We are delighted to announce the addition of 11,964 census substitute records for Antrim and Down to the Roots Ireland database! They are as follows: 

Act of Union Petitions, 1799-1800 (Down) – 760 records

The Act of Union was passed in 1800 and came into force on 1 January 1801. The Irish parliament was abolished and henceforth Irish MPs represented their constituents at Westminster. During the debates associated with this petitions both for and against the Act of Union were drawn up across Ireland. Some of these petitions were county-based, while others were from parishes or manors. Several were published in the Belfast Newsletter in 1799-1800.

Supporters of and Subscribers to Charitable and Public Causes, 1781-1900 (Antrim & Down) – 5218 records

This database brings together a diverse range of historical records documenting individual and collective contributions to charitable, religious, social welfare, and community improvement initiatives across Ireland from the late 18th to the late 19th century. The index consolidates subscriber and donor information from a variety of distinct sources, providing insight into patterns of philanthropy, civic engagement, and local support for public causes during this period.

Included in the database are the following sources

• A list of those who contributed to the funds of the House of Industry Belfast, 1834
• Building Fund for New Mater Hospital, Belfast, 1894 (Mater Infirmorum Hospital Publications)
• Contributors to an Envelope Collection for New Mater Hospital Belfast, 1900 (Mater Infirmorum Hospital Publications)
• Contributors to Ballymoney Mendicity Association, 1832-1833 (Ordnance Survey Memoirs of Ireland: Parishes of County Antrim V, Volume 16)
• Hillsborough Charitable Society Subscribers, County Down, 1836-1837 (Ordnance Survey Memoirs of Ireland: Co. Down III, Vol. 12)
• List of Subscribers to the Belfast Charitable Society with Statement of Accounts, Belfast, 1830
• Members of Central Committee appointed in 1894 to raise funds for new Mater Hospital (Mater Infirmorum Hospital Publications)
• Persons who Donated Money at Formal Opening of New Mater Hospital Belfast, 1900 (Mater Infirmorum Hospital Publications)
• Rebuilding of First Derry Presbyterian Church, List of original contributors 1781 (Derry Standard, 14 June 1855)
• Reward for information relating to the murder of Joseph Beard, Derrynoose Co. Armagh (Reward Subscribers Derrynoose Co. Armagh, 1795)
• Subscribers to charity sermon at opening of new Mater Hospital, Belfast, 1900 (Mater Infirmorum Hospital Publications)
• Subscribers to Newry Workhouse, 1834 (Ordnance Survey Memoirs, Co. Down I, Vol. 3)
• Subscribers to the Killyleagh, Killinchy, Kilmood and Tullynakill branch North-East Farming Society, 1835 (PRONI, D3550/1)
• Subscribers to the Leckpatrick Famine Relief Committee, 1846-1847 (Famine Relief Commission Papers, NAI RLFC 3/2/28/36)
• Subscription List for new church in Crossgar (Irish News, 03 June 1899)

Irish Emigration Records, 1773-1939 (Antrim & Down) – 681 records

This database brings together a number of sources including workhouse registers, passenger lists and newspaper reports detailing the names and locations of individuals emigrating from Ireland. It has been prepared by transcribing the following sources:

• Passenger List – Athenia 1939
• Passenger List, Dorcas Savage Portaferry to New Brunswick, 1819
• Passengers of The Brig Jessie, 1830
• Perished on Board the Athenia, 1939 (Northern Whig 5th Sept., 1939)
• Emigrants from Counties Antrim and Londonderry, 1830s
• Passenger Lists, 1803 – Newry, County Down to USA
• Birth, Marriage and Death Notices Published in Local Newspapers, Journals and Memoirs, 1785-1889 (Antrim & Down) – 316 records

This database includes notices that appeared in a range of local publications from the late eighteenth century to the late nineteenth century. In addition to the name of the individual appearing in the notice, the person’s place of residence and occupation may also be given. It has been prepared by transcribing the following sources:

• Belfast Medical Society Obituaries, 1825-50
• Belfast Literary Journal, 1816
• The Microscope, 1799-1800
• Memoirs of Downpatrick and its Parish Church, 1852

 Tenant farmers on different estates in Ulster, 1651-1903 (Antrim & Down) – 2314 records

This database provides an index to tenant farmers working on different estates across the province of Ulster between 1651 and 1903. It has been prepared by transcribing the following sources:

• Lairn’ [Larne] alias Gardenmore in the County of Antrim as surveyed in the year 1735 by Archibald Stewart (Old Map of Larne Estate)
• Rental of the Rowan Estate, County Antrim (PRONI, D/1835/15B)
• Hertford Estate Rent Roll, 1728
• Names of tenants and townlands on Skinners’ Company estate, County Londonderry (PRONI)
• Antrim estate leases for Ballymoney, 1705-1895
• Index to 18th-Century Tenant Farmers,1750-1781 (Belfast Newsletter)
• Index to lessees in Newry from the Kilmorey estate papers (PRONI, D2638/B)
• Brownlow estate papers, PRONI (D/1928), Registry of Deeds, Dublin, and Belfast Newsletter
• Tenants on the Blackwood Estate in County Down, 1741 (PRONI) T/808/15009
• Rent Roll of the Clanbrassil Estate, County Down (The Hamilton Manuscripts, ed. T. K. Lowry (Belfast, 1867)

Matriculated and Non-Matriculated Students (Antrim) – 949 records

 This database includes the names and year of entrance for matriculated, and non-matriculated students, at Queen’s College, Belfast between 1849 and 1860. In some instances, the address, religious profession and faculty will also be included alongside the name of the student.

Freeholder Index (Antrim & Down) – 1728 records

This index combines a number of databases and sources, listing freeholders registered to vote in Counties Antrim and Down between 1747 and 1837. The index includes the name and residence of the freeholder and location of freehold. The name of the candidates to whom the elector gave his votes may also be included (remembering that each elector could vote for two candidates in county elections). It should also be borne in mind that Catholics were not permitted to vote between the late 1720s and 1793.

Included in this database are the following sources:

• Index to the Freeholders registered to vote in elections, Co. Antrim 1776
• Index to the Freeholders registered to vote in elections, Co. Down, 1832-1837.

To search these records, go to Roots Ireland and Login or Subscribe as required. Select the county in question, click on ‘Census Substitutes …’ and you can select an individual source.