Civil Records of Births, Deaths & Marriages

Civil registration of Births, Deaths and Roman Catholic Marriages commenced in 1864. Registration of non-Catholic Marriages commenced in 1845.

Civil Births

We have ‘hard copies’ of Civil births for all denominations for the following Registration districts, available to us to use in the course of Genealogical Research.

• Ballymote
• Castleconnor
• Sligo No. 1,
• Sligo No. 2
• Sligo No. 3.
• Tubbercurry

Civil Marriages

We also have ‘hard copies’ of all Civil Marriages for Roman Catholics from all Registration Districts (listed below) available to us to use in the course of Genealogical Research.

• Aclare
• Ballymote
• Boyle No. 2
• Carney No. 1 & 2.
• Castleconnor
• Collooney
• Coolaney
• Easkey
• Geevagh
• Gurteen
• Riverstown
• Skreen
• Sligo No. 1, 2 & 3
• Tubbercurry

Civil Deaths

We do not have any Civil Death Records. However, we do have copies of the Burial Registers from Sligo City Cemetery, available to us to use in the course of Genealogical Research.

1901 & 1911 Irish Census

For the purpose of genealogical research, the two earliest available complete census reports are those of 1901 & 1911.

Background

From 1821 a census was carried out every ten years. Unfortunately, a large amount of this material was destroyed in 1922, some was pulped for paper during World War I and some destroyed by government order.

INFORMATION

The 1901 Census was arranged by county, district electoral division and townland. It gives detailed information relating to all persons, including householders and their dependents, residents of army and R.I.C. barracks, convents, hospitals, and other institutions, similar to present day censuses.

The headings used in the 1901 Census included the following:

• Name and Surname
• Relation to Head of Family
• Religious Profession
• Education
• Age
• Sex
• Rank, Profession or Occupation
• Marriage
• Where Born
• Ability to speak Irish.

In addition to the above, the 1911 Census had additional columns to record the following:

• Number of years married, if applicable.
• Total Number of Children born alive.
• Children still living

Ages of adults are to be treated as suspect, with most adults actually being older than they admitted.

Details concerning the houses were also given; such as the number of rooms occupied by each family, type of roof, and number of windows.

We have computerized both the 1901 and the 1911 Census for Co. Sligo.

Census Alternatives

Griffith’s Valuation 1848 – 1864

The Primary Valuation of Tenements, also known as Griffith’s Valuation, was undertaken in order to establish the value of land and buildings in Ireland as a basis for levying a local system of fair taxation under the Irish Poor Law Act of 1838.

Compilation

The Valuation was compiled on a barony basis and further subdivided according to townlands, civil parishes and the electoral divisions of Poor Law Unions. The first column heading is number and letters of reference to map; the number given refers to the location of the tenement on the 6’’ to the mile townland maps. Under the description of tenement, land and buildings are included, and, under net annual value, the annual rent expected, including maintenance and taxes and excluding the tithe rent, is given.

The Information

Griffith’s Valuation provides detailed information about land tenure, names of lessors and occupiers, their land and buildings. It records the occupier’s name, the extent of his holding, and the immediate landlord who is not necessarily the owner. However, one must bear in mind that it does not carry names of married sons or daughters for example, who may also occupy the dwelling. The information on towns is equally important, as the individual tenements were arranged according to streets. It is the only general assessment of land values in Ireland.

Griffith’s Valuation for Co. Sligo

The survey of Co. Sligo was done in the years 1856–1857. We have computerised these records.

 

Tithe Applotment Books 1823–1834

The Tithe Applotment books provide a record of the tithable land in each parish and were compiled in accordance with the Irish Tithe Composition Acts passed between 1823 & 1838. The purpose was to make an assessment of land values for the payment of tithes which was a tax levied on land, but not dwellings or out-offices, for the support of the church.

 

The Tithe …

A tithe was a tax paid to Established Church (Church of Ireland), calculated as one-tenth of the rateable value of one’s agricultural produce. Information was recorded under the following headings:

• occupier,
• classification of land,
• amount of tithe payable,
• a summary of the townland and parish totals
• list of landowner’s names.

The return was made for each townland within a civil parish within a barony.

As a Genealogical Source

Although an excellent genealogical source, it was only concerned with tithe payers, thus excluding other classes such as cottiers, landless people and those living in urban settlements. It is important to remember that only persons occupying upwards of 5 acres of land were liable for tithes. Therefore, it cannot be considered a comprehensive record.

Tithe Applotment Books for Co. Sligo

The Tithe Books were compiled for Co. Sligo between 1823 and 1834. We have computerised these records.