Are there Irish Census Records?

[Dennis]

Hi:)

I'm looking particularly for 1841 - 1901, like in the SP.


I've got a married, but don't know where, couple born in Ireland according to the 1861 and following census on SP.


All the best. dennis

[LesleyB]

Hi Dennis
In the main, the only Irish census from 1841- 1901 which survived was the 1901. There are very small pockets of census data which have survived for parts of some areas. Best bet is to go read some of the fact sheets at PRONI
http://www.proni.gov.uk/index/research_ ... aflets.htm

The 1911 and 1901 will be available in the next couple of years on the National Archives of Ireland site.
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/

Best wishes
Lesley

[Andy]

Were your couple alive after 1908? If so, and they were married by 1861, they may have been born before 1841, in the which case, they would probably have claimed a State Pension.

Because "Whole" Ireland Statutory records didn't start until 1864 few Irish would-be pensioners had a valid Birth Certificate to prove their age.

However the 1841 and 1851 census records were opened and, as long as the applicant had some idea of where they lived and a few other folk in the family, these two census returns were used to prove age.

It'll be a very lengthy search unless you have a rough idea of the places involved but if you post a couple of surnames we may be able to narrow down your search.

[Chris Paton]

Were your couple alive after 1908? If so, and they were married by 1861, they may have been born before 1841, in the which case, they would probably have claimed a State Pension.

Because "Whole" Ireland Statutory records didn't start until 1864 few Irish would-be pensioners had a valid Birth Certificate to prove their age.

However the 1841 and 1851 census records were opened and, as long as the applicant had some idea of where they lived and a few other folk in the family, these two census returns were used to prove age.

It'll be a very lengthy search unless you have a rough idea of the places involved but if you post a couple of surnames we may be able to narrow down your search.

These pension/census records can be searched online at the Pensear website - see www.pensear.org

You haven't stated where your family were in 1861, but if it was in the greater Glasgow area then I'd suggest checking the poor law records, which often name the home parish if they made a claim. These are at the Mitchell Library - there is a computer database, but it is not online, so you would need to visit. Other areas with good poor law records include Aberdeenshire and Ayrshire.

Also if your couple had any children born after 1855 in Scotland, their birth certs should state where they originally married in Ireland. There may be children not listed in the census who died or who had moved away - a useful way to check for the descendants of couples in Scotland up to the mid 1870s is to visit www.familysearch.org and to type the names of the two parents on the right hand side, with no other fields filled in (i.e. no event type, no place etc), and to click search. You might find kids you haven't come across before.

The 1901 and 1911 websites will be completely digitised and available online by mid-2009. Dublin is currently available at www.census.nationalarchives.ie and Kerry, Antrim and Down are due to be released in October. In addition, the Irish Family History Foundation has census transcriptions for 1901 and 1911 available online at five euros each, for a handful of counties in the republic, at www.irish-roots.ie . They also have many marriage records now online, though the whole island is far from complete, but worth a shot.

Census records for much of Antrim in 1851 are available at Liam McFaul's excellent site at http://www.irishgenealogy.net/cp/forum/index.php .

For census substitutes, don't forget Griffith's Valuation at http://griffiths.askaboutireland.ie/gv4/gv_start.php ; the 1912 Ulster Covenant at http://www.proni.gov.uk/index/search_th ... venant.htm and the many directories online at http://www.lennonwylie.co.uk/ for Belfast, with more coming soon on the PRONI ite for all Ulster. More records on PRONI include will abridgements and freeholder records, all free.

Good luck!

Chris

[Dennis]

The couple were Charles McKenna c1831-1875 and Hannah Cooney c1841-1895. 1861 census on SP has them born in Ireland. They had 5 children all born in High Church, Glasgow; James, Charles, Sarah, Francis & William. Only Charles lived long enough to marry; James(age 1), Sarah( age 9), Francis(age 2) & William(age 3) all died at 181 Garngad Hill from measles or scarlet fever, James died of Hydrocephalus.


dennis

[nelmit]

The couple were Charles McKenna c1831-1875 and Hannah Cooney c1841-1895. 1861 census on SP has them born in Ireland. They had 5 children all born in High Church, Glasgow; James, Charles, Sarah, Francis & William. Only Charles lived long enough to marry; James(age 1), Sarah( age 9), Francis(age 2) & William(age 3) all died at 181 Garngad Hill from measles or scarlet fever, James died of Hydrocephalus.


dennis

Hi Dennis,

I can't see a marriage for Charles and Hannah at Scotland so did they marry at Ireland? If so at least the county should be shown on the children's birth entries.

There is a good chance Hannah applied for poor relief. I'm not getting to The Mitchell much these days but I will have a look next time I'm there.

Regards,
Annette

[nelmit]

The couple were Charles McKenna c1831-1875 and Hannah Cooney c1841-1895. 1861 census on SP has them born in Ireland. They had 5 children all born in High Church, Glasgow; James, Charles, Sarah, Francis & William. Only Charles lived long enough to marry; James(age 1), Sarah( age 9), Francis(age 2) & William(age 3) all died at 181 Garngad Hill from measles or scarlet fever, James died of Hydrocephalus.


dennis

Hi Dennis,

I can't see a marriage for Charles and Hannah at Scotland so did they marry at Ireland? If so at least the county should be shown on the children's birth entries.

There is a good chance Hannah applied for poor relief. I'm not getting to The Mitchell much these days but I will have a look next time I'm there.

Regards,
Annette

There was an application for medical relief but not very informative I'm afraid.

20th July 1893
Hannah Cooney McKenna per Hannah Kean
39 Rosemount street, 1st low left.
born Ireland, County Antrim
Widow, age 52, cleaner, RC

Husband Charles McKenna, labourer born Ireland died 18 years ago at Belvidere.
(there was a reference number after this but I didn't get time to investigate to see if was another poorhouse application - it was 5. 51. 166). It might be worth contacting The Mitchell Archives to see if it is)

Daughter of William Cooney, gardener and Hannah Floyd both dead.
Son Charles 30 born 181 Garngadhill, labourer, Rosemount Street.

20/7/93 - Medical Relief granted.

And that was it I'm afraid. At least you have a county of birth for Hannah.

Regards,
Annette

[Ina]

Good news.......the 1911 census update for Antrim, Kerry and Down is going online December 23rd, as confirmed by the National Archives of Ireland today.

Ina

[scotmum]

It has come online tonight, 22nd, and search is working a treat.

[WilmaM]

It's wonderful

In fact I could do an Irish jig

I've just found my Great Great Grand parents, the Englishes From Ireland, both alive after 50 years of marriage.

I love the headings on some of the columns:
" Is the House Inhabited? - yes or no, as the case may be"

um is there an alternative?