How do I find a specific person?

There are a number of ways to navigate the site but the basic 'Search' function provides the most straightforward method. This is available on the homepage or in the toolbar located at the top of each page.

Links to the three main branches of the family are also available at the top of each page. When you select a branch it will direct you to a chart detailing the four most recent generations.

It is worth noting that family names are not always recorded accurately. In many instances, this is due to the low levels of literacy, clerical staff misunderstanding the name and the resulting inability to correct an administrators error - for example, the name Vines is legally recorded as Vine, Devine, Divine, etc.

How can I find a person or family if I have limited information?

The basic search option will allow you to search using a first or last name. If this fails to return any results, or too many results, an advanced search option is located just beneath the Search button.This enables you to search using multiple pieces of information e.g. the year or place of the person’s birth, death or christening; the last name of their spouse; or simply by gender. Expanding the Other Events section will open further search possibilities including nicknames, addresses, court cases, occupations or obituaries.

If more than one person matches the criteria you will be presented with a list which includes basic information such as a date of birth and residence. Allowing the cursor to hover over the name will reveal other vital information.

Clicking on the individuals name will bring you directly to their individual profile. This is where all information regarding that individual is stored.

It is possible to browse media by category, e.g. census, headstones, court sessions, etc. This information is easily accessed by scrolling to the bottom of the homepage or choosing the Media button in the menu available at the top of every other page.

You might find the following links useful:

• Surname List: A list of every surname in the tree. Clicking on a surname will return all individuals with that surname. You can then navigate to the individuals profile.


• Most Wanted: A list of elusive ancestors, photographs that require identification, information sought, etc. If you are unable to find information on your ancestor it is worth checking to see if they are listed here.


• Site Search: Search the entire site using Google.

Why can I not see all the information available for an individual?

This is to both protect and respect the privacy of family members. Most information on this site is available publicly via archives and databases, for example, in the event of a death a newspaper might print the home address of the deceased. This information is relevent at that time; however if the family continue to reside at that address they may not wish to have this information permanently available.

Other 'restricted' information might include photographs, letters or documents not available for circulation.

Only registered users can access to this information. If you are a direct descendant or an immediate relative please take a moment to register by clicking on "Register for a User Account" on the home page. Any information you submit via the registration form will be available to me, such as your address, telephone number, etc. This additional information is not necessary to register.

What is a first, second or third cousin?

Unfortunately, there are two conflicting definitions of how cousins are related - there is the 'given' definition that almost everybody in Ireland uses and grew up with and then there is the genealogical definition.

It's important to remember that In genealogy we define relationships by a common ancestor - you always seek to find where both lines meet.

First Cousins:

Genealogy considers first cousins to share a grandparent.

In society first cousins are normally defined as the children of siblings, they also have the same grandparent.

Second Cousins:

Genealogy considers second cousins to be both children of first cousins and to share a great-grandparent.

Society considers the children of first cousins to be second cousins. The child of my first cousin is also considered to be my second cousin (in addition to being my child's second cousin) as is the first cousin of either of my parents.

Third Cousins:

Genealogy considers third cousins to both be the children of second cousins - they must share the same great-grandparent.

Society we don't need a common ancestor - as I said my parent's first cousin is my second cousin. The children of that person are considered to be my third cousins.

Therein lies the problem - for a genealogist that 'third cousin' is actually defined as my second cousin (see above: if our parents are first cousins then we are second cousins). When discussing relationships it is always important to find the common ancestor and not take the definition given on face value.

What is a first/second/third cousin removed?

This is a genealogical term that allows us to define the parents, children and grandchildren of cousins.

Culturally the children of my first cousin are considered to be my second cousins, however, genealogy would define that person as my first cousin once removed, their grandchildren would then be my first cousin's twice removed.

How is the site built?

The website is centred on a database using TNG Sitebuilding Software. It uses PHP and MySQL to store and retrieve the data as requested.