Offer invaluable insights into ancestors’ lives and social standing. Griffith’s Valuation, compiled between 1847 and 1864, provides details on landholders, values, and property descriptions, aiding in understanding economic status and community ties. Tithe Applotment Books, initiated in 1823, detail landholders and their payments to the Church of Ireland, offering insights into ancestral occupations and land productivity. Estate papers and Irish Land Commission records further reveal tenancy conditions, financial transactions, and societal impacts like the Great Famine, crucial for understanding family histories and economic contexts in Ireland.
While much of Irish genealogy research focuses on vital records and DNA testing, there’s a lot you can learn from Irish land and estate records. Luckily, Ireland is one of the regions with the most extensive documentation of land ownership, tenancy, and transactions worldwide. They should be one of your top priority resources to consider if you want to make progress in your ancestry search.
The Irish Registry of Deeds was established in the 1700s, while the Church of Ireland retains records of landlords from as early as the 1820s. That is not to mention the popular Griffith’s Valuation, estate papers, and the Land Commission records that can trace where exactly your ancestors lived and their social and economic conditions.
Read on to find out the crucial information provided by the Irish land and estate records and the best way to interpret the data.
Read – What Are the Key Records I Should Search for When Researching My Irish Ancestors?
Griffith’s Valuation
Griffith’s Valuation gets its name from Sir Richard Griffith, an Irish geologist, mining engineer, and chairman of the Board of Works of Ireland. Between 1847 and 1864, Griffith oversaw the first comprehensive valuation of property on the island.
The final records from this project remain for genealogical research to date as they name landholders and the value of their land. The records also clearly name the lessors and provide an avid description of the land, including its sizes, constructions, and uses.
Griffith’s valuation also comes with corresponding maps to make locating the described land on the Irish map easy. Besides location and names, Griffith’s Valuation can also help you estimate the economic status of your ancestors and the neighborhood.
Search the Griffith’s Valuation at the Valuation Office and the National Library of Ireland. Similarly, you can visit the National Archives of Ireland for the original volumes and related copies.
Tithe Applotment Books
In 1823, the Church of Ireland started compiling the Tithe Applotment Books to specify the tithe landholders should pay as a tax. The recording lasted for about fourteen years, but it remains a crucial tool for people of Irish descent who want to trace their ancestors and their lifestyles back then.
These books provide some key information, including the full names of the person responsible for making the payment, the size of the land in question, mostly in acres, and the total amount to be paid depending on the land’s value and productivity.
Getting your hand on a Tithe Applotment Books records indicating a land held by your ancestor can help you determine their economic activities and some context on their daily lives. Besides, the tithe they paid can signify their income levels and the land’s fertility.
Applotment books are held in the National Archives and are only available in microfilm.
Estate Papers
Estate papers remain relevant today as landlords keep records of their estates and tenants. Most surviving estate papers are found in the National Archives of Ireland, the Public Records Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI), and the National Library of Ireland.
The papers include contracts with information about the conditions for tenancy, the duration, and the agreed rent. Most of these contracts also include a notes section where the landlord can add opinions about a particular tenant’s stability and length of stay.
Personal information about the tenants includes their full names, occupations, and sometimes their next of kin. The records also include maps showing where exactly in the state the tenants lived.
Analyzing different tenant lists and the conditions of the rentals can help you understand the economic status back then and provide insights into the social hierarchy and living standards of the time. It’s also worth considering how historical events such as the Great Famine affected livelihood, as reflected in the estate papers.
Irish Land Commission Records
In the late 19th century, the Irish government formed the Irish Land Commission to oversee land transfers and transactions. Its main objective was to keep records of land ownership and transactions in Ireland most of which are available today. Some of the critical information in these records includes purchase agreements highlighting the terms and value of the land in question.
You can trace your ancestors’ land through the land records and determine whether it was part of a transaction involving the Land Commission. Besides, the financial records provide a clear land value back then and people’s ability to clear their balances with time.
In addition to learning about the fate of your ancestral land, these records help you understand your ancestors’ achievements and financial successes.
The commission was abolished in 1992, and its materials were deposited in a purpose-built archive in Portlaoise. A rudimentary listing of the Irish Land Commission records was also availed at the National Library.
Registry of Deeds
The Registry of Deeds is located in Henrietta Street, Dublin, Ireland. It is a repository of records of wills, land transactions in Ireland, and other deeds from 1709. It’s the current department in charge of land ownership in Ireland and also serves as a crucial tool for Irish genealogy researchers.
Much of the information you find on the Registry of Deeds pertains to lands, with each transaction record showing the full names of all the parties, property description, transaction date, and the greed amount.
It’s worth noting that the signatories and witnesses mentioned in these records may also have some social or family connection with the involved parties, making it imperative to take a background check on them for any clues. Also, trace the successive transactions of a particular property to unearth any changes in use or patterns of ownership.
Copies of the microfilms are available from the National Library of Ireland and the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland. A sample set of Registry of Deeds Transcript Books has been digitized and published on VirtualTreasury.ie.
Land Records for Irish Genealogy
Irish land records uncover the ancient lives endured by our forefathers while painting a picture of how life has evolved so far. Through Griffith’s Valuation, Tithe Applotment books, land records, and estate papers, you can decipher your ancestors’ social and economic status and appreciate their achievements and choices that define who you are today.