Someone on the County Tyrone list just asked a quesion about the Griffith's Valuation and the Tithe Applotment Books and I posted my response, as it is a question I had asked myself. Here is what I have found thus far. For those on the other side of the "Pond" the Tithe Books are in the National Archives for the Republic of Ireland and at PRONI for Northern Ireland, as well as photostat copies at the National Archives and microfilm copies at the National Library. For Griffith's, the articles I have read state that they are in major libraries and record offices. Since the 1851 census did not survive, the Griffith's Valuation takes on some genealogical significance. Here is what I posted. ________________________________________________ I, also, do research at the local LDS Family History Center. Now, our center has the index on microfiche for both Griffith's Valuation and Tithe Applotment Books. It behooves you to check out the index first, as this will give you the microfilm numbers you need. There is a URL online which tells the various Baronies, Civil Parish, Poor Law Unions, etc. for each town/townland. For example, I have family information stating that my ROGERS and MORRISON came from Emyvale. So, I looked this up online (after people directed me there) (There is also Lewis' Topographical Dictionary of Townlands.....) So, when I find Emyvale, it gives the Civil Parish as Donagh, the Barony as Trough, the Poor Law Union as Monaghan. Using the microfiche, (it is set up by counties), I find Monaghan and then the Civil Parish of Donagh. (which Emyvale is under) This index then gives me the LDS microfilm # for both the Tithe Applotment and the Griffith's Evaluation and tells me what years are covered for each. Of course, I wanted to learn the value of using each of these and what they are, so did some sleuthing. Using the LDS Research Outline on Ireland, and also information online, entitled "Quick Guide to Irish Genealogical Research," I found the following. (I will just highlight important facts.) TITHE APPLOTMENT BOOKS "The Composition Act of 1823 specified that tithes due to the Established Church, the Church of Ireland, which had hitherto been payable in kind, should now be paid in money. As a result, it was necessary to carry out a valuation of the entire country, civil parish by civil parish, to determine how much would be payable by each *landholder.* This was done over the ensuing 15 years, up to the abolition of the tithes in 1838." That was a direct quote. Now just summarizing. This act was resented by those not members of the Church of Ireland; the tax was not payable on *all* land; the exemptions produced inequalities. Example: In Munster, tithes were payable on potato patches, but not on grassland. Exemptions also mean that the Tithe Books are not comprehensive.- they are not a *full* list of householders. They are the only country-wide survey for the time period and are valuable because the heaviest burden of tithes fell on the poorest.(Few records survive for the very poor.) Genealogical value: townland name, landholder's name, area of land, and tithes payable. One can only speculate as to relationships, since they are not given. GRIFFITH's VALUATION "In order to produce the accurate information necessary for local taxation the Tenement Act of 1842 provided for a uniform valuation of property in Ireland, to be based on the productive capacity of land and the potential rent of buildings. The man appointed Commissioner of Valuation was Richard Griffith, a Dublin geologist, and the results of his great survey, the Primary Valuation of Ireland, was published between 1848 and 1864. The Valuation is arranged by 1)County; 2) Barony; 3) Poor Law Union; 4)Civil Parish, and 5) Townland. It lists every landholder and every householder in Ireland. The particulars given are: 1) Name of the person from whom the property was leased (immediate lessor); 2) Description of the property; 3) Acreage; 4) Valuation. - similar to USA tax lists of the 1700s." Useful family information may be obtained in areas where a certain surname was common. For example: John REILLY(James) means son of James and John REILLY(Michael) means son of Michael. Hope this helps a little. ------- End of forwarded message ------- Regards, Donna Ristenbatt ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ der@redrose.net Visit: ON THE TRAIL OF OUR ANCESTORS http://www.ristenbatt.com/genealogy