Search Index Of Irish Wills 1484-1858

This index only includes records at the National Archives of Ireland in Dublin. It also only includes records where there is a surviving document, like an original will, administration or grant of probate, a certified copy, a transcripts, or even abstracts and extracts. This means there is more information to be found on the original records. The index only deals with surviving records up to 1858 when the testamentary system was removed from Church control, and taken

over by civil authorities.

This index only includes records at the National Archives of Ireland in Dublin. It also only includes records where there is a surviving document, like an original will, administration or grant of probate, a certified copy, a transcripts, or even abstracts and extracts.

This means there is more information to be found on the original records. The index only deals with surviving records up to 1858 when the testamentary system was removed from Church control, and taken over by civil authorities.

Card Catalogues:

• Several NAI catalogues and lists were used in compiling this index, as well as two significant contemporary indexes, as follows:
• Testamentary
• Charitable Donations and Bequests Will Extracts
• Crossle Abstracts
• Jennings Abstracts
• Thrift Abstracts

Contemporary Indexes:

• Inland Revenue Administration Registers 1828-1839
• Inland Revenue Will Registers 1828-1839
• Users should consult the explanations of NAI Reference Numbers to find out more about what collections are dealt with in these finding aids.

What types of documents are listed?

There are several types of documents indexed here. Most are wills or other testamentary records (wills, probate, administrations, etc.), but around 10% are not. Marriage licences/bonds and miscellaneous genealogical abstracts make up the majority of these additional records. This material was often included in the NAI testamentary card catalogues because it was genealogically useful, and we saw no good reason to leave them out!

The most common records are:

• Type
• Explanation
• Will

55% the documents listed in this dataset are wills. A will is a legal document drawn up to determine the inheritance of a person's property after their death.

Grant of Probate

Wills had to be proved (authenticated) in court before they came into effect. This happened in the relevant Diocesan Court, except when a testator owned property worth more than £5 in more than one diocese. In those cases it was dealt with in the Prerogative Court in Dublin. Once a will was proved, the courts issued a grant of probate. Around 6% of these records are Grants of Probate.

Administration

If there was no will, or the will could not be proved, the courts would grant an Administration on an estate.

Marriage License Bond/Grant

Marriage licences were generally only requested by those who had property, or desired privacy from the publication of Banns. Banns were a public notice of an intended marriage in order to inform those who

may have known of an impediment to lodge an objection.

Please consult our detailed list of the various types of documents to find out more.

What information is included in this index?

For every entry in the dataset there is an original document worth looking at. This original record is at the NAI and can be requested by using the NAI Reference number. Alternatively a copy can be ordered online.

Each index entry contains:

• name of the person leaving a will, or being covered by a grant of probate or administration, or the principal party for another record.
• their address
• sometimes their occupation
• the place where the document was proved (i.e. a diocesan or the Prerogative court).
• the names of the executors for almost half the entries, along with their addresses.

This index includes all the information recorded in the NAI catalogues and lists.

Acknowledgements & Credits

With special thanks to the Archivists and Staff at the National Archives of Ireland