Find your ancestors in James Alexander Henderson, The Belfast and Province of Ulster Directory for 1856

There are over 37,000 transcripts and images in this record set. While the amount of available information varies, most transcripts include the following:

  • First name(s)
  • Last name
  • Year
  • Town/street
  • County

Images often include additional information about your ancestor; for instance, by looking at the image for Mathew Robert Bell, you learn that he was an auctioneer and valuator living in Armagh on Russell Street. Images will often reveal information surrounding your ancestor’s occupation, society membership, and residence.

Discover more about these records

James Alexander Henderson began publishing directories of the Province of Ulster from the News-Letter offices in Belfast in 1852. It was Henderson’s intention, as he wrote in his preface to the reader in 1852, to “issue the Directory periodically, with such alterations and improvements as may be necessary, until the Work shall become a standard book of reference for Belfast and the North of Ireland.” He published these directories semi-regularly with this volume being the third edition, dated 1856. It includes extensive information about Belfast as well as covering all nine counties and towns of Ulster.

Additional information included in this directory:

  • A full street directory of Belfast and Ballymacarrett
  • An alphabetical list of inhabitants of Belfast
  • A trades directory for Belfast and one for every town and village throughout Ulster
  • A detailed breakdown of public and private institutions and societies in Belfast and Ulster
  • A full list of all administrative offices and military positions for every county
  • A descriptive introduction to all nine counties: Antrim, Armagh, Cavan, Donegal, Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry, Monaghan, and Tyrone