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A Brief Introduction to Tracing Your Roscommon Ancestors Online. There are three main websites to use, to try and trace your ancestors in County Roscommon, depending on the time frame.
With a timescale that includes the 1800’s up to the 1950’s, try the website: http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html#start - You may need to try different areas, perhaps you ancestor will not be found under Roscommon, but perhaps Castlerea, or Killenvoy. Also, be aware the name may have been spelled in its Latin form.
The next step is to look for them on Griffith Valuation: http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/index.xml - You can search by Townland, if you know where the family originates from, or by family name. Once you have found your ancestor, use the original page view to find the map reference, and then open the map using the new window option. You can then use the slider to go onto a present day satellite image, personally I would open another tab, and use Google earth to zoom in, and if the house appears to be still standing, then use Google Street view, if it coveres that part of Roscommon.
For information on your family on the 1901/1911 census, go to; http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/search/ This will give your ancestors house details and anyone visiting them on census night in 1901 and 1911. The 1911 census, will also list the number of years married, so it should be possible to apply for a marriage certificate based on this.
The census also lists any outbuildings that were with the dwelling which may help in indentifying it and the number of windows at the front of the house. You might need to check the other houses in the townland, to mark them off and narrow down the search for your ancestors.
An invaluable website is the Ordnance Survey Ireland site: http://maps.osi.ie/publicviewer - You can toggle between the 6” map, 25” map and modern maps to identify where you ancestors lived, married and where buried.
The Valuation Office is also a good place to find out more about your ancestral home. Note: Fees apply. http://www.valoff.ie/Research.htm
Good luck with your search. K. Snow 2011. |