Griffith's [Tenement] Valuation Databases

Griffith's [Tenement ]Valuation Databases

I have created two databases:

one covering all of the baronies in Co. Londonderry [34,145 entries];
one covering the baronies of Cary, Dunluce Lower & Upper, Kilconway, Glenarm Lower & Upper, Antrim Lower & Upper and Toome Lower & Upper in North and Mid Antrim [33,645 entries].

Note that these databases are simply indexes to names and places within the printed valuation books. If the exact same name appears a number of times in a townland it is only included once in the database. You will have to look at the actual books for more detail on each person named in a townland or street, or indeed if there is more than one John Houston listed in the townland or street. The actual pages relating to a street or townland will tell you whether the person was a landholder or a cottier, how much land he or she held and where the property was located within the townland or street. Note also that the same person could be holding land in more than one townland or street. All of this information will usually help you decide if the two or three John Houstons listed in a townland or street are three different people or in fact the same person. The printed volumes can be accessed at PRONI, Belfast, or at public libraries, or, free on the Internet at askaboutireland.ie [Griffith's Valuation].

Note also that the entries within both the Excel and PDF versions of each database are sorted by standardised surname, barony, parish and townland or street. There are also columns in each database indicating the Poor Law Union and DED in which each townland was located. The DEDs given in the databases are those which were listed in the c.1860 printed books. In most cases these are the same DEDs that are used in the 1901 and 1911 Censuses, thus making it easier to compare the census and the valuation. However, there is one exception. In Co. Londonderry the DEDs given for the City of Londonderry and the Waterside are changed after the County Council Act of 1898. In the City the Wards were changed and on the Waterside the DEDs of Waterside and Glendermot were renamed Waterside Urban and Waterside Rural. For more information on this see my CD Researching Derry and Londonderry Ancestors.

The key feature of this style of database is that it will be easier, particularly in the Excel version, to identify where particular surnames are concentrated within the general area covered by the two databases. Also the Excel version will allow you filter out particular baronies, parishes, etc.

Despite my best efforts it is unlikely that these databases will be 100% accurate. If you notice any spelling mistakes of surnames or townlands, or omissions of names or townlands please contact me through the Contact me link at the bottom of the Home Page.