Wednesday, 1 October 2014

New site explores Derry's Plantation and Penal Laws

http://plantationandpenallawsinderry.com
A new website – Plantation and Penal Laws in Derry – has been launched to encourage learning and understanding of the history of the city of Derry-Londonderry from the beginning of the Plantation of Ulster through to the implementation of strict Penal Laws against Catholics and Dissenters in the late 17th century.

It's been designed as an educational resource for school students by the Gasyard Heritage Trust and is supported by the Ministerial Advisory Group – (MAG) Ulster-Scots Academy. Never mind the school curriculum, it will provide good context for any family history researcher with connections from the area!

In addition to well-presented history lessons, you'll find details of the records held by the First Derry Presbyterian Church. These archives relate primarily to 19th- and 20th-century baptism, marriage and burial registers but also include extensive Communicant Rolls, Church, Communicant and Session Minutes which provide insight into the members of the church and the daily work of the church during that period.

There are also very extensive lists and links to academic resources for further exploration, and a good look at emigration across the Atlantic. It's an attractive and easy to navigate site. Worth investigating.

(Thanks to the Presbyterian Historical Society of Ireland for the tip-off.)