This was posted to another list and I thought it might be of interest. ---------------Original Message--------------- Taken from PRONI : Your Family Tree 5 The first properly organised census in Ireland commenced in 1821, and, thereafter, with some exceptions, a census was taken every ten years. Unfortunately, most of the 1841 - 1891 returns were pulped into waste paper during the First World War or were destroyed later during the Irish Civil War. However, returns for a small number of parishes have survived; 1821 This census was organised by townland, civil parish, barony and county and took place on 28 May 1821. Almost all the original returns were destroyed in 1922, with only a few volumes surviving for Co Fermanagh PRONI Reference Number MIC 5A and MIC 15A. 1831 Once again this census was organised by townland, civil parish, barony and county. It also includes the name, age, occupation and religion of the occupants. Very little of this census survives, with most remaining fragments relating to Co Londonderry: MIC 5A/6 Barony of Coleraine; MIC 5A/6 & 7 City of Londonderry; MIC 5A/8 Barony of Loughlinsholin; MIC 5A/9 Barony of Tirkeeran. 1841 The government census, taken on 6 June 1841, followed the same general pattern as that of 1831, however, the returns were compiled by the householders themselves rather than government enumerators. Unfortunately, no part, of the census for Northern Ireland has survived. However, the 1841 census was the earliest to be of use when the Old Age Pensions were introduced in the early twentieth century, and copies of the household returns from 1851 were sometimes used as proof of age. The forms detailing the results of the searches have survived and are available PRONI Reference Number T.550. There are some individual returns in MIC 15A. 1851 Taken on 30 March 1851, this government census added a column for religious affiliation. Most of the surviving returns relate to Co Antrim. The comments above on transcripts of the 1841 census above also apply to 1851. PRONI Reference Number MIC 5A/11-26. There are also individual census returns for various parts of the Province in MIC 15A. 1861, 1871, 1881 & 1891 The census records for 1861 to 1891 were destroyed by order of the government during the First World War. Nothing survives for the Northern Ireland area. See Your Family Tree 6 : Census Substitutes. Alex Hughes >from Ayrshire, Scotland Searching for Duncan,Bruce,Kilpatrick,Campbell,Fairley,Milne,McKechan, Jamphray,Strathern,Kelso,Smith & Auld in Scotland Searching for Hughes, Graham, McCutcheon, Donaghy, Irvine, Dorian, Kelley & Black in Ireland ----------End of Original Message----------