Parish Registers – Baptisms, Marriages & Burials, & Other Records, Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) (Ireland)

Nature of Source

Quakers were known for their methodical and thorough record keeping with records of births, marriages and deaths kept in a organised manner. Instead of parish registers typical of other denominations, Quaker births, marriages and deaths were initially recorded at local weekly meetings. These local meetings reported the events to larger regional monthly meetings, which then compiled and entered the information into official registers. Importantly, Quakers did not practice baptism so kept birth records only.

Until 1869, the established church in Ireland was the Anglican Church of Ireland, a Protestant denomination. The Irish Church Act passed in 1869 (implemented in 1871) disestablished the Church of Ireland as the state church. During the 19th century, about 85 percent of the Irish population was Roman Catholic, roughly 10 percent belonged to various nonconformist denominations including Quakers, with only about 5 per cent Protestant (mainly Church of Ireland).

Roman Catholic and Church of Ireland parishes often had distinct names and covered different geographical areas. Use Lewis’ Topographical Dictionary to locate and identify a particular parish which is available online at Library Ireland. Additionally, John Grenham’s Irish Placenames provides a summary of research sources available for a particular parish including church records.

Where Found

Quakers in Ireland
Friends Historical Library Dublin. The library holds an extensive archival and book collection documenting Quaker life in Ireland since the 17th century. The library holdings include:

• Births, marriages, and deaths recorded at monthly meetings from the late 1600s onward.
• Burial registers and obituaries, including the ‘Annual Monitor of the Quakers for Great Britain & Ireland’ (1813-1918).
• Minutes of various Quaker meetings and committees from the 17th century and other congregational records.
• Pedigrees and family lists, including collections like the Webb Collection.
• Collections of letters, diaries and photographs.
• Books by and about Quakerism dating from the 17th century.
• Wills read out at monthly meetings and recorded in the Society’s Minutes.
• Migration records when members moved between meetings.
• Migration lists (e.g., to North America in the 1680s).

Public Record Office of Northern Ireland
PRONI holds copies of Quaker records within Northern Ireland including Quaker Monthly Meeting registers for births, marriages and deaths from the late 1600s to 1859, Quaker marriage certificates and Provincial or Quarterly Meeting minutes.

The National Library of Ireland
The National Library of Ireland, located in Dublin, holds mainly microfilm copies of Irish Quaker records held at the Friends Historical Library Dublin.

Period Covered

1860 – Onwards

Genealogical Value

Birth Records

• Name of child
• Sex
• Date and place of birth
• Resident parish
• Names and residences of parents
• Parents’ occupations
• Book and page of original record
• Name(s) of witnesses

Marriage Records

• Name, occupation and residence of bride and groom
• Names, residences and occupations of parents (for both parties)
• Date and place of marriage
• Meeting and description
• Marriage certificate
• List of witnesses
• Book and page of original record

Death Records

• Name of deceased
• Date and place of death and burial
• Age, description (son or daughter of) and parents’ names
• Residence of the deceased
• Book and page of the original record

Further References

Quaker Specific

• Besse, Joseph & Michael Gandy (ed). Sufferings of Early Quakers. Ireland, Scotland and Wales: Including Monmouthshire & Shropshire, 1653 to 1691: Sessions Book Trust, 2003 (1753)
• Burn, John Southerden. The History of Parish Registers in England: Also of the Registers of Scotland, Ireland, the East and West Indies: J.R. Smith, 1862 (Available to view online or download at the Internet Archive. Also available to buy on CD at GenFair)
• Butler, David. The Quaker Meeting Houses of Ireland: Irish Friends Historical Committee, 2004
• Farrar, Henry. Irish Marriages: Being an Index to the Marriages in Walker’s Hibernian Magazine, 1771 to 1812: Genealogical Publishing Company, 2001 (1897) (Details all the marriage entries in Walker’s Hibernian Magazine 1771-1812 plus appendix by Sir Arthur Vicars of the births, deaths and marriages recorded in the magazine Anthologia Hibernica 1793-94)
• Goodbody, Olive C. Guide to Irish Quaker records, 1654-1860: With Contributions on Northern Ireland records by B. G. Hutton: The Stationery Office, Dublin, 1967. (Available to download from the Irish Manuscripts Commission)
• Grundy, Joan. A Dictionary of Medical & Related Terms for the Family Historian: Swansong Publications, 2006
• Mitchell, Brian. A Guide to Irish Parish Registers: Genealogical Publishing Company, 2009 (Limited preview at Google Books)
• Mitchell, Brian. A Guide to Irish Churches and Graveyards: Genealogical Publishing Co, 2010
• Quaker Annual Monitor for 1849 or Obituary of the Members of the Society of Friends in Great Britain and Ireland. Various editions available at the Internet Archive and the HathiTrust)
• Reid, Noel (ed). A Table of Church of Ireland Parochial Records and Copies: Irish Family History Society, 1994
• Ryan, James G. Irish Church Records: Their History, Availability and Use in Family and Local History Research: Flyleaf Press, 2001 (The book contains chapters by experts on the records of the eight major Irish churches including: Roman Catholic, Church of Ireland, Presbyterian, Methodist, Quaker, Huguenot, Jewish and Baptist)
• Smyrl, Steven. Dictionary of Dublin Dissent-Dublin’s Protestant Dissenting Meeting Houses 1660-1920: A & A Farmar, 2009
• Wright, Thomas. A History of the Rise and Progress of the People called Quakers in Ireland, from the year 1653-1751: Jackson, 1751. (Various editions available at the Internet Archive)

Family History Guides

• Adolph, Anthony. Collins Tracing Your Irish Family History: HarperCollins, 2007
• Begley, Donal. Handbook on Irish Genealogy: How to Trace Your Ancestors and Relatives: Heraldic Artists, 1984
• Connell, Gretta. Tracing Your Westmeath Ancestors: Flyleaf Press, 2012
• Corrigan, Mario & Durney, James & Kiely, Karel. Tracing your Kildare Ancestors: Flyleaf Press, 2014
• Davis, Bill. Irish Ancestry – A Beginner’s Guide: FFHS, 2001
• Falley, Margaret Dickson. Irish and Scottish-Irish Ancestral Research: GPC, 1981 (1962)
• Franklin, Margaret. Tracing your Limerick Ancestors: Flyleaf Press, 2011
• Grenham, John. Irish Ancestors, A Pocket Guide to Your Family History: Gill & Macmillan, 2004
• Grenham, John. Tracing Your Irish Ancestors: Gill & Macmillan, 2011
• Hamrock, John. Tracing your Roscommon Ancestors: Flyleaf Press, 2007
• Kinealy, Christine. Tracing Your Irish Roots: Appletree Press, 2009
• McCarthy, Tony. The Irish Roots Guide. Dublin: The Lilliput Press, 1991
• McCarthy, Tony & Cadogan, Tim. Tracing Your Cork Ancestors: Flyleaf Press, 2011
• Maxwell, Ian. Tracing Your Ancestors in Northern Ireland: A Guide to Ancestry Research in the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland: Stationery Office, 1997
• Maxwell, Ian. Researching Armagh Ancestors: A Practical Guide for the Family and Local Historian: Ulster Historical Foundation, 2000
• Maxwell, Ian. Researching Down Ancestors: A Practical Guide for the Family and Local Historian: Ulster Historical Foundation, 2000
• Maxwell, Ian. How To Trace Your Irish Ancestors: How To Books, 2009
• Maxwell, Ian. Your Irish Ancestors: A Guide for Family Historians: Pen and Sword, 2008
• Maxwell, Ian. Tracing Your Northern Irish Ancestors: A Guide for Family Historians: Pen and Sword, 2010
• Meehan, Helen & Duffy, Godfrey. Tracing Your Donegal Ancestors: Flyleaf Press, 2008
• Mitchell, Brian. A New Genealogical Atlas of Ireland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 2009
• Mitchell, Brian. Basic Guide to Irish Records for Family History: Clearfield Company, 2009
• Mitchell, Brian. Tracing Derry-Londonderry Roots: Clearfield Company, 2014
• Mitchell, Brian. NEW Pocket Guide to Irish Genealogy Paperback: Clearfield, 2020
• O’Connor, Michael H. Tracing your Kerry Ancestors: Flyleaf Press, 1994
• O’Dowd, Peadar. Tracing your Galway Ancestors: Flyleaf Press, 2010
• Ouimette, David. Finding Your Irish Ancestors: A Beginner’s Guide: Ancestry.com, 2005
• Paton, Chris. Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet: A Guide For Family Historians: Pen & Sword Books, 2013
• Prochaska, Alice, Irish History from 1700: A Guide to Sources in the Public Record Office: British Records Association, 1986
• Raymond, Stuart. Irish Family History on the Web: The Family History Partnership, 2007
• Roulston, William. Researching Scots-Irish Ancestors: The Essential Genealogical Guide to Early Modern Ulster, 1600-1800: Ulster Historical Foundation, 2005
• Ryan, James. Irish Records: Sources for Family & Local History: Flyleaf Press, 1997
• Ryan, James & Smith, Brian. Tracing Your Dublin Ancestors: Flyleaf Press, 2009
• Ryan, James. Tracing your Sligo Ancestors: Flyleaf Press, 2012
• Smith, Brian. Tracing your Mayo Ancestors: Flyleaf Press, 2010
• Smith, Brian & Kennedy, Gerry. Tracing Your Clare Ancestors: Flyleaf Press, 2013
• Stewart, Alan. My Ancestor Was Irish: A Guide to Sources for Family Historians: Society of Genealogists, 2012

Other

• Bradshaw’s Railway Map Great Britain and Ireland 1852: Mapseeker Publishing, 2013
• Connolly, S.J. The Oxford Companion to Irish History: Oxford University Press, 2007
• Coogan, Tim, Pat. The Famine Plot: England’s Role in Ireland’s Greatest Tragedy: Palgrave Macmillan, 2013
• Dickson, R.J. Ulster Emigration to Colonial America, 1718-1775: Ulster Historical Foundation, 1976
• Grenham, John. The Little Book of Irish Clans and Tartans: Book Sales, 1995
• Robinson, Philip. Plantation of Ulster: Ulster Historical Foundation, 2000
• Smith, Paul & Turner, Keith. Railway Atlas of Ireland Then & Now: Ian Allan Publishing, 2014

Websites

Irish Genealogy Toolkit
Irish Quakers: family history records.
John Grenham
Irish Church records: Quaker Records.
Quakers in Ireland
Religious Society of Friends. Origins: How the Religious Society of Friends began.
The Quaker Corner
The Quaker Corner is the official repository for the QUAKER-ROOTS discussion group, a very active mailing list with over 1,200 subscribers. Many of them are helpful authorities on doing Quaker research and the Society of Friends, past and present.
Public Record Office of Northern Ireland
Guide to Church Records. This guide is an easy way to identify what churches are in a parish, what records exist for each church, the covering dates for each series of records (for example baptisms) and their PRONI reference number. Denominations included are Church of Ireland, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Non-Subscribing Presbyterian, Reformed Presbyterian, Methodist, Moravian, Congregational, Baptist and Religious Society of Friends’ (Quakers’).
FamilySearch Research Wiki
Ireland Quaker Records.
WikiTree
Irish Quaker sources and resources.
Elizabeth Hodges
Researching Your Quaker Roots in Ireland.
Irish Genealogical Research Society
Start Your Research: Church Records. The guide covers how to use church records for Irish research. It explains the survival and starting dates of church records in Ireland and covers all major denominations in Ireland including Roman Catholic, Church of Ireland (Anglican), Presbyterian, Methodist and other Protestant groups, such as Quakers and Baptists.
Irish Genealogical Research Society
The Society, founded in 1936, is dedicated to promoting the study of Irish genealogy and preserving genealogical materials, particularly those compiled before the loss of many documents in the 1922 Public Record Office fire in Dublin. The Society manages an extensive reference library of printed and manuscript genealogical materials, considered the most important private collection of Irish genealogical resources globally. Details on how to access these materials are available on their website, along with specifics about their contents. The society offers guidance to family historians through its publications and various other resources.
The Churches of Britain and Ireland
The aim of the site is to have at least one photo of every existing church of all religions, denominations and sects in England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islands, and where possible, photos or artwork of churches no longer in existence.
John Grenham
Dublin City Library and Archive Dublin Records: Dublin Graveyards Directory. The directory provides a searchable listing of all graveyards in the Dublin area and gives information on the location, contact details, titles of published gravestone transcripts, links to on-line gravestone transcripts, location of surviving burial records and other information.

Townland Resources
Irish Genealogical Research Society
Index of Townlands, 1901. The site offers access to the Index of Townlands from 1901. The index, published in 1904 by the Commissioners of Census, was created as an aid in processing the returns for the 1901 census of Ireland. The index provides an alphabetical listing of townlands and towns in Ireland, along with various administrative divisions such as parishes and electoral divisions.
Irish Townland and Historical Map Viewer
Tailte Éireann (formerly Ordnance Survey Ireland). The service allows users to view historical and townland boundaries and features for the island of Ireland on interactive maps. Enables fast search and pinpointing of particular Irish townlands, names and boundary features.
The IreAtlas
Townland database. Search of the IreAtlas Townland database. The results of a county or townland search show all the townlands within the requested county together with the barony and parish.
nidirect
Public Record Office of Northern Ireland. In this section you can access lists of townlands arranged in the following different ways by county, by parish, within the estates of major landowners and alphabetically.
Irish Homelands
The website offers a tool for exploring Irish townlands. Users can access a detailed list of townlands and search by parish or county if you’re unsure of the townland name.
John Grenham
Irish Placenames. 1851 General Alphabetical Index to the Townlands and Towns, parishes and Baronies of Ireland. Search the entire Index, together with street listings from Dublin, Cork and Belfast cities, more than 65,000 entries in all.
Irish Genealogy
Family Research 2016: Placenames. This article explains and explores how townlands and parishes got their names with links to useful resources.

Online Databases

Findmypast

• Ireland, Society Of Friends (Quaker) Congregational Records.vThe records comprise minutes from half-yearly Quaker meetings. Each entry will include both an image of the original handwritten record and a transcript.
• Ireland, Society Of Friends (Quaker) Browse. Browse through thousands of records from the Society of Friends (Quakers) in Ireland. The collection includes birth, marriage, burial, and congregational records. The images have been provided by the Ulster Friend Trustees and the Religious Society of Friends in Ireland Archives.
• Ireland, Society Of Friends (Quaker) Births. Discover your Quaker ancestor in these birth records dating back to the mid-1600s.
• Ireland, Society Of Friends (Quaker) Marriages. Discover your Quaker ancestor in these marriage records dating back to the mid-1600s.
• Ireland, Society Of Friends (Quaker) Deaths. Discover your Quaker ancestor in these death records dating back to the mid-1600s.
• Ireland, Society Of Friends (Quaker) Migration Records. Discover where and when your ancestor moved in these migration records from the late 1600s to mid-1900s.
• Ireland, Society Of Friends (Quaker) School Records. You may uncover your ancestor’s birth date, parents’ names, and date of enrollment in these records spanning from the late 1700s to early 1900s.
• Quakers Annual Monitor 1849.

Ancestry

• Quaker Records, Dublin, Abstracts of Wills.
• Quaker and Courtier : the life and work of William Penn.
• US, UK and Ireland, Quaker Published Memorials, 1818-1919. This database contains memorials and obituaries with death dates and other details for prominent members of the Society of Friends (Quakers) from both the U.S. and the UK. The database includes memorials from the Annual Monitor (London), the American Annual Monitor, a series entitled Piety Promoted, and memorials of deceased Friends published by various Yearly Meetings.

Limerick Archives
Religious Society of Friends (Quakers): Limerick Papers. The collection includes records of Quaker Births, Deaths and Marriages; the minutes of the Limerick men’s and women’s Meetings; Record of Suffering 1777-1857; Account Books and Notices of Removals.
Fáilte Romhat
Quaker Records Dublin: Abstracts of Wills, edited by P. Beryl Eustace and Olive C. Goodbody.
Public Record Office of Northern Ireland
Name Search: Datasets include:

• 1740 Protestant Householders Census. Surviving fragments of census of Protestant heads of households relating to the Hearth Tax returns in 1740 in parts of counties Antrim, Armagh, Down, Donegal, Londonderry, and Tyrone.
• 1766 Religious Census Returns Listing of heads of households of Protestant and Roman Catholic families in over 30 parishes in Ulster and other parts of Ireland.
• 1775 Dissenters’ Petitions. Petitions from Protestant dissenters (mainly Presbyterians and Roman Catholics) seeking legal rights from discriminations under Penal Laws.

Irish Genealogical Research Society
Datasets Include:

• Early Irish Birth, Marriage and Death Indexes. The transcribed indexes cover the period 1660 to 1863 for the period before civil registration was fully implemented in Ireland in 1864. The sources used include newspaper announcements, Registry of Deeds in Dublin, Chancery Bill extracts, family bibles, Memorial Inscriptions, military records, old age pension claims and many others.
• Clanchy Marriage Index. Search an extensive Card Index of marriages gleaned from some of the Society’s unique manuscript collection and pedigree files. The index covers the entire island of Ireland.

Dublin Cemeteries Trust
Search fully transcribed and digitised burial registers covering Dublin’s Glasnevin cemetery, the largest nondenominational cemetery in Ireland, opened in 1832. Also covered the cemeteries Goldenbridge, Palmerstown, Dardistown, or Newlands Cross from 1828 to the present day.
Interment.net
Search transcribed entries from the Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin, containing graves of over 1.2 million people. It opened in 1832 and is the largest nondenominational cemetery in Ireland, originally named Prospect Cemetery. More transcripts with headstone photos can be found at the Ireland Genealogy Projects Archives.
Ancestry
Irish Records Index, 1500-1920. This database is an index containing a wide range of Irish historical records held at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. The index includes details such as name, date, residence and item numbers drawn from Farrar’s Index to Irish Marriages 1771-1812 as found in Walker’s Hibernian Magazine, first issued in 1771 and discontinued in 1812, histories, pedigrees, parish registers, probates, and orphan’s court records.

CD Roms