| Genealogy Research Service Ireland by Bruce Chandler |
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Tithes Tithes were a tax on land, payable by all tenant occupiers. The proceeds were used to sustain the established protestant church although there is evidence that catholics had a say at protestant vestry meetings on how money was spent. After much dissent by the majority cathloic population to this unfair tax, the government replaced tithes with rates on land, which new system came in the existence in 1852 - The Griffith Valuation. The genealogy obtained from tithes is that they show first and surname of the occupier, listed alphabetically in individual townlands within a parish. They are the earliest complete picture of land occupancy in Ireland. They provide detail of acreage with occupiers' land divided by quality, better land attracting a higher tithe. It is not possible to work out where each holding was within a townland. For this we have to wait until Griffith Valuation, where maps showed exactly where each holding was.
First Step Guide to using Tithes Tithe records for year 1826 are available on microfilm in National Archives. Sometimes they can be for years slighly later. |