The best way to find out about property in Cork is to look at the films entitled "Registry of Deeds' at the LDS library. They are indexed and cover the period from about 1708 to 1900. They are indexed either for the whole of Ireland in alphabetical order or for each county separately. There was an excellent article about how to use them in the New Zealand Genealogist March 2000 p 87 called "Irish Registry of Deeds an Excellent Source" by Jennifer Miller. I have been using these films at the LDS library ever since that date and have barely scratched the surface of what is there about my family's various properties in Cork. (My family names are Stevelly, Staveley, Jones, Fowler, Knapp and Hodder, all of Cork).

They are mostly lease agreements but always give a full description of the location of the property and the names of the people involved. There are also marriage agreements included which are excellent sources of family names and relationships for putting together family trees. In one case, I found an agreement between two sisters and their husbands over the division of their late father's property dated 1770. (One of the sisters was my 6x great grandmother Sarah Jones) It gave me details of their father's will which I would never have found any other way. As a result of this document I was able to complete the family records for my 7x great grandfather Thomas Jones of Cork. There are no longer any church records available for that period and this was the only way I could have found all this out. For all the people who cannot find their relatives in Cork, I would really recommend this method for tracing them, not only to find out about their property but with the added bonus of family relationships explained. It is slow and tedious, one film at a time thru your branch of the LDS church library. Some films come and don't add much at all, others are simply a goldmine.

If you go to the LDS library to check this out, look at the FHLC on the computer, place: Ireland. Topic: Land and Property. Title: Registry of Deeds. An example Film number is #0100282 surname index 1800 - 1809 for "S". There are thousands of films and can be overwhelming at first. Just work through them slowly until you find what you are looking for. You can also look the film numbers up on the Familysearch website although you will still have to go to the FHC to order and read each film. Although these films can be useful from the point of view of land ownership in Cork, they are also helpful if your ancestor was a renter as the lease agreements always stipulate the leasee as well and give the exact location of the property being rented.

When you look at the list of films on the computer (it is easier to look at them at a FHC computer than on the website at home), note that the Registry of Deeds index comes under 2 categories. The first is called the surname index and includes property from all over Ireland, listed with the surnames in alphabetical order. If you are looking for a leasor (owner), you need to look at this index. The second category of index is the Placename index for each county. These are indexed under leasees. So beware. Check out both indexes. The index will give you a date, Volume number, a page number and a 6 figure agreement number so write those all down. Then go further down the list of films until you find the Volume number of the agreement you need. Double check you have the correct film using the date of the agreement you want.

Quite a few people are getting confused over the FHLC entries for these films. As I said it is much easier to read at the FHC than on the website. But below is the URL you need to get the correct film list. If you are at the FHC computer, you must select IRELAND as your place, even when you want Tipperary or Cork. I have given here a copy of the first 20 entries for 2687 films. On the website they have changed the names of the indexes from 'subject index' to 'grantor index' ie owners but if you go down to about entry 300 on these webpages, you will find 'land index' (called Placename index on the FHLC CD at our FHC). An example of a film is: Land index for Cork and City of Cork 1836 - 1839 Film #100515. If the URL I give does not work for you, go to the FHLC home page and select Film/Fiche search and type in this film number and it will take you directly to it. You can do the same at the FHC computer.

Despite what someone wrote today, this' Land index' or 'placename index' is indexed for grantees (renters) so you do not have to be wealthy land-owning Protestants to be in this index. Anyone who rented property from someone else should be in this index. And both renters and owners and the location of the property are detailed in each document. Often also heirs etc are given as well. Although my family was from this land-owning class, I quite frequently found them renting from someone else and they were in this 2nd index. Also if you know the name of the landlord your family was renting from (from the Griffiths valuation for instance) you can look up the landlords name in the grantors index. You will then find the renters name given in the index with the grantors name so should be able to select the one you want.

Apparently it was not compulsory to register these deeds at the land office and it all depended on whether the people involved believed in lawyers and authorities. Some didnt. But there must be upwards of half a million records on these films and well worth a look, even if your family were renters. In my humble opinion these records are vastly superior to the Griffiths Valuation that people rely on so much. I know it is confusing but persevere and you will soon get familiar with how it all works.

URL: FHL Catalog
Title: Transcripts of memorials of deeds, conveyances and wills,1708-1929
Authors: Ireland. Registry of Deeds (Main Author)
Note Location Film
Grantor index S 1768-1785; T 1708-1785 FHL BRITISH Film 100267
Grantor index U-V, X-Z 1708-1785; W 1708-1758 FHL BRITISH Film 100268
Grantor index W 1758-1785 FHL BRITISH Film 100269
Grantor index A-E 1786-1793 FHL BRITISH Film 100270
Grantor index A 1708-1785; B 1708-1729 FHL BRITISH Film 100251
Grantor index B 1730-1768 FHL BRITISH Film 100252
Grantor index B 1768-1785; C 1608-1745 FHL BRITISH Film 100253
Grantor index C 1746-1785 FHL BRITISH Film 100254
Grantor index D 1708-1785 FHL BRITISH Film 100255
Grantor index E 1708-1785 FHL BRITISH Film 100256
Grantor index F 1708-1785 FHL BRITISH Film 100257
Grantor index G 1708-1785 FHL BRITISH Film 100258
Grantor index H 1708-1785 FHL BRITISH Film 100259
Grantor index I-J 1708-1785; K 1708-1768 FHL BRITISH Film 100260
Grantor index K 1768-1785; L 1708-1785; M 1708-1729 FHL BRITISH Film 100261
Grantor index M 1730-1768 FHL BRITISH Film 100262
Grantor index M 1767-1785; N 1708-1785 FHL BRITISH Film 100263
Grantor index O 1708-1785; P 1708-1768 FHL BRITISH Film 100264
Grantor index P 1769-1785; Q 1708-1785; R 1708-1776 FHL BRITISH Film 100265
Grantor index R 1777-1785; S 1708-1768 FHL BRITISH Film 100266
Numbers 1-20 of 2687 film notes

PS I dont know what this is but it is not the films that I have been talking about:
Ireland : registry of deeds, surname and county index 1708-1904, register of contents
Authors: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Genealogical Department. Library Division (Main Author)
Note Location
Film
Ireland FHL BRITISH Film
599270 Item 3
Kae Lewis