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CIVIL RECORDS OF BIRTHS, MARRIAGES and DEATHS
State registration of births, marriages and deaths began in Ireland for all religious denominations from 1864; non Catholic marriages were registered from 1845. However it is believed that from 10 to 15 per cent of births, marriages and deaths were not registered.
From 1864 to 1877 the indexes are organised on a yearly basis for each category - births, marriages and deaths.
From 1878 the yearly volume is divided into four quarters with each quarter covering three months.
From 1903 for births only the indexes once again cover the entire year.
The indexes list the surname; first name; registration districts; volume and page number. In the case of deaths the age at death is given and in case of births from 1903 the mother's maiden name is given.  

 

The information on the actual entries are:
Births.
the date and place of birth;
the name (if any);
the sex;
the name, surname and dwelling place of the father;
the name, surname, maiden name and dwelling place of the mother;
the rank, profession or occupation of the father;
the name of the informant and his/her address and qualifications e.g. present at birth.
Marriage
The date when married;
the names and surnames of each of the parties marrying;
their respective ages;
their condition e.g. bachelor, spinster, widow or widower;
their rank, profession or occupation;
their residence at the time of marriage;
the name and surname of the fathers of each of the parties and their rank, profession or occupation.

Deaths
The date and place of death;
the name and surname of the deceased;
the sex of the deceased;
the condition of the deceased as to marriage;
the age of the deceased at last birthday;
the rank, profession or occupation of the deceased;
the certified cause of death and the duration of the final illness;
the name of the informant, his/her address and qualifications.

 

 

The first general State census commenced in 1821 but up to 1901 most returns, except for a few miscellaneous places, have been lost. Prior to 1821 various censuses for specific purposes were carried out and the principal ones are listed below.
The earlist surviving comprehensive returns are for 1901 and 1911.
1911 census. The information given was:
name; relationship to the head of the household; religion; literacy; occupation; age; marital status; married women had to state the number of years married, number of children born alive and the number still living; county of birth; ability to speak English or Irish and information on the type of house e.g. number of rooms etc.
1901 census The information is similar to that in the 1911 census but the requirement for married women is not included.
Censuses 1821-1891 No household returns exist for 1881 and 1891. There are some returns or abstracts for other years for parts of some counties. A list of heads of households named in the returns of 1851 for Dublin City is available. There are also census search forms made in the returns of 1841 and 1851 for pension purposes and other copies from the returns of 1821 to 1851.
Religious Census 1766. This was drawn up by each Church of Ireland rector and lists all householders in his parish. However it is only available for some areas.

 


LAND RECORDS

The principal land record is Griffith's Valuation of the mid-nineteenth century together with its preparatory notebooks and its follow up revision books.

Griffith's Valuation of Rateable Property in Ireland 1848-64
This is the only detailed guide showing where in Ireland people lived in the mid-nineteenth century and what property they possessed. A map is also available which, in many instances for rural areas, shows the exact location of the property. The survey was undertaken to assess property for local taxation purposes. It is arranged by county and poor law union and sub-divided for rural areas into barony, civil parish and townland and other areas into "county of the town of" (i.e. county boroughs or cities), municipal boroughs or towns and streets.
It lists for all tenements, land etc-

  • - the number of the property on an accompanying map;
  • - the address of the property;
  • - the name of the occupier (i.e. the head of the household);
  • - the immediate lesser;
  • - the tenement i.e. whether a house, land, office, corn mill etc.;
  • - the rateable valuation