Guide to the Collections of the Genealogical Office (Office of Arms), Dublin (as filmed by the AJCP), 1854-1940

Summary

Collection number:

M984

Creator:

Genealogical Office (Office of Arms) of Ireland. Office of Ulster King of Arms

Extent:

20 items

Language:

English

Preferred citation:

Acknowledgement of use of this material should refer to the location of the original material and to the Australian Joint Copying Project.

Items from this collection should include references to the location of the original material and to the AJCP nla.obj number, which serves as the online identifier for the digital copy.

Example: M Series: Journal of Capt. James Cook, 18 February 1770, British Library Add. MS 27885 (AJCP ref: http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1234)

Availability:

Available

Access conditions:

Available for reference.

Background

Content Summary:

Grants and confirmations of arms 1854-1940, with illustrations of coats of arms, to the following Australians and New Zealanders: Sylvester J. Browne, David H.R. Burtchael, James J. Casey, Austin F. Coghlan, Charles V. Creagh, Sylverius M. Crumpe, Norman L. D'Arcy, Rev. Harry Darling, Seymour G.P. Davies, Richard Day, Frederick J. Eyre, Frederick P.B. Fitzgerald, Lieut. Gen. John Fulton, Patrick J. Garvey, William P.C. Greene, John Winthrop Hackett, Hans Hamilton, Joshua A. Hargrave, George Higinbotham, Sir John Kirwan, Sir Linden M.S.K.L. Macassey, Sir John Madden, Arthur W.C. Martin, Joseph Meek, Charles Moore, Henry P. Moore, John F.L. Mullins, Osborne E. Norris, John B. Payne, Thomas L. Murray Prior, Frederic W.C. Roche, James S. Rowan, Lieut. Frederick P. Rowley, Ralph S. Smith, David Storey, Frederick P. Toler-Rowley, Robert A.B. Vance, William A.W. West.

Registered pedigrees compiled 1842-1955 for the following: Agnew (Tasmania); Bagot (Melbourne); Barnewell (Upper Thornton, Australia); Barton (Havelock, Victoria); Browne (New Zealand and Ballarat, Victoria); Carleton (New Zealand); Coghlan (Sydney); Davey (Rockingham, Queensland); Davies (Australia); Deacon (Australia); Denham (Gippsland, Victoria); Dillon (Townsville, Queensland); Dobbin (Sydney); Dowse (Australia); Exshaw (Australia); Eyre (North Adelaide); French (Victoria); Foster (Victoria); Garvey (Wellington and Sydney); Glascott (Richmond River, New South Wales); Goff (Renwicktown, New Zealand); Haly (Tuabinga, Queensland); Hamilton (Melbourne); Hutton (New Zealand); Macgillysacht (Sydney); Mecham (New South Wales); Minnitt (Van Diemen's Land); Molony (Australia); Mulligan (Australia); Newton (Auckland); Nicholson (New Zealand and Australia); Prior (Queensland); Rathborne (Ngeruawahia, New Zealand); Richardson, later Richardson Bunbury (Australia); Rooke (Sydney and Wellington); Sadlier (Tasmania); St George (Australia); Seaver (New South Wales); Twohig (Sydney); Vance (Balmerino, Victoria); Warburton (Palmerston North, New Zealand); Wentworth, (Sydney); Westropp (New Zealand).

Biographical / Historical:

The office of Ulster King of Arms, the heraldic authority for the Kingdom of Ireland, was created in 1552. The holder of the office, which was not part of the College of Arms, was responsible for granting arms to individuals and corporate bodies who had substantial historical, cultural, educational, financial or ancestral connections with Ireland. As a result of the Irish diaspora, there was a long tradition of Irish individuals and families who were living abroad seeking grants of arms from Ireland. For many years, arms and attested pedigrees were necessary as proofs of gentility for anyone seeking commissions in European armies. Some sought new grants of arms, while others requested confirmation of the arms that had been used by their families in earlier times.

The Office of Arms, which was located in Dublin Castle, was not abolished when Ireland became a self-governing dominion in 1922. However, following the death of Sir Nevile Wilkinson in 1940, the position of Ulster King of Arms was left vacant. In 1943 the British and Irish governments agreed that the Office of Arms and its records should be retained in Ireland, while the post of Ulster King of Arms would be transferred to the College of Arms in London.

The name of the Office of Arms, which remained in Dublin Castle until 1987, was changed to the Genealogical Office in 1943. The title of the Genealogical Officer was changed to Chief Herald of Ireland in 1946. Like his predecessor, the Chief Herald authorises the granting of arms to Irish bodies and individuals, including the descendants of Irish emigrants. The office of the Chief Herald is now part of the Genealogy and Heraldry Division of the National Library of Ireland.

In 1943 title of the Ulster King of Arms was changed to the Norroy and Ulster King of Arms. The Norroy and Ulster King of Arms, who is responsible to the Earl Marshal, is the heraldic authority for Northern Ireland.

Ulster Kings of Arms, 1820-1940

1820-53 Sir William Betham

1853-92Sir Bernard Burke (editor of Burke's Peerage)

1893-1908 Sir Arthur Vicars

1908-40 Sir Neville Wilkinson

Related

Existence and Location of Copies:

The original AJCP microfilm of the records filmed from this collection is available at the National Library of Australia [https://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn1870673] as well as other institutions holding AJCP microfilm.

Existence and Location of Originals:

Genealogical Office (Office of Arms). Dublin Castle, Dublin, Ireland. For further information see Genealogical Office at Dublin Castle (http://www.nli.ie/en/heraldry-collections.aspx).

Conditions Governing Access:

Available for Access.

Conditions Governing Use:

Many of the records digitised as part of the AJCP are still in copyright. Readers wishing to publish or reproduce documents should seek permission, in the first instance, from the owner of the original material.

Preferred citation:

Acknowledgement of use of this material should refer to the location of the original material and to the Australian Joint Copying Project.

Items from this collection should include references to the location of the original material and to the AJCP nla.obj number, which serves as the online identifier for the digital copy.

Example: M Series: Journal of Capt. James Cook, 18 February 1770, British Library Add. MS 27885 (AJCP ref: http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1234)

Location of this collection:

National Library of Australia

Parkes Place

Canberra ACT 2600, Australia

Contact:

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