g. Co. Cavan
1. Enniskillen
2. Bawnboy
3. Cavan
4. Granard
5. Oldcastle
6. Kells
7. Bailieborough
8. Cootehill 

The names of Poor Law Unions can confuse people because the workhouse for some of them is actually in a different county.  Take Enniscorthy and New Ross these towns are in Co. Wexford.  Baltinglass and Shillelagh are in Co. Wicklow.

The thing about the Poor Law Unions is that the townlands that belonged to each Poor Law Union then became the townlands in each Civil Registration District once the registration of births, marriages and deaths was introduced.  This is what is then confusing for researchers because people who live in townlands that belonged to the Shillelagh Civil Registration District will have their births, deaths and marriages recorded as being part of the Shillelagh District.

Poor Law Unions individual counties – Scroll down to find ‘search’ page
Antrim : Coleraine – Ballycastle – Ballymoney – Larne – Ballymena – Antrim – Belfast – Lisburn – Lurgan
Armagh : Dundalk – Castleblaymey – Newry – Banbridge – Armagh – Lurgan

Carlow : Baltinglass – Shillelagh – Carlow – Enniscorthy – New Ross

Cavan : Enniskillen – Bawnboy – Cavan – Granard – Cootehill – Bailieborough – Oldcastle – Kells
Clare : Gort – Ballyvaghan – Ennistimon – Corrofin – Tulla – Scarriff – Limerick – Ennis– Killadysert – Kilrush
Cork : Bandon – Bantry – Castletown – Clonakilty – Dunmanway – Kanturk – Kilmallock – Kinsale –Macroom – Mallow – Millstreet – Mitchelstown – Fermoy – Cork – Youghal – Middleton – Kinsale – Lismore ––Skibbereen – Skull

Donegal : Ballyshannon – Donegal – Dunfanaghy – Glenties – Inishowen – Letterkenny – Londonderry – Milford – Strabane – Stranorlar
Down : Banbridge – Belfast – Downpatrick – Kilkeel – Lisburn – Lurgan – Newry – Newtownards
Dublin : Balrothery – Celbridge – Dublin North – Dublin South – Dunshaughlin – Naas –Rathdown
Fermanagh : Ballyshannon – Clones – Enniskillen – Lisnaskea –

Galway : Ballinarobe – Ballinasloe – Clifden – Galway  – Glennamaddy – Gort  – Loughrea – Mountbellew – Oughterard – Portumna – Roscommon – Tuam
Kerry : Cahersiveen – Dingle – Glin – Kenmare – Killarney – Listowel – Tralee

Kildare : Athy – Baltinglass – Carlow – Celbrodge – Edenderry – Naas

Kilkenny : Callan – Carrick on Suir – Castlecomer – Kilkenny – New Ross – Thomastown – Urlingford – Waterford
Leitrim : Ballyshannon – Bawnboy – Carrick on Shannon – Manorhamilton – Mohill
Laois (Queen’s Co.) : Abbeyleix – Athy – Carlow – Donaghmore – Mountmellick – Roscrea

Limerick : Croom – Glin – Kilmallock – Limerick – Mitchelstown – Newcastle – Rathkeale – Tipperary
Londonderry (Derry) : Coleraine –Ballymoney – Londonderry – Magherafelt – Newtown Limavady
Longford :  – Ballymahon – Granard – Longford
Louth : Ardee – Drogheda – Dundalk 
Mayo : Ballina – Ballinrobe – Belmullet – Castlebar – Claremorris – Killala – Newport – Swineford – Westport
Meath : Ardee – Celbridge – Drogheda – Dunshaughlin – Edenderry– Kells – Navan – Oldcastle – Trim
Monaghan : Carrickmacross – Castleblayney – Clogher – Clones – Cootehill – Dundalk – Monaghan
Offaly (King’s Co.) : Edenderry – Mountmellick – Parsonstown – Roscrea – Tullamore Roscommon : Athlone – Ballinasloe – Boyle – Carrick on Shannon – Castlereagh – Glennamaddy – Roscommon – Strokestown – Swineford
Sligo : Ballina – Boyle – Dromore West – Sligo – Tobbercurry

Tipperary : Borrisokane – Callan – Carrick on Suir – Cashel – Clogheen – Clonmel – Nenagh – Parsonstown – Roscrea – Thurles – Tipperary – Urlingford
Tyrone : Clogher – Dungannon Lower – Dungannon Middle – Dungannon Upper – Omagh East – Omagh West – Strabane Lower – Strabane Upper
Waterford: Carrick on Suir – Clogheen – Clonmel – Dungarvan –  Kilmacthomas – Lismore – Waterford – Youghal
Westmeath : Athlone – Ballymahon – Castletowndelvin – Granard – Mullingar – Tullamore Wexford  : Enniscorthy – Gorey – New Ross  – Shillelagh –Wexford

Wicklow : Baltinglass – Naas – Rathdown – Rathdrum – Shillelagh

‘Search Page’ the IrlAtlas Townland Search form. When you go to this page you will find a form into which you place names and then learn more about these places at the time of the 1851 census of Ireland.  You do not have to fill out every column of the form, BUT if you are interested in the townlands of any county that belonged to the any poor law Union in that county in 1851 then fill in the name of the Poor Law Union and name the county

The web page to which you are being directed above is hosted by the Leitrim Roscommon Genealogy web site.  The book from which the list of placenames was created was based on the townlands listed in the Irish 1851 census and a man who we all knew as John Broderick a.k.a. Sean Ruad (R.I.P.) was responsible for having the whole book typed up by helpful individuals over a number of years.  This book the ‘General Alphabetical Index to the Townlands and Towns, Parishes & Baronies of Ireland’, which was printed by Alexander Thom & Co. of Dublin, gives you the size of a townland, the barony that the townland was in, the name of the civil parish, and the name of the Poor Law Union. 


Counties of Ireland: Counties : return to

AntrimArmaghCarlowCavanClareCorkDerryDonegalDownDublinFermanaghGalwayKerryKildareKilkennyLaoisLeitrimLimerickLongfordLouthMayoMeathMonaghanOffalyRoscommonSligoTipperaryTyroneWaterfordWestmeathWexfordWicklow

Armagh Civil Parishes

County Armagh

Civil Parish list

Civil Parish Armagh – I wonder, how many know the names of each civil parish in Co. Armagh?  Here is a list of names.  Please remember some of these spellings are not exactly as they are now.


‘Search Page’  the IrlAtlas Townland Search form.

The web page to which you are being directed above is hosted by the Leitrim Roscommon Genealogy web site.  The book from which the list of placenames was created was based on the townlands listed in the Irish 1851 census and a man who we all knew as John Broderick a.k.a. Sean Ruad (R.I.P.) was responsible for having the whole book typed up by helpful individuals over a number of years.  This book the ‘General Alphabetical Index to the Townlands and Towns, Parishes & Baronies of Ireland’, which was printed by Alexander Thom & Co. of Dublin, gives you the size of a townland, the barony that the townland was in, the name of the civil parish, and the name of the Poor Law Union.  If you see a civil parish name here and you are interested in the townlands in that civil parish, then please go to the search page, put in the name of the civil parish and the county and you will be given a list of the names of townlands in that parish in 1851.  Please note, townland spellings may have changed, some of the townlands may have disappeared.

The ‘civil’ parish and the Roman Catholic parish are NOT the same group of townlands They are separate entities in relation to genealogical research.  Catholics can or could live in one civil parish and be members of a relgious parish with a different name.  Please consult the list of Roman Catholic parishes of Co. Armagh if you have Catholic ancestry.

A second web site that you could visit it the Ordnance Survey of Ireland which according to users has “quite advanced mapping tools and the link redirects to an historical layering, as over time, boundaries for the various borders for administrative divisions have changed. The site is especially useful when cross referencing with historical documents.”

Historical Mapping Ordnance Survey of Ireland

Armagh Civil Parish
Armagh
Ballymore
Ballymyre
Clonfeakle
Creggan
Derrynoose
Drumcree
Eglish
Forkhill
Grange
Jonesborough
Keady
Kilclooney
Kildarton
Killevy
Killyman
Kilmore
Lisnadill
Loughgall
Loughgilly
Magheralin
Montiaghs
Mullaghbrack
Newry
Newtownhamilton
Seagoe
Shankill
Tartaraghan
Tynan

Antrim Roman Catholic Parish Records

Roman Catholic Parish Records

List of Roman Catholic Parish Records available for Antrim

We have put together as many names and variations of names for each of the Roman Catholic Parishes of Co. Antrim with a list of ‘approximate’ dates that records are available for.  Sometimes there is a year, or a few years difference between the period of baptisms being recorded and the period of marriages.  This is just a basic list and it will help any of you who want to go to the National Library of Ireland web site and ‘read’ through the records yourself.


These Catholic parish registers can be viewed online at the National Library of Ireland web site and this is the link to the search page which will bring you to the records

National Library of Ireland(NLI) Roman Catholic parish record search page

Belfast City Roman Catholic Parish Registers

Antrim Roman Catholic ParishTimeframe
Aghagallon & BallinderryBaps, Marrs, Funerals. 1828-80
Ahoghill (Ahogill)Baps, Marrs, Deaths. 1833-81
Antrim ((Drumaul)Baps 1874-80
ArmoyBaps 1848-81, Marrs 1848-82
BallintoyBaps, Marrs 1872-82
Ballyclare (Larne, Ballyclare, Greencastle, Ligoneil)Baps 1869-81 ; Marrs 1870-81
Ballymoney (Derrykeighan)Baps, Marrs 1853-80
Belfast Citysee Greencastle
Blaris (Drumbo, Lisburn)NLI No records for this parish
Braid & GlenravelBaps & Marrs 1878-81
Carnlough & GlenarmBaps 1869-80 ; Marrs 1869-82
Carrickfergus (Larne, Ballygowan)Baps 1821-72 ; Marrs 1821-72
Culfeightrin (Ennispollan, Cushendun)Baps 1825-81, Marrs 1834--80 (gaps)
Cushendall (Layde, Ballygowan, Ardclinnis)Baps 1838-81; Marrs 1837-80
Cushendun (Craiga, Cushleak, Ennispollan)Baps 1862-81 ; Marrs 1862-84
DuneanBaps 1834-61, Marrs 1835-61
Dunloy (Cloughmills)Baps 1860-81 ; Marrs 1877-81 ; Deaths 1877-81
GlenariffeBaps 1868+ available at Roots Ireland
Glenarm (Tickmacreevan, Tickmacreeven)Baps 1825-81, Marrs 1825-80 ; Deaths 1831-38
Glenavy & KilleadBaps 1849-80 Marrs. 1848-80
Greencastle, (Whitehouse, Belfast City, LigoneilBaps & Marrs 1854-81
Hannastown, Derriaghy, & RockBaps 1877-1880 Marrs 1877-81
Kirkinriola (Ballymena, Ballymeana, Ahoghill)Baps 1848-81, Marrs 1840-82
LarneBaps 1821-72 ; Marrs 1821-72
Loughguile (Loughuile)Baps 1845-81 ; Marrs 1845-69
PortglenoneBaps 1864-81, Marrs 1864-82
Portrush & BushmillsBaps 1844-81, Mars 1848-89
Ramoan (Ballycastle)Baps 1838--81; Marrs 1838-83
Randalstown (Drumall)Baps, Marrs, Deaths 1825-73
RasharkinBaps, Marrs 1848-82
Rathlin IslandBaps & Marrs available at PRONI
St. Mac Nissi : LarneNLI No records for this parish

 

Armagh : Poor Law Union Townlands

Civil Registration Districts (Poor Law Unions)

Armagh Poor Law Unions = Civil Registration Districts (after civil registration was introduced)

  1. Armagh
  2. Banbridge
  3. Castleblayney
  4. Dundalk
  5. Lurgan
  6. Newry

Townlands in each Poor Law Union (Civil Registration District) as per townlands listed in 1851 census of Ireland.  The web page to which you are being directed below is hosted by the Leitrim Roscommon Genealogy web site.  The book from which the list of placenames was created was based on the townlands listed in the Irish 1851 census and a man who we all knew as John Broderick a.k.a. Sean Ruad (R.I.P.) was responsible for having the whole book typed up by helpful individuals over a number of years.  This book the ‘General Alphabetical Index to the Townlands and Towns, Parishes & Baronies of Ireland’, which was printed by Alexander Thom & Co. of Dublin, gives you the size of a townland, the barony that the townland was in, the name of the civil parish, and the name of the Poor Law Union.  The names of some of these townlands have changed or may be known under a different spelling locally.  Some errors were noted in the Co. Laois placenames and this may have occurred with other placenames as the book was typed up.


Poor Law Unions (Civil Registration Districts) spread through more than one county at times e.g. in this list we have Dundalk and the town of Dundalk is actually in Co. Louth.  Anyone born, married or died in one of the townlands of the Dundalk Poor Law Union/Civil Registration District will be registered under Dundalk Poor Law Union or Civil Registration District and not as part of Co. Armagh.

Armagh Poor Law Union

Banbridge Poor Law Union

Castleblayney Poor Law Union

Dundalk Poor Law Union

Lurgan Poor Law Union

Newry Poor Law Union

Antrim Civil Parishes

County Antrim

Civil Parish list

 


Civil Parish Antrim – I wonder, how many know the names of each civil parish in Co. Antrim?  Here is a list of names.  Please remember some of these spellings are not exactly as they are now.

‘Search Page’  the IrlAtlas Townland Search form.

The web page to which you are being directed above is hosted by the Leitrim Roscommon Genealogy web site.  The book from which the list of placenames was created was based on the townlands listed in the Irish 1851 census and a man who we all knew as John Broderick a.k.a. Sean Ruad (R.I.P.) was responsible for having the whole book typed up by helpful individuals over a number of years.  This book the ‘General Alphabetical Index to the Townlands and Towns, Parishes & Baronies of Ireland’, which was printed by Alexander Thom & Co. of Dublin, gives you the size of a townland, the barony that the townland was in, the name of the civil parish, and the name of the Poor Law Union.  If you see a civil parish name here and you are interested in the townlands in that civil parish, then please go to the search page, put in the name of the civil parish and the county and you will be given a list of the names of townlands in that parish in 1851.  Please note, townland spellings may have changed, some of the townlands may have disappeared.

The ‘civil’ parish and the Roman Catholic parish are NOT the same group of townlands They are separate entities in relation to genealogical research.  Catholics can or could live in one civil parish and be members of a relgious parish with a different name.  Please consult the list of Roman Catholic parishes of Co. Antrim or the separate list for Belfast city if you have Catholic ancestry.

A second web site that you could visit it the Ordnance Survey of Ireland which according to users has “quite advanced mapping tools and the link redirects to an historical layering, as over time, boundaries for the various borders for administrative divisions have changed. The site is especially useful when cross referencing with historical documents.”

Historical Mapping Ordnance Survey of Ireland

Civil Parish
Aghagallon
Aghalee
Ahoghill
Antrim
Ardclinis
Armoy
Ballinderry
Ballintoy
Ballyclug
Ballycor
Ballylinny
Ballymartin
Ballymoney
Ballynure
Ballyrashane
Ballyscullion
Ballywillin
Belfast
Billy
Blaris
Camlin
Carncastle
Carnmoney
Carrigfergus
Connor
Craigs
Cranfield
Culfeightrin
Derryaghy
Derrykeighan
Donegore
Drumbeg
Drummaul
Dunaghy
Duneane
Dunluce
Finvoy
Glenavy
Glenwhirry
Glynn
Grange of Ballyscullion
Grange of Doagh
Grance of Drumtullagh
Grange of Dundermot
Grange of Inispollen
Grange of Killyglen
Grange of Layd
Grange of Muckamore
Grange of Nilteen
Grange of Shilvodan
Inver
Island Magee
Kilbride
Killagan
Killead
Kilraghts
Kilroot
Kilwaughter
Kirkinriola
Lambeg
Larne
Layde
Loughguile
Magheragall
Magheramesk
Newtown Crommlin
Portglenone
Racavan
Raloo
Ramoan
Rasharkin
Rashee
Rathlin
Shankill
Skerry
Templecorran
Templepatrick
Tickmacrevan
Tullyrusk

 

Poor Law Union/Civil Registration District, Antrim

Poor Law Union = Civil Registration District
Antrim

  1. Antrim
  2. Ballycastle
  3. Ballymoney
  4. Ballymena
  5. Belfast
  6. Coleraine
  7. Larne
  8. Lisburn
  9. Lurgan

Townlands in each Poor Law Union (Civil Registration District) as per townlands listed in 1851 census of Ireland.  The web page to which you are being directed below is hosted by the Leitrim Roscommon Genealogy web site.  The book from which the list of placenames was created was based on the townlands listed in the Irish 1851 census and a man who we all knew as John Broderick a.k.a. Sean Ruad (R.I.P.) was responsible for having the whole book typed up by helpful individuals over a number of years.  This book the ‘General Alphabetical Index to the Townlands and Towns, Parishes & Baronies of Ireland’, which was printed by Alexander Thom & Co. of Dublin, gives you the size of a townland, the barony that the townland was in, the name of the civil parish, and the name of the Poor Law Union.  The names of some of these townlands have changed or may be known under a different spelling locally.  Poor Law Unions (Civil Registration Districts) spread through more than one county at times e.g. in this list we have Coleraine and Coleraine town is in Derry or Londonderry County.  Anyone born, married or died in one of the townlands of the Coleraine Poor Law Union/Civil Registration District will be registered under Coleraine and not as part of Antrim.


Antrim Poor Law Union

Ballycastle Poor Law Union

Ballymoney Poor Law Union

Ballymena Poor Law Union

Belfast Poor Law Union

Coleraine Poor Law Union

Larne Poor Law Union

Lisburn Poor Law Union

Lurgan poor Law Union

Donegal. Poor Law Unions: Civil Registration Districts

Poor Law Union = Civil Registration District
Donegal

  1. Ballyshannon
  2. Donegal
  3. Dunfanaghy
  4. Glenties
  5. Letterkenny
  6. Londonderry
  7. Milford
  8. Strabane
  9. Stranorlar
  10. Inishowen

Townlands in each Poor Law Union (Civil Registration District) as per townlands listed in 1851 census of Ireland.  The web page to which you are being directed below is hosted by the Leitrim Roscommon Genealogy web site.  The book from which the list of placenames was created was based on the townlands listed in the Irish 1851 census and a man who we all knew as John Broderick a.k.a. Sean Ruad (R.I.P.) was responsible for having the whole book typed up by helpful individuals over a number of years.  This book the ‘General Alphabetical Index to the Townlands and Towns, Parishes & Baronies of Ireland’, which was printed by Alexander Thom & Co. of Dublin, gives you the size of a townland, the barony that the townland was in, the name of the civil parish, and the name of the Poor Law Union.  The names of some of these townlands have changed or may be known under a different spelling locally.  Poor Law Unions (Civil Registration Districts) spread through more than one county at times e.g. in this list we have Londonderry which belongs to Co. Derry (Londonderry) and we also have Stranbane whichis in  Co. Tyrone.  People born, married or died in any townland in Co. Donegal which belongs to Londonderry or Strabane Poor Law Union/Civil Registration District will have been registered in either Londonderry or Strabane Poor Law Union and not in a Donegal union.


Ballyshannon Poor Law Union

Donegal Poor Law Union

Dunfanaghy Poor Law Union

Glenties Poor Law Union

Letterkenny Poor Law Union

Londonderry Poor Law Union

Millford Poor Law Union

Strabane Poor Law Union

Stranorlar Poor Law Union

Inishowen poor Law Union

300 evicted, Strokestown Massacre.

A list of 300 people evicted from Strokestown Estate.
Co. Roscommon

Mass Eviction

This list of 300 names was published by the Bishop of Elphin.


“The Strokestown Massacre Developed” A few years ago I was over in Strokestown house with some friends and being me I was photographing everything.  I have never published this list before it was hanging on the wall.  I am now loading these photographs at full size so that any whose families were evicted can see that this list was published in the Freeman’s Journal 29th April 1847.  The editorial was entitled “The Strokestown Massacre Developed”