Ireland, W.P.W. Phillimore & Gertrude Thrift, Indexes to Irish Wills - FamilySearch Historical Records

Ireland

What is in This Collection?
These five volumes were compiled from finding aids in use at the Public Record Office of Ireland (PROI) in Dublin. The volumes record surviving wills, then in existence at the PROI, which had been proved at local diocesan courts. Not every diocese is included as the project was still in progress when the archive was destroyed in 1922. These volumes are often the only record that a will existed. Volumes 1 and 2 edited by W. P. W. (William Phillimore Watts) Phillimore, volumes 3-5 edited by Gertrude Thrift.

The contents of each volume are as follows:
 * v. 1, Ossory 1536-1800; Leighlin 1652- 1800; Ferns 1601-1800; Kildare 1661-1800
 * v. 2, Cork & Ross, 1584-1800; Cloyne 1621-1800
 * v. 3, Cashel & Emly 1618-1800; Waterford & Lismore 1645-1800; Killaloe & Kilfenora 1653-1800; Limerick 1615-1800; Ardfert & Aghadoe 1690-1800
 * v. 4, Dromore 1678-1858; Exempt jurisdiction of Newry and Mourne 1727-1858
 * v. 5, Derry 1612-1858; Raphoe 1684-1858

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

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

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?

 * Use the information in the probate record to substitute for civil birth and death records since the probates exist for an earlier time period
 * Record the entries for every person who has the same surname as the deceased; this is especially helpful in rural areas or if the surname is unusual
 * Search the records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives who may have died in the same county or nearby.
 * When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct

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

 * The information in the records is usually reliable, but depends upon the reliability of the deceased or the testator
 * Check for variant spellings of the surnames

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

Related Collections

 * Indexes to Irish wills Photocopy from microfilm
 * Indexes to Irish wills Genealogical Publishing Company reprint, 1970

Related FamilySearch Historical Records Collections

 * Ireland Calendar of Wills and Administrations

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.