Irish Wills and Administration Bonds
Before 1857 the Church of Ireland, as the Establish Church, had charge of all testamentary affairs. Consistorial Courts in each diocese were responsible for granting probate, that is, legally authenticating a will and conferring on the executors the power to administer the estate. The Courts also had the power to issue letters of administration to the next of kin or the main creditor on the estates of those who died intestate. Where the decease’s estate included property worth more than £5 in a second diocese, responsibility for the will or administration passed to the Prerogative Court under the authority of the Archbishop of Armagh. In general, Prerogative wills and administration bonds tended to cover the wealthier classes, merchants with dealings in more than one area, and those who lived close to diocesan borders. With the Probate Act of 1857, which abolished the testamentary authority of the Church of Ireland, the original wills and administration records of both the Consistorial Courts and Prerogative Court were gradually transferred to the Public Record Office of Ireland in Dublin. Once there, the office then began the process of transcribing them into Will and Grant Books and then indexing them.
All the original wills and administrations were destroyed in the fire that gutted the Public Record Office of Ireland in 1922, along with almost all the Will and Grant Books containing transcribes of the originals. Thankfully, the indexes to original wills and administration bonds survived the fire, albeit, some were badly damaged. I have examined the printed indexes of Consistorial Courts produced by W. P. Phillimore covering the dioceses of Ossory (1536-1800), Leighlin (1652-1800), Ferns (1601-1800), Kildare (1661-1800), along with those produced by Gertrude Thrift covering the dioceses of Cashel & Emly (1618-1800), Waterford & Lismore (1645-1800), Killaloe & Kilfenora (1653-1800), Ardfert & Aghadoe (1690-1800), Cork & Ross (1548-1800), Cloyne (1621-1800), Dromore, Newry & Mourne, Armagh, Derry, and Raphoe (1684-1858). The indexes for the dioceses of Connor and Down were consulted at the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, and those of the dioceses of Dublin, Ardagh & Kilmore and the Prerogative Court at the National Archives of Ireland. I have not examined the indexes for the dioceses of Clogher, Meath, Killala, Achonry, Elphin Tuam, Kimacduagh & Clonfert.
The indexes themselves are an invaluable source as they provide the names of individuals, their approximate year of death and place of residence. As the probate of all wills and grants of administration is concerned with the transfer of heritable property, moveable and unmoveable, they will be primarily of interest to those whose ancestors held property. None of the Consistorial Courts nor the Prerogative Court had complete records of all the wills and administrations they had dealt with over the centuries, whilst the majority of the courts appear to have had serious gaps before the mid eighteenth century. Consequently, it is difficult to estimate how many of the original wills made probate over the preceding centuries actually survived into the nineteenth century. Only three “M” wills appear to have survived from the seventeenth century; Robert Millikine of Belfast, John Mullegan of Dublin and Nichol Mullegan of Athlone, all of whom are known to have possessed property. The following is a list of all the indexes to wills and administrations bonds recording “M” names.
PREROGATIVE COURT OF IRELAND
Wills 1536-1858
Probate
1640 - Mullegan, Nichol, Athlone, merchant
1720 - Mullegan, Thomas, Firbane, King's Co., farmer
1749 - Mullegan, Francis, Athlone, merchant
1757 - Mullegan, James, Athlone, Co. Roscommon
1761 - Mullegan, Thomas, Firbane, King’s Co., merchant
1778 - Mulligan, Robert, Rathvilly, Co. Carlow, Gent.
1785 - Mulligan, Cornelius, Magstown, Co. Dublin, farmer
1785 - Mullegan, Patrick, Ship St, Dublin, attorney at law
1789 - Millikin, Robert, Cork, Gent*
1792 - Mullegan, Francis, Dublin, widow
1794 - Mullegan, Mary, Dublin, widow
1802 - Milikin, William, Dublin, Gent*
1806 - Millikin, John (Dublin)*
1824 - Mulligan, Edward, Henry St., Dublin
1827 - Mulligan, Rev. Philip (PP), Dunshaughlan, Co. Meath
1827 - Millikin, Susannah, Parliament St., Dublin
1835 - Milliken, Richard, Grafton St., Dublin
1836 - Milliken, Anne, Cork
1836 - Mulligan, James, Lisnasliggan, Co. Down*
1837 - Mulligan, James, Rathfryland, Co. Down
1845 - Milliken, David, Boveagh, Co. Londonderry
1845 - Mulligan, James, Gavisker, Clonard, Co. Kildare
1846 - Mulligan, Gilbert (Ballydown, Co Down)*
1846 - Mulligan, John (Parkmount, Co. Down)*
1848 - Mulligan, Rev. Alex., Ballymacklan, Co. Londonderry
1848 - Mulligan, John, Belfast
1850 - Mulligan, James Charles, Tullyconnaught, Co. Down
1851 - Milligan, John, Killyleagh, Co. Down
1855 - Milligan, Elizabeth Sibyl, Dublin
1856 - Milliken, Hugh, Whitepark, Co. Down
1856 - Millikin, Joseph, Parliament St., Dublin City
Adm. Intestates 1595-1810
Grant
1727 - Mulligan, Roger, Dublin, armourer of R. Engineers
1757 - Mullegan, James, Ballymahon, Co. Longford, dealer
1764 - Mullegan, Francis, Dublin, Gent
1772 - Milikin, John, Dublin, silk weaver
1778 - Mulligan, John, Mullymintian, Co. Meath, miller
1786 - Mullegan, Elinor, Firbane, King’s Co., widow
1792 - Mulligan, Mary, Ship St, Dublin, spinster
1800 - Mulligan, Arthur, Dublin, Gent
1809 - Mulligan, Nicholas, Dublin
Index of Intestators to 1800 (prepared by William Betham)
Mullegan, Roger , Dublin, Armour of the Royal Engineers; granted March 14, 1727, to Alice Hartwell, widow and Elizabeth Mullegan of Dublin, the daughter, minor
Millegan, James, Ballymahon, Co. Longford; granted Oct 27, 1757, to Bridget Millegan the widow
Mullegan, Francis, Gent of Dublin; granted June 18, 1764, to Anne Mullegan the widow
Milikin, John, Dublin, silk weaver; granted May 4, 1772, to Sidney Milikin the widow
Mullegan, John, millar, Mullifiarhan, Co. Meath; granted Dec 26, 1778, Catherine Mullegan, cousin
Mullegan, Elinor, widow of Firbane; granted Mar 22, 1786, to John Lyons, King's Co., son
Mullegan, Mary, Ship St, Dublin; granted Aug 18, 1792, to Catherine Mulligan, wife of Thomas Philips, the sister
Mullegan, Arthur, Dublin, Gent; granted July 5, 1800, Mary Mulligan, wife of Thomas Curtis, the sister
CONSISTORIAL COURT OF DUBLIN
Wills 1536-1858
Probate
1662 - Mullegan, John, High St., Dublin, merchant, letters of acquittance
1723 - Millikin, Gyan, Clarkstown, Co Dublin
1777 - Mullagin, William, Half-mile House, Cabragh
1781 - Mulligan, Edward, Great George’s St., Dublin
1783 - Mulligan, Sarah, New Row, Dublin, widow
1783 - Mulligan, Thomas, New Row, Dublin, shoemaker
1800 - Millikin, John, Dublin, merchant
1805 - Millikin, John
Admin Intestacy 1636-1858
Grant
1661 - Mulligan, John, High St., Dublin
1731 - Mulligan, Phelim, Co. Wicklow, farmer
1755 - Mullegan, Patrick, Dublin, aledraper
1783 - Mulligan, John, Dublin
1848 - Milliken, Michael, Monkstown, Co Dublin, carpenter
CONSISTORIAL COURT OF LEIGHLIN
Wills 1652-1800
Probate
1757 - Mulligan, Richard, Rathvilly, Co. Carlow
CONSISTORIAL COURT OF CONNER
Wills 1637-1857
Probate
1643 - Millikine, Robert, Belfast*
1721 - Milliken, John, Donegore*
1753 - Mulligan, James, Donegore
1754 - Mulligan, James, Lisburn*
1759 - Milligan, Gilbert, Belfast
1760 - Mulligan, Eliz., Lisburn*
1765 - Mulligan, Alice, Belfast
1765 - Milligan, Robert, Drummaul
1813 - Mulligan, Jane, Donegore [d.1786]
1795 - Millikin, Thomas, Killead
1796 - Milliken, Thomas, Belfast
1796 - Mulligan, James, Cranfield
1807 - Mulligan, Alex., Drummaul
1809 - Milliken, William, Drumramer
1823 - Milliken, John, Carnmoney
1831 - Milliken, Samuel, Killead
1837 - Mulligan, James, Islandmagee
1841 - Miliken, Jane, Inver
1842 - William Milliken, Ballylinney
1842 - Milligan, Samuel, Lisburn
1846 - Milliken, Thomas, Islandmagee
1857 - Milliken, Thomas, Muckamore*
Adm. Bonds 1636-1857
Grant
1717 - Millikin, Jane, Antrim
1718 - Muligan, Robert, Derriaghy*
1719 - Mulligin, John, Carrickfergus
1719 - Mulikan, John, Ballee*
1722 - Mullegan, John, Donegore
1736 - Mulligan, John, Ahoghill
1751 - Milligan, Agnes, Grogan
1755 - Milligan, James, Donegore
1851 - Milliken, John, Whiteabbey
CONSISTORIAL COURT OF DOWN
Wills 1646-1858
Probate
1712 - Millikine, Robert, cloathier, Ballyholme*
1752 - Milliken, Hugh, Newton[ards]
1774 - Millikan, William, Braniel
1785 - Mulligan, John, Drumconnelly
1800 - Millikin, Hugh, farmer, Ballywoollen, d. 1800
1801 - Milican, William, Donaghadee
1814 - Millikin, James, Ravara
1818 - Milliken, James, Ballyskeagh
1819 - Milligan, James, farmer, Antanagh
1823 - Milligan or Milliken, James, farmer, Ballyskeagh*
1825 - Milligan, Elizabeth, spinster, Knockbride[1]
1828 - Miliken, Mary, widow, Newtownards
1841 - Milligan, Jane, spinster, Crossgar
1849 - Milliken, Hugh, farmer, Ballyrogan
1854 - Milliken, David, farmer, Ballyskeagh*
1856 - Milliken, Samuel, junior, merchant in Philadelphia[2]
Note:
1. Formerly of Gill Hall.
2. Also of Murlfield in the parish of Ballyphilip.
Adm. Bonds 1635-1858
Grant
1738 - Milikan, John, Downpatrick
CONSISTORIAL COURT OF DROMORE (includes Newry & Mourne)
Wills 1678-1858
Probate
1717 - Mulligan, Joseph, Tullyconnaught (sic. Tullydonough), p. Seapatrick
1718-19* - Millikin, James, Moyallan (sic Monallan), p. Tullylish
1729 - Mulligan, John, Corbet, p. Magherally
1747 - Mulligan, Samuel, Balleevy, p. Seapatrick
1783 - Mulligan, James, Tullyconnaught
1786 - Mulligan, Samuel, Balleevy
1788 - Mulligan, James, Ballylone, p. Magheradrool
1793 - Mulligan, William, Tullyconnaught
1796 - Mulligan, James, Tullyconnaught
1803 - Mulligan, Joseph, Tullyconnaught
1805 - Mulligan, William, Tullinisky, p. Garvaghy
1813 - Mulligan, James, Balleevy
1821 - Mulligan, James, Rathfryland (late of Ballynafoy, p. Annaclone)
1822 - Mulligan, Catherine, Tullyconnaught
1824 - Mulligan, Elizabeth, Balleevy
1824 - Mulligan, Mary, Tullyconnaught (sic. Tullyconet)
1824 - Mulligan, Robert, Castlevennon, p. Garvaghy
1825 - Mulligan, Gilbert, Killaney, p. Garvaghy
1827* - Mulligan, Joseph, Tullyconnaught (lodged 1827)
1829 - Mulligan, George, Tullyconnaught
1830 - Mulligan, John, Tullyconnaught
1831 - Mulligan, Hugh, Ballydrumman, p. Drumgooland
1833 - Mulligan, James, Tullyconnaught
1833 - Mulligan, Jane, Tullyconnaught
1833 - Mulligan, Joseph, Killaney
1833* - Mulligan, Sarah, Tullyconnaught (lodged 1839)
1835 - Mulligan, John, Dromorebrague, p. Aghaderg (also dated 1836)
1836 - Lindsay alias Mulligan, Sarah, Moneyrea, p. Comber (formerly of Tullyhinan, p. Magherally)
1836 - Mulligan, Rev. John, Lurganville, p. Moria
1838* - Mulligan, Gilbert, Killaney
1842 - Mulligan, Robert, Ballynafoy
1843 - Milligan, Samuel, Loughans, p. Tullylish
1846 - Mulligan, Mary Balleevy
1853 - Mulligan, Andrew, Balleevy
Adm. 1742-1858
Grant
1761 - Mulligan, Roger
1830 - Mulligan, Crawford
1830 - Mulligan, George A., Tullyconnaught
1842 - Mulligan, Maria, Tullyconnaught
CONSISTORIAL COURT OF DERRY
Wills 1612-1858
Probate
1798 - Mullighan, Margaret
CONSISTORIAL COURT OF ARMAGH
Wills 1677-1858 (Co. Armagh)
Probate
1721 - Mulligan, George, Druminis, prob. August 20th
1727 - Mulligan, James, Armagh, prob. August 22nd
1738 - Mulligan, John, Tullynancally, prob. December 1st
1764 - Mulligan, Bryan, Magherclogharry, prob. February 16th
1770 - Milligan, Mary, prob. January 14th
1776 - Mulligan, John, Mountnorris, prob. May 13th
[blank] Mulligan, Thomas, Cormeen, prob. May 2nd
1814 - Mulligan, Terrance, Maghercloyharry
1814 - Mulligan, William, Tullycalliday, prob. October 27th
1821 - Mulligan, Bernard, Drumfergus, prob. September 6th
1823 - Milligan, James, Tamnaghmore, prob. December 4th
1827 - Milligan, Gilbert, Ballybrawley, prob. June 7th
1831 - Mulligan, John, Tullycalliday, prob. July 28th
1835 - Milligan, William, Cranagill, prob. May 26th
Wills 1677-1858 (Co. Tyrone)
Probate
1776 - Mulligan, William, Drumigh, prob. November 28th
1798 - Milligan, Alexander, Kilshaugh, prob. December 29th
1818 - Mulligan, Robert, Carrowcalmow, prob. April 7th
1828 - Milligan, Thomas, Terryscollop
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