Public Record Office of Northern Ireland
By Gov.uk - nidirect.gov.uk, OGL 3, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=67503033
The Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) is the equivalent of the National Archives of Ireland and you will find lots of great genealogical treasure in their iconic and, by all accounts, well resourced and wonderfully staffed building in the Titanic Quarter of Belfast.
There are a number of valuable record sets that have been published online from this archive, including Will Calendars and Griffith's Valuation Revision Books. Other valuable records can be consulted in person including school records and estate papers.
Name Search is a useful feature based upon a simple database of names taken from wills and religious censuses. I recommend that you take the time to read about what is included before diving in to the database so as to manage your expectations.
If you want to research in the parish registers for the northern counties, you will need to consult "A Guide to Church Records". This is a comprehensive catalogue of not only the majority of the Church of Ireland record collections, but also those for the many dissenting churches (Methodist, Presbyterian etc.) However, note that these holdings are not just limited to modern day Northern Ireland - they have Church of Ireland records for many parishes in neighbouring counties of the Republic, which came under the same dioceses, and the Methodist records in particular extend much further afield. Viewing the parish registers currently has to be done in person I'm afraid and you may need to book to do so - see the website for more up to date details.
As ever, be sure to have a good rummage through their online catalogue with a selection of choice keywords and phrases as you never know what might turn up.
There is quite a sophisticated PRONI Maps Viewer feature with multiple map layers that you will probably need to take some time to learn to play with. Before doing that, it might be an idea to browse the structured information accessible via their Geographical Index page to get your bearings.
One unique document you can search online is the Ulster Covenant, signed by over half a million men and women in the second decade of the 20th century opposing home rule for Ireland.
There are a number of valuable record sets that have been published online from this archive, including Will Calendars and Griffith's Valuation Revision Books. Other valuable records can be consulted in person including school records and estate papers.
Name Search is a useful feature based upon a simple database of names taken from wills and religious censuses. I recommend that you take the time to read about what is included before diving in to the database so as to manage your expectations.
If you want to research in the parish registers for the northern counties, you will need to consult "A Guide to Church Records". This is a comprehensive catalogue of not only the majority of the Church of Ireland record collections, but also those for the many dissenting churches (Methodist, Presbyterian etc.) However, note that these holdings are not just limited to modern day Northern Ireland - they have Church of Ireland records for many parishes in neighbouring counties of the Republic, which came under the same dioceses, and the Methodist records in particular extend much further afield. Viewing the parish registers currently has to be done in person I'm afraid and you may need to book to do so - see the website for more up to date details.
As ever, be sure to have a good rummage through their online catalogue with a selection of choice keywords and phrases as you never know what might turn up.
There is quite a sophisticated PRONI Maps Viewer feature with multiple map layers that you will probably need to take some time to learn to play with. Before doing that, it might be an idea to browse the structured information accessible via their Geographical Index page to get your bearings.
One unique document you can search online is the Ulster Covenant, signed by over half a million men and women in the second decade of the 20th century opposing home rule for Ireland.
(c) Irish Geneaography - 2020
