Here are the results for the letter p

PALATINES

Families from the Palatinate of the Rhine who settled in Co. Limerick early in the eighteenth century.

PALE

A term for the area of Dublin, its immediate hinterland and a stretch of the east coast down to the south-east corner which was fairly successful in resisting increasing Gaelicisation up to the 16th century. The varieties of English in this area still show features which stem from late medieval Irish English whereas those further west in the country show greater evidence of influence from Irish, the native language before the switch-over to English.

PALE, THE

The Pale: The district centred on Dublin under the full control of the government of the King of England. It varied greatly in extent as the power of the English waxed and waned. At the end of the fifteenth century it comprised only Co. Dublin and parts of Louth, Meath and Kildare.

PATENT

A government grant of property in fee simple to public lands; land grant.

PATENT ROLLS

English records of letters patent.

PATRONYMIC

A name deriving from a father or other male ancestor.

PAWNBROKERS

A pawnbroker is an individual or business (pawnshop or pawn shop) that offers secured loans to people, with items of personal property used as collateral. The word pawn is derived from the Latin pignus, for pledge, and the items having been pawned to the broker are themselves called pledges or pawns, or simply the collateral.

PEPPERCORN FINE

A very low or nominal rent.

PER POLL TANTUM

Literally - by deed poll only. This indicated that the land was held by agreement between landlord and tenant, but that the agreement had not been put in the form off a lease. It was not indented as leases were, but was polled or cut evenly. It was a short term agreement. See also durante bene placito.

PER STRIPES

A method of dividing an estate so that children act as a group, rather than individually, taking what their deceased ancestor was entitled to

PERPRESTURE

An illegal encroachment upon royal property.

PICTS

Pertaining to the Picts, pre-Celtic people of north Britain, from the Late Latin Picti, meaning painted men.

PIKE

The weapon of the United Irishmen. Secretly forged by blacksmiths, pike-heads were fixed to 9ft wooden handles. They cost on average 1 shilling each. Generally a spear-like weapon with a hook on one side for cutting through the bridle and reins of the cavalry. The "Kildare Pike" had an axe-like blade on the opposite side

PIPE ROLL

Record of the completed payments by sheriffs and other revenue collectors. It was maintained by the clerk of the pipe who under the ancient course issued the final discharge (quietus est) to sheriffs and other revenue collectors. The controller of the pipe (second engrosser) kept a counter roll and sent out summons to levy undischarged rents, farms and other debts. At the end of every term of Easter and Michaelmas the controller of the pipe was required to make out the summons for the next term. These were the Writs of the Summons of the Pipe. Accompanying these writs, Issued twice a year, was a roll which was a transcript from the pipe roll of the charges of the farms, debts and arrears for which the sheriffs and other revenue officials were accountable

PLANTATION

The redistribution of escheated lands after the defeat of the Ulster Gaelic lords and the "Flight of the Earls" in 1607. Donegall, Derry, Tyrone, Armagh, Fermanagh and Cavan were planted. Portions of land were distributed among English and Scottish chief undertakers and undertakers. They were responsible for settling English and Scottish families on these lands and for the building of bawns.

PLANTATIONS

The enforced settlement of colonists on Irish soil; contrary to public belief, the first plantations were undertaken by the Catholic Queen Mary ("Bloody Mary") in 1549, the area was Laois and Offaly.

PLANTER

One who acquired lands during the Ulster Plantation Settlement.

PLOWBOOT

The right to cut down timber for the construction of ploughs.

POITIN

(Pronounced "paw-cheen"). The untaxed whiskey produced in many a hill or glen in an illegal still. Also called "the mountain dew," "moonshine" and "a drop of the creature" (pronounced "cray-chur" or "cray-thur").

POOR LAW VALUATION

This was a valuation of all the property in Ireland and was instigated as a means of raising taxes (rates) to support the system of Poor Law which had been in place in the country since 1830. It was this Poor Law system that ran the workhouses and some hospitals of Ireland. It also administered outdoor relief to the needy and oversaw many of the Famine Relief projects.

POOR RATE

The poor rate was a tax on property levied on the parish which was used to provide poor relief to the parish poor. The tax was collected by local magistrates or Overseers of the Poor, and later by Local Authorities.

POSTHUMOUS

Born after father's death

POTEEN

(Pronounced "paw-cheen"). The untaxed whiskey produced in many a hill or glen in an illegal still. Also called "the mountain dew," "moonshine" and "a drop of the creature" (pronounced "cray-chur" or "cray-thur").

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Written instrument where on persons, as principal, appoints someone as his or her agent, thereby authorizing that person to perform certain acts on behalf of the principal, such as buying or selling property, settling an estate, representing them in court, etc.

PREPONDERANCE OF EVIDENCE

Evidence of greater weight or more convincing than the opposing evidence; evidence more credible and convincing, more reasonable and probable, and can be circumstantial in nature.

PRIMA NOCTA

First Night - Rights used by English nobles and Lords of the Manor to have sexual rights to the wife of a man newly married on the night of their wedding. The right was re introduced during the reign of Edward l, to keep in line Scottish pessants.

PRIMARY EVIDENCE

Original or first-hand evidence; the best evidence available that must be used before secondary evidence can be introduced as proof.

PRIMARY RECORD

A record created at the time of the event (birth, marriage, death, etc.) as opposed to records written years later

PRIMOGENITOR

The earliest known ancestor or forefather

PRIMOGENITURE

The right of the eldest child (especially the son) to inherit the estate of both parents

PROBATE

1. e action or process of proving in a court of law that a document offered for official recognition and registration as the last will and testament of a deceased person is genuine. 2. The officially authenticated copy of a probated will

PROBATE

A term commonly used when talking about applying for the right to deal with a deceased person's affairs. It's sometimes called administering the estate. The legal establishment of the validity of a will.

PROGENITOR

An ancestor in the direct line, forefather

PROGENITOR

An originator of a line of descent, frequently used in reference to the immigrant ancestor

PROGENY

Children

PROTHONOTARY

Chief clerk of the court who entered pleadings in the court records.

PROVINCE

A province is a territorial unit, almost always an administrative division within a country. Ireland comprises of four provinces Ulster, Munster, Leinster and Connaught with each province being made up of a number of counties.

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