Tuesday 5 November 2013

Petty Sessions collection at 17.5m records – and counting

FindMyPast.ie has released another big batch of Petty Sessions Court Records 1828-1912. This batch held another 2.3million entries and, as well as topping up the online record count for six courts, it introduced some 40 new courts in 13 counties around Ireland.

These are the Petty Sessions Courts represented in this latest release:

Cavan: Bailieborough, Ballyjamesduff, Kilnaleck, Mountnugent, Mullagh, Virginia
Clare: Ennistymon, Tulla
Cork: Castlemartyr, Youghal
Donegal: Ramleton
Dublin: Balbriggan, Arran,
Galway: Derrynea, Galway, Moycullen, Oranmore, Oughterard, Portumna
Kildare: Clane, Curragh, Kildare, Kilmeague, Naas, Newbridge, Newbridge TC, Robertstown
Kilkenny: Freshford
Laois: Rathdowney
Mayo: Westport
Meath: Athboy, Crossakiel, Georges Cross Navan, Kells, Navan, Slane
Offaly: Clara, Philipstown
Waterford: Ardmore, Callaghane, Clashmore, Waterford City (inc Police Court & St Patrick's Hall)
Wexford: Duncormick, Taghmon

As you can see, one of the new Kildare courts is The Curragh, which should prove a real boon to family historians with military ancestors as it has been an army base since 1855.

When the digitisation work began on the National Archives of Ireland's Petty Sessions Court collection, it was estimated that the registers held somewhere between twelve and fifteen million entries. This has proved to be an under-estimation. With a seriously impressive 17.5million records already online, there's still more to come! Another big tranche of 2.5million records is expected later this month, wtih one last tranche waiting in the wings for the grande finale.

Find out more about the Irish Petty Sessions Court Order Books.