Bryan Smith of Meath

[hound]

Bryan Smith(b c 1833) married Louisa Kelley (1857) and then Jane Byrne (1868).  Both in Leicester. The groom's father is Bryan Smith too.
 
Cannot find the Smiths in 1851 Census.  Was there an eqivalent Census conducted in Ireland around the same time?
 
Would be grateful for advice in tracing this family’s Irish roots

hound

[shanew147]

none of the Irish Census records from 1851 survived. The only complete sets are 1901 and 1911. There are a few small sections of earlier returns - but none that I know of for Co. Meath.

There are parish records online at the pay-site http://www.irish-roots.ie/ - you can search an index without charge once you register. There are about 13 baptism/birth records for the name 'Bryan Smith' around 1833 for Co. Meath (most seem to be spelt as Smyth)
 

Shane

[wizard1]

1851 is something of a special case. Although the Census papers were destroyed in 1922 there was an Index of Heads of Households prepared by Dr. D. A. Chart. Not sure if its searchable free on the net but you can read a little about Chart here:


http://www.originsnetwork.com/help/popup-aboutio-dub1851-chart.htm

Good luck with your search.

Peter.