1st August 1841
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Lord Morpeth's Testimonial Roll 1841 is, in its own way, a key census substitute for this period. It can be viewed online at Ancestry. To find a potential ancestor's signature, you can search either by name or browse by page (see page #605 for the parishes of Killukin & Killummod). Here you will discover additional names of small farmers and cottagers (beyond those that match the 1842 Tithe Applotment Record).

When George Howard (Lord Viscount Morpeth) left his post as Chief Secretary for Ireland, he was presented with a remarkable parting gift for an Englishman: a 420-meter roll of parchment signed by close to 160,000 people. The signers came from all over Ireland and from all levels of society, and some included their address or residence.

Even though image #605 on the Morpeth Roll 1841 (http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2514)  falls between 2 Ulster pages, it is without a doubt the parish of Killukin & Killummod (Croghan) Boyle Co Roscommon.  The 1842 Tithe Applotments records match up almost perfectly. Note: the signatures for Drummin (a subdenomination of Derrylow TA1842) follows the same line-up recorded in TA 1842 (as if they went around the houses in the same order).

The page is headed up by the Rev. T. Sweeney P.P. (confirmed Croghan R.C. church) and the name of his curate, Matthew Barrett C.C (aka Rev. Fr Matthew J. Barrett of Finnor who was a curate in Croghan at this time) soon follows. It also includes the names of all the major graziers (freeholders) in the parish e.g. William Fox (Carrowreagh); Thomas Collins (Canbo); Hugh Boyd (Ballinvilla); Matthew Creighton (Killappogue); John Walker (Ardmore); John Barrett (Finnor) and other uncommon names unique to this parish e.g. James Stapleton (Ballinculleen); Richard Elwood (Canbo).

The 1841 date of the roll is particularly significant because it predates the beginning of the Great Famine in 1845 and because most 19th-century Irish census records have been destroyed. This might turn out to be your only proof that a landless ancestor lived here. 

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For background information on the Morpeth Roll, see:

https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/research/humanities-practice-sources-resources-discourses/interpreting-objects-texts-contexts/projects/morpeth-roll-unlocking-pre-famine-stories

 

To search the Morpeth Roll (by name or page) go to:

http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2514

Some buildings associated with these communities