Ireland Prison Registers - FamilySearch Historical Records

Ireland

What is in This Collection?
This collection includes records from 1790 to 1924.

This is a compilation of prison records from collections held in the National Archives of Ireland. Most of the surviving prison records from the 26 counties of the Republic of Ireland are included in this collection. This project was done in cooperation with www.findmypast.ie.

For a full list of prisons in Ireland and their dates of operation, see the article on the findmypast website, Irish Prison registers 1790-1924.

Collection Content
Prison registers usually include the following information:


 * Name of inmate
 * Last Residence
 * Place of birth
 * Occupation
 * Age
 * Crime committed
 * Name of Victim
 * Name and address of next of kin
 * Marital Status
 * Date crime committed

How Do I Search This Collection?
To begin your search, it would be helpful if you knew the following information:


 * Name of ancestor
 * Place of birth and approximate year of birth
 * Last residence

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?

 * The age of the ancestor can be calculated for a birth year
 * The place at the time of imprisonment may be your ancestors residence if he is found on a census
 * If the registrant wrote down where he or she was born, use that information to search in the civil registration records for the parents

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

 * Search for a nickname. Prisoners may have been registered in prison under a nickname instead of their real name

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