IGRS launches 1799 census of Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary

The Irish Genealogical Research Society is launching a new online database: a census – or statistical survey – of the County Tipperary town of Carrick-on-Suir. It was compiled in 1799 and notes vital biographical details about the town’s entire population; people from all walks of life, both Catholic and Protestant, numbering just under 11,000.

Nick Reddan FIGRS created the database

The census was compiled by Lieutenant-Colonel William Morton Pitt of the Dorset Militia, a member of parliament at Westminster who represented Dorset constituencies from 1780 to 1826. Pitt was assisted in compiling the census by local men Francis White and Patrick Lynch.

Its purpose isn’t clear, but it seems likely to be connected with Pitt’s unsuccessful attempt to gain preferment as a commissioner of the Irish union from his relative and namesake, William Pitt, the Prime Minister.

The original manuscript is now held by the British Library, London. Arranged by street, it comprises data on 1,738 homes and 10,907 individuals.

Australia-based Nick Reddan, a Fellow of the Society and its webmaster, transcribed the manuscript and created the database, which records the names of inhabitants, their sex, age, occupation, religion, address and marital status. To view a sample entry, click the image below.

A sample from the 1799 census. Click image for enlarged view

Launching the new resource, IGRS chairman Steven Smyrl said: "Gems like the 1799 census substitute for the town of Carrick-on-Suir are rarities that need to be carefully preserved and given the widest possible public exposure. Pitt’s manuscript is unusual for being so extensive and this has proved to be the reason it has taken until now to put it in the public domain.

“Nick Reddan’s careful work in transcribing this material has ensured it will now, finally, be easily accessible online to answer queries regarding the lives of the people of Carrick-on-Suir living over 200 years ago.”

The Society acknowledges with thanks the kind permission of the British Library to publish the data contained in the Pitt manuscript.

Search the database here:

Full Database – Members only.
Surname Count – Free to all.