User:Beccac1229/Sandbox22

Guide to County Cavan ancestry, family history and genealogy: birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, parish registers, and military records.

Background
County Cavan is an inland county of the province of Ulster, bounded on the north by the county of Fermanagh; on the west, by that of Leitrim; on the south, by those of Longford, Westmeath, and Meath; and on the east and north-east, by that of Monaghan. As of 1837, County Cavan comprises an area of 477,360 acres. The population in 1821 was 195,076 and in 1831, 228,050.

The Plantation of Ulster from 1610 saw the settlement and origins of several new towns within the county. Existing towns such as Cavan and Belturbet became over time more important as trading centres. Wars during the mid-seventeenth century that were aimed at trying to unsettle the Plantation only led to further plantations of English and Scottish settlers into the county and the beginnings of a thriving flax and linen industry. The Great Famine potato blight between 1845–49 hit parts of Cavan very hard. The winter of 1847 is particularly noted for the high levels of deaths nationally caused by diseases such as typhus and cholera. There were some instances of eviction that also occurred during the nineteenth century. There was one story where the local landlord in Mountnugent parish decided to evict over 200 people. The famous ballad "By Lough Sheelin Side" is based on this event witnessed by the local Catholic priest.

When the Ulster Union Council met on 9 June 1916, the delegates from Cavan learned that they would not be included in any "temporary exclusion of Ulster" from Home Rule; they agreed only with very great reluctance.

As of 2016, the population of County Cavan was roughly 76,092 people.

Further information about County Cavan is available at GENUKI.

Cemeteries

 * County Cavan Cemetery Records

Census

 * Cavan Census Surname Indexes

1841 Census The 1841 census for the parish of Killeshandra still survives. An index of the 1841 census for all of County Cavan is available at: Cavan County Ireland 1841 census
 * Ireland Census, 1841 (indexes and images) - parish of Killeshandra included in this collection
 * Census returns, Killashandra Parish (Cavan), 1841 (images) - digitized images of the census grouped by townland
 * Ireland 1841/1851 Census Abstracts (starting page 127) - lists all the surnames found in the 1841 census for the parish of Killeshandra

1901 Census
 * Ireland 1901 Cavan Census Townland Index

Church Records

 * List of County Cavan Catholic Parishes
 * Church of Ireland Marriage License Bonds: Diocese of Kilmore & Ardagh (index)

Civil Registration

 * 1845-1913 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1845-1958 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Civil Jurisdictions

 * List of County Cavan Civil Parishes

Land and Property

 * 1709-1901 - Paterson collection of estate documents of counties Tyrone and Armagh, ca. 1709-1901
 * 1831-1856 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1854-1855 - Valuation office miscellaneous books, County Cavan, 1854-1855
 * 1857-1894 - General Valuation revision lists, Bailieborough Union (Cavan), 1857-1894

Maps

 * 1885 County Map: Courtesy of London Ancestor

There is an amazingly detailed interactive map from Ordnance Survey Ireland that covers not only Cavan, but the whole of Ireland. You can zoom in to see extremely fine detail. The map provides historic map overlays (see the check boxes underneath "Data Catalogue") that clearly show the townlands, roads, towns, homes, fields, estates, etc. Some churches and cemeteries are included. Several overlays are provided.

Military

 * Militia lists, Co. Cavan, Fermanagh, and Monaghan
 * Muster rolls of Co. Cavan, Co. Antrim, and Co. Donegal

Newspapers

 * FindMyPast ($) has thousands of newspapers from County Cavan available online.

Place-Names
Here are two important place-name aids/tools for locating your Irish place and its parish jurisdiction(s):


 * The IreAtlas Townland Database - click County "Cavan"; then click "Submit" to view a complete alphabetical listing of all townlands, towns and townships and the parishes in which they lay
 * Topographical Dictionary of Ireland by Samuel A. Lewis - provides a rich 1837 historical perspective of each Ireland parish and large township; great for determining which churches existed in each parish--Church of Ireland or Nonconformist

Poor Law Records

 * 1839-1917 - Board of Guardians minute books, 1839-1917
 * 1845-1913 - Workhouse registers, 1845-1913
 * 1863-1872 - Granard Union minute book, 1863-1872
 * 1870-1920 - Board of Guardians minute books, 1870-1920

Probate
Abstracts of Some Ardagh, Clogher and Kilmore Diocesan Wills. Alphabetical list of Wills proved from the above Diocese covering years 1739-1810. Article in The Irish Ancestor, vol.VI.no.2.1974, pages 112-121, Family History Ref. 941.5 B2i v5-6.


 * 1635-1838, 1663-1857 - Index to administration bonds, 1663-1857, and a 19th century copy of the will index, ca. 1635-1838, made by Sir William Betham
 * 1682-1857, 1728-1857 - Index to administration bonds, 1728-1857, and fragments of the index to wills, 1682-1857
 * 1697-1850 - Indexes to wills, 1695-1858, and administration bonds, 1697-1850
 * 1856-1873 - Cavan will book, 1856-1873
 * 1858-1896 - Cavan District will books, 1858-1896
 * Index to Ardagh Wills

School

 * 1925-1956 - Coille Dubl National School registers, 1925-1956
 * 1902-1965 - Dennmore National School registers, 1902-1965
 * 1872-1967 - Drumaloor National School registers, 1872-1967
 * 1874-1950 - Headfort National School registers, 1874-1950
 * 1882-1950 - Kilcorby National School registers, 1882-1950
 * 1864-1928 - Kilduff National School registers, 1864-1928
 * 1872-1925 - Lecks National School registers, 1872-1925
 * The schools and scholars of Breiffne

Archives and Libraries
Cavan Heritage and Genealogy Centre Farmham Street Cavan Town Cavan Republic of Ireland Telephone: +353 49 4361094 E-mail: cavangenealogy@eircom.net

The online records for Cavan are found at RootsIreland.ie.

Cavan County Library Farnham Street Cavan Town County Cavan Ireland E-mail: cavancountylibrary@tinet.ie or cavancountylibrary@eircom.net

Includes Barron, Famham Estate, and other related papers. Also includes Griffith Valuation maps, legal papers, including rentals and wills for Cavan 18th and the 19th century. Also includes photography collections.

Societies
Family history societies often publish helpful journals, transcripts, compiled genealogies and host helpful websites. They may have ongoing projects to transcribe records and create indexes. Most societies publish queries in their journals and maintain lists of members’ research interests that may be helpful to you. You may want to join one of these societies, reap the benefits of their expertise and resources or support its efforts.

Websites
Cavan Resources and Help pages:
 * RootsChat Cavan Resources and Help pages (free)
 * GENUKI
 * Roots Ireland: Cavan ($)
 * County Cavan Genealogy
 * From-Ireland: County Cavan
 * IrishPenPals: County Cavan Genealogy