Down Civil Parish, County Down, Northern Ireland Genealogy

Ireland County Down  Down Civil Parish

The following information is a starting point for records about the civil parish of Down. The information is based on locations and records before 1922.

History
The diocese of Down is one of the sixteen that constitute the ecclesiastical province of Armagh; it comprehends part of the county of Antrim and the greater part of county of Down.

In the Roman Catholic divisions the diocese was united in much the same way as the Established Church (Church of Ireland), forming the bishopric of Down and Connor. In Down there are 19 parochial districts, containing 37 chapels. The cathedral of the united diocese is at Belfast, where the bishop resides.

The parish of Down is a rectory, in the diocese of Down. There are two places of worship for Presbyterians and a meeting-house each for the Wesleyan Methodists and for the Primitive Methodists.

The Roman Catholic parish is co-extensive with the Church of Ireland parish and contains two chapels.

Localities
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Maps and gazetteers
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Cemeteries
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Census
The purpose of a census was to gather information about people who lived in an area. While the government began census taking in 1821, only fragments exist before 1901. Censuses for 1901 and 1911 are available. Read more about the records in the Ireland Census article.

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Church records
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Catholic
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Church of Ireland
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Presbyterian
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Methodist
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Society of Friends
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Others
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Civil Registration
Government registration of births and deaths began in 1864. Registration of Protestant marriages began in 1845, with all marriages being registered by 1864. Go to the Ireland Civil Registration article to read more about these records.

Land records
The Registry of Deeds started in 1708. Land transactions were recorded, including immovable property passed on in a will and property given to a daughter at her marriage. Read more about these records in the Ireland Land and Property article.

Probate records
Probate dealt with the property of a deceased person. Read more about these records in the Ireland Probate Records article.

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School records
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Tax records
The valuation of property for tax purposes was started in the 1840s by Richard Griffith. A tax paid to the church, call Tithe Applotments, began in the 1820s. Read about these records in the Ireland Taxation and Ireland Land and Property articles. Add records for this parish that you know about.

Web Sites
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