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How to research your Irish family - first post updated.

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124

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    #92
    shanew
    Registered Users Posts: 2,777 ✭✭✭shanew


    an update on the BMD index problems - FamilySearch state that thier engineers will continue working on their system during May, to carry out some 'essential engineering work'. They will be 'shortly be re-organising the familysearch.org website and in order to do this engineering work in a series of versions of the Index is underway'.



    Shane


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    #93
    pinkypinky
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 6,616 Mod ✭✭✭✭pinkypinky


    Thanks for the update, Shane. I've just completely stopped using it til they get it sorted...my ancestors aren't going anywhere!

    Genealogy Forum Mod



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    #94
    shanew
    Registered Users Posts: 2,777 ✭✭✭shanew


    Familysearch has done some fixes on the Irish Civil BMD index, and it working a quite a bit better. The updated link is http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html#c=fs%3A1408347&p=collectionDetails

    The free parish records website at http://www.irishgenealogy.ie/ is being updated soon (to be launched June 16th), and will include further records for Dublin city and county Kerry, plus new details for Carlow, Cork (City and West Cork).

    additional useful extracted civil records (upto about 1870s/80s) are available at :

    Births - http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html#p=collectionDetails&c=fs%3A1584963
    Marriages - http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html#p=collectionDetails&c=fs%3A1584964
    Deaths - http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html#p=collectionDetails&c=fs%3A1584965


    Shane


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    #95
    blackrovers
    Registered Users Posts: 88 ✭✭blackrovers


    hey where would you go to find out what role, title etc ones grandfather had during the war of independance etc


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    #96
    pinkypinky
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 6,616 Mod ✭✭✭✭pinkypinky


    I know very little in this area. If he has a military background, you could contact Cathal Brugha barracks to see what they have. Do you have any medals or any info yourself? UCD has witness statements from a lot of people involved in it too.

    Genealogy Forum Mod



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    #97
    blackrovers
    Registered Users Posts: 88 ✭✭blackrovers


    no info. i know he has to medals but what d first is for i don't know can't find it plus reckon a distant cousin has taken it and refuses to hand it back or admit he's taken it. the other medal is a 50year anniversary medal for fighing in the war of independence!


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    #98
    WindSock
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,239 ✭✭✭✭WindSock


    What does 'DO' on the census form stand for? Just looking at the house & building return form. It looke like an abbreviation for the above.


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    #99
    Ponster
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 10,911 Mod ✭✭✭✭Ponster


    WindSock wrote: »
    What does 'DO' on the census form stand for? Just looking at the house & building return form. It looke like an abbreviation for the above.

    It is. Probably short for 'ditto'


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    #100
    WindSock
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,239 ✭✭✭✭WindSock


    Has anyone had much luck on the Family Search site? I have been trying countless possibilities with many relatives but nothing comes up.


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    #101
    owenc
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 5,524 ✭✭✭owenc


    WindSock wrote: »
    Has anyone had much luck on the Family Search site? I have been trying countless possibilities with many relatives but nothing comes up.

    Naw not me either its so unfair the way they have no real church records that go far back.:mad: Does family search ever add extra people?


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    #102
    Anchises
    Registered Users Posts: 582 ✭✭✭Anchises


    http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html#start

    If you mean this site, I've found it valuable, but it takes a while to understand how to search. I've had searches where setting 'exact match' fails to find any records and then set the third option 'exact close and partial , only to find an exact match in the list.

    I've suggest using option 3. you can then refine the selection by using the filters at the top of the page.

    A.


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    #103
    owenc
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 5,524 ✭✭✭owenc


    Anchises wrote: »
    http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html#start

    If you mean this site, I've found it valuable, but it takes a while to understand how to search. I've had searches where setting 'exact match' fails to find any records and then set the third option 'exact close and partial , only to find an exact match in the list.

    I've suggest using option 3. you can then refine the selection by using the filters at the top of the page.

    A.

    Why does my surname only come in when i put in the specfiic persons name in but not when i only use a surname.


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    #104
    shanew
    Registered Users Posts: 2,777 ✭✭✭shanew


    the best way to start a search is with a firstname and surname, a year range.. and no location. Then narrow down the results using the filter options.

    there is also a more update date version of the website at : http://search.labs.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html#p=collectionDetails&c=fs%3A1408347



    Shane


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    #105
    Anchises
    Registered Users Posts: 582 ✭✭✭Anchises


    OwenC :

    It is strange .....

    Put in Murphy exact match it only finds 3885 records,
    Then select 'Irish Civil Registration' and it limits the list to three records !

    I think it looks in the USA databases by default if you specify no collectiom to search, but even that does not account for the strange behaviour with just a Surname :)

    As advised start with a first and last name, use the exact, exact & close OR exact, close and partial to get to a reasonable list and then filter from there.
    The 'Collection' seems to be the most important one to select , since it limits you to a particular 'area' or grouping. Be conscious of the date ranges defined for the collections too :)
    A.


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    #106
    owenc
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 5,524 ✭✭✭owenc


    Anchises wrote: »
    OwenC :

    It is strange .....

    Put in Murphy exact match it only finds 3885 records,
    Then select 'Irish Civil Registration' and it limits the list to three records !

    I think it looks in the USA databases by default if you specify no collectiom to search, but even that does not account for the strange behaviour with just a Surname :)

    As advised start with a first and last name, use the exact, exact & close OR exact, close and partial to get to a reasonable list and then filter from there.
    The 'Collection' seems to be the most important one to select , since it limits you to a particular 'area' or grouping. Be conscious of the date ranges defined for the collections too :)
    A.

    thanks will try searching with a different collection.:D


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    #107
    shanew
    Registered Users Posts: 2,777 ✭✭✭shanew


    the system restricts the initial results - so the filters dont work correctly if you start with too many. As Anchises mentioned It's best to start with a specific collection and work from there.

    Civil BMD Index using the link mentioned above ( http://search.labs.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html#p=collectionDetails&c=fs%3A1408347 )

    Extracted Birth Records http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html#p=collectionDetails&c=fs%3A1584963
    Extracted Marriage Records http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html#p=collectionDetails&c=fs%3A1584964
    Extracted Death Records http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html#p=collectionDetails&c=fs%3A1584965

    these extracted records include details from civil registers from the start 1845/1864 up to the late 1870s or early 1880s.


    Shane


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    #108
    owenc
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 5,524 ✭✭✭owenc


    shanew wrote: »
    the system restricts the initial results - so the filters dont work correctly if you start with too many. As Anchises mentioned It's best to start with a specific collection and work from there.

    Civil BMD Index using the link mentioned above ( http://search.labs.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html#p=collectionDetails&c=fs%3A1408347 )

    Extracted Birth Records http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html#p=collectionDetails&c=fs%3A1584963
    Extracted Marriage Records http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html#p=collectionDetails&c=fs%3A1584964
    Extracted Death Records http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html#p=collectionDetails&c=fs%3A1584965

    these extracted records include details from civil registers from the start 1845/1864 up to the late 1870s or early 1880s.


    Shane

    I found one for 1799, btw where would you go for records at 1700??


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    #109
    shanew
    Registered Users Posts: 2,777 ✭✭✭shanew


    most of the Irish collections on familysearch are based on Civil records so 1845/1864 and after

    there are different sources for earlier parish records, but note that not many will have details into the 1700s

    what county are you searching for these early records ?


    Shane


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    #110
    Anchises
    Registered Users Posts: 582 ✭✭✭Anchises


    Does any Family search collection go back further than 1840 ?
    I don't think so but maybe. Have you looked at all the possible collections for your 'population' ?


    Census in Ireland stated 1821
    Civil Registration in Ireland did not start until mid 1800s.
    Parish Rgisters would go back further.

    http://www.irishtimes.com/ancestor/browse/records/census/eight.htm

    Try the above link for details of what else you may refers to..

    A.


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    #111
    shanew
    Registered Users Posts: 2,777 ✭✭✭shanew


    there are some submitted records on familysearch for earlier dates in the IGI (www.familysearch.org ) - not to be trusted, but may be useful as a starting point.

    There are no complete surviving Irish census returns before 1901

    Full civil registration started in 1864. In addition non-Catholic marriages (i.e. Church of Ireland, Registry office etc) were registered from 1845.

    For parish records, it depends on the county you are interested in :

    records for Dublin City, county Kerry, county Carlow and part of Cork city and county are free on : http://www.irishgenealogy.ie/ (more records for these areas are to be added later in the year)

    records for other some counties are available on pay-websites e.g. the IFHF at www.irish-roots.ie

    there are very few RC records before 1800, and many of the original Church of Ireland records were destroyed in the Records office in 1922, but there are some early transcripts and copies of the lost details.



    Shane


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    #112
    miju
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 8,486 ✭✭✭miju


    Guys quick question, have found this thread very helpful and have so far gotten my family history back to 1820 (am working on completing bracnhes fully before going back another generation).One thing I've NO idea of is how would it be possible or if it is possible to get pictures of ancestors. I know chances are slim of pics but anyones I could get would be a great boon


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    #113
    shanew
    Registered Users Posts: 2,777 ✭✭✭shanew


    The first photographers listed in Dublin are two in a 1848 Thom's directory, but were not very common, or affordable for most families until later years.

    Unless your family was quite well to do or famous I dont think there is much chance of locating any photos of people in existing collections. Old photo's do show up for sale at auctions and on Ebay, but they are usually uncaptioned - so impossible to work out who they are in most cases. I'd say your best chance is to check with other family members to see if they have anything hidden away.


    Shane


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    #114
    John Mason
    Hosted Moderators Posts: 10,661 ✭✭✭✭John Mason


    i was another site last week and they recommend this version of the family search site rather then pilot. i think it works better myself:)

    beta.familysearch.org

    http://fsbeta.familysearch.org/


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    #115
    Alicat
    Registered Users Posts: 10,264 ✭✭✭✭Alicat


    I believe that the National Archives have wills. I've never searched for one before. Anyone have any experience and tips for me? I like to know what I'm doing before I head into the Archives.

    I have the second week of August off work and plan on getting as much done as possible, including graveyard hunting in Tipperary :pac:


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    #116
    pinkypinky
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 6,616 Mod ✭✭✭✭pinkypinky


    They do have what remains of the wills that were destroyed in 1922. Mostly what they have are abstracts in calendar books by year. There's a card index that helps you find the right name and then you look up the calendar book. The index will also tell you if there's an original will. Now, you can get lucky but searching for wills is usually unsuccessful. Pre-mid 20th century, hardly anyone made a will, unless they actually owned property that needed distribution. A genealogist I know estimated that less than 2% of the population made wills before 1900. Sometimes you can get luckier with wills for country people because they were usually kept in one of 8 centralised country locations (with copies usually in Dublin) and so these were not destroyed in the fire. If you have an Origins.com subscription, you can look up some indexes they have (which are like the card index but not as comprehensive) before you go. If you don't have one, I believe they do a 2 day sub for about a tenner.

    Genealogy Forum Mod



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    #117
    owenc
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 5,524 ✭✭✭owenc


    Ok I didn't want to start a thread so came here .... Are there any websites that have different dates of things being realeased for example a census or a book or something??


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    #118
    shanew
    Registered Users Posts: 2,777 ✭✭✭shanew


    owenc wrote: »
    Ok I didn't want to start a thread so came here .... Are there any websites that have different dates of things being realeased for example a census or a book or something??

    I assume you mean older sources than the 1901 and 1911 census returns ?

    These kinds of details, like census fragment and surveys would be 'local' and focus on a particular parish or district, - so would depend very much on the area you are interested in. Local libraries are usually a good place to start.


    Shane


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    #119
    owenc
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 5,524 ✭✭✭owenc


    shanew wrote: »
    I assume you mean older sources than the 1901 and 1911 census returns ?

    These kinds of details, like census fragment and surveys would be 'local' and focus on a particular parish or district, - so would depend very much on the area you are interested in. Local libraries are usually a good place to start.


    Shane

    No sorry thats not what i mean't i was really trying to ask if anyone knew of any sites which gave dates of certain events i.e "4th july 1813 census is released, 25th july rolls calendars are released", ?


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    #120
    shanew
    Registered Users Posts: 2,777 ✭✭✭shanew


    not sure what you mean by 'released'... are you referring to websites that have these sources available, or just a list of possible source that might be available in Libraries, Archives etc ?


    Shane


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    #121
    owenc
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 5,524 ✭✭✭owenc


    shanew wrote: »
    not sure what you mean by 'released'... are you referring to websites that have these sources available, or just a list of possible source that might be available in Libraries, Archives etc ?


    Shane

    Yes sort of, i mean websites that have a list of sources and important dates of when things will be released?


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