As I prepare to return to Northern Ireland to research the FERGUS lineages, I am reminded of the Administrative Divisions that are important to know for research purposes. I must remember that first there are four PROVINCES: Ulster (mainly counties in Northern Ireland - Co. Antrim Co. Armagh, Co. Down, Co.Fermanagh,Co.Londonderry, and counties of the Republic - Co. Leitrim, Co. Cavan, and Co. Monaghan Connaught - Co. Mayo (the highest distribution of FERGUS people are here), Co. Sligo, Co. Roscommon, Co Galway Munster - Co. Clare, Co. Limerick, Co. Kerry, Co. Cork, Co. Tipperary, Co. Waterford Leinster - Co. Wexford, Co. Carlow, Co. Wicklow, Co. Laois, Co. Offaly, Co. Kildare, Co. Dublin, Co. Meath, Co. Westmeath, Co. Longford, Co. Louth --------------------------------------------------------- The COUNTY is the principal unit of local government. During the seventeenth century, the county was used as the leading administrative unit when framing the plantation of Ulster, and its importance was confirmed by the subsequent mapping of Ireland which established the county system. When researching genealogy, searching for a location, or addressing mail the county is the primary importance. --------------------------------------------------------- The BARONY is am important county subdivision. A barony can occupy part of two counties, inwhich case it is known as a half-barony in each. From the 16th to the 19th centuries, it was used in surveys, censuses, etc. The various valuations of Ireland carried out in the 19th century were organized and published by barony. Upon the reorganization of local government in 1898 the barony began to be excluded as an important territorial division. ------------------------------------------------------- There are approximately 62,000 townlands in Ireland, and great variations are evident in towland shapes and sizes because these are related to local topography and farming practices. Anything from five to thirty townlands may be grouped together to form a civil parish. From the 17th century onwards, land was let by landlords on a townland basis, and townland names were recorded in a variety of documents concerning land. The rentals of estates were organized according to townlands. The "Tithe Applotment" books used the townland as their smallest division, and the townland was also used as a distinct unit in the census and valuation books. ------------------------------------------------------ The Poor Law Act of 1838 introduced the Poor Law Union, which consisted of a number of townlands and centered on a market town. A workhouse was built in each market town and the system was financed by a rate collected under the Poor Law Valuation. \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ The PARISH is the last administrative division. The Church of Ireland and the Roman Catholic Church have each had separate parochial structures. \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ At this point in time, the only lead I have on my lineage beginning with Francis FERGUS, is information taken from the "Griffith's Valuation" for several FERGUS' I would look at these administrative divisions in Co Tyrone. Province: Ulster County: Tyrone Barony: Strabane Upper Barony Townland: Cappagh, Faccary, Maine, Rylagh,Turquin Poor Law Union: Omagh Parish: Cappagh, Drumragh Information from "Gracing Your Ancestors in Northern Ireland" by Ian Maxwell crussell@traversecity.com http://www.traverse.net/people/crussell/fergus_family.htm Listowner for DODD-L-request@rootsweb.com and FERGUS-L-request@rootsweb.com