Finding
Your Irish Ancestors; A Beginner’s Guide
By
David S Ouimette
Ancestry
Publishing, 2005
Information is included on
vital records, gravestones, newspapers, school registers, land records and
more. I also like some of the ‘little’ information included: the most popular
male & female names in 19th century Ireland; Gaelic words
commonly used in Irish place names; Irish emigration statistics; and Latin
words commonly found in Catholic parish registers.
David Ouiette writes about
visiting Ireland. He writes, “You may choose to order a search at the Irish
Heritage Center In your ancestor’s county; do this before you go to Ireland, so
you can review the results well before your trip.” I wrote to County Cavan well
before my trip to Ireland and picked up the results of the search while I was
there. I was able to talk face to face with the person who did the search. It
was wonderful. But as Mr. Ouimette suggests, it must be done in advance as these
searches may take weeks. This is just one of many helpful tips in his book.
However, this book is not just
for beginners. I think Irish researchers of all levels will enjoy this book!
Chapters:
Getting
Started: Basic Principles; Time Line of Irish History; Surnames and Given
Names; Place Names and Land Divisions; The Irish Overseas
Major
Records: Birth, Marriage and Death Certificates; Church Records; Census and
Census Substitutes; Land and Property Records
Other
Records: Gravestone Inscriptions; Newspapers; Commercial and Social
Directories; Wills and Administrations; National School Registers; Occupational
Records
Where
to Research: Internet Sites; The Family History Library; Irish Heritage
Centers; Archives and Libraries; Visiting Ireland
Thanks for this great suggestion. I am just starting to chip away at the brick wall of my Irish Ancestry. This might help give me some pointers.
ReplyDeleteWakela, I hope this book is a help to your research. Break through that wall!
DeleteThanks for the suggestion.
ReplyDeleteMy Irish brick wall is being able to nail down where in Ireland my ancestor Patrick Fraher came from. We know it was County Waterford. We haven't been able to get more specific than the county. I think I need to find a US record which narrows down where in County Waterford they came from.
Regards, Jim
Hidden Genealogy Nuggets
Jim, have you tried contacting Waterford Heritage Services; St Patricks Church; Jenkins Lane; Waterford; mnoc@iol.ie? They may have suggestions. Perhaps there is a townland where your surname was clustered. I find the County Centers of the Irish History FOundation to be very helpful. I used both Cavan & Tipperary counties with great results.
DeleteI envy that you know so much about your family IN Ireland. My great-grandmother came from Ireland, but I can't even place her arrival in the US in order to go back from there. She lived in New York in the Bronx, but she could have entered from anywhere. I really need to concentrate on figuring out where and with whom.
ReplyDeleteWendy, it can be very frustrating when you know so little. I'm sure you know that you have to make a list of what you know, what you want to know and a list of resources that might possibly answer your questions. Easier said than done! {My mom was born & grew up in the Bronx. One more Irish family in the big city.]
DeleteColleen, thanks for this post. I've nominated you for the Liebster blog award! There is more information here: http://kathrynsquest.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-liebster-award.html Participation is optional and just for fun!
ReplyDelete