REGISTRY OF DEEDs: DUBLIN: ABSTRACTS OF WILLS The Irish Registry of Deeds was created in 1708, any deed not registered was considered null and void. Wills registered replace some of those destroyed in the Public Records office in 1922. The wills and deeds held at the Registry office were abstracted and transcribed by P. Beryl Eustace and resulted in publication of three volumes titled Registry of Deeds, Dublin: Abstracts of Wills: Vol. 1: covering those or 1708-1745 Vol II: 1746-1785 Vol III: 1786-mid 1800's (exact date ??) In order to find the wills for the first volume alone it was necessary to read through the two entire Index of grantors series covering references to over 83,000 recorded deeds of all kinds! Wills are recorded at the Registry of Deeds in one of three ways: Full: one which was registered in the testator's own words. Narrate: recorded in the third person singular. In these wills relationships may be difficult to follow. Precis: theoretically short , but not always. The will/deed may also be referred to as the 'Memorial' All three forms usually have the name and address of the testator, the witnesses - those who signed and sealed the memorial. Transcripts may be seen at the Registry of Deeds in Dublin on payment of a fee. 18th century transcripts are on vellum, thereafter on vellum or good parchment, they are bound in large heavy books. Original memorials signed and sealed are stored in a fireproof vault. The abstracts for these volumes were made in most cases from the transcripts, any doubtful entries were checked against the original memorials. Abstracts are number in chronological order of registration, following the name and address of the testator and his occupation - if mentioned. After the date of signing comes the type and length of the memorial, plus the date of registration. All dates in volume I follow the Old Style official year which began on the 25th of March. The relatives are listed next as they are described by the testator. As mentioned wills written in third person (narrative) can be difficult to follow as to relationships. Following the relations come the names and addresses of all other legatees, trustees, executors and any outstanding legacy of general interest. Bequests to churches are included. The lands listed by the testator are then listed and the name and address of any tenants mentioned. The names of Grantors are always mentioned in those instances where it is not exactly clear where the land was located therefore, a search under the names of these grantors in the names index of Grantors in the Registry of Deeds may show more information. These are then followed by the names of Witnesses to the signing of the memorial, followed by the names of those who witness the registration of the memorial after the testators death. The number given at the end of each memorial is that of the Book, page and memorial and a certified copy of the will from which the abstract was made can be obtained if this number is quoted to the Registrar of Deeds in Dublin.