This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: elwynsoutter1 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.britisles.ireland.tyr.general/7433.1.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Statutory birth recording didn't start in Ireland till 1864 so you won't find birth certificates for your family. You might find their baptisms. However there's no central index and you really need to know which parish they came from. Looking at the 1901 census for Co. Tyrone, there are 28 people in it named Spence (not all of whom were born in Tyrone though). All are Church of Ireland (ie Episcopalian) so that's a strong hint that yours might have been that denomination too. If you have no other clues, all you could do is work thorough the church of Ireland parish records for Co Tyrone, starting perhaps with those where there were Tyrone born Spence sin 1901. You can also use Griffiths Valuation as a means to identify parishes with Spences residing there in the 1860s. (There are about 12 listed, across about 5 parishes). http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/search/ http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/index.xml Unfortunately some early Church of Ireland records were destroyed in a fire in Dublin in 1922, and so not all parishes may have records for the years you are interested in. Few Church of Ireland records are on-line. However most for Tyrone have been copied and are on microfilm in PRONI, Belfast. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.