Book review: Envoy Extraordinary: Professor Smiddy of Cork

Abstract

highlighted as potential sources for genealogical research. Another fascinating insight into real lives lived is a vignette taken from the London Gazette dated 24 April 1679. A Scottish minister called Lawry from Fermanagh was pardoned for killing three notorious ‘Tories’. Allegedly, Lawry was almost shot in the incident but avoided injury as one of his accomplices managed to chop the hand off of the person aiming at him (p. 200). Similarly, Roulston’s description of the annotations of election poll books indicates the rich spoils for those willing to engage in such detailed research. For example, in the 1753 Armagh poll book, Robert Jones was objected to for ‘being seen at mass and giving offerings to the priests’ (p. 180). Perhaps the greatest addition to this updated version of Roulston’s guide is chapter thirteen, which explains how families can delve into records concerning emigration from Ulster. As Roulston admits, there is a significant dearth of evidence as, until 1890, no official attempt was made to record the names of those who left Ireland. Nonetheless, there are places where some information might be found. A section on background reading suggests useful avenues for readers to explore to understand the broader context. A further section details how contemporary newspapers like the Belfast News-Letter occasionally printed letters by passengers expressing their gratitude to various captains for bringing them to America safely. Roulston also suggests that some evidence may be contained in leases and petitions to landlords as often they contain references to tenants about to emigrate or name people that have already left the estate. While this may seem like an exercise in finding a needle in a haystack, the task appears much more manageable thanks to Roulston’s handy appendix that details the most prominent estate collections that concern Ulster landlords. Any amateur genealogist or local historian of Ulster will find this book immensely valuable. It provides a key to unlock the treasure trove contained in the Irish archival record. If any criticism can be made of the book it is that it slightly undersells itself. Although Researching Ulster Ancestors is specifically tailored towards research about Ulster, any genealogist, undergraduate or new postgraduate student would find this book a useful introduction into many of Ireland’s key archives. Those seeking inspiration for potential final-year undergraduate or postgraduate dissertation topics could find some ideas perusing these pages indicating the breadth and depth of Roulston’s expertise and work. In short, this is an excellent work that will prove invaluable to future generations of family historians eager to understand their Ulster roots and budding historians about to embark on their research careers.