Seeking for help for Ireland archives
I have a member of my ward who has a Paternal Grandfather as a Robert Topping (L5XD-PVD). He was married to a Margaret-Jane Young (LL4B-M2R). Margaret has a few sources and we have her parents identified. However, Robert only now has 1 sources and it was one I added just tonight. I noticed he is listed on one of his children's wedding documents.
I did just now find this grave index:
I don't think those death dates line up as Robert would have to have lived nearly 100 years old. His wife was born 1902.
I'm posting here hoping I can receive some help/tips related to how I can search archives in Ireland to try to get:
- Sources on Robert (birth and confirmed death date).
- Information on his parents. Currently have nothing.
I have now learned about the fire in Ireland that destroyed many records as well as this (Per AI). While there are no Irish census records for the 1920s due to the political unrest during the Irish War of Independence and Civil War, the next census taken in Ireland after this period was in 1926. Therefore, if you're looking for Irish census records from the 20s and 30s, the only available option would be the 1926 census
I suppose I need to obtain access to that Census in 1926 to see if I can find Robert and Margaret and then their children. Any tips how to can obtain that Census to search it?
Thx.
TKH
Comments
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There is a 100-year rule in place that restricts the release of the 1926 Census until 2026.
Read about it here:0 -
Hello @Trevor K Hanson
The destruction of records in 1922 didn't impact any Irish birth, marriage or death records, which are all intact and available online.
Your starting position with Robert Topping (L5XD-PVD) is to work back from what you know. The first step is to get his and Margaret Young's marriage record. That will show the name of Robert's father, likely Robert's age and his residential address at the date of the marriage.
The couple married in Northern Ireland after Irish independence was granted in 1921, so their marriage record is held by GRONI (General Record Office of Northern Ireland) in Belfast. geni.nidirect.gov.uk
There are only two people with the name Robert Topping married in the years before their first child that you have listed. The second of these shows that Robert and Margaret married in Belfast on 25th December 1923. You can visit the GRONI site and purchase a full copy of this marriage certificate, if I recall correctly the cost is 2 pounds.
When you have the name of Robert's father, you should be able to find his birth record in irishgenealogy.ie
All Birth, Marriage and Death records held there are available at zero cost. Assuming he was born in Belfast, I would suggest he is one of the five Robert Topping's shown below. Knowing the name of his father will clarify which one is your Robert.
One general recommendation I would make is to try in be as precise as possible in the information you have. For example, in your question above and in her birth details in her FamilySearch page, you have stated that Margaret Young's birth date was 1902. In fact, her birth date is 15th January 1903 as shown in the birth record already attached in her Memories section in FamilySearch. Having this exact date in her FamilySearch page will greatly improve the ability of the FamilySearch site to recommend to you records and documents of interest.
Similarly with the spelling of names. The more accurate you can be with these as shown on records you already have, the more likely you will receive good recommendations on further records of potential interest.
You asked about census data. The 1901 and 1911 Irish Census data is complete and fully published by the Irish Government. You will be able to find lots of people you are interested in in these census data sets. Here again, precision brings great benefits. From the birth records you have already found there is exact address detail of the families at the date of the birth, this includes street name and house number. The census records for 1901 and 1911 can be compared to these birth addresses to verify you have found the correct census record. I see there is census source records attached to some of the people in your family, however, the addresses have been entered incorrectly, in some cases locating them in the wrong county.
Working to iron out these small detail issues should greatly improve the experience you have in FamilySearch and deliver to you more significant records for your attention.
Please don't hesitate to ask if there are things I have not been clear on, or you have more questions or need further guidance.
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