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County Offaly (Kings)

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"King's county, a county of Ireland, bounded N by E. and W. Meath, E by Kilkenny and Queen's county, S by Tipperary, and W by Galway; 43 . long and 39 broad, containing 707 square miles. More than 1/3 of the county is occupied by bogs and mountains; the soil of the arable lands is very fertile, and consists either of a deep moor, or a shallow gravely loam. Principal rivers, the Shannon, Little Brosna, and Greater Brosna. It sends 2 members to parliament. Pop. 132,319. Chief town, Phillip's town." 
[From The New London Gazetteer (1826)]

"KING'S COUNTY, an inland county in the province of Leinster, Ireland, bounded on the N. by Westmeath, S. by Queen's County and Tipperary, E. by Meath and Kildare, and W. by Tipperary, Galway, and Roscommon. Its greatest length E. and W. is 45 miles, and greatest breadth N. and S. 39 miles. It comprises an area of 772 square miles, and contains a population by the census of 1861 of 90,043, against 112,080 in 1851, being a decrease of 22,037 in the decennial period. At the very dawn of Irish history this county formed part of the territory called Hy Falgia, including Meath, Westmeath, Dublin, and Kildare. ................ For purposes of civil jurisdiction it is divided into the 12 baronies of Ballyhoy, Ballybritt, Ballycowan, Clonlisk, Coolestown, Eglish, Garrycastle, Geashill, Kilcoursey, Lower and Upper Philipstown, and Warrenstown. It contains 51 parishes, including part of the borough and market town of Portarlington; the market and assize town of Tullamore-population in 1861, 4,791; the corporate towns of Philipstown, or Birr, with a population of 5,220, and Banagher; and the post towns of Parsonstown, Clara, Edenderry, and Frankford. ....More
[Extract from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868)] Transcribed by Colin Hinson ©2018]

"KING'S, a county, of the province of LEINSTER, bounded on the east by the county of Kildare; on the north, by that of Westmeath, and a small portion of Meath; on the west by those of Tipperary, Galway, and Roscommon, from the two latter of which it is separated by the Shannon, and on the south by the Queen's county and Tipperary. It extends from 52° 48' to 53° 24' (N. Lat.), and from 7° 0' to 8° 0' (W. Lon.); comprising an area, according to the Ordnance survey, of 528,166 acres, of which 394,569 are cultivated land, 133,349 unprofitable mountain and bog, and 248 are under water. The population, in 1821, amounted to 131,088, and in 1831, to 144,225. ...More 
[Transcription from A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland - Samuel Lewis - 1837 Mel Lockie ©2013]

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Archives & Libraries

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Cemeteries

  • Offaly (Kings) County, Ireland Records (inc. memorials) - on IGP
  • Offaly Headstone Photos - on IGP
  • Offaly (Kings) Memorial Cards - on IGP
  • Offaly Burial Grounds Survey 2015.
  • County Offaly Cemetery Records - on interment.net
  • County Offaly Memorial Inscriptions on the Find A Grave website
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Census

  • National Censuses/Substitutes - on fianna
  • 1911 Census - Co Offaly (King's) FHLC numbers - on fianna
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Churches

Places of worship (and places of burial) are listed on the page for the civil parish in which they are/were located, where there are links to pages showing more information for each individual site.

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Church History

Offaly (Kings) Photos - on IGP

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Church Records

  • Offaly (Kings) Church Records - on IGP
  • Offaly(King's County) Roman Catholic records - on Irish Ancestors
  • Church of Ireland Records, dates, locations - on fianna
  • Roman Catholic Records, dates, locations - on fianna
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Civil Registration

Offaly (Kings) Vital Records - on IGP

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Description & Travel

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Directories

Offaly (King's Co.) Directory Records - on IGP

Directories, list - on fianna

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Gazetteers

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Genealogy

  • The Ireland Genealogy Project's County Offaly (Kings) page, and its listing of the Project's available Offaly Records.
  • The Irish Ancestors website (subscription) has the following types of records: State Registration of Births, Marriages & Deaths, Census returns, Land records, Church records, Genealogical Office records, Gravestone inscriptions, Directories, Newspapers, Wills, Deeds, and Occupations.
  • Irish Ancestors' extensive County Offaly (Kings) website.
  • The LDS FamilySearch Wiki's Ireland Online Genealogy Records.
  • The Fianna website's pages for County Offaly (King's Co.) provide important addresses and extensive information about online and other genealogy resources.
  • Roots Ireland (subscription) "offers access to a unique database of more than 20 million Irish records". Its Offaly (Kings) coverage includes Baptismal/Birth Records, Marriage Records, Burial/Death Records, Gravestone Inscriptions, Griffith's Valuation (Free Access), and Census Substitutes.
  • Miscellaneous Records for county Offaly - on fianna
  • Offaly History (Offaly Heritage Centre)
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Historical Geography

Offaly civil parishes - on Irish Ancestors

See the county Offaly page on logainm.ie which has links to its civil parish pages

    "The Placenames Database of Ireland was created by Fiontar & Scoil na Gaeilge in collaboration with The Placenames Branch (Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht). This is a comprehensive management system for data, archival records and placenames research conducted by the State. It is a public resource for Irish people at home and abroad, and for all those who appreciate the rich heritage of Irish placenames."

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History

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Land & Property

Names of the Birr Tenants who took leases from Sir Laurence Parsons - 1620 - on IGP

List of Landowners 1870's - on IGP

Offaly (Kings) Land Records - on IGP

Names of those whose property was destroyed in the war of 1690 (Birr) - on IGP

Evictions - Kings County September 22, 1849 - on IGP

Griffiths Valuation 1847/64 on the Ask about Ireland site. Use the search box to bring up entries showing Barony/Parish/Townlands and lists of Occupants

Tithe Applotment Books for county Offaly (KIngs) and its  parishes are available online on the National Archives of Ireland website (free).

  • The Tithe Applotment Books were compiled between 1823 and 1838 as a survey of land in each civil parish to determine the payment of tithes (a religious tax). Unlike Griffith's Valuation they do not cover cities or towns.
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Military Records

Offaly (Kings) Military & Constabulary Records (Irish Constabulary with native county of Kings 1840+) - on IGP

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Monumental Inscriptions

  • Memorial Inscriptions - on fianna
  • Offaly (Kings) County, Ireland Records (inc. memorials) - on IGP
  • Offaly Headstone Photos - on IGP
  • Offaly (Kings) Memorial Cards - on IGP
  • County Offaly Cemetery Records - on interment.net
  • County Offaly Memorial Inscriptions on the Find A Grave website
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Names, Personal

Surnames found in Kings Co 1100 thru 1600 - on IGP

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Newspapers

From the Dublin Journal 1st Aug.1747. For King's County - on IGP

Offaly Express

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Obituaries

Offaly Obituaries - on IGP

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Occupations

“The chief produce of the county is wheat and potatoes, but barley, oats, turnips, clover, flax, &c., are also cultivated. Much care has recently been bestowed in improving the various breeds of cattle. The bullocks of Ballybritt are large, and are used for field work. The horses are in general well-bred, light, and active, and are reared in great numbers for the neighbouring fairs‘   [Description from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868)] Transcribed by Colin Hinson ©2018]

“The only manufactures are for home consumption, comprising coarse woollens, friezes, linen, and stuffs. Spinning was formerly carried on to a great extent, and the women arereckoned very industrious. There are numerous flour-mills and distilleries.‘ [Description from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868)] Transcribed by Colin Hinson ©2018]

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Poor Houses, Poor Law

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Probate Records

Irish Times May 17, 1859. Probate Michael MAUNSEL  - on IGP

Offaly (Kings) Wills - on IGP

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Social Life & Customs

“The social condition of the poor is capable of much amelioration. The houses of the small farmers, and the cabins of the peasants, are mean, dirty, and poor, and their food is potatoes, milk, and oatmeal. They are illiterate, but with a wish for education.‘ [Description from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868)] Transcribed by Colin Hinson ©2018]