We nearly all know the story about the Fourcourts being burned down during the Civil War in 1922 and the priceless loss of records.
However in Tipperary we are extremely fortunate in that in
1911 Dr. Thomas Laffan made a copy of one such record that was destroyed in
1922 - known now as the Hearth Money Records - 1665-6-7.
It records a tax that was imposed on every fireplace in the
country and was "payable by practically all the householders in the
country. The exemptions, applicable only to the poorest of the people, were
granted too freely which led to amending the Act of 1665. Copies of the rolls
have been wholly or partially preserved for eleven counties in the north and
east of the country and for Co. Sligo, but for the rest of Ireland there are
none extant except those for Co. Tipperary". ( MacLysaght, North Munster
Studies, 533).
Out of interest I have combed the Hearth Money Rolls to see which Ryans had more than one Hearth or fireplace and therefore were in theory wealthier, the idea being the wealthier you were, the more likely you were connected back to Chiefly line of the Ryan Clan.
Pg 65
Thomas Ryan, Esq - Donaskeagh Townland
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