Thanks. Can you tell me where I can find records of births in Longford around 1800, and also any census's? Regards, Brenda -----Original Message----- From: irl-longford-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:irl-longford-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Gareth & Michelle Thomas Sent: 19 March 2008 18:32 To: irl-longford@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [IRL-LONGFORD] Census question It could mean either, Longford is a very small county within Eire, so it is best to check further if at all possible. Regards Gareth -----Original Message----- From: irl-longford-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:irl-longford-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Bren Sent: 19 March 2008 18:26 To: IRL-LONGFORD@rootsweb.com Subject: [IRL-LONGFORD] Census question I have a general question that hopefully all those that know about Ireland better than I do will be able to answer! One of my ancestors listed his birth place on the England 1861 census as "Ireland, Longford". What I would like to know is does this mean the town of Longford or is it more likely to mean the county? Thanks for your help. Brenda No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.519 / Virus Database: 269.21.7/1335 - Release Date: 19/03/2008 09:54 ********************************** Longford Genealogy Website: http://www.rootsweb.com/~irllog/ ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to IRL-LONGFORD-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ********************************** Longford Genealogy Website: http://www.rootsweb.com/~irllog/ ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to IRL-LONGFORD-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.519 / Virus Database: 269.21.7/1335 - Release Date: 19/03/2008 09:54 No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.519 / Virus Database: 269.21.7/1335 - Release Date: 19/03/2008 09:54

Hi Brenda, Many of the older records no longer exist. To answer your earlier question about whether your relative was referring to Longford the town or county, it is difficult to say. From what I have found over the years, is that immigrants usually listed the largest town closest to their own townland. My Grandfather Smith was born in 1858 in Brackloon, Swinford, County Mayo, but yet he told his children he was from Swinford. My Grandfather Dowdall (born 1884) from County Derry was very precise and made his children learn his address - Ballygruby, Moneymore, County Derry, Irleand. What are the names you are researching? The names can be checked against the Griffith's Valuation Index to see what area they came from, hopefully it isn't a name that is located throughout County Longford. "Irish Records", by James Ryan lists each county and what records are available for that county. For church records he divides the information by religions and then lists the years the records are available and where they are located. Some church records are available through the National Library and the LDS Family History Center, while others are still under local control. It is intereseting that David was able to obtain church records from the 1780s and 1790s because in Ryan's book for the Civil Parish of Abbeylara he states the earliest marriage records are from 1855 and for births it is 1822. Previously I thought the information regarding the dates of the records were accurate but David's information gives us hope that if we check the individual parish church we just might get lucky. Most of the census records along with many other irreplaceable records were destroyed in the Four Courts explosion and fire in 1922. The Griffith's Valuation is not a census but is used as a substitute for the mid 1800s. The earliest census is Pender's 1659 Census but it doesn't list everyone. There are various other records for various areas of Longford. The 1796 Spinning Wheel Premium List doesn't list the townlands but the parish. All those who planted 1 acre or more of Flax was given a spinning wheel. The list tells how many spinning wheels the family was given (it was determined by how many acres of flax was planted). Hopefully with the surname it can be determined which parish your relative came from. Beannachtai, Margaret (Máiread) ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bren" <bren@sussexbythesea.demon.co.uk> To: <irl-longford@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, March 20, 2008 3:00 AM Subject: Re: [IRL-LONGFORD] Census question > Thanks. Can you tell me where I can find records of births in Longford > around 1800, and also any census's? > > Brenda > > I have a general question that hopefully all those that know about Ireland > better than I do will be able to answer! One of my ancestors listed his > birth place on the England 1861 census as "Ireland, Longford". What I > would > like to know is does this mean the town of Longford or is it more likely > to > mean the county? Thanks for your help. > >