More than 8,000 Irish seamen recorded in the registers of the Dreadnought Seamen's Hospital in Greenwich

I found the time over the weekend to rummage around in the Dreadnought Seamen's Hospital Admissions and Discharges, 1826-1930, collection, released online last week by Ancestry. 

The Dreadnought was originally a hulk moored in the Thames at Greenwich as a hospital for seamen. It was run by the Seamen's Hospital Society, and  I wanted to look through the register collection because this was where one of my grandmother's sisters, Hester, trained as a nurse and died of cardiac arrest in 1926, just 26 years old, during an operation to remove her appendix.

Sure enough I found Hester in the registers. There were three entries over an 18-month period. The details tallied with information gleaned from a newspaper report of the inquest into her death, so didn't really tell me anything new except that the first time she sought medical help for the lower abdominal pain she was experiencing, she was diagnosed with dyspepsia. This was 18 months prior to her death.

In addition to the medical details, her home address in Bagenalstown, Co Carlow was noted only in that first entry, but all three entries recorded her religion, occupation, age, and the name of her doctor.

Where there was a surprise, however, was the number of Irishmen in the registers. Of the 221,114 entries in the collection, more than 8,400 relate to Irish-born seamen. The level of identifying personal information varies over the 100+ years that the registers cover, but if you have seafaring ancestors, you may be lucky enough to place an ancestor in these records.

The image above provides a sample of the information in the index; the registers themselves fill in the colour: how long the seaman had been at sea either in the navy or the merchant service, rank, height, name of the last ship they served on and the port it sailed from, the nature of their medical complaint, and how and when they were treated.

Update, 15 November: The Ancestry Blog carries useful background into the Seafarers' Hospital and its records, here.

Galway 1917: Social Conditions & Political Change, conference

Click for booking details and full schedule

Organised by Loughrea Memorial Group in partnership with Galway County Council, a day conference – Galway 1917: Social Conditions & Political Change – will be held at the Loughrea Hotel & Spa on Thursday 16 November.

Six lectures, briefly noted below, will be presented during the day. An exhibition relating to the Connaught Rangers who were killed in 1917 in France and Flanders will be on display, and there will be a number of books for sale relating to the social and political change in Ireland during this period.

Tickets cost €10 and include tea/coffee and a light lunch.

The lectures:

 A state of desolation – poverty and living conditions in Co. Galway in the decade before independence, with Conor McNamara

'No local industry shall be disturbed' – life and work in Galway in 1917, with John Cunningham

 Sources in Galway County Council Archives – reflecting social conditions and political change in 1917, with Patria McWalter

Irish policemen and the First World War, with Jim Herlihy

A typical Irish parish in the Great War, with Ger O’Meara 

What it says in the papers – local news in Co. Galway over the course of 1917, with Steve Dolan

IrishGenealogy.ie adds more free historical birth, marriage and death records

Over the last couple of hours, IrishGenealogy.ie has been uploading another instalment of civil registration records, complete with images of birth, marriage and (possibly) death registers.

The upload is taking its time, and I can't say exactly what its final make-up will be, but so far I can confirm that the 1916 births (the rolling year from 100 years ago) are available, and the index + register image of marriages from 1869/1870 to 1881 seem to be going live in steady fashion (the 1882-1940 records were already fully online). For my own family, I can see register images of marriages in Cork, Tipperary and Wicklow for those dates.

I'm getting mixed results for death records, with either no results appearing if I narrow down my search, or loads of results with no images for pre 1890. Possibly the death records will go live later. For deaths, the 1891 to 1965 index + register images are already online, so it's the pre-1891 and the 1966 updates we're hoping for.

I'm sorry I haven't got time to do an indepth analysis right now. I'm in a hospital with my mother this afternoon, so this will have to wait until I have more time, which may be a day or so. (She gets priority!)

In the meantime, I'm sure you can all go hunting for yourself! Have fun!

Update, 16 November: See blogpost.

Irish Newspaper Archives revises subscription prices

Irish Newspaper Archives, the family-run, Dublin-based online newspaper database, has reduced the cost of its monthly and annual subscription packages.

This is not a special, short-term discounted price; it's a revision of standard prices going forward.

The new tariff is as follows:

• Monthly subscription now €29.
  
• Annual subscription now €149.00

It's worth noting that the revised cost of the annual package equates to a monthly fee of €12.41.

If you take out a subscription before 17 November you can take advantage of a 20% discount, too. See yesterday's blogpost about a new addition to the database, which now holds 75 historical newspaper titles.

Subscriptions can be paid in your preferred currency:   Euros  |  US Dollar  |  GB Pound

New landing page for Ancestry's global Catholic records

Ancestry has created a dedicated landing and search page for its Catholic record collections from around the globe.

You can search the entire collection and then, on the results page, filter your search to specific record sets (if you want to).

Researchers can still access each of the individual collections from the Card Catalogue, should they prefer.

Irish genealogy and history events, 13-26 November

Monday 13 November: NLI Reading Room and Manuscript Room closed. Venue: National Library of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2. On-going Monday closures are to facilitate extensive redevelopment of the premises. All other services/exhibitons/cafe, including Genealogy Advisory Service operating as normal. Details.

Monday 13 November: Queen Victoria’s Gene, with Jenny Cummings. Host: North of Ireland Family History Society, Newtownabbey Branch. Venue: Drama Theatre, Glengormley High School, 134 Ballyclare Road, Newtownabbey, BT36 5HP. Free. 7pm. All welcome.

Monday 13 November: Sexuality in 18th-century Ireland:  Matchmaking, abductions, patterns, wake games and Merriman – a hidden Ireland revealed, with Dr David Fleming. Host: Venue: Scariff Public Library, Mountshannon Road, Scariff, Co. Clare. 7:30pm. Free. All welcome.

Tuesday 14 November: Emigration to Australia and New Zealand, a workshop with Michael McKeag. Host: North of Ireland Family History Society. Venue: NIFHS Research Centre, Unit C4, Valley Business Centre, 67 Church Road, Newtownabbey, Co Antrim. 2-4pm. All welcome. £7 – payable at the session. Need to book. See details.

Tuesday 14 November: IrishGenealogy.ie – a national treasure, with Tadhg O'Shea. Host: Genealogical Society of Ireland (GSI). Venue: Dun Laoghaire Further Education Institute, Cumberland Street, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin. 8pm. €3 donation. All welcome.

Tuesday 14 November: Education records, with Valerie Adams. North of Ireland Family History Society, Lisburn Branch. Venue: The Bridge Community Centre, 50 Railway Street, Lisburn, BT28 1XP. 7:30pm. Free. All welcome.

Tuesday 14 November: The Advantages of Y-DNA, with Martin McDowell. Host: North of Ireland Family History Society. Venue: NIFHS Research Centre, Unit C4, Valley Business Centre, 67 Church Road, Newtownabbey, Co Antrim. 7-9pm. All welcome. £7 – payable at the session. Need to book. See details.

Tuesday 14 November: The Sheriff's Tale, with Brian Coleman. Host: More Tales of Medieval Dublin lecture series. Venue: Wood Quay Venue, Dublin City Council, Civic Offices, Wood Quay, Dublin 8. 1:05–1:55pm. Free. All welcome.

Tuesday 14 November: The characters & history of Shankill graveyard, with Jim Conway. Host: Craigavon Historical Society. Venue: Craigavon Civic Centre, 66 Lakeview Rd, Craigavon, Co Armagh BT64 1A. 7:45pm to 9pm. Free. All welcome.

Wednesday 15 November: Making sense of the censuses, Tony Hennessy MAGI. Host and venue: Medieval Museum in Waterford's Viking Triangle, The Mall, Waterford City. All welcome. 1:15pm to 2pm. €5 admission on the door. No booking required.

Wednesday 15 November: How to break down brick walls, with Martin McDowell. Host: North of Ireland Family History Society, North Armagh branch. Venue: Bleary Community Centre, 1 Deans Road, Bleary, Craigavon, Co Armagh, BT66 7AS. 7:30pm. All welcome. Free.

Wednesday 15 November: Cattle plague in Ireland: An early medieval game-changer, with Patrick O’Reilly. Host: Carlow Historical Society. Venue: Tullow Community School, Templeowen, Tullow, Co. Carlow. 8pm. Free. All welcome. Details.

Thursday 16 November: Galway 2017: Social conditions and political change, a conference. Hosts: Galway County Council Heritage dept; Loughrea Memorial Group. Venue: Loughrea Hotel & Spa, 7 Athenry Rd, St. Laurencesfields, Loughrea, Co. Galway. 9:30am to 5pm. Tickets €10 includes tea/coffee and lunch. Programme and booking details.

Friday 17 November: Atlas of the Irish Revolution - West Cork examined, with Donal Ó Drisceoil. Host: Michael Collins House. Venue: Clonakilty Parish Centre, Western Rd, Maulnaskehy, Clonakilty, Co. Cork. 7:30pm. Free. All welcome.

Friday 17 November: Irish Parish records, with Rhona Murray, and Combining DNA & Traditional Research Methods, with Eamon Healy. Hosts: Liverpool & South West Lancashire Family History Society, Liverpool Central Library and Ancestry UK. Venue: Central Library, 4th Floor Meeting Room, William Brown St., Liverpool 3, UK. 2pm–5pm. Tickets £5.90, includes refreshments. Tickets.

Saturday 18 November: Genealogy workshop, with Lynn Brady. Host and venue: Glasnevin Cemetery Museum, Finglas Rd, Dublin 11. Tickets €5. 2pm. All welcome. SOLD OUT.

Saturday 18 November: Researching Irish ancestors on the Internet, with Ann Eccles. Host: Irish Genealogical Society International. Venue: Celtic Junction Arts Center, 836 Prior Ave N, St Paul, MN, USA. $15 for IGSI members, $20 for non-members. 10:30am. Details.

Monday 20 November: NLI Reading Room and Manuscript Room closed. Venue: National Library of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2. On-going Monday closures are to facilitate extensive redevelopment of the premises. All other services/exhibitons/cafe, including Genealogy Advisory Service operating as normal. Details.

Monday 20 November: Genealogy and family history advice service, with Margaret Bonar and Betty Craven. Host and venue: Donaghmede Library, Shopping Centre, Grange Road, Dublin 13, or Raheny Library, if preferred. All welcome but you need to book by phone: 087 6491605. Free.

Monday 20 November: Guided tour of St. Columb’s Cathedral, with Ian Bartlett. Host: North of Ireland Family History Society, Foyle branch. Venue: Lecture Room of Derry City’s Central Library, 35 Foyle Street, Londonderry, BT48 6AL. 7pm. Free. All welcome.

Monday 20 November: What's in a name? with Kathleen Morrison. Host: North of Ireland Family History Society, Larne branch. Venue: Larne Bowling & Lawn Tennis Club, 112-120 Glenarm Road, Larne, BT40 1DZ. 7:30pm. Free. All welcome.

Tuesday 21 November: Sacred and Profane: Church art and architecture in Cork City, with Dr Ann Wilson. Signs and Symbols in Urban Cork lecture series. Host: City Library, Grand Parade, Cork City. 7pm. Free. All welcome. No booking required.

Tuesday 21 November: Poverty and the poor in pre-Famine Tipperary, with Dr Laurence Geary. Host: Tipperary People & Places Lecture Series. Venue: Tipperary Studies, The Source, Cathedral Street, Thurles, Co Tipperary. 7:30pm. Admission free. Tea served. All welcome. More details studies@tipperarycoco.ie.

Wednesday 22 November: The Registered Papers of the Chief Secretery of Ireland, their use in history and genealogy, and the updated online catalogue (1818-1830, with Vera Moynes. Host and venue: National Archives of Ireland, Bishop Street, Dublin 8. Free. 6pm. CANCELLED - will be rescheduled for 2018.

Wednesday 22 November: Birth, Baptism, Marriage & Death, with Tony Hennessy MAGI. Host and venue: Medieval Museum in Waterford's Viking Triangle, The Mall, Waterford City. All welcome. 1:15pm to 2pm. €5 admission on the door. No booking required.

Wednesday 22 November: Cork City and County Archives, with Brian McGee. Host: Bishopstown Historical Society. Venue: Bishopstown Library, Sarsfield Road, Wilton, Cork City. All welcome. 11:30am–12:30pm.

Friday 24 November: The sinkings of the Waterford steamers Coningbeg and Formby and the Great War off the Irish coast, with Dr Edward Bourke. Host: Waterford Archaeological & Historical Society. Venue: St Patrick's Gateway Centre, Patrick Street, Waterford City. 8pm. Members free / Non-members €5. All welcome.

Saturday 25 November: Coffin ships, orphan boys and the Lazaretto Point Lighthouse, with Luke McCusker. Host and venue: Irish Railroad Workers Museum, 918-920 Lemmon St, Baltimore, Maryland 21223, USA. 11:30–12:30 EST. All welcome. Free. Details.

Saturday 25 November: Genealogy workshop, with Lynn Brady. Host and venue: Glasnevin Cemetery Museum, Finglas Rd, Dublin 11. Tickets €5. 2pm. All welcome. SOLD OUT

Saturday 25 November: Archives of the Fenian Rising - 150 years on, a half-day seminar with panel discussion chaired by Tim Pat Coogan. Host and venue: National Archives of Ireland, Bishop Street, Dublin 8. Presented as part of the Explore Your Archive campaign. 10am to 1pm. All welcome. Free, but reserving a place is essential.

Saturday 25 November: Local history day. Host: DCL&A. Venue: Conference Room, Dublin City Library & Archive, 138-144 Pearse Street, Dublin 2. Talks include: The 1867 Bray Head Train Derailment, with James Scannell; The Rebel Liberties, with Liz Gillis; Tom Ashe, with Frank Whearity; The Civil War in Dublin, with John Dorney; and The history of Keogh Square, with Liam O'Meara. Host and venue: Dublin City Library & Archive. 9.45am to 2.15pm. Tea/coffee will be served. Free. All welcome. No booking required.

Waterford News & Star joins Irish Newspaper Archives

Dublin-based Irish Newspaper Archives has added the Waterford News & Star to its database.

Editions published 1848-1979 have joined the
Irish Newspaper Archives database. More recent
editions will follow in the new year.

The editions now available online span 1848 to 1979, providing researchers with 169 years of insight into events in Waterford and its neighbouring counties (Tipperary, Kilkenny, Wexford and Cork) and national happenings.

Editions published from 1980 to 1999 will join the database in mid-January.

The paper, founded by Cornelius P Redmond, first appeared on 22 September 1848 (you can download a free pdf copy of page of the launch edition here). It was the first journal published in Waterford and positioned itself as a paper for all people.

To mark the upload of historical editions of this important regional paper, which is still published in Waterford, the Irish Newspaper Archives is offering a 20% discount on its monthly and annual subscription rates.

To take advantage of the 20% saving, which will expire on 17 November, visit the Subscribe page for your preferred currency –  US$   |  Euro  |  GB£  – choose the monthly or annual subscription, and use the Coupon Code WFNS20 at checkout.

50% off Ancestry.com subscriptions: for one day only

To mark Veterans' Day, Ancestry.com is offering 50% discounts on its subscriptions, as follows:

Offer has expired

U.S. Discovery
Gives access to 15billion records from 50 states.
Normally $19.99 for one month or $99 for 6 months.  Today only, $9.99 for a month or $49 for 6 months.

World Explorer
Access to all US, UK, Irish and international records – 20 billion records.
Normally $34.99 a month or $149 for 6 months. Today only, $17.49 for a month or $74 for 6 months.

All Access
Provides access to all the very best on Ancestry, Fold3, Newspapers.com Basic, and more.
Standard prices are $44.99 for one-month and $199 for 6 months. Today only, $22.49 for a month or $99 for 6 months.

I'm not entirely clear whether this discount offer is aimed at new subscribers or existing/upgrading subscribers (I've seen messages saying both, depending on whether I'm signed in or not). It's probably both, which would mean you'd get a refund for the outstanding portion of any existing subscription. At this size of discount, it's worth checking out the terms and conditions that would apply in your case.

Do it quickly, though. Half price discounts from Ancestry are as rare as hens' teeth, and you don't have long to take action: the offer ends tonight at 11:59pm ET / 4:59am Dublin-London.

This offer has now expired.

Free access to Ancestry UK military records 10-13 Nov

Includes 84 record collections and 18 'web' indexes

Ancestry is opening up its 'UK' Military Records collection for a long weekend of free access.

Don't be put off by the UK in the name of the collection. Included are Irish, Canadian and Australian record sets. You can see the full list of 84 record collections and 18 'web' collections (the latter being indexes which link to third party databases) here, and there's a sample of some of the most useful ones below.

To take advantage of the free access you need a registered account. This is free and easy to set up with just your name and an email address. Ancestry then sends you a password, and off you go!

The free access period will expire on Monday 13 November at 11:59pm (UK & Irish time).

Some of the collections available free this weekend:

ANZAC Memorial, 1914-1918
British Army WWI Pension Records 1914-1920
British Army WWI Service Records, 1914-1920
Canada, British Army and Canadian Militia Muster Rolls and Pay Lists, 1795-1850
Ireland, Royal Hospital Kilmainham Pensioner Discharge Documents, 1724-1924
Ireland, Royal Irish Constabulary Pensions, 1873-1925
British Army Muster Books and Pay Lists, 1812-1817
Casualties of the Boer War, 1899-1902
UK, Military Campaign Medal and Award Rolls, 1793-1949
UK, Military Deserters, 1812-1927
Royal Hospital Chelsea Pensioner Admissions and Discharges, 1715-1925
Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services, 1848-1939
UK, Shipping and Seamen WWI and WWII Rolls of Honour, 1914-1945
UK, WWI Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920
UK, WWI War Diaries (France, Belgium and Germany), 1914-1920
UK, WWI War Diaries (Gallipoli and Dardanelles), 1914-1916
UK, WWII Civil Defence Gallantry Awards, 1940-1949
Web: Ireland, Military Service Pension Index, 1916-1923
Web: Ireland, National Army Census, 1922 Free
Web: Ireland, Wills of Irish Soldiers Who Died in the British Army, 1897-1922 Free

Finding Aid created for St Patrick's Cathedral records

To mark the 350th anniversary of the birth of Jonathan Swift,the RCB Library Archive of the Month for November highlights some aspects of the Muniments of St Patrick's Cathedral collection which relate to Swift's tenure as Dean of St Patrick's from 1713 until his death in 1745.

Jonathan Swift, dean of St Patrick's Cathedral,
Dublin, 1713-1745, was born in the city's
St Werburgh parish on 30 November 1667.

The collection (RCB Library C2/) was transferred to the library in 1995 and has been organised into nine distinct groups of records: Volumes; Deeds; Maps; Plans & Drawings; Loose Papers; Photographs; Printed Materials, Seals and Music.

As part of the Archive of the Month exhibition, an extensive hand-list or finding aid to the collection has been published online for free download by researchers who may wish to consult its rich and varied materials.

The Volumes group – comprising more than 300 items – is the most likely to reward family historians. It includes the Register of Baptisms, Marriages and Burials (RCBL C2.1.15) which contains baptisms 1677–1868, marriages 1708–1840, burials 1687–1869 and intermittent confirmations from the 18th and 19th centuries. This register has been published with an index and is available for purchase here.

Beyond the registers are Board Minute Books dating from 1872, Account books from the early C18th, Attendance Books of the choir (clergy, choristers and organists) 1856-1976, Preacher Books 1805-1878 and Registers of Vestrymen 1870-1980, and much more, including a good number of miscellaneous one-off documents, letters, memorials and accounts.