1831 - Irish Tithes Defaulters

We can thank Stephen McCormac for bringing these records to our attention who, in conjunction with DataTree in Melbourne,has brought out an index to this invaluable source of information regarding family history research in Ireland

Please remember - there are two sources of information:-

The Indexes
The Original Records.

What is the Tithes Defaulters List?
A list of people who had not paid their tithes [rents] for the year 1831

Why was a list of them made up at all?
during 1830/31 a growing amount of people in Tipperary where not paying their tithes. and in particular many of the Church of Ireland clergymen found themselves in difficult finanacial circumstances. The govenment of the day set up what was called the Clergy Relief Fund 1831 'by an act passed in the second year of His present Majesty" to alleviate their distress. It had 1831 on its title as the clergymen could only claim relief for that year. The GOVERNMENT then became reponsible for collecting the arrears in each parish rather than a clergyman.
If the Clergyman wished to seek assistance under the terms of the Act, he had to swear an affidavit setting out the methods he had employed in attempting to recover the money. To accompany the affadavit he had to write out a SCHEDULE 'hereto annexed' - setting out the 'Names,Descriptions,and Places of Abode pf the Persons,Occupiers of Land,within his parish' or 'Representatitives of such of them as are dead'.
He also had to state how much tithes where due from each Tithes Defaulter and how much each Tithes payer was in arrears.
The affidavits and schedules where sent to Dublin Castle for a decison to be made whether relief would be granted.
The lists where mainly compiled in June,July and August o 1832.

Why are they an invaluable source.?
Because the records state other than above - their names,[nicknames] occupations, abode,parish and baroney. - sometimes family connections.

What can I do with the material?
If you have NO place of Origin in a county - it can give you a guide to surname distribution
If you HAVE a place name - you can find out who else was living in that area, also if there is others of the same surname in that parish or Baroney.
In some cases it lists deceased people..and or widows of deceased..so this may lead you to a possible estimate of death time.
If you only have a Parish name - you can get an idea of surname distribution within a parish.
If you only have a Baroney name - you can get an idea of surname distribution within the baroney - the people listed and their occupations and abodes..
in some instances people are recorded as living over seas or in other parts of Ireland
You can compare the liklihood of information of records being accurate:- eg
for the Parish of Mowney
in 1831 there was 62 Families and 57 families. and there was 37 Defaulters.

some have information such as:=
Anstance Norris,wife of John Norris,carpenter - living in America.... Richard Downey - soldiers brother

How many Counties do the Tithes Defaulters cover in the surviving records?
Co Carlow - 437 Tithes defaulters listed
Co Cork - 2,115. Tithes defaulters listed
Co Tipperary - 9,346 Tithes Defaulters listed
Co Kerry - 20 - Tithes Defaulters listed
Co Kilkenny - 10,236 Tithes Defaulters
Co Laos - 360 - TIthes Defaulters listed.
Co Limerick - 851 - Tithes Defaulters listed
Co Louth - 965 Tithes Defaulters
Co Meath - 36 - Tithes Defaulters listed
Co Offaly - 23 - Tithes Defaulters listed.
Co Waterford - 1,838 Tithes Defaulters listed.
Co Wexford - 2,719 Tithes Defaulters listed
Co Wicklow - 54 Tithes Defaulters listed.

Are there any pitfalls ?

THE SPELLING!!!.. The people who collected the lists or assisted in collecting them - where not always of the parish and or educated very well [in the English language at least]. In general these men where despised for their duties and would often work under the threat of death and had to be escorted by police.

The "O" and "Mac" Problem...?
not a problem on these..there is barely a one to be seen !!
It has for the main - been dropped completly..so always look under both possibilies - with or without.. and you will need in to interchange every possible spelling of a surname..
eh - Meagher, Magher,Marr,Mar,Magar,Marra,Megher,Meigher,Mayer,etc..
- O.Brien,/Bryan,Brien,Brein,Bryene, etc Where are the Original Records Held?

The schedules and affidavits of the clergy are at:-
In a collection of one hundred and sixty two boxes in ther National Archives of Irrealnd, Bishop Street. Dublin.

What are they called?
Official Papers Miscellanous Assorted {OPMA for short}

How can I get a search done of the original source? or find an index?
Contact the National Archives who will advise procedure or Hire a researcher in Ireland.

Contact DataTree in Melbourne, who have released an Index entire series available on Microfilm. They are not aphabetically indexed but are sorted into Parish. They are not expensive to purchase.

DataTree