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Researching Your Ancestors in the North of...

01 July 2014

The North of Ireland Family History Society launched a new publication.

The new booklet is the second in their county series aimed at helping family historians trace their roots and is called “Researching Your Ancestors in the North of Ireland: Co. Cavan”.

 

Blogger Claire Santry who also maintains the Irish Genealogy Toolkit website noted:

“It's short and sweet, cuts to the chase, and then points the researcher in the right direction. An excellent reference book, in other words!”

 

County Cavan lies at the south-western edge of the Province of Ulster. This 40 page booklet identifies the types of records that are available for the county and where they can be found, with reference numbers where applicable.

 

Cavan means “hollow place” or “little hill”. It is known as the “Lake County” because of its numerous lakes & is also the source of two great river systems: the Shannon & the Erne.  Cavan has been inhabited for over 5,000 years and was once part of the ancient kingdom of Breifne. The county of Cavan was created in 1583. In 1610, Cavan town received its charter of incorporation which entitled it to hold a weekly market and two annual fairs. 286 families were planted in Cavan & there is a section of the booklet covering the Plantation and where records may be found.

 

There are sections covering everything you need to know in a compact, easily-read format:  townlands, Griffiths valuation, Down Survey Parish maps (1654-1659), church records and school records.

 

Some more unusual record sources are included too. For example: Summonister Rolls (1610-24), Kildallan tenants of Robert Craig (1703-04), Youthful Protestants of Drung & Larah (1814), 1833 List of arms (1,500 names), the Farrell family’s Bailieborough Charitable Trust (6626 names) and many more.

 

War memorials, wills and workhouses are amongst other topics covered.

 

If you are not sure where your ancestors may have lived or worked, then some excellent maps are included. Chris Paton who writes the British GENES blog, said of the book:

 

“Useful colour maps of baronies and poor law unions are also included, and a black and white civil parish map, as well as links to online hosted townland maps. Of immense help also is a detailed breakdown of religious based vital records and parish histories available for various areas and denominations, and details on where to access them.”

 

Society President, Rosemary Sibbett said:

 

“We are a volunteer run Society & I am very proud of all the work that has gone into producing this booklet. I hope it will help family historians worldwide trace their roots in County Cavan”.

 

The first book in the series covered Co. Monaghan research. Both books are available to purchase at the NIFHS website www.nifhs.org/publications.htm and from the NIFHS Research Centre & Library at Unit C4, Valley Business Centre, 67 Church Rd, Newtownabbey, Co Antrim, N. Ireland, BT36 7LS (Opening Times Tuesday: 14.00 – 20.00, Wednesday: 10.00 – 12.30 and Saturday: 10.30 – 12.30.