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Course image Irish: Religious Records
Basic Irish Records
IR-104: Irish: Religious Records
Course Summary:

Optional Print Course Material: Irish: Religious Records

*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.

The course examines the differences between the various forms of church (parish) records in Ireland and in particular between the Roman Catholic Church, to which the vast majority of Irish people belonged, and the conformist records of the Church of Ireland. Which was the official state church until 1869. Different time periods will be covered in relation to:

  • historical backgrounds
  • content of records
  • availability of/access to records
  • effective research procedures.
Emphasis will be primarily on pre-1864 research problems where parish registers should be used as major sources of information. These contain vital genealogical elements, such as baptism/christening, marriage, and burial entries. When used with other records such as wills and deeds, parish registers can help to build fairly complete family groupings.

We will also touch on the extensive collection of marriage licenses (1623-1866) and comment on their historical background, contents, value, and availability to researchers.

Contact Hours: 24
Grading Scale: 70% Tests/30% Assignments
Last Updated: February 17, 2024
Course Length: 10 weeks

Course Content

MODULE 1
Introduction 

Introduction to Church Records
Locating Church Records
Rootsireland.ie.
Module 1 Assignments

MODULE 2
Roman Catholic Church Records

Historical Background
Practices & Beliefs

The Records
  • Baptisms
  • Marriages
  • Burial Registers
Consanguinity

Recommended Reading and Resources
  • Abbreviations & Latin Terms
Module 2 Assignments

MODULE 3
Church of Ireland Records

Historical Background
Practices & Beliefs

The Records
  • Baptisms
  • Marriages
  • Marriage Licences and Bonds
  • Burial Registers
  • Vestry Minute Books
  • Marriage Licenses (1623-1866)
Recommended Reading and Resources
Module 3 Assignments

MODULE 4
Presbyterian Church Records

Historical Background
Practices & Beliefs

The Records
  • Baptisms
  • Marriages
  • Burial Records
  • Session Minutes
  • The Dublin Colporteur Notebook of 1875
Recommended Reading and Resources
Module 4 Assignments

MODULE 5
Methodist Church Records

Historical Background
Practices & Beliefs

The Records
  • Baptism Records
  • Marriage Records
  • Burial Records
Locating the Records
Recommended Reading and Resources
Module 5 Assignments

MODULE 6
Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)

Historical Background
Practices & Beliefs

The Records
  • Birth Records
  • Marriage Records
  • Deaths/Burial Records
  • Migration Records
  • Sufferings
Online Records
Recommended Reading and Resources
Module 6 Assignments

MODULE 7
Jewish Records

Historical Background
Practices & Beliefs
The Records
Recommended Reading and Resources
Module 7 Assignments

MODULE 8
Other Religious Groups

Huguenots

  • Historical Background
  • Practices & Beliefs
  • The Records
  • Recommended Reading and Resources

Baptist Church

  • Historical Background
  • Practices & Beliefs
  • The Records
  • Recommended Reading and Resources

Moravian Church

  • Historical Background
  • Practices & Beliefs
  • The Records
  • Recommended Reading and Resources

Course Summation
Module 8 Assignments

BIBLIOGRAPHY