Some of the key primary sources available online and at the Local Studies Departments, Offaly Libraries.
Census of Ireland
Census of Ireland: a census of Ireland circa 1659, with supplementary material from the Poll money ordinances (1660-1661), edited by Séamus Pender (Dublin, Stationery Office, 1939), (hardback).
1813, 1821, 1831, 1841 (microfiche), 1851 (printed copy), 1861 (microfiche and printed copy), 1871, 1881 (microfiche), 1891 (printed copy) , 1901 (microfiche, microfilm, online), 1911 (microfilm and online), 1951/1961/1966/1971/1979/1981/1986/1991 (government publications).
Primary Valuation Books (Griffith’s Valuation)
The Union of Tullamore 1854, The Union of Edenderry 1853, The Union of Parsonstown 1854. (hardback) The Union of Mountmellick (The Baronies of Upper Phillipstown, Portnahinch, Tinnahinch). The Barony of Roscrea (Clonlisk, Ballybritt) (photocopies).
Ordnance Survey
The Ordnance Survey was established in the Phoenix Park, Dublin, 1824 and assigned the task to delimit the 60,000 townlands in Ireland. This was completed in 1846 with a total of 1,906 sheets produced. The maps are a scale of six inches to one statute mile with supplementary large scale maps. Boundaries of counties, baronies, civil parishes and townlands defined.
Down Survey 1657, The Down survey of Irish lands, 1657, King’s County, Sir William Petty
[Bound photostat of maps/manuscript of Down’s Survey for King’s County]. Contains Baronies and parishes of Ballyboy; Warrenstown; Coolestown; Phillipstown; Clonlisk; Ballicowen and Kilcoursey. Includes an index of names, town names, parishes and the quantity of acres contained in each.
The Composition Tithe Applotment Books 1823 – 1838
Microfilm with index. The Tithe Applotment Books are a vital source for genealogical research for the pre-Famine period, given the loss of the 1821-51 Census records.
The Civil Survey 1654-6: vol 10: miscellanea : prepared for publication with introductory notes by Robert C. Simington. (Dublin, Stationery Office for the Irish Manuscripts Commission, c1961)
Includes Baronies of Warrenstowne – Coolestown – Philipstown – Geashill – Ballycowan – Ballyboy – Clonliske – Ballybritt – Eglish – Garrycastle – Kilcoursey. (hardback)
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