Title: Census of Protestant Householders
Date: 1740
Description: The so-called ‘Census of Protestant Householders’ was compiled in 1740, apparently at the behest of the Irish Parliament. It runs to nearly 16,000 names and is particularly good for County Londonderry (nearly all parishes) and much of north and mid County Antrim. The original records of this survey were destroyed in Dublin in 1922, but transcripts made by the genealogist Tenison Groves are available in PRONI.
It would seem that the lists of names were based on returns made by the collectors of the hearth money. The collectors were given responsibility for a particular geographical area known as a ‘walk’ and some of the 1740 returns make reference to a ‘walk’ (e.g. the Loughbrickland walk). In his analysis of the returns, Bill Macafee has concluded that those responsible for the Toome walk, which included the barony of Loughinsholin in County Londonderry, were not as accurate in distinguishing between Protestants and Catholics and that many of the latter were listed.
For the most part, the ‘census’ is a listing of names by parish. However, for the barony of Inishowen in County Donegal and Keenaght and Tirkeeran in County Londonderry the names are listed by townland and parish. Bill Macafee believes that where personal names are not arranged by townland they are listed in geographical order – arising from the route taken by the hearth money collector on his ‘walk’ – and that sometimes it is possibly to work out the route taken by the collector.
Source: PRONI, T808/15258
Compiled by: UHF
County Antrim – Ahoghill, Armoy, Ballintoy, Ballymena [Kirkinriola], Ballymoney, Ballyrashane, Ballywillin, Billy, Clough [Dunaghy], Culfeightrin, Derrykeighan, Drummaul, Duneane, Dunluce, Finvoy, Kilraghts, Loughguile, Manybrooks [Grange of Ballyscullion], Ramoan, Rasharkin and Rathlin
County Armagh – Derrynoose, Mullaghbrack, Shankill and Tynan
County Donegal – Clonca, Clonmany, Culdaff, Desertegny, Donagh, Fahan, Moville and Templemore
County Down – Kilbroney and Seapatrick (Loughbrickland Walk)
County Londonderry – all parishes except Agivey (possibly included with Aghadowey) and Arboe
County Tyrone – Derryloran and Kildress