Hi all.
I have recently began to investigate my family's past and all has been well so far. However, I am at a bit of a block and was hoping some of you could help me out with the information I've found- it would be appreciated. (All these family members belonged to the Church of Ireland, which has both aided and hindered my search.)
My great-great-great grandfather, John Charters (b. 1824), was registered as an R.I.C. Policeman in Athboy in 1847, with his place of residence being Clonmellon. He later moved to Dublin and transferred to the D.M.P. His wedding certificate with Jane Douglas in 1850 puts his father as James Charters.
Naturally I began searching for a James Charters and perhaps a birth certificate for both himself and his son. Unfortunately my wishes were trampled on after finding out that the registers for the parish of Clonmellon (aka. Killua/Killallon) had been destroyed in the Public Records Office fire during the civil war. However, that didn't stop me.
I found James Charters on the Tithe Applotment books (recorded as Chartres on some documents) and on the Griffith's Valuation. On the Griffith's valuation he is recorded as renting three seperate pieces of land, and this is where I am confused. He is neighbours with a Margaret Finnegan (who also rents three seperate pieces of land) on all of his properties spread out across Clonmellon and Kilrush Lower. However, he is recorded as owning what appears to be a house (judging from the map) on her land, and herself a house on his land! Both of them then own seperate fields. What could be going on here? Cohabiting, perhaps? A tax scheme? - photos attached.
As well as that, I appear to have had a bit of good luck. With the records being burnt for the CoI church in Clonmellon, St. Johns, I found on the CoI website of the history of Meath/Westmeath, a document of a census undertaken by the Bishop of Meath in 1803. Rather than having to treck to the physical library in Dublin, the page they had decided to upload was that of the parish of Killua and Killallon! On the page, it lists a "Robert and Alicia Charters", along with a "Widow Charters", as well as a list of the sons/daughters in each household - photo attached. I was wondering if any of you could help me figure out which one James Charters might be the son of, if any?
Any help would be greatly appreciated! I hope that I haven't stretched my limits of luck and gotten farther than I should have already.
