Hello Helen, The Irish Free State (1922-1937) Saorst ireann' was the name of the state comprising the 26 of Ireland's 32 counties which were separated from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland under the Irish Free State Agreement (or Anglo-Irish Treaty) signed by British and Irish Republic representatives in London on December 6, 1921. The Irish Free State came into being in December 1922, replacing two co-existing but nominally rival states, the de jure Southern Ireland, which had been created by the Government of Ireland Act 1920 and which from January 1922 had been governed by a Provisional Government under Michael Collins and the de facto'' Irish Republic under the President of D ireann, Arthur Griffith, which had been created by in 1919. In August 1922, both states in effect merged with the deaths of their leaders; both posts came to be held simultaneously by W.T. Cosgrave. So for your ancestors if they state "Free State" this just means the South of Ireland as opposed to the 6 counties of the North. Although many who came from the North also just documented their place of birth as the Free State. Many continued to refer to the South as the "Free State" well in to the 1990's. +++++++++++++ Fiona http://www.fipacian.com/MinersofMourne.htm -----Original Message----- From: helen ware [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Tuesday, February 08, 2005 9:14 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [LONGFORD] Ireland Free State Does anyone know the meaning of "Ireland Free State" when entered as place of birth on census? My g.g.grandfather was born in County Longford in 1820 and came to USA in 1861.In all U.S. census entries this is how he lists his birthplace. I have noticed others also listed this as place of birth, were there places that weren't free? Helen ==== IRL-LONGFORD Mailing List ==== To find other Irish county web pages visit IGP: http://irelandgenealogyprojects.rootsweb.com

Thank you so much for this information, I will keep it for future reference also. Helen

My great great grandfather, John Creamer, was born around Granard, Co. Longford about 1786, and my great grandfather, William Creamer was born there about 1820. The records we got in the 1950's said only that they were born in the "South of Ireland." David Myers At 07:31 AM 2/8/2005, MInersofMourne wrote: >Hello Helen, > >The Irish Free State (1922-1937) Saorst ireann' was the name of the state >comprising the 26 of Ireland's 32 counties which were separated from the >United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland under the Irish Free State >Agreement (or Anglo-Irish Treaty) signed by British and Irish Republic >representatives in London on December 6, 1921. > > The Irish Free State came into being in December 1922, replacing two >co-existing but nominally rival states, the de jure Southern Ireland, which >had been created by the Government of Ireland Act 1920 and which from >January 1922 had been governed by a Provisional Government under Michael >Collins and the de facto'' Irish Republic under the President of D ireann, >Arthur Griffith, which had been created by in 1919. In August 1922, both >states in effect merged with the deaths of their leaders; both posts came to >be held simultaneously by W.T. Cosgrave. > >So for your ancestors if they state "Free State" this just means the South >of Ireland as opposed to the 6 counties of the North. Although many who >came from the North also just documented their place of birth as the Free >State. Many continued to refer to the South as the "Free State" well in to >the 1990's. > >+++++++++++++ > >Fiona >http://www.fipacian.com/MinersofMourne.htm > >-----Original Message----- >From: helen ware [mailto:[email protected]] >Sent: Tuesday, February 08, 2005 9:14 AM >To: [email protected] >Subject: [LONGFORD] Ireland Free State > >Does anyone know the meaning of "Ireland Free State" when entered as place >of birth on census? >My g.g.grandfather was born in County Longford in 1820 and came to USA in >1861.In all U.S. census entries this is how he lists his birthplace. >I have noticed others also listed this as place of birth, were there places >that weren't free? >Helen > > >==== IRL-LONGFORD Mailing List ==== >To find other Irish county web pages visit IGP: >http://irelandgenealogyprojects.rootsweb.com > > > > >==== IRL-LONGFORD Mailing List ==== >To see the 1901 Longford Census project: >http://www.rootsweb.com/~irllog/census/index.htm