Identifying Bartholomew Oliver of Galway, Co. Galway, Ireland

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This piece of research is a proof argument and would be of interest to anyone researching the Irish. The report focuses on new techniques, searching for individuals in an urban population, and different types of Irish records.

The records I found reflect the character of working class Ireland in 19th century; rough. The records belong to one of the more interesting individuals I have encountered in my six plus years of genealogy, a man called Captain Bartholomew Oliver who lived in the City of Galway. I have posted about him greatly before and the pdf link provides a complete list of supplemental blog posts. As to intrigue readers, I wanted to spend a little time talking about the Petty Session Court Records of Ireland, available at findmypast.com

Findmypast.com located multiple incidents involving Capt. Bartholomew Oliver in the Petty Session Court Books. Ireland instituted a court known as the Petty Sessions from 1827-1924, which handled smaller incidents, much like the small claims court of America. The summons provide quality details about the famed Capt. Oliver that might have go unnoticed and seem to somehow fit with what appears on paper to be a tumultuous life.

Fig 1. On 20 Mar 1862, Bartholomew Oliver brought Stephen Joyce from Arran Island to court for piloting a ship without a license, specifically the “Elizabeth Ann of Sunderland”, thus disputing Captain Oliver who was able to prove his certification and offered to pilot said ship. The defendant was apparently dismissed on merit.[1]

Fig 2. Oliver is back in court again on 12 Oct 1864, this time for money. Robert Barclay owed Oliver two hundred pounds for salvage services performed four days prior on Barclay’s ship called “Nora” from Liverpool. The defendant did not appear in the court.[2]

Fig 3. Bartholomew Oliver was unlawfully assaulted by William McDonough of Galway on 29 Oct 1883 at the Galway Rouds [?] while on board a barque called Mars [?] of Glasgow. McDonough did not appear in court.[3]

These are only a few samples of what I uncovered. Please click on the link to read the full report.

[1] Bartholomew Oliver (20 Mar 1862), Petty Sessions Order Books CSPS 1/11749, case no. 504: digitized on Findmypast.com, Irish Petty Sessions Court Registers 1828-1912.

[2] Bartholomew Oliver (12 Oct 1864), Petty Sessions Order Books CSPS 1/11485, case no.62 (original number 608): digitized on Findmypast.com, Irish Petty Sessions Court Registers 1828-1912.

[3] Bartholomew Oliver (12 Nov 1883), Petty Sessions Order Books CSPS 1/11545, case no.341: digitized on Findmypast.com, Irish Petty Sessions Court Registers 1828-1912.