Irish Family Research

Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI)  
Update: PRONI has gone digital

What Is PRONI?

The Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) is one of the favored repositories for genealogy and family research for No. Ireland. (Of course the National Archives Of Ireland is another.)  But, what's interesting, is that although PRONI'S emphasis is in Northern. Ireland, you may find your Republic of Ireland or British ancestors hiding in these records.

Many historians already know of the civil "war" of 1922* (see comments) which resulted in a fire destroying historical records and archives held at Four Courts, Dublin.  Of course many vital records were lost.  However, with a bit of digging, researchers can recreate their ancestors past by substituting records and compiling other resources.  Even where the originals have been destroyed, indexes can give you a clue to your ancestor's whereabouts. 

Where To Start

At minimum feel free to conduct a name search using the online index.  The Name Search Index

includes ancestral names pulled from the following:

• index to pre-1858 wills
• limited diocesan will indexes
• surviving fragments of the 1740 and the 1766 religious census returns
• 1775 dissenters petitions
• pre-1910 coroners' inquest papers

Lost Records and Their Substitutes

Census

Few census returns from 1821 to 1851 survived the fire of 1922.  However, extracts from the 1841 and 1851 census are in the Old Age Pension books held at the National Archives of Ireland (NAI).  These archives can be used to prove  age (from baptisms).  The Old Age Pension was introduced in Ireland in 1908.

Under the auspices of "confidentiality," census returns between 1861-1891 were destroyed  in compliance with a Government order.  For more information visit Census Records 19th Century. 

Wills and Bonds 

The original pre-1858 original wills, administration bonds and marriage "licence" bonds were destroyed.  However, indexes survived, and can be used as viable reference tool.  There are over 15,500 entries in this index.  The researcher will also want to search the Privately Deposited Archives for copies of wills. 

Indexes to Diocesan administration bonds (admons)

For many researchers we would love to review the original diocesan administration bonds  which were some of the oldest records of interest for the genealogists. However, these original bonds dating between the 1600 and 1857, were destroyed.  Although not a direct substitute for the information that could have been extracted from originals, the salvaged indexes can be used a reference tool.

• Dromore diocesan administration bonds, 1742 -1857
• Armagh diocesan administration bonds, 1600 - 1858
• Derry diocesan administration bonds, 1698/9 -1857
• Down diocesan administration bonds, 1641-1857

Parish Records
The 1922 fire also was responsible for the destruction of 1,006 Church of Ireland parishes records. You will want to check the microfilm holdings at PRONI to research the preserved parish records.  Additional parish records can be found at the National Archives of Ireland. in Dublin.

Pre-1910 Coroners' Inquest Papers

In total, 5911 files and papers relating to Coroners’ Inquests, 1872-1909 can be searched using the Name Search.  Although these records, dated from 1872 to 1997, are held at PRONI, most of the recent inquest papers are closed to the public. Not every inquest record created by coroners are cataloged, (but they most likely exist), so it is suggested that you contact PRONI, if you have a negative name search result.  For more information  visit Coroners' Inquest Papers - What's Available? 

Other Records  

The following records are not held at the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, but can be found in other repositories within Ireland and will assist with your efforts to piece-meal your ancestor's past:

• Births, Death and Marriage Certificates (Civil Registration)
• 1911 Census
• Records of the British Armed Forces
• Adoption records
• Land Registers of Northern Ireland

For location of these records, visit Records Not Held in PRONI. 

*Note: The PRONI website uses the controversial term "civil disturbances" which was originally used in this blog posts.  However, after further research and reader communication we have chosen to use the more accurate term "civil war."  See comments for reader communication.   

Kathleen Brandt
a3genealogy@gmail.com

5 Tips to Proving Family Folklore

Historical Atlas Clay County Mo (circa 1865)

Land Records, Deeds, and Historical Maps

At a3Genealogy we often receive requests to verify Grandpa’s story that he lived next door to Jesse James, Wyatt Earp, a variety of Big Band Leaders or another famous or infamous figure. But the question is “What is the process to research - prove or disprove - these stories?”

Where to Begin

To verify these stories several resources must be consulted:

1. Basic Genealogy Research.  Both your ancestor and that of the “celebrity” must have a multi-generational genealogical research conducted based on the timeframe of the celebrity’s life. Several recent cases proved the family of the celebrity lived in close proximity of Grandpa’s family. But, Grandpa was not yet born. Our suggestion is to first review the celebrity’s history, it has probably already been research “ad nauseum” (but check for accuracy).
   Translation: Often family stories are retold using the incorrect generation.
2. Census Analysis. Your Basic Genealogy Research will produce several US Federal and/or State Census for the timeframe.  These must be analyzed with a keen eye. We suggest the analysis include several pages of an Enumeration District research.
   Translation: Researchers should be familiar with Census Instructions.
   
3. Land Deeds and Tax Records. Whereas Census Records may place your ancestor in the correct District, an accurate picture of land/house location can be found in land deeds. The descriptions of land - metes/bounds or the easier to follow Public Land Survey System - allows the researcher to accurately define land location. This analysis covers not only census years, but those years between the census.
   Translation: The Census Record only gives us a snapshot of where your ancestor resided on the date of enumeration.
4. Historical Atlas, Gazetteers and Plat Maps. Plat Maps and Genealogy Research go hand-in-hand. Using the land descriptions of deeds, the researchers can accurately pinpoint Grandpa’s proximity to the celebrity’s family.  Be sure to reference Town Gazetteers. But our favorite at a3Genealogy, are detailed County Historical Atlases often noting landowner names or indexed by ownership.
   Translation: Families want to know how close Grandpa lived to the Celebrity. So if not next door, then where?
5. Wills and Probates. Researchers would think census records, land deeds, and the town plat maps would provide enough information, but really…it doesn’t. Land ownership not noted in these resources may be referenced in Wills. The best part is land inherited and mentioned in Wills is often (not always) specified by its legal description, allowing the researcher to once again accurately plot the land.
   Translation: Be sure to conduct a “reasonable exhaustive search.”

Many of the articles on the a3Gen blog are in response to client or fellow-researcher questions. Hoping this gets you started on the road to proving (or disproving) your family folklore.

Kathleen Brandt

a3Genealogy.com

a3genealogy@gmail.com

Press Release: Happy 5 Year Anniversary!

Five years ago today, a3Genealogy not only began a company blog, but officially opened the doors to clients. We thank all of you who have journeyed with us!

Our first large client was a celebrated Napa Valley Vinter who has continued using our research services to plan Ancestral Trips and provide Vinter History of Napa! He has been diligently uncovering generations of family tree branches from North Carolina, Missouri and California to Germany.

We particularly loved our Aussie Forensic Genealogy case that had a happy ending. Oh, and let's not forget our clients who partner with a3Gen Research Services for their historical and family history writing projects. Our public presentation, Saving Alice: Sharing Your Family History is based on one energetic Illinois client who is a prolific family history writer and believes in saving the legacy and memory of ancestors.

In spite of being known for our Media work - History Channel, Who Do You Think You Are (NBC and TLC 2011-2013) and PBS, Finding Your Roots, our bread and butter is Military History research which recently led a3Gen to offering full Veteran Service division out of St. Louis dedicated to retrieving veteran records. One of our newest military projects concentrated on the Texas Revolution. Researchers on this project have uncovered documents and collections in the most obscure repositories.

We are looking forward to the next 5 years of blogging, researching, writing and to meeting the higher demand of our Speaker Series and Corporate and Entrepreneurial Alliances (CEA). As we grow and expand our services, we expect to see you there. You've always been there.

Thanks to the a3Gen Researchers that have made this happen! And thanks to the clients that have put their trust in a3Genealogy's Premier Services.

Five Years and Counting!

Kathleen Brandt
a3Genealogy.com
Accurate, Accessible Answers
a3Genealogy@gmail.com

Press Release: NEW JOB OPPORTUNITIES

a3Genealogy research jobs are assigned based on clients' needs. Research applicants should meet the following requirements: 1) expert in research topic 2) familiarity with local repositories and 3) location requirement. 

We also use the following when needed: 

Researcher Assistance
Interns

Document Retrievers

Interested in joining the a3Genealogy Team? Attending FGS, 2013?
Bring your resume! Onsite interviews. 
Email to schedule appt.

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

Genealogy and Military Research Jobs Posted

Job 1, Deed and Title Research and Map

• Kentucky.  Looking for researcher specializing in Deed and Title research in Owen and Gallatin Counties Kentucky. Locating ancestral land on present day map, a plus.
  
  Objective: Using maps and deeds, researcher will pinpoint land location of client's ancestor.
  Time Span: 1803 - present.

Job 2, DAR APPLICATION Expert

• No location requirement, Northern California Preferred
  
  Objective: Create research plan for client to successfully complete DAR application.

Send resume with pricing structure to: 

Kathleen Brandt
Website: a3genealogy.com
a3genealogy@gmail.com
Accurate, Accessible Answers

Tips for Researching Performers and Showmen

Charlotte Stice, Circus Fat Lady (Stage Name: Lottie Grant)

(See Marriage Announcement below)

The Circus and Traveling Performer

Our traveling performing ancestors - dancers, circus performers, magicians and musicians – did not leave a permanent resident, except for their final resting place. So what are a few tips to researching these transient ancestors? Many of these performers were only known by their stage name. As the proverbial phase goes they may have “ran away to join the circus” and most often were estranged from their families; no longer having contact, unless their show came through town. The culture of the traveling showperson requires innovative research skills especially after the popular 1793 inception of the American circus.

Where to Begin Research?

Circus World Museum Foundation. Circus World contains “a huge collection containing rare photographs, posters, manuscripts and artifacts and information on over 2,800 American circuses, and a reference file of over 300,000 names of circus performers and employees,” according to the website. The Wisconsin Historical Society owns Circus World and its collections are independently managed by the not-for-profit Circus World Museum Foundation. 

Circus Historical Society. This society has a comprehensive listing of Circus History Collections & Research repositories: http://www.circushistory.org/collections.htm. The CHS also has an index of the Bandwagon, CHS's journal, publishes captivating articles relating to circus history. Researchers may find their showman ancestor. Some articles are published online: Bandwagon 

Showmen’s League of America

• Founded in 1913 the Showmen’s League was dedicated to carnival showpeople.  There are various Showmen’s Rests Cemeteries:  
  
• Mount Olivet Cemetery, Hugo, Oklahoma. Hugo a winter circus home of many circuses to include Carson & Barnes Circus and Kelly Miller, earning the name Circus City, USA. . Mount Olivet Cemetery  is also the final resting place for many professional bull riders:  Bull Rider's Reprieve the final resting place of rodeo star Freckles Brown.
• Showmen's Rest in Forest Park, Illinois holds a 750 plot section at Woodlawn Cemetery where a mass grave of 56 (or perhaps 61) employees of the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus were interred.
• Showmen's Rest at Southern Memorial Park, Miami, Florida boasts the largest cemetery plots.

The American Museum of Magic, Marshall, MI.  The largest magic museum in America holds an impressive collection of posters may assist the researcher in identifying an ancestor and the stage name. This is often needed, when performers (especially women) changed their names and can only be rightfully identified via photos and character. The researcher may find his magician ancestor among the “2,009 heralds, handbills, and window cards, 587 showbills, and over 5,000 programs, 10,000 books, 24,000 magazines, 46,000 photos and many letters.” 

Newspapers. Local newspapers often shared news while circus was in town.

A Circus Wedding Readers of the Seward Reporter on August 9, 1883, learned of a recent wedding in the community in which the bride and groom were not area residents, but members of a traveling circus then performing in Seward. "Last Sunday evening nearly all of the employes [sic] of S. H. Barrett & Co.'s show were at the Grand Central Hotel," said the Reporter, "to witness an event which is a novelty in circus performances-the wedding of Mr. Frank Whitlock, one of the attaches of the circus, and Miss Lottie Grant, the fat woman.
"Landlord Underhill gave the party the use of his dining-room for the ceremony, and the circus people filled it to overflowing. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. T. L. Sexton, after which the happy couple received the congratulations of their friends, refreshments were served, and a merry time generally was enjoyed.
"The bride and groom received many handsome and valuable presents, among which were a diamond ring, an engraved gold ring, a gold locket, a fine photograph album, an autograph album, a dressing case, several articles of silverware, and a large number of smaller articles. Accompanying the gifts was a letter of congratulation from the members of the company.
"The bride is an attractive feature of the show, being remarkable for her size. She is 27 years old, 5 feet 8 inches tall; and weighs 593 pounds weight. He is a fine-looking young man, and is spoken of very highly by his associates. He is superintendent of the annex or side-show department. The bride is said to be quite wealthy, although probably she is hardly worth her weight in gold."
The groom, Frank Whitlock, listed in contemporary entertainment publications as a "museum ticket agent" and "side show talker," was probably not as well known as his new wife. Elizabeth Charlotte Stice Whitlock, who used "Lottie Grant" as a stage name, was a well-known circus fat lady, who traveled with several different shows during the 1880s and 1890s. Her circus career did not prevent her from marrying three times and giving birth to several children.
Such a wedding seldom takes place," concluded the Seward Reporter, "and while the bridegroom has certainly assumed a 'heavy' responsibility, he has also secured a wife who is able to protect and defend him. May their shadow never grow less." (See photo above)

Some newspapers, like the New York Clipper (later Variety), 1853-1920, published circus articles of interest, often naming performers. 

 

National Fairground Archives, UK. Whereas the UK has a National Fairground Archives housed at the University of Sheffield, the USA does not have an equivalent. The Archives houses the following newspapers (microfilm) and will also assist in the research of your UK performer: World's Fair, 1904; The Showman, 1900-1912; and The Era.

Kathleen Brandt

a3Genealogy.com

Accurate, Accessible Answers

a3genealogy@gmail.com

Disclaimer: a3Genealogy has completed extensive research on the Stice Family.