Ireland

Family tradition has held that an ancestor named Michael Buckley lived in Ireland in a large castle with many servants. You recently learned that Michael was from the Parish of Templecorran in the County of Antrim. Using this information, locate Michael on the "Valuation of Tenements" from Griffith's Valuation site and answer these questions:

1. Is the family tradition correct?
2. What information can be learned from this document?
3. Why might a document like this be useful when researching ancestors?

1. Open the Ask About Ireland site mentioned above.
2. In step 1 and 2 on the new page, enter Michael's full name and the county he is from (Antrim).
3. Click the largest page icon to select the top record that fits the given criteria for Michael.
4. Find Michael on the list and read across the page to gather the information in question.

1. The family tradition is likely incorrect: according to this record, Michael lived in a house with a small garden.
2. From this document, we can learn the amount of land held and the lessor of the land (and whom our ancestor might have had connections with).
3. Documents like these are useful for building connections between our ancestors and the others they worked around, and for gaining a greater understanding of the quality and style of living held by our ancestors.
   (Contributed by Kaylee Lynn)

William John Higgins is the main research subject for a project you are working on. We know he was a grocer, but little is known about his family. Use the "Will Registers, 1858-1900" link above to find his will from 1889, and then answer these questions:

1. What family connections can you build around William?
2. What other people does he mention?
3. What was his religion?

1. Click "Will Registers, 1858-1900" mentioned above.
2. On the right side, use "Click here to search."
3. Select "Will" next to "Document Type," and enter the year of the will along with William's full name.
4. Select the record that fits the criteria.
5. Look down the page until you see the "1" link and click it to open the image.
Read through the will to answer the questions about William.

1. William mentions first cousins Mary Ogrady, Bridget Ogrady, Sarah Ogrady, Margaret Ogrady, and John Ogrady. Another "cousin" is mentioned by the name of Jane O'meara.
2. William works with John oDonnell and Thomas Curry, and executors for the will are Reverend Maurice Sheehan and John Feehan.
3. John's religion was Roman Catholic.
   (Contributed by Kaylee Lynn)

• * Good: Using the articles and videos in this Choice, write down key learnings for probate records and wills. Then use the learnings for searches for an ancestor.
• * Proficient: Same as above, for two or more ancestors.