Ireland Gaol (Jail) Registers - FamilySearch Historical Records

Ireland

What is in This Collection?
This collection contains records for the years 1798-1928. The records of Irish jails and their prisoners are handwritten on preprinted forms and are generally well-preserved. Approximately 90 percent of the records are general registers that could include any of the following lists and registers: • 2 The remaining ten percent consist of indexes, court records, and administrative reports.

As soon as jails were opened, their officials began keeping records of the inmates. Beginning in 1836, the jails were overseen by the Government Prisons Office and the Office of Inspector-General of Prisons. Their supervision continued until 1880. The General Prisons Board assumed the supervision for the years 1877 through 1928. The jails were required to send copies of their administrative reports to the appropriate government offices. The National Archives of Ireland has the records of more than 40 prisons and other penal institutions. It is unknown what percentage of the population is covered by these records.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records: • 2

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * Name of the person
 * Approximate date of the event

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.