Searching the National Archives of Ireland Testamentary Index
What are these resources?
Following the disastrous PROI fire in 1922, there was, and continue to be, various initiatives to reassemble copies of lost documents. Those that made their way to what is now the National Archives of Ireland were indexed on several card index systems to record particular accessions and collections.
It is important to realise that there was no one card index for everything and the current NAI digital catalogue, which you might reasonably expect to have become the de facto modern index is still very much a "work in progress" / "buggers muddle" (delete as appropriate according to your last personal encounter with it!)
However, one of the most significant card indexes covering testamentary records has been filmed, digitised and can be browsed for free via FamilySearch. You can also then use the information you find in this index to potentially view the actual documents in another related set of digitised microfilms. Let me share my tips and experiences with using these resources.
Following the disastrous PROI fire in 1922, there was, and continue to be, various initiatives to reassemble copies of lost documents. Those that made their way to what is now the National Archives of Ireland were indexed on several card index systems to record particular accessions and collections.
It is important to realise that there was no one card index for everything and the current NAI digital catalogue, which you might reasonably expect to have become the de facto modern index is still very much a "work in progress" / "buggers muddle" (delete as appropriate according to your last personal encounter with it!)
However, one of the most significant card indexes covering testamentary records has been filmed, digitised and can be browsed for free via FamilySearch. You can also then use the information you find in this index to potentially view the actual documents in another related set of digitised microfilms. Let me share my tips and experiences with using these resources.
NAI Testamentary Index Card (Click to enlarge)
How do you query the index?
The Index to Testamentary Records in the Public Record Office, Dublin, 15th-20th Century is a collection of 8 digitised files of images of the card index in alphabetical order. The FamilySearch catalogue entry makes clear that "testamentary" covers a wide range of different types of documents, including wills but also marriages licences and deeds. Each type of record has a particular type of reference code - more on that below. You will have to browse these files as they are not currently indexed anywhere - I wonder if they are on the list awaiting volunteers?
Here is my step-by-step advice to finding treasure in this resource.
The Index to Testamentary Records in the Public Record Office, Dublin, 15th-20th Century is a collection of 8 digitised files of images of the card index in alphabetical order. The FamilySearch catalogue entry makes clear that "testamentary" covers a wide range of different types of documents, including wills but also marriages licences and deeds. Each type of record has a particular type of reference code - more on that below. You will have to browse these files as they are not currently indexed anywhere - I wonder if they are on the list awaiting volunteers?
Here is my step-by-step advice to finding treasure in this resource.
- Make sure that you are logged in to your free FamilySearch account or the files will remain locked.
- Choose the relevant alphabetical index file for your surnames of interest. There are approximately 147k images spread across the 8 files that make up this collection, with most files containing about 20k. I recommend you change the image number in the box at the top left of the screen to "quarter" your way through the file to narrow down the range of image numbers that your chosen surnames might fall within. Then use the forward and backward image arrows to move through the cards.
- Once you locate an entry (that will look like the image to the right), there should be be a reference number, which you will need to note to look for the document online. These references are coded or have abbreviations - the main ones you are probably going to be interested in are,
- "T" followed by a number which references a will.
- "M" followed by a number which generally references a marriage licence or bond.
- "Thrift Abs" (or some variation) refers the Thrift Genealogical Abstracts (See Gertrude Thrift on my Chefs - Irish Genies page.) These do include wills and marriage licences and are currently available online with both the major commercial companies;
- Thrift Genealogical Abstracts (FMP=£)
- Ireland, Abstracts of Wills and Marriages, 1620-1923 (Anc=£) (Betham, Crossle & Thrift Abstracts combined)
NAI Testamentary Document (Click to enlarge)
How do you find any related documents online?
For references beginning with "T" or "M" there is a chance that you will be able to find images of the actual documents in the related FamilySearch resource called Testamentary Documents in the Public Record Office, Dublin. This is a bit of a daunting list of 137 microfilms all labelled with various ranges of T and M numbers, but unfortunately not all of them are covered - there are sizeable gaps and omissions. Most films are available for online access, but bizarrely a few have that annoying little key symbol over the camera icon which means they are only accessible via a FamilySearch Affiliate Library. Choose your film and attempt to find your document.
For references beginning with "T" or "M" there is a chance that you will be able to find images of the actual documents in the related FamilySearch resource called Testamentary Documents in the Public Record Office, Dublin. This is a bit of a daunting list of 137 microfilms all labelled with various ranges of T and M numbers, but unfortunately not all of them are covered - there are sizeable gaps and omissions. Most films are available for online access, but bizarrely a few have that annoying little key symbol over the camera icon which means they are only accessible via a FamilySearch Affiliate Library. Choose your film and attempt to find your document.
- Make sure that you are logged in to your free FamilySearch account and see if the reference number you are looking for is in a file that can be viewed. Note where your reference number comes in the file description.
- Open the file and then it's a case of using your best judgment to quarter through the images or page through carefully to find your document. Be sure to pay attention to any other documents that appear before or after the one you are looking for. In my experience, I have found that there can be a run of documents for related family members - perhaps they all arrived from a solicitor's office and were catalogued one after the other?
- The reference numbers are written on the opening pages of the packet of documents, so you are going to have to squint at those thumbnail images and try to pick out what look like opening pages - they generally have quite a bit of white space evident. In the example to the right, I've circled the "T" number in red to help you get an idea of what you are looking for.
How do you find any related documents that are not online?
If your reference number is not one of those that appears in the collection above, you can still get access to a copy of the document, but you are going to have to order it directly from the National Archives of Ireland via their currently rather antiquated ordering system. Sadly, this is not via a secure online process and the advice on the NAI website is a bit all over the place. There is a prominent page entitled Ordering Certified Copies but as personal researchers what most of us will probably need is a cheaper uncertified copy.
To order one, you need to use the Testamentary Copy Order form, the link to which is buried deep in the text of the Guide to Testamentary Records page, or just use my link in blue above. The fee is quoted in Euros, but I have been advised by the NAI staff that you can also pay with a £Sterling cheque too - you just need to supply some evidence of the exchange rate you have chosen to apply yourself, which is novel. I've yet to give this a go myself, so I'll have to let you know what happens when I do.
If your reference number is not one of those that appears in the collection above, you can still get access to a copy of the document, but you are going to have to order it directly from the National Archives of Ireland via their currently rather antiquated ordering system. Sadly, this is not via a secure online process and the advice on the NAI website is a bit all over the place. There is a prominent page entitled Ordering Certified Copies but as personal researchers what most of us will probably need is a cheaper uncertified copy.
To order one, you need to use the Testamentary Copy Order form, the link to which is buried deep in the text of the Guide to Testamentary Records page, or just use my link in blue above. The fee is quoted in Euros, but I have been advised by the NAI staff that you can also pay with a £Sterling cheque too - you just need to supply some evidence of the exchange rate you have chosen to apply yourself, which is novel. I've yet to give this a go myself, so I'll have to let you know what happens when I do.
Read on...
(c) Irish Geneaography - 2023
