Irish genealogy research guide

By contrast, if you know that your grandfather was born in Boston, Massachusetts but you don't know the year, you can probably narrow the search to about a 20-year period.And, like most cities, Boston has an index to births, grouped into ten-year segments.

STATE AND FEDERAL CENSUS RECORDS ARE USEFUL

Census records are one of the best resources when you're tracing your family tree.Not everyone was included in the census, and not all records are accurate.

For example, if someone wasn't at home when the census taker visited, a neighbor often provided the information.If the neighbor didn't know your ancestor well, the census information may be inaccurate.

But, a fresh census was taken at least every ten years, so you may find valuable clues to your ancestry in these indexed records.

THE IRISH LIVED WITH FRIENDS FROM THE OLD COUNTRY

Often, Irish immigrants moved in with friends who'd arrived in America earlier.It's common to find clusters of Irish from one town in Ireland, living on just one street in an American city.In some cases, an entire church parish was composed of Irish immigrants from just one county.

CHURCH RECORDS ARE A GREAT ASSET

Most Irish immigrants went to church, at least for marriages and baptisms.Parish records are very useful, and many of them are indexed for easy research.Sometimes bored or very conscientious priests recorded additional background information about the family.When the mother was single, the name of the baby's father might be written in the margin of the baptismal record.Other church records may include the town in Ireland that the family was from, or notes about additional relatives who might be easier to research.

However, if your Catholic Irish ancestors were in America in the very early 19th century, be sure to look in Protestant churches for their records.Until the mid-1800s, it was unpopular and sometimes illegal to be a practicing Catholic; many Irish immigrants joined Protestant churches instead.Some later generations remained Protestant, but more returned to Catholicism when popular opinions relaxed.

VISIT CEMETERIES

When you're researching among church records, ask about their cemeteries.Some churches and communities maintained cemeteries that were specifically for Irish immigrants.

Many Irish families paid for elaborate headstones when an immigrant died.The stone may include information about the person's date of birth, and the exact town that he or she was from.Even if the person died while emigrating to America, there may be a monument that provides useful research information.

In addition, ask the cemetery office about their records.Sometimes that paperwork includes useful clues for further research.

DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU HEAR

Many Irish faced discrimination when they arrived in the United States.Some had to work at menial jobs despite excellent educations.Schoolteachers worked as maids and washerwomen.Doctors became waiters and factory hands.

If Irish workers were injured on the job, there was no Worker's Compensation.If they were lucky, indigent Irish were housed in state facilities.Late 19th-century census records show thousands of unemployed Irish in mental hospitals, an early version of homeless shelters.

Many families pretend that these hardships didn't occur.When the stories are told, be sure to take notes.However, if you can't confirm the family legends, don't be surprised if the truth is sad.Check Federal Census records when you've "lost" an ancestor; that's the best starting point.

DON'T RELY ON SPELLING

Surname spellings weren't standardized until the very late 19th century.So, your Maguire ancestor may appear in records as McGuire or MacGuire.The original Irish spelling was Mag Uidhir.

Likewise, your ancestor whose name started with an O, Mac, or Fitz may have dropped that part of the name.O'Neills became Neals, Fitzgibbons became Gibbons or even Givens, and MacLeans became Leans.Search every possible spelling if you lose track of your ancestor in the census or other records.

USE CITY DIRECTORIES

Before there were telephones and phone books, there were city directories.These directories listed every adult in a city, where he or she lived, and usually mentioned the person's occupation.In some cases, the employer's name and address might be listed next to your ancestor's name.

Be sure to use the "reverse" section of the city directory, too.Look up your ancestor's home address, and see if relatives lived in the same house or nearby.Irishmen often married the girl next door, and the city directory will tell you her parents' names and professions.

REMAIN FLEXIBLE

Sometimes the Irish were nervous about government records.If you can't find your ancestor in one resource, try another.Start with Federal and State Census records.Check state and city vital records including birth, marriage, and death certificates.And, don't overlook church records.

You may also find your Irish ancestor mentioned in trade papers, military records, Naturalization papers, and civil court transcripts.Obituaries and probate records are generally less useful, but they're worth checking.The Pilot, a Catholic newspaper, is an excellent resource.Irish immigrants often used ads in that paper to locate relatives after they'd arrived in America.Many of The Pilot's 19th century records are indexed to make your search easier.

BREAK THE RULES

If you'd just like to know which part of Ireland your ancestors probably came from, skip the in-between research and check a reference book such as MacLysaght's "The Surnames of Ireland."These kinds of books can tell you the county and sometimes the town where a particular surname originated in Ireland.Your ancestry will probably trace back to that area.

FINDING YOUR ANCESTRY IN IRELAND

Once you have the names and probable birth dates of your Irish immigrant ancestors, you're ready for research in Ireland.However, it's not necessary to visit Ireland.Most Irish counties have Heritage Centres with excellent records.They can be easier to consult by mail than if you visit them in person.Start with the most likely county, and research out from there.

ALL OF IRELAND WAS ONCE ENGLISH

If you can't find Irish records that you need, remember that England once controlled all of Ireland.It's unusual, but you may find the information you seek in English archives, not Irish.

Also, records for Northern Ireland are British.These are kept separately from records for the Irish Republic.Many of the early records for Northern Ireland are in England.And, if some of your ancestors were from Northern Ireland, your next research may be in Scotland.Many families in Northern Ireland have Scottish roots.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE TIME FOR YOUR OWN RESEARCH, HIRE SOMEONE

If you can't find what you're looking for, or don't have time for your own research, there are many competent Irish researchers in the United States and in Ireland.In fact, some provide a service that includes a videotape of your ancestral home in Ireland.

Be sure to check references before hiring anyone.Be wary of any researcher who makes the job sound difficult and time-consuming.Even a common name such as John Murphy can be easy to research with enough additional facts such as children's names or a distinctive middle name.

THEN, CONTACT YOUR COUSINS

Once you've established where your Irish ancestors were born, you may find an entire family of cousins who are eager to meet you.Most Irish telephone books are online and free to use.Check your family surnames in the towns where your ancestors were born.There may be dozens of people with the your last name, and some of them will be related to you.

Call a few possible cousins in Ireland, keeping the time zone difference in mind.Almost all of Ireland is English-speaking.Generally, if you don't reach a relative on the first try, the person knows someone else in town that is your cousin.

Your cousins can help fill in gaps in your family tree.They will also have stories to tell you about your ancestry, that will make your family history even richer.

ALL ROADS LEAD TO IRELAND

With some persistence and a little Irish luck, you'll find your family roots in the Emerald Isle.Not all family lines will lead to that legendary pot of gold.But, discovering your true Irish heritage and meeting your cousins in Ireland can be ample reward for your research.