Even though the Genealogical Office Dublin
has catered more to the aristocracy of Anglicised Ireland, the commoners,
the everyday people, found their way into the records. In establishing
a true line of descent and finding rights to bear arms, the
G.O.D. has to prepare all the known lineage of a family. In preparing
these 'pedigree' charts (known to Americans as descendancy charts), many
records had to be consulted, extracted, categorized, and indexed to make
the Chief Herald's and those in his employe jobs easier. To understand
heraldry, in its intended form, is to see the history of families open
before you. Too often we see people being led to believe that they
have a "family crest". In heraldry there is no such thing.
There are armorial families but NO family crests. Grants of arms
are given only to a person, not a family. His descendants may be
given the right to claim the arms, but not the right to bear them (present
them publicly). Each individual person within a family will have
their own uniquely stylized version of the family arms, which is differenced
by shape (which identify gender of person) and by cadency (marks showing
order of birth). To see a coat of arms, especially when quartered,
is to see a PERSON's surname ancestry in a simplified format. A coat
of arms may also show personal achievements and social status of the family
(gentry, baronetcy, peerage, etc.). Ireland is fortunate to have
had an office in place early on to record the records of the Irish-English
aristocracy and the emerging class of Gaelic armorial families (where before
the Irish did not use coats of arms).
I - WHAT IS THE GENEALOGICAL OFFICE DUBLIN?
A - Purpose of Office - This
office is to control all heraldic grants in
respect to the
position of the College of Arms in London, England.
B - Creation of Office - This
office (Ulster) was originally created to
grant and control
rights to arms in Ireland. Especially as Ireland
was becoming more
under the control of England. In 1922 this office
was split.
The Ulster office was given to Norroy (the London office)
and a new one
was created under the Republic as "Chief Herald of All
Ireland".
C - People occupying Office
- The people heading the office (currently
Donal Begley)
are rigorously trained in Heraldic conventions and forms
of research.
They are expected to be able to identify and or find
coats of arms
and know if one is already in existence. They are to
grant arms to
individuals (not families as one hears all the time)
based upon the
current armorical status of his/her lineage, and his/her
achievements in
life (such as military victories, etc).
D - Records Created by Office
- Records created by this office are
pedigree charts,
heraldic sketches or descriptions, grants of arms,
extracts of records
for use in heraldry, control records of use of
heraldry in State
affairs.
II - TYPES OF RECORDS - WHAT DOES THE G.O.D.
HAVE THAT I COULD LOOK AT?
A - DIRECTORIES -
Directories:
Belfast, Cork and Waterford (1805) [FHL# 0100179]
Directory
Slip, Enniskillen, Ballyfarnan, Donegal (1829) [FHL#
0100179]
B - GENEALOGICAL COLLECTIONS
- There are some compiled histories and
pedigrees on various
families by various authors.
Miscellaneous
Pedigrees (Red Binding) [FHL# 0100155]
O'Malley
Pedigree (Mayo) by Sir Samuel O'Malley, Baronet [FHL#
0100155]
O'Reilly
Pedigree (TSG) See also Linea Antiqua [FHL# 0100155]
A
Descdancy of the Genealogy of the Forbes by Mr Matthew Lumsden of
Filiakairn [FHL# 0100155]
Naple,
White, Madden & Meekins Pedigrees from the National Library
(no index) [FHL# 0100155]
Betham
Pedigrees (Genealogy of Sir William Betham) [FHL# 0100155]
Stemmata
Wykehemiana et Chicheliana (with index) [FHL# 0100155]
De
Angelo (Nangle) Pedigree (no index) by Sir William BETHAM [FHL#
0100155]
C - CONTEMPORARY FAMILY HISTORIES
/ PEDIGREES - There was some work
done on families applying
for grants of arms many Irish and English.
Collectionae
Genealogica: Volume 1, Browne, Fitzgerald, Hamilton,
Stewart, Walker, White, Wilson [FHL# 0100103]
Collectionae
Genealogica: Volume 2, A-D [FHL# 0100103]
Collectionae
Genealogica: Volume 3, D-O [FHL# 0100103]
Collectionae
Genealogica: Volume 4, O-Y [FHL# 0100103]
Hyde,
Volume III, Betham [FHL# 0100116]
Killeen,
Volume I, Betham [FHL# 0100116]
Le
Poer, Volume II, Betham [FHL# 0100116]
D - TRADITIONAL AND OTHER
FAMILY HISTORIES / PEDIGREES - Some pedigrees
and histories
were transcribed from ancient texts for use in heraldry.
Chaos,
Volume 1-5 [FHL# 0100208]
Pedigrees:
O'Ferrall's Linea Antiqua, Volume II [FHL# 0100122]
E - NEWSPAPERS
Marriages
from Exchaws and Hibernian Magazines, Volume I, 1741-1800
[FHL# 0100166]
Marriages
from Exchaws and Hibernian Magazines, Volume II, 1741-1800
[FHL# 0100166]
Marriages
from Exchaws and Hibernian Magazines, Volume III, 1743-1800
[FHL# 0100166]
F - WILLS AND PROBATE RECORDS
-
Admons,
Prerogatives, Volume 1, A-D [FHL# 0100114]
Stephen
- Wexford Pedigrees; Calendar of Dublin Wills [FHL# 0100137]
G - LOCAL AND AREA HISTORIES
County
Louth, 17th Century, Miscellany [FHL# 0100182]
H - OCCUPATIONAL AND TAX LISTINGS
[can be connected with Directories]
Freeholders:
Counties Meath, Donegal, Fermanagh, Rosscommon,
Tipperary [FHL# 0100181]
Freeholders:
Counties Kilkenny, Clare (1829), Queens [Leix] (1758-
75) [FHL# 0100181]
Westmeath
Poll Book (1761), and Armagh Poll Book (1753) [FHL#
0100181]
Freeholders:
County Longford [FHL# 0100181]
Hearth
Money Rolls: 1694/5, Armagh & Donegal [FHL# 0100181]
High
Sheriffs of Counties [FHL# 0100139]
Knights
Dubbed 1565-1616, Volume I [FHL# 0100186]
Knights
Dubbed 1633-1687, etc., Volume II [FHL# 0100186]
Register
of Knights, Volume 3, 1801-1854 [FHL# 0100186]
Register
of Knights, Volume 4, 1853-1892 [FHL# 0100186]
I - LAND RECORDS -
Fisher
Manuscripts: Abstracts of Deeds and Wills, 1 [FHL# 0100140]
J - PARISH REGISTERS - PUBLISHED
AND UNPUBLISHED
Parish
Registers [FHL# 0100158]
Dublin
Parish Registers [FHL# 0100226]
Castleknock,
Co Dublin Parish Registers [FHL# 0100225]
K - MAPS - VARIOUS MAPS SHOWING
ESTATES AND RENTERS
Wolfe
Rental Maps, King's (Offaly) County [FHL# 0100225]
L - CONSISTORY COURT -
Dublin
Consistorial Marriage Licenses Bonds 1638-1823, Volume I, A-D
[FHL# 0100227]
Dublin
Consistorial Marriage Licenses Bonds 1638-1823, Volume II, E-M
[FHL# 0100227]
Dublin
Consistorial Marriage Licenses Bonds 1638-1823, Volume II, N-Z
[FHL# 0100227]
M - PREROGATIVE COURT -
Diocese
Tuam Wills / compiled and presented by Philip CROSSLE, 120
pages [FHL# 0257807]
Dublin
Diocesan Marriages Licenses: Volume 1, 1638-1732 Fisher
Manuscripts [FHL #0100226]
Dublin
Diocesan Marriages Licenses: Volume 2, 1732-1749, Fisher
Manuscripts [FHL #0100226]
Dublin
Diocesan Marriages Licenses: Volume 3, 1749-1764, Fisher
Manuscripts [FHL #0100226]
Dublin
Diocesan Marriages Licenses: Volume 4, 1789-1794, Fisher
Manuscripts [FHL #0100226]
Dublin
Diocesan Marriages Licenses: Volume 4, 1794-1800, Fisher
Manuscripts [FHL #0100226]
Fisher
Manuscripts: Prerogative Marriage Licenses, 1630- 1858, A-F
[FHL# 0100167]
Fisher
Manuscripts: Prerogative Marriage Licenses, 1630- 1858, G-O
[FHL# 0100168]
Fisher
Manuscripts: Prerogative Marriage Licenses, 1630- 1858, P-Z
[FHL# 0100168]
N - MILITARY RECORDS -
Army
List (Ireland) 1746-1772 [FHL# 0100182]
O - HERALDIC RECORDS -
Some of these
records contain unexpected
information on
the most unexpected subjects.
Funeral
Processions [FHL# 0100160]
Funeral
Entries, Volume 1, 1588-1617 [FHL# 0100160]
Funeral
Entries, Volume 2, 1597-1603 [FHL# 0100160]
Funeral
Entries, Volume 3, 1604-1622 [FHL# 0100160]
Funeral
Entries, Volume 4, 1651-1682 [FHL# 0100160]
Irish
Obituaries, A-B [FHL# 0100164]
Irish
Obituaries, C-F [FHL# 0100164]
Visitations,
Volume 3, Wexford [FHL# 0100225]
III - HOW THE RECORDS INTERACT WITH EACH
OTHER
A - Starting the process.
Someone approaches the office with a request
to have a grant
of arms. Correspondance takes place between the office
and the applicant.
A lot is transmitted with this exchange (pedigree
information, history
of family, etc.).
B - Chart-making. The
office starts recording the ancestry and other
information by
making pedigree charts (reverse ones, showing
descendancy as
from a common person). These charts are kept ongoing
until it is discerned
that the rights to the grant of arms are
legitimate.
C - Extraction. At the
time of research, or if records are commonly
needed at the
office but they don't have time to access the originals,
extract of the
records are made. Many times these are recorded on the
pedigree charts.
Other times they take the form of a collection on the
surname or a collection
of the same type of record from a single
source.
D - Sketches. Heraldic
sketches are often made for the artist (or by the
artist) to help
determine the proper blazoning before granting the
arms. Many
books of these were kept for reference by the office.
E - Grants, and writs of Grants.
When it is decided that a grant of arms
is legitimate,
a proclamation is recorded showing the grant of arms
TO A PERSON and
his immediate family.
F - Funerals. It was
the place of the Genealogical Office to conduct and
arrange the ceremonies
(at least the part involving heraldry) of
funerals of prominent
armorial families. These records include the
funeral bier,
the flags, pennants, attendees, etc. of the funeral
(sometimes down
to the color of the horses). It was done to ensure
*proper form*
of the procession and ceremony.
G - Visitations. In
the 1500's and the 1600's it became necessary to
record those armorial
families. This ensured that there were
legitimate use
and claim to arms by the families. Visitations even
included those
ecclesiastical offices that held secular titleage.
The visitations
include pedigree charts and some history of the
individuals on
the chart.
H - Knights and Chivalrous
orders. As an aspect of heraldry, knights
and chivalrous
orders use heraldry as a means of identification of
individuals (particulary
when the person is fully armoured with the
helmet visor down).
The office controlled the use of arms, thus
battlefield.
The Order of St. Patrick was created under the G.O.
and thus the G.O.
was involved in designing the arms, symbolisms, etc.
used by that order.
I - Other records. It
was the practice of the G.O. to collect histories
of families.
Especially that of the native Irish. When manuscripts
and other sources
became available, that material was extracted. On
the other side
of the coin, copies of the G.O.'s records were
transmitted to
London to the College of Arms at their request. Thus
you will find
TONS of Irish genealogical material in London.
Much research
was done at London as well in the State Paper Office.
Using the Curia
Regis Rolls, Pipe rolls, Pardons by the crown, Rentals,
Army lists, Kings
Bench Court records, Canterbury Court records, etc.
the herald was
often able to piece together family history that they
wouldn't be able
otherwise to prove or even ascertain. In the same
fashion, I was
able to put my family together. All in all there are over
700 manuscripts
in the G.O. to be used!
III - NOTES AND TIPS IN USING GENEALOGICAL
OFFICE DUBLIN RECORDS -
A - Check repeat sources but
different times of extraction - Someone may
include what another
has missed
B - Don't go under the assumption
that Northern Ireland or the Republic
of Ireland records
are exclusive to their own country. A large number
of the Irish moved
from one area to the other because of economic or
social reasons
(i.e. famine, religious persecution, etc.) Overlapping
records occur
because of the way some families were spread out over the
island.
C - Learn Heraldry!
Most records you find relating to heraldry (in its
true and accurate
form) relate to genealogy. Extracts, pedigrees and
copies of long
gone documents still exist which help us in learning
about our family.
D - Be Thorough! Leave
No Stone Un-Turned!' Information turns up in the
most unlikely
places.
E - Be Aware of Your Sources!
Things aren't always what they seem!
F - Keep 'heraldic style'
pedigree charts on families that you have
research in so
far as knowing whose records you are working with and
how they relate
to your family.
G - Study your history!
Locality
and Area History - What went on while they were alive where
they were at?
Social History
- What lifestyle did or could they have lead?
Relational
History - Family, Immediate relations, Allied or Collateral
families,
Associated Families, Non- Related families. Knowing who,
what, when,
and where will help you locate and identify particular
families
-- especially in common names such as Kelly, Burns, Maguire,
O'Reilly,
etc.
H - Learn Social Customs and
Government Practices. Occupation or Social
Status such as
spinster, widow, gentry, esquire, carries with it
load of information
with just the one word.
I - Date or Place association.
Very important in Irish research.
J - Find out what records
were created when particular transactions took
place -- such
as marriage contracts, land deeds, wills, heraldic
grants, marriage
bonds, court proceedings.
K - Check Surname books for
general location of name in Ireland. Use
only as a guide,
not as a source in and of itself. Not exactly
necessary to have
place as it is to have allied families.
L - Start building an index
on the surname(s) and area(s) you are working
on.
M - Take Good Notes -- Note
any and all information: Surname and
Christian Names,
Nicknames, Use-names, Locality, Event and
circumstances
surrounding event, Date (be as precise as possible),
Occupation or
Status, Religion ALL information is 'Vital Statistics'
when it refers
to an individual or group of individuals linking them to
a place, date,
or other people.
N - Surnames -- Learn origins
and common places of surname to show up.
DO NOT stick to
this alone, but use as a SPRINGBOARD FOR RESEARCH.
The most common
thing for people to be told is "If you can't find a
locality for the
surname, chances are you can't proceed". This is
FALSE. Sometimes
a family moved from place to place. Check all
resources before
taking NO or YOU CAN'T or YOU NEED as the final say
so.