Ireland Landed Estate Court Files - FamilySearch Historical Records

Ireland

What is in This Collection?
During the 1840s, Ireland suffered a massive famine. Many tenants died, and others emigrated, hoping to find relief. As a result, landlords lost their major source of income, and their estates went into debt, culminating in a high number of foreclosures. It is estimated that between the years 1850 and 1858 around 8,000 estate foreclosures were handled.

In 1849, an act was passed which established the Encumbered Estates Court. This court handled the sale and accounting of bankrupted estates. In 1858, the Landed Estates Court was established. This court handled both unencumbered and encumbered estates.

These records were created to provide a detailed accounting of bankrupted estate sales. These records are generally reliable. These records consist of maps, which are hand-drawn, and tenant lists which are typed on preprinted forms. The records are divided by county and lot.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:

Lot map records
 * Estate owner and title
 * Parish
 * County
 * Surveyor’s name and address
 * Ordinance sheet number

Tenant list records
 * Tenant’s full name
 * Number on the map
 * Quantity of land
 * Irish plantation rents
 * Annual rent
 * Gale days (the day on which rent is due)

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * Name of ancestor
 * Last residence

Search the Index
Ireland - Land Estate Court - Rentals - 1850-1885

Ireland, Landed Estate Court Files, 1850-1885

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Add any new information to your records
 * If available, check the image for additional information
 * Analyze the entry to see if it provides additional clues to find other records of the person or their family

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * Try searching by surname only
 * The person may be recorded with an abbreviated or variant form of their name
 * Remember that spelling was generally not standardized until the early part of the 20th century

Research Helps
The following articles will help you research your family in Ireland.
 * Ireland Guided Research
 * Ireland Record Finder
 * Ireland Research Tips and Strategies

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.

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