Raphoe Genealogical Records

Raphoe Birth & Baptism Records

Ireland Civil Registration Index (1845-1958)

An index to births, marriages and deaths registered with the Irish government. Provides the child's name, date of registration, place of registration, mother's maiden name and a reference to order a certificate with further details.

Births & Baptisms in Ireland (1620-1922)

A collection of almost 4 million birth and baptisms records from civil, Catholic and Church of Ireland registers.

Catholic Birth & Baptism Registers for Ireland (1763-1912)

Digital images of registers recording the birth and baptism of Catholic families' children. They record around 550,000 births and baptisms, which can be searched by a name index.

British Civil Service Evidence of Age Index (1752-1948)

An index to evidences provided to the British Civil Service Commission to establish the age of prospective and current civil servants. The index includes date & place of birth and provides a reference to surviving documents.

Ireland Birth & Baptism Index (1620-1881)

An index to over 5 million births and baptisms recorded in Ireland. These are predominantly from the 19th century.

Raphoe Marriage & Divorce Records

UK Divorce Records (1858-1911)

Digital images of documents from civil divorce cases. The cases cover both the cause of the case and the outcome, such as division of property and visitation rights. These records also contain details of illegitimate children. Cases can be searched by a name index.

Ireland Civil Registration Index (1845-1958)

An index to births, marriages and deaths registered with the Irish government. Provides the child's name, date of registration, place of registration, mother's maiden name and a reference to order a certificate with further details.

Ireland Marriages (1619-1898)

Transcripts of more than 850,000 marriage records, including parents' names when listed in the original document.

Catholic Marriage Registers for Ireland (1775-1912)

Digital images of registers recording the marriages of Catholics in Ireland. They record around 150,000 marriages, which can be searched by a name index.

Diocesan & Prerogative Marriage Licence Indexes (1623-1866)

An index to over 210,000 licenses giving permission to marry.

Raphoe Death & Burial Records

Ireland Civil Registration Index (1845-1958)

An index to births, marriages and deaths registered with the Irish government. Provides the child's name, date of registration, place of registration, mother's maiden name and a reference to order a certificate with further details.

Titanic Deaths at Sea (1912)

Details of crew and passengers who died aboard RMS Titanic. Information given includes date, place & cause of death; gender; age; nationality; profession; and residence.

Marriages in Walker's Hibernian Magazine (1771-1812)

An index to around 13,000 marriages of the upper class of Ireland recorded in a magazine.

Registers of Deaths of Passengers at Sea (1854-1908)

Registers compiled from the logs of ships registered in Britain & her colonies. These records are indexed by named and are connected to original images of the registers. They list the name of the deceased, the date they died, their gender, age, cause of death and the name of the ship they died on.

Irish-American Death Notices (1845-1909)

Transcriptions of over 35,000 death notices of Irish who died in America and other parts of the world.

Raphoe Census & Population Lists

Censuses of Ireland (1821-1911)

An index to several million names in records delineating families and including important personal details, such as religion, occupation and place of birth.

Protestant Householders' Returns (1740)

A searchable database containing surviving extracts of lists of Protestant householders in Antrim, Armagh, Donegal, Down, Londonderry & Tyrone.

The Ulster Covenant (1912)

Signatures of almost 500,000 men and women from Ulster, who opposed a government bill that would grant Ireland autonomy.

Ireland Electoral Registers (1885-1886)

An index to and digital images of registers recording people eligible to vote. The records list name, residence, qualification to vote, ratable value of property and sometimes a description of their property.

British Phone Books (1880-1984)

Directories containing over 275,000,000 entries. As well as name, address and phone number, occupations are often recorded. A useful census substitute.

Newspapers Covering Raphoe

The Daily Herald (1926)

A London newspaper that later became The Sun.

Reynolds's Newspaper (1850-1900)

Originally founded as a chartist organ, the newspaper became a liberal platform.

Farmer's Gazette & Journal of Practical Horticulture (1845-1870)

Digital images of a newspaper that circulated through Ireland, promoting agriculture, gardening, commerce and manufacturing. It is fully text searchable.

Lloyd's Weekly Newspaper (1842-1900)

A popular illustrated, liberal newspaper; one of the most popular in Britain.

Northern Whig (1832-1870)

Digital images of a liberal, unionist newspaper published in Ireland. Pages can be searched by article text.

Raphoe Wills & Probate Records

Irish Wills Index (1272-1886)

An index to over 100,000 Irish wills.

WWI Irish Soldiers Wills (1914-1920)

Transcripts of over 9,000 wills penned by Irish privates and non-commissioned officers during World War I.

Ireland Wills and Administrations Index (1858-1920)

A name index connected to images of Ireland's civil probate registers. It lists the name of the deceased, residence, status or occupation, type of probate, date of probate and names of the executors or administrators.

Diocesan & Prerogative Probate Indexes (1595-1858)

An index to around 365,000 documents relating to the distribution of deceased person's real and personal estate.

British Inheritance Disputes Index (1574-1714)

An index to almost 78,000 wills that were disputed. The index can lead you to documents that may shed a great deal of genealogical information as disputes often arose between siblings and cousins.

Raphoe Immigration & Travel Records

Passenger Lists Leaving UK (1890-1960)

A name index connected to original images of passenger lists recording people travelling from Britain to destinations outside Europe. Records may detail a passenger's age or date of birth, residence, occupation, destination and more.

Irish Famine Immigrants (1846-1851)

A record of over 600,000 immigrants arriving in the United States; being predominantly those escaping the Irish famine. Records may contain numerous useful details, such as age or year of birth, native county and intended destination.

Migration from North America to Britain & Ireland (1858-1870)

A list of over 40,000 passengers traveling from North America to the British Isles. Details of passengers may include: occupation, nationality, gender, age, martial status, class, destination, and details of the vessel they sailed on.

Irish Immigrants to Western Canada (1826-1847)

Details of over 700 poor Irish settlers in the Newcastle district of Canada. Contains details of the land they occupy, family and live stock.

Australian Convict Transportation Registers (1791-1868)

Registers recording those who by their criminal deeds were sentenced to be transported to Australia. Records include name, date & place of conviction, term of sentence, ship sailed on, departure date and the name of the colony they were to be sent to.

Raphoe Military Records

British Army WWI Pension Records (1914-1920)

A variety military service, medical, award and general documents detailing WWI army soldiers who claimed a pension for disability. Contains a great deal of biographical and genealogical details, including physical description and disabilities. Digital images, searchable by a name and place index.

Attleborough In War Time (1914-1918)

A history of the town during WWI, with a list of men and women who served and notes of those who lost their lives.

WWI Commonwealth Casualty Lists (1914-1920)

A list of over 1.3 million British and Commonwealth servicemen who were injured during World War One.

Royal Artillery Attestations (1883-1942)

Detailed records of 858,171 Royal Artillery personnel. The records contain genealogical, biographical and military details.

Royal Tank Corps Enlistment Records (1919-1934)

Digital images, searchable by a name index, of 88,096 records detailing biographical, genealogical and service details of the men of the Royal Tank Corps.

The Ulster Covenant (1912)

Signatures of almost 500,000 men and women from Ulster, who opposed a government bill that would grant Ireland autonomy.

Ireland Electoral Registers (1885-1886)

An index to and digital images of registers recording people eligible to vote. The records list name, residence, qualification to vote, ratable value of property and sometimes a description of their property.

Petty Sessions Order Books (1828-1912)

An index to millions of names occurring in minor Irish legal records. The index is linked to images of the original registers.

Ireland Poverty Relief Loans (1821-1874)

An index to and images to various records, including loan application forms. These may list name, residence, names of relatives, loan particulars and more.

Irish Prison Registers (1790-1924)

A index to over 3.5 million names occurring in Irish prison registers. Details provide vary, but may include: name, age, place of birth, abode, religion, occupation, education, physical description, next of kin and details of crimes and sentences Contains images of the original registers.

Raphoe Taxation Records

Griffith's Valuation (1847-1864)

An assessment of property in Ireland for taxation purposes. Provides descriptions of properties.

Tithe Applotment Books (1821-1843)

Records detailing occupiers of land in pre-famine Ireland. Contains a description of lands and other details. Original images of the records can be searched by name and place.

Ireland Tithe Applotment Books (1814-1855)

Lists of occupiers of Irish land and tithes to support the established church; arranged by parish.

1831 Tithe Defaulters (1831)

A list of people who refused to pay an annual tax to the Anglican church in Scotland.

Raphoe Land & Property Records

Landed Estates Court Rentals (1850-1885)

Records detailing tenancies of over 500,000 Irish people. In some cases details may be provided back to the 18th century.

Irish Landowners (1876)

The name and address of people who owned two or more acres of land in Ireland.

Griffith's Valuation (1847-1864)

An assessment of property in Ireland for taxation purposes. Provides descriptions of properties.

Reports from Committees of Fictitious Votes (1837-1838)

Essentially an electoral roll, listing those who were eligible to vote, their occupation, residence and entitlement.

Tithe Applotment Books (1821-1843)

Records detailing occupiers of land in pre-famine Ireland. Contains a description of lands and other details. Original images of the records can be searched by name and place.

Raphoe Directories & Gazetteers

Belfast and Ulster Directory (1926)

Descriptions of the counties and principal settlements of Ulster. Each settlement has a list of residents and businesses. There are much larger street and business directories for Belfast.

Henderson's Belfast & Province of Ulster Directory (1856)

A street, alphabetic and trade directory of Belfast; details of public & private institution and societies; lists of public officials and military men; a description of each county in the province and a directory of residents in each town and village.

The Belfast and Province of Ulster Directory (1856)

A name-indexed copy of a directory of Belfast residents and businesses, public and private institutions, government, military, a description of the counties of Ulster and trade directories for towns and villages.

Ulster Street Directories (1819-1900)

Twenty-nine street directories listing the name, residence and occupation of Ulster residents and businesses.

Thom's Official Directory of Great Britain & Ireland (1914)

A directory of the court, parliament, aristocracy, mayors, civil service, military, militia and banks in the British Empire.

Raphoe Cemeteries

Ireland Memorial and Burial Register (1618-2005)

A name index connected to transcriptions of over 40,000 gravestones and other memorials in counties Cavan, Donegal, Fermanagh, Leitrim, Meath, Monaghan & Tyrone.

Billion Graves (1200-Present)

Photographs and transcriptions of millions of gravestones from cemeteries around the world.

Mausolea and Monuments (1500-Present)

Profiles of several hundred mausolea found in the British Isles.

Maritime Memorials (1588-1950)

Several thousand transcribed memorials remembering those connected with the nautical occupations.

Irish Records Index (1600-1874)

An index to around 100,000 various births, marriages, deaths, burials, cemeteries, wills, immigration, census extracted from Irish sources.

Raphoe Obituaries

United Kingdom and Ireland Obituary Collection (1882-Present)

A growing collection currently containing over 425,000 abstracts of obituaries with reference to the location of the full obituary.

Quakers Annual Monitor (1847-1848)

A collection of 364 obituaries of Quakers from the British Isles. The volume was published in 1849 and includes obituaries of those who died in late 1847 through 1848.

British Medical Journal (1849-Present)

A text index and digital images of all editions of a journal containing medical articles and obituaries of medical practitioners.

Irish Independent Newspaper Obituaries (2001-2002)

This database contains extracted genealogical information from the obituaries of the Irish Independent newspaper.

Raphoe Histories & Books

County Donegal Church Photographs (1890-Present)

Photographs and images of churches in County Donegal.

Facts about Ulster (1890)

A short speech concerning Ulster by a descendant of Ulster-stock in America.

Geograph: Photos of the UK and Ireland (2005-Present)

A growing database including millions of photographs of the United Kingdom, Isle of Man and Ireland catalogued by latitude & longitude and OS grid reference.

Attleborough In War Time (1914-1918)

A history of the town during WWI, with a list of men and women who served and notes of those who lost their lives.

Lawrence's Photographs of Ireland (1870-1910)

An indexed collection of 21,000 photographs covering all of Ireland.

Raphoe School & Education Records

Ireland National School Registers (1860-1920)

An index to and images of registers recording 100,000s of Irish schoolchildren. Registers may list name, year of birth, year of registration, age, religion, address, occupation of parent or guardian, name of current and previous school, parish, number of days attendance, class enrolled into, results of exams and date of leaving.

Alumni Dublinenses (1593-1846)

A register of faculty and students educated at Trinity College Dublin. Entries include the individual’s full name, date of entering the college, age of entering, father’s name and address, the degree they received and their graduation date.

Cambridge Alumni Database (1198-1910)

A searchable database containing over 90,000 note-form biographies for students of Cambridge University.

Registers of Queen's Colleges Ireland (1849-1858)

Registers recording students who attended a series of non-denominational schools throughout Ireland.

British Army Schoolchildren and Schoolmasters (1803-1932)

Transcripts of over 27,000 entries from admissions, apprentice, and schoolmaster ledgers of the Royal Military Asylum in Chelsea and Royal Hibernian Military School in Dublin.

Raphoe Occupation & Business Records

Ireland Mines Index (1896)

Profiles of coal and metal mines in Ireland.

British Postal Service Appointment Books (1737-1969)

This collection gives brief details on the appointment of over 1.4 million people who worked for the Post Office. Includes references to corresponding data in the Postmaster General’s minute books and is a starting point for research in the rich archive of the British Postal Museum.

Kelly's Leather Trade in Ireland (1915)

A database containing names extracted from Kelly's Directory of the Leather Trade. Contains name, occupation and residence.

Medical Directory for Ireland (1858)

A book containing details of the medical establishment in Ireland, with a list of over 2,700 medical practitioners in Ireland.

British Masters and Mates Certificates (1850-1927)

Records relating to merchant seamen of the British Isles. They may record, date and place of birth, address and details of their maritime career.

Pedigrees & Family Trees Covering Raphoe

Burke’s Landed Gentry of Ireland (1899)

The first edition of an exclusively Irish directory of the landed gentry printed by Burke's. This publication provides heraldic, genealogical and biographical details on Ireland's foremost untitled landowners. Searchable by an index of over 80,000 names.

FamilySearch Community Trees (6000 BC-Present)

A searchable database of linked genealogies compiled from thousands of reputable and not-so-reputable sources. Contains many details on European gentry & nobility, but covers many countries outside Europe and people from all walks of life.

Dod's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage of Britian (1902)

A book containing genealogies and biographies of Britain's titled families.

Dod's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage of Britian (1885)

A book containing genealogies and biographies of Britain's titled families.

Irish Pedigrees, Vol. I (0-1880)

Genealogies of notable Irish families, with biographical details and notes on Irish clans and surnames.

Raphoe Royalty, Nobility & Heraldry Records

Burke’s Landed Gentry of Ireland (1899)

The first edition of an exclusively Irish directory of the landed gentry printed by Burke's. This publication provides heraldic, genealogical and biographical details on Ireland's foremost untitled landowners. Searchable by an index of over 80,000 names.

FamilySearch Community Trees (6000 BC-Present)

A searchable database of linked genealogies compiled from thousands of reputable and not-so-reputable sources. Contains many details on European gentry & nobility, but covers many countries outside Europe and people from all walks of life.

Irish Pedigrees, Vol. I (0-1880)

Genealogies of notable Irish families, with biographical details and notes on Irish clans and surnames.

Irish Pedigrees, Vol. II (0-1880)

Genealogies of notable Irish families, with biographical details and notes on Irish clans and surnames.

Debrett's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage (1921)

A dictionary of families elevated to the peerage of Great Britain & Ireland. It includes genealogies and biographical details.

Raphoe Church Records

Irish Catholic Church Directories (1836-1837)

A directory listing all the members of the clergy and parishes in Ireland. Also includes details on clergy in the Empire.

Congregationalist Ministers Index (1650-1972)

Biographical details of around 32,000 Congregationalist ministers in the British Isles and further afield.

Crockford's Clerical Directory (1929)

A directory listing Anglican parishes and other divisions of the Church or England hierarchy and their various religious officers. The directory covers the UK and Anglican churches throughout the world.

Clergy List of 1897 (1897)

Brief biographical details on all Anglican clergy in Britain & the Episcopal Church in Scotland.

Clergy List 1896 (1896)

Brief biographical details on all Anglican clergy in Britain & the Episcopal Church in Scotland.

Biographical Directories Covering Raphoe

Dod's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage of Britian (1902)

A book containing genealogies and biographies of Britain's titled families.

Dod's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage of Britian (1885)

A book containing genealogies and biographies of Britain's titled families.

Chalmers' General Biographical Dictionary (1013-1812)

Detailed biographies of thousands of notable Europeans with details on ancestry.

Dictionary of National Biography (1005-Present)

An index of names connected to over 60,000 biographies of notable British and Irish people from arguably the world's most respected biographical compendium. Gives details on ancestry, careers and personal wealth.

Kelly's Handbook of 1892 (1892)

Brief biographical notes on around 10,000 of Britain's foremost nobles, landowners and professionals.

Raphoe Maps

Ireland Ordnance Survey Maps (1824-1846)

Digitalised copies of detailed maps covering around 99% of the country.

Taylor & Skinner Road Map of Ireland (1777)

289 maps depicting routes through Ireland.

A Vision of Britain (1190-Present)

A sprawling website setting out and describing the historical divisions of Britain. Also contains countless maps of various sorts. Covers the UK, Ireland, Isle of Man & has fleeting details of other localities.

Speed's Maps of Britain (1612)

County and national maps covering the British Isles, extracted from John Speed's landmark work, Theatre of the Empire of Great Britain.

Old Maps Online (1497-2010)

An interactive index to thousands of maps covering the world, continents, countries and regions. The majority of maps cover Britain and Ireland.

Raphoe Reference Works

Building History Research Guide (1066-Present)

A comprehensive guide to researching the history of buildings in the British Isles.

Surname Origins (1790-1911)

A service that provides advanced and custom surname maps for the British Isles and the US.

Heraldry Clipart (1189-Present)

A growing collection of heraldic and related clip art that can be used to reconstruct a families' arms. Includes packs for British, German, Austrian, Spanish, Italian, Danish, Polish, Portuguese, French, Swiss and Dutch arms. Images are available in a variety of formats including vectors.

Trade Union Ancestors (1799-Present)

A sprawling site that lists British trade unions, histories of some unions and outlines how to locate records relating to trade union ancestors.

Measuring Worth - GBP (1245-Present)

A calculator measuring the changing value of the British Pound using two price indices.

Historical Description

RAPHOE, a market-town and post-town, a parish, and the seat of a diocese, in the barony of RAPHOE, county of DONEGAL, and province of ULSTER, 5 miles (N. W.) from Lifford, and 113¾ (N. by W.) from Dublin, on the road from Strabane to Stranorlar; containing 6227 inhabitants, of which number, 1408 are in the town.

This place, anciently called Rathboth, appears to have derived both its early and present importance from the foundation of an extensive monastery here by St. Columb, which, after its restoration by St. Adamnanus, who died in 703, continued to flourish and was soon after made the seat of a bishoprick. The town consists chiefly of three small streets branching off from a market-place of triangular form, and contains 288 houses, which are neatly built. An agricultural society has been established, which holds its meetings here. The whole of the surrounding scenery is agreeably diversified, and in the neighbourhood are some interesting views. The market is on Saturday, chiefly for meal and potatoes, and occasionally for linen yarn; besides which large markets are held on the first Saturday in Jan., Feb., March, April, and December; and fairs are held on May 1st, June 22nd, Aug. 27th, and Nov-. 4th. The market-house is a neat building and well-arranged.

The town is the head-quarters of the constabulary police for the county, and the residence of the sub-inspector; and petty sessions are held on alternate Saturdays.

The parish, which is situated in the centre of the champaign district of the county, comprises, according to the Ordnance survey, 13,224½ statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act; the land is generally of good quality and in a state of profitable cultivation.

The only seat, exclusively of the Episcopal palace and Deanery, is Green Hills, the residence of W. Fenwick, Esq.

The SEE appears to have originated during the abbacy of St. Eunan, who converted the church of the monastery into a cathedral, and became the first bishop, but at what date cannot be precisely ascertained; nor is any thing more recorded of his successors prior to the English invasion than the mere names of one or two prelates, of whom the last, Aengus, died in 957. Gilbert O'Laran, who was consecrated in 1160, was a subscribing witness to a charter of confirRAP mation granted by Maurice McLoughlin, King of Ireland, to the abbey of Newry, and is in that deed described as Bishop of Tirconnel, from the name of the territory in which the church of Raphoe is situated. During the prelacy of Carbrac O'Scoba, who succeeded in 1266, part of the diocese was forcibly taken away by German O'Cherballen, Bishop of Derry, and added to that see; and in 1360, Patrick Magonail erected episcopal palaces in three manors belonging to the see. The last R. C. bishop, previously to the Reformation, was Donat Magonail, who assisted at the Council of Trent in 1563; and the first Protestant bishop was George Montgomery, a native of Scotland, who was Dean of Norwich and Chaplain of Jas. I., and was consecrated to this see in 1605. Robert Huntington, celebrated for his extensive attainments in oriental literature and his assiduity in collecting, during 12 years residence at Aleppo, a valuable series of oriental manuscripts, of which many are in the Bodleian library at Oxford, and who had, while provost of Dublin University, been instrumental in printing the Old Testament in the Irish language, was appointed Bishop of Raphoe in 1701, but lived only 12 days after his consecration. John Pooley, who succeeded in 1702, repaired the palace and enlarged the cathedral by the addition of a north and south transept, rendering it perfectly cruciform. Since 1605 the see had been held as a separate diocese till the passing of the Church Temporalities act of the 3rd of Wm. IV., by which it was enacted that, on the next avoidance, it should be united to the see of Derry, which union, on the decease of the late W. Bisset, D. D., in 1835, was carried into effect and the temporalities became vested in the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. It is one of the ten suffragan bishopricks that constitute the ecclesiastical province of Armagh; and comprehends the greater part of the county of Donegal, extending for 55 miles in length and 40 miles in breadth, and comprising an estimated superficies of 515,250 statute acres. The lands belonging to the see comprise 1392 acres of profitable land, consisting of the town parks; and the gross annual revenue, on an average of three years ending on Jan. 1st, 1832, amounted to £5787. 8. 2. The chapter consists of a dean, archdeacon, and the four prebendaries of Drumholm, Killymard, Inver, and Clondehorky.

The consistorial court is held at Raphoe, and consists of a vicar-general, two surrogates, a registrar, deputy-registrar, and two proctors. The registrar is keeper of the records, which are of modern date; all prior to 1691 are supposed to have been destroyed when the castle was taken by Cromwell, or when it was afterwards plundered and burned by the soldiers of Jas. II.

The total number of parishes is 34, of which 5 are district parishes, comprehended in 34 single benefices, of which 5 are perpetual curacies; of these, 5 are in the patronage of the Crown, 15 in that of the Bishop, 2 in the patronage of incumbents, and the remainder in lay and corporation patronage: there are 34 churches and 28 glebe-houses. The cathedral, which is also the parochial church, and to the repair of which the Ecclesiastical Commissioners have recently granted £1005, is a plain, ancient, cruciform structure with a square tower, which was added to it by Bishop Forster in 1737, as appears by that date on a stone over the door: there is no economy fund. The Episcopal palace, formerly a strong castle, is about a quarter of a mile from the town: it is a handsome and spacious castellated building, pleasantly situated in tastefully disposed grounds.

The deanery-house, which is also the glebe-house of the parish, was built in 1739, at an expense of £1680, and has been subsequently enlarged and improved from their own funds by various successive incumbents; it is pleasantly situated about a mile from the town. In the R. C. divisions the diocese is co-extensive with that of the Protestant see; it comprehends 24 benefices, containing 36 chapels, which are served by 50 clergymen, of whom 24 are parish priests, and 26 are coadjutors or curates; the bishop's parishes are Conwal and Aughnish; the cathedral is at Letterkenny where is also the bishop's residence.

The living is a rectory and vicarage, in the diocese of Raphoe, formerly united to the rectories of Stranorlar, Leek, and Killygarvan, and the chapelry of Lettermacaward, from which, by act of council in 1835, it was separated, and now solely constitutes the corps of the deanery. The tithes amount to £900; and the glebe comprises 150 acres, valued at £150 per ann.; the other lands belonging to the deanery comprise 2701½ statute acres, extending over several parishes, which, with the rents and renewal fines, produce £426. 5. 10. per ann., making the gross annual revenue of the deanery £1476. 5. 10. In the R. C. divisions the parish is the head of a union or district, including also the parish of Conwal, in which is a chapel. There is a place of worship for Presbyterians in connection with the Synod of Ulster, of the second class. The Royal free grammar school was founded by Chas. I., who endowed it with lands in the western part of the county, comprising from 5000 to 6000 acres, of which 1400 are profitable, and the remainder bog and mountain, producing together an annual income of £550: the school-house was rebuilt in 1737, and enlarged in 1830, and is a spacious and handsome building; attached to it is a valuable library, containing more than 3000 volumes, founded by Bishop Forster and Dr. Hall for the use of the clergy of the diocese.

In this and in three other public schools, of which the parochial school is partly supported by annual donations from Col. Robertson's fund, about 280 children are taught; an infants' school and a female working school are also supported by the Dean, and there are six private schools, in which are about 200 children, and four Sunday schools. An asylum for four poor clergymen's widows was founded by Bishop Forster, who endowed it with lands now producing to each £50 per ann.; the house, which is spacious and well adapted for the purpose, was purchased by the founder during his lifetime, and is situated in the town: there is also a dispensary.

Topographical Dictionary of Ireland (1837) by Samuel Lewis; Courtesy & copyright of Mel Lockie

Most Common Surnames in Raphoe

RankSurnameIncidenceFrequencyPercent of ParentRank in Donegal
1McKnight541:5445.76%272
2Laird521:5642.28%255
3Eaton511:5787.93%448
4Holmes431:6734.13%249
5Gibson371:7844.58%345
6Doherty331:880.41%2
6Thompson331:887.48%64
8Gallagher321:900.38%1
8Spence321:9026.67%259
10Allen311:9320.39%213
10Hamilton311:937.73%74
12Lapsley301:9645.45%415
12McBride301:962.41%14
12McDaid301:962.33%13
12Strain301:9613.70%157
16Coyle291:1002.39%15
16McCool291:1009.06%99
18Harper261:11120.31%247
18McClean261:11112.15%162
20Porter251:1165.77%67
21Lynch241:1213.85%39
22Logan231:12619.66%274
22O'Donnell231:1260.48%3
22Wilkie231:12630.26%371
25Carlin211:13811.60%190
25Moore211:1383.38%41
25Quinn211:1382.85%32
28Brennan201:1454.43%61
28Jenkins201:14555.56%628
28Johnston201:1455.78%89
28Leckey201:14546.51%549
32Clarke191:1525.96%101
32Duncan191:15211.52%202
34Donaghey181:16114.52%251
34Hannigan181:16114.63%255
34McElhinny181:16162.07%722
34McLoughlin181:1611.76%20
34Russell181:1617.96%154
34Stevenson181:1616.92%135
40Brown171:1703.07%48
40Chambers171:17014.29%268
40Duffy171:1701.15%11
40Hetherington171:17056.67%705
44Craig161:1816.99%150
44Curran161:1812.21%34
44Glenn161:18114.68%284
44Mitchell161:18110.53%213
44Scott161:1813.04%51
44Wray161:1816.37%138
50Campbell151:1931.27%16
50Harpur151:19342.86%638
50Kilpatrick151:19320.00%374
50McCosker151:19350.00%705
54Blair141:20716.28%332
54McConnell141:2073.36%72
54McNulty141:2072.91%58
54Nelis141:20745.16%689
54Parker141:20728.00%497
54Watson141:2076.93%172
60Black131:2235.42%143
60Buchanan131:2237.74%199
60Kincaid131:22319.40%413
60Patterson131:2234.64%113
60Woods131:22315.48%342
65McClay121:2416.56%188
65McConlogue121:24152.17%839
65McGregor121:24175.00%1,001
65Mulrine121:24121.05%451
65Roulston121:2415.00%143
70Ashe111:26324.44%537
70Byers111:26373.33%1,035
70Conaghan111:2634.18%132
70Fletcher111:26325.58%549
70Graham111:2632.50%65
70MacCleary111:263100.00%1,222
70MacFeeters111:263100.00%1,222
70McElhinney111:2632.82%77
70McLaughlin111:2630.37%5
70McShea111:26315.07%385
70Meehan111:2631.82%44
70Noble111:26323.40%522
70Sweeney111:2630.46%6
70Tinney111:2635.88%184
70Wasson111:26326.19%560
85Davis101:2897.19%230
85Elliott101:2893.60%116
85Gipson101:28962.50%1,001
85Henderson101:2893.62%118
85Huston101:2899.90%292
85Kelly101:2890.50%7
85Lindsay101:28915.15%415
85O'Brien101:2892.55%75
93Baxter91:3229.28%300
93Bonar91:3222.35%80
93Boyle91:3220.20%4
93Buchannan91:32223.08%592
93Crawford91:3222.72%95
93Hayburn91:322100.00%1,378
93Hunter91:3223.23%114
93McClure91:3225.14%191
93McDevitt91:3222.30%75
93McMenamin91:3221.43%38
93Rodgers91:3222.41%82
93Sheldon91:322100.00%1,378
93Snodgrass91:32232.14%742
93Starrett91:32216.07%458
93Wilson91:3221.45%40
108Bell81:3624.73%198
108Bradley81:3621.30%42
108Hill81:36225.00%679
108Hutcheson81:36224.24%664
108Irwin81:3626.61%258
108Lecky81:36222.22%628
108Matthewson81:36247.06%976
108McConnellogue81:36229.63%764
108McDermott81:3621.02%28
108McGettigan81:3621.91%71
108McGinley81:3620.47%8
108McGranaghan81:3628.51%308
108McNamee81:3623.43%148
108Monaghan81:3623.46%149
108Rooney81:3629.30%332
108Smith81:3625.93%238
108Watton81:36288.89%1,378
108West81:36272.73%1,222
126Alcorn71:4133.33%164
126Barclay71:41317.50%582
126Beatty71:41316.67%560
126Blackburn71:41313.73%493
126Callen71:41324.14%722
126Cathers71:41370.00%1,283
126Clifford71:41350.00%1,075
126Corrigan71:41316.28%549
126Gordon71:41310.94%425
126Keeley71:413100.00%1,620
126Kenady71:413100.00%1,620
126Lyttle71:41321.88%679
126Mailey71:41338.89%953
126Mayfield71:41387.50%1,480
126McEllinney71:41387.50%1,480
126McGrath71:4132.01%88
126McKeone71:413100.00%1,620
126McKinney71:4133.38%168
126McShane71:4132.61%127
126Mills71:4138.86%360
126Moffat71:41363.64%1,222
126Neely71:4136.36%281
126Park71:41311.29%436
126Patton71:4131.93%85
126Stoney71:413100.00%1,620
126Tait71:41329.17%821
126Toy71:41324.14%722
126Toye71:4139.59%385
126Ward71:4130.44%10
155Connelly61:48222.22%764
155Corscadden61:48220.00%705
155Dodwell61:482100.00%1,803
155Furey61:4822.97%172
155Gillespie61:4820.55%19
155Glass61:48254.55%1,222
155Horkin61:48226.09%839
155Killen61:48217.14%638
155King61:4828.00%374
155Magee61:4821.75%90
155McBrearty61:4821.26%59
155McConaghey61:48285.71%1,620
155McFeeters61:48221.43%742
155McGinty61:4821.38%66
155McGrennahan61:482100.00%1,803
155Millar61:4826.45%314
155Moorhead61:48237.50%1,001
155Mulhern61:4821.75%90
155Quin61:48219.35%689
155Sausse61:482100.00%1,803
155Sharkey61:4821.09%49
155Tinny61:48218.75%679
177Alexander51:5794.50%280
177Ayton51:57918.52%764
177Bonner51:5791.78%112
177Bryson51:5799.09%463
177Cole51:57911.90%560
177Douglas51:5795.95%342
177Gibb51:579100.00%1,993
177Green51:5791.49%94
177Hayes51:57919.23%786
177Herron51:5793.21%207
177Hyndman51:57933.33%1,035
177Marshall51:5799.43%478
177McGeehan51:5791.81%117
177Miller51:5795.32%308
177Orr51:5793.18%204
177Quinney51:579100.00%1,993
177Reilly51:5795.56%322
177Slevin51:5792.29%158
177Stewart51:5790.66%30
177Walker51:5791.74%110
177Wallace51:5792.72%186
198Aikin41:724100.00%2,235
198Bain41:72457.14%1,620
198Barnett41:72411.76%649
198Barron41:7241.79%156
198Beattie41:72411.76%649
198Bogle41:7247.27%463
198Burns41:7241.53%133
198Colhoun41:7241.93%168
198Frame41:724100.00%2,235
198Friel41:7240.34%17
198Kerr41:7241.10%83
198Kinkead41:724100.00%2,235
198Maxwell41:7242.86%228
198McCafferty41:7240.61%36
198McClain41:72480.00%1,993
198McConaghy41:72480.00%1,993
198McCrudden41:7245.41%381
198McKane41:72410.26%592
198McKelvey41:7241.96%170
198McKinlay41:72440.00%1,283
198McMonagle41:7240.78%56
198McVeigh41:72412.90%689
198Morrison41:7242.50%203
198O'Hagan41:7247.02%451
198Pinkerton41:72422.22%953
198Porterfield41:72412.90%689
198Ritchie41:72410.26%592
198Roy41:72450.00%1,480
198Smyth41:7241.33%105
198Vance41:7243.67%284