Tithe was a tax on all agricultural land (originally one tenth of the produce) excepting only church lands, glebes and urban areas and was paid by leaseholders and occupiers of all religious denominations to the clergy of the Established Church of Ireland. There was growing resentment against this tax, especially by Presbyterians and Catholics, particularly in the period of distress after 1815 and the government was forced to give way and introduce the Tithe Composition Act 1823 which replaced payment in kind by payment in cash.
In order to effect this change, all agricultural land across the country was required to be surveyed and applotted, or valued. During the period 1823 to 1837, a Tithe Applotment Survey was made in each civil parish across the whole of Ireland to determine the value of tithe payable by different landholders. Two people were appointed by each parish to carry out this assessment. The material was arranged by civil parish and townland in volumes known as TITHE APPLOTMENT BOOKS.
In some parishes more than one survey was taken, whilst in others the manuscript has not survived. The books for all Ireland, compiled between 1823 and 1837, are now deposited in the National Archives of Ireland, Dublin and Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI).
PRONI holds the tithe books for all but 31 of the 273 parishes then surveyed in Northern Ireland. These tithe books are arranged by townland and record the names of leaseholders, the area of their farm subject to tithe, sometimes the quality of the land and an overall valuation and occasionally the names of landlords. Researchers should be aware that cottiers who did not hold land are not recorded, and unaccountably, some types of land were passed over entirely; a field of potatoes attracted a tithe payment in one parish, but not in that adjoining.
Those researchers who are fortunate to locate a forebear in the Tithe Applotment Books may find it possible to take their research back a further generation prior to Griffiths Valuation.
OFFICIAL TOWNLANDS WITHIN MAGILLIGAN PARISH
| Townland | Townland | Townland | Townland |
| Aughil | Avish | Ballyleighery Upper | Ballymaclary |
| Ballymagoland | Ballymulholland | Ballymultimber | Ballyscullion |
| Bellarena | Benone | Carnowry | Carrowreagh |
| Clagan | Clooney | Craig | Croaghan |
| Doaghs Upper | Drumahorgan | Drumavally | Drummans Middle |
| Drumnahay | Duncrun | Glebe exclusive of | Gort part of Glebe |
| Gortmore | Lenamore | Margymonaghan | Mill Town |
| Minearny | Oughtymore | Oughtymoyle | Scotchtown |
| Tamlaght | Tircreven | Woodtown |
TOWNLANDS & SUBDENOMINATIONS SUBJECT TO TITHING AS RECORDED IN THE TITHE APPLOTMENT BOOK
| Townland | Townland | Townland | Townland |
| Ballycarton | Ballyleaghry | Ballymaclary | Ballymagolan Lower |
| Ballymagolan Upper | Ballymiltimber | Ballymulholland | Ballyscullion |
| Belarena | Beneveny | Benone | Carnowry |
| Cleggan | Cloany | Craig | Doaghs Lower |
| Doaghs Lower Middle | Doaghs Upper | Doaghs Upper Middle | Drumahorgan |
| Drumavally | Drummons Lower | Drummons Middle | Drummons Upper |
| Drumnahay | Duncrun North | Duncrun South | Evish |
| Garrareagh | Gortmore | Lenamor | Margymonaghan |
| Menerney | Oghill | Oughtymoil | Oughtymore |
| Scotchtown | Tamlaght | Tircreevan | Umbry |
| Woodtown |
THE MAGILLIGAN TITHE APPLOTMENT BOOK
***MANY ENTRIES ARE DIFFICULT TO DECIPHER: ORIGINAL SPELLING HAS BEEN RETAINED***
| SURNAME | FIRSTNAME | TOWNLAND |
| ALLISON | Saml. | Drumnahay |
| AULL | John | Ballyscullion |
| AULL | Robert | Ballyscullion |
| AULL | Wm. | Ballyscullion |
| BEALEY | Wm. | Ballymiltimber |
| BEGLEY | Chas. | Ballymiltimber |
| BEGLEY | Chas. | Drumavally |
| BEGLEY | Chas. | Lenamore |
| BEGLEY | Chas., Junr. | Ballyscullion |
| BEGLEY | Michl. | Ballyscullion |
| BEGLEY | Michl. | Drumavally |
| BEGLEY | Michl. | South Duncrun |
| BEGLEY | Patk. | Ballymiltimber |
| BEGLEY | Peter | Ballymiltimber |
| BEGLEY | William | Cloany |
| BEGLEY | Wm. | Ballyleaghry |
| BLACK | George | Tircreevan |
| BLAIR | Hugh | Ballymaclary |
| BLAIR | Thomas | Ballymaclary |
| BOYLE | Hugh | South Duncrun |
| BOYLE | James | South Duncrun |
| BOYLE | William | South Duncrun |
| BROUSTER | Wm. | Ballyleaghry |
| BULLION | John | Tamlaght |
| BULLION | Widow | Ballyleaghry |
| BUTCHER | James | Lenamore |
| BUTCHER | Robt. | Drumavally |
| BUTLER | Rev. Saml. | Margymonaghan |
| CALDWELL | Alexr. | Tircreevan |
| CALDWELL | John | Ballyleaghry |
| CALDWELL | John | Tircreevan |
| CAMPBELL | John | Gortmore |
| CAMPBELL | John | Oghill |
| CAMPBELL | William | Ballymaclary |
| CAMPBELL | Wm. | Oghill |
| CANNON | George | Ballymaclary |
| CANNON | Patk. | Oughtymore |
| CANNON | Wd. Rose | Cloany |
| CATHER, MOODY & TYLER | Messrs. | Umbry |
| CHURCH | James | Gortmore |
| CHURCH | Mr. Thomas | Ballymaclary |
| CHURCH | Mr. Thomas | Oghill |
| CLARKE | Martin | Ballymiltimber |
| COLGAN | Mrs? | Drumavally |
| COLLINS | Hugh | Drumnahay |
| COLLINS | Thomas | Ballymaclary |
| COLLINS | Wd. | Cleggan |
| CONN | Edw. & son | Lower Doaghs |
| CONN | Edwd. & Wm. Conn | Lower Ballymagolan |
| CONN | George | Upper Ballymagolan |
| CONN | Hugh | Lower Ballymagolan |
| CONN | Wm. & Edwd. Conn | Lower Ballymagolan |
| CONNELL | David | Tamlaght |
| CONNELL | John | Oghill |
| CONNELL | John | Tamlaght |
| CONWAY | M. & M. Poyle | Cleggan |
| COYLE | Daniel | Ballyscullion |
| COYLE | Hugh | Craig |
| CRAMPSEY | Ross | Drumahorgan |
| CRAMPSEY | Wd. Isabella | Drumahorgan |
| CRAMPSEY | Wm. | Drumahorgan |
| CRAWFORD | Anne | Upper Drummons |
| CUMMINS | Saml. | Tircreevan |
| CUMMINS | Wd. James | Tircreevan |
| CUNNINGHAM | John, Junr. | Gortmore |
| CUNNINGHAM | John, Senr. | Gortmore |
| CUNNINGHAM | Matt. | Gortmore |
| CUST | Henry | Ballymaclary |
| CUST | Mrs | Lenamore |
| DAVIES | Geo. | Upper Doaghs |
| DAVIES | Robt. | Tircreevan |
| DEENY | Alexr. & Wd. Jane Deeny | Upper Doaghs |
| DEENY | Alexr. Deeny & Wd. Jane Deeny | Ballymaclary |
| DEENY | Wd. Jane & Alexr. Deeny | Ballymaclary |
| DEENY | Wd. Jane & Alexr. Deeny | Upper Doaghs |
| DEIGHAN | James | Ballymaclary |
| DEIGHAN | James | Upper Doaghs |
| DEIGHAN | Neil | Upper Middle Doaghs |
| DOGHERTY | Conn | Oghill |
| DOGHERTY | Conn, Jas. Dogherty & Hen. Dogherty | South Duncrun |
| DOGHERTY | Daniel & Hu. Dogherty | Oghill |
| DOGHERTY | Danl. | Margymonaghan |
| DOGHERTY | Danl. | Upper Ballymagolan |
| DOGHERTY | Danl. | Upper Doaghs |
| DOGHERTY | Edwd. | Menerney |
| DOGHERTY | Geo. & Wm. Dogherty | Oughtymore |
| DOGHERTY | Geo. & Wm. Dogherty | Upper Ballymagolan |
| DOGHERTY | Geo., Junr. | South Duncrun |
| DOGHERTY | George | Cloany |
| DOGHERTY | Hen. & Geo. Dogherty (beg) | South Duncrun |
| DOGHERTY | Hen., Jas. Dogherty & Conn Dogherty | South Duncrun |
| DOGHERTY | Henry (beg) | South Duncrun |
| DOGHERTY | Hu. & Daniel Dogherty | Oghill |
| DOGHERTY | Hugh | Margymonaghan |
| DOGHERTY | James, Junr. | Oughtymore |
| DOGHERTY | Jas., Conn Dogherty & Hen. Dogherty | South Duncrun |
| DOGHERTY | John | Cloany |
| DOGHERTY | John | Upper Middle Doaghs |
| DOGHERTY | John, Senr. | Oughtymore |
| DOGHERTY | Michl. | Ballymaclary |
| DOGHERTY | Richd. | Ballymulholland |
| DOGHERTY | Thomas | Oughtymore |
| DOGHERTY | Wd. Margaret | Tircreevan |
| DOGHERTY | Wm. | Ballyscullion |
| DOGHERTY | Wm. | Cloany |
| DOGHERTY | Wm. | Tircreevan |
| DOGHERTY | Wm. & Geo. Dogherty | Upper Ballymagolan |
| DOGHERTY | Wm. & Geo. Dogherty & | Oughtymore |
| DORAN | Patk. | Upper Drummons |
| DOUGHERTY | Francis | Ballyscullion |
| DOUGHERTY | Geo. (beg) & Hen. Dogherty | South Duncrun |
| DOUGHERTY | John | Margymonaghan |
| DOUGHERTY | John | North Duncrun |
| DOUGHERTY | Wm. | North Duncrun |
| EAGLESON | Mr. | Evish |
| EATON | Geo. & James Eaton | Ballyleaghry |
| EATON | James & Thos. Eaton | Ballyleaghry |
| EATON | James & Thos. Eaton | Ballyleaghry |
| EATON | Jas. & Geo. Eaton | Ballyleaghry |
| EATON | Thos. & James Eaton | Ballyleaghry |
| FARREN | Danl. & James McCorristan | Upper Drummons |
| FARREN | John | Upper Drummons |
| FARSON | Geo. | Ballymiltimber |
| FARSON | Paul | Ballymiltimber |
| FARSON | Wd. | Ballymiltimber |
| FARSON | Wm. | Ballymiltimber |
| FLEMING | Conolly | Drumavally |
| FLEMING | John | Carnowry |
| FLEMING | John | Tircreevan |
| FLEMING | Wm. | Ballyleaghry |
| FLEMING | Wm. | Drumnahay |
| FORSYTH | John | Woodtown |
| FORSYTHE | Mr. Jacob | Gortmore |
| GAGE | Conolly, Esqr. | Belarena |
| GAGE | Conolly, Esqr. | North Duncrun |
| GAGE | Conolly, Esqr. | Scotchtown |
| GAGE | Conolly, Esqr. | Tamlaght |
| GAGE | Conolly. Esq. | Beneveny |
| GALNAUGH | John | Ballyscullion |
| GALNAUGH | Wd. | South Duncrun |
| GILLAND | Jas. & Thos. Gilland | Ballyleaghry |
| GILLAND | Thos. & Jas. Gilland | Ballyleaghry |
| GILLEN | James | Cloany |
| GLENN | John | Tircreevan |
| HASSEN | George | Oughtymore |
| HASSEN | James | Upper Middle Doaghs |
| HAVLIN | Michl. | Upper Drummons |
| HEALY | John | Drumnahay |
| HEANY | James | Ballymulholland |
| KEAN | George | Drumavally |
| KEAN | James | Cloany |
| KEAN | John | Cloany |
| KEAN | John | Drumavally |
| KEAN | John | Lenamore |
| KEAN | John | Oghill |
| KEAN | Owen | North Duncrun |
| KEAN | Richd. | Cleggan |
| KEAN | Richd. | Drumnahay |
| KEAN | Wd. Elizth | Tircreevan |
| KELLEY | John | Gortmore |
| KELLEY | John | North Duncrun |
| KELLEY | Robert | Ballyscullion |
| KENNEDY | Andw. | South Duncrun |
| KILCRIEST | James | Upper Doaghs |
| KILCRIEST | Wm. | Ballymaclary |
| KILCRIEST | Wm. | Upper Doaghs |
| KILMERY | George | Ballyscullion |
| KILMERY | John | Ballymiltimber |
| LAFFERTY | James | Ballymiltimber |
| LAFFERTY | James | Margymonaghan |
| LAFFERTY | James | Upper Middle Doaghs |
| LAFFERTY | John | Ballymiltimber |
| LAFFERTY | Patrick | Lower Ballymagolan |
| LAFFERTY | Wm. | Ballyscullion |
| LAFFERTY | Wm. | Lenamore |
| LEAN | Benjamin | Ballycarton |
| LECK | Francis | Ballymiltimber |
| LECK | George | South Duncrun |
| LECK | John | Upper Middle Doaghs |
| LECKY | Averell, Esq. | Craig |
| LEE | George | Middle Drummons |
| LINTON | Wm. | Oughtymoil |
| MAGEE | Denis | Drumnahay |
| MAGEE | George | Cleggan |
| MAGEE | John | Ballymaclary |
| MAGEE | John | North Duncrun |
| MAGEE | Philip & Robt. Magee | North Duncrun |
| MAGEE | Robt. & Philip Magee | North Duncrun |
| MARTIN | Robt. | Ballymiltimber |
| McANALLY | Wd. Eleanor | Upper Ballymagolan |
| McANALLY | Wd. Nancy | Upper Ballymagolan |
| McCALLION | Daniel | Cloany |
| McCALLION | John | Cloany |
| McCALLION | John | Upper Ballymagolan |
| McCALLION | Patk. | Tircreevan |
| McCLAREY | John & sons | Lower Drummons |
| McCLARY | James | Umbry |
| McCLARY | John | Benone |
| McCLOSKEY | Thomas | North Duncrun |
| McCOLGAN | Chas. | Gortmore |
| McCOLGAN | John | Upper Drummons |
| McCOLGAN | Michl. | Upper Drummons |
| McCORMICK | James | South Duncrun |
| McCORMICK | John | Ballyscullion |
| McCORRISTAN | Danl. | Upper Doaghs |
| McCORRISTAN | Danl. | Upper Middle Doaghs |
| McCORRISTAN | Edw. | Craig |
| McCORRISTAN | James & Danl. Farren | Upper Drummons |
| McCORRISTAN | John | Upper Middle Doaghs |
| McCRACKEN | Alexr. | Upper Ballymagolan |
| McCRACKEN | Thos. | Upper Drummons |
| McCURDY | John | Ballymaclary |
| McDERMOTT | Edwd. | Drumahorgan |
| McDERMOTT | Edwd. | Woodtown |
| McFADDEN | John | Drumnahay |
| McFEELEY | John | Oghill |
| McGEEHAN | James | Cleggan |
| McGEEHAN | James | Tamlaght |
| McGRANAGHAN | Geo. & R. McGranaghan | Oughtymoil |
| McGRANAGHAN | Paul | Oughtymoil |
| McGRANAGHAN | R. & Geo. McGranaghan | Oughtymoil |
| McGRANAGHAN | Wd. Jane | Tircreevan |
| McGUIGAN | Bryan | Ballymulholland |
| McKEAGUE | Archd. | Cloany |
| MCLAUGHLAN | Widow | Ballyscullion |
| McLAUGHLIN | Geo. | Margymonaghan |
| McLAUGHLIN | George | Ballyscullion |
| McLAUGHLIN | Henry | Tircreevan |
| McLAUGHLIN | James | Cleggan |
| McLAUGHLIN | Jas. & John McLaughlin | North Duncrun |
| McLAUGHLIN | John | Ballyleaghry |
| McLAUGHLIN | John & Jas. McLaughlin | North Duncrun |
| McLAUGHLIN | John & Mark McLaughlin | Ballyleaghry |
| McLAUGHLIN | Mark & John McLaughlin | Ballyleaghry |
| McLAUGHLIN | Neal | Ballyleaghry |
| McLAUGHLIN | Patk. | Oughtymore |
| McLAUGHLIN | Patk. | Upper Middle Doaghs |
| McLAUGHLIN | Patrick | Upper Ballymagolan |
| McLAUGHLIN | Philip | Drumnahay |
| McLAUGHLIN | Robert & John Quigley | Ballyscullion |
| McLAUGHLIN | Wd. Sarah | Oughtymore |
| McQUIGAN | James | Tircreevan |
| McSWINEY | Bryan | Upper Drummons |
| McSWINEY | John | Upper Middle Doaghs |
| McSWINEY | Patk., Junr. | Upper Drummons |
| McSWINEY | Paul | Upper Middle Doaghs |
| McSWINEY, Senr. | Patk. | Upper Drummons |
| MELLAN | James | Ballyscullion |
| MELLAN | John & Wm. Mellan | Lower Middle Doaghs |
| MELLAN | Wm. & John Mellan | Lower Middle Doaghs |
| MOODY | John | Cloany |
| MOODY | John | Lenamore |
| MOODY | Solomon | Lenamore |
| MOODY, TYLER & CATHER | Messrs. | Umbry |
| MOORE | Andrew | Tircreevan |
| MOORHEAD | Robt. | Upper Middle Doaghs |
| MORRISON | Matt. | Tircreevan |
| MULHOLLAND | Patk. | Tircreevan |
| MULHOLLAND | Robt. & Wd. Mulholland | Benone |
| MULHOLLAND | Wd. & Robt. Mulholland | Benone |
| MULLEN | Danl. | Drumnahay |
| NOLAN | Robert | Lower Middle Doaghs |
| O’BRIEN | Henry | Upper Drummons |
| O’BRIEN | John | Ballymaclary |
| O’BRIEN | John | Upper Doaghs |
| O’BRIEN | John | Upper Middle Doaghs |
| O’KEAN | John | Upper Ballymagolan |
| PAIN | John | Oughtymoil |
| PARK | Daniel | Oghill |
| POYLE | M. & M. Conway | Cleggan |
| QUIGLEY | John | Ballyscullion |
| QUIGLEY | John & Robert McLaughlin | Ballyscullion |
| QUIGLEY | Wm. | Margymonaghan |
| QUIN | John | Ballymiltimber |
| QUINN | James | Drumahorgan |
| QUINN | Michl. | Cloany |
| REDGATE | Wm. | Oghill |
| REYNOLDS | Fredk. | Upper Middle Doaghs |
| REYNOLDS | Geo. | Upper Middle Doaghs |
| REYNOLDS | John | Upper Middle Doaghs |
| REYNOLDS | Thos. | Garrareagh |
| ROBINSON | Geo. | Cleggan |
| ROBINSON | Geo. & Wm. Robinson | Tamlaght |
| ROBINSON | Wm. & Geo. Robinson | Tamlaght |
| ROSS | George | Oghill |
| ROSS | John | Lenamore |
| ROSS | Richd. | Upper Doaghs |
| ROSS | Thomas | Ballymulholland |
| ROSS | Wd. Sarah | Oghill |
| ROSS | William | Ballymulholland |
| RUDDEN | Danl. | Upper Doaghs |
| SHERRARD | Henry & James Sherrard | Middle Drummons |
| SHERRARD | James & Henry Sherrard | Middle Drummons |
| SHERRARD | Jo. & John Sherrard | Oughtymore |
| SHERRARD | John & Jo. Sherrard | Oughtymore |
| SHERRARD | Joseph | Upper Drummons |
| SMYTH | John | Oughtymore |
| SMYTH | Patk. | Ballyscullion |
| SMYTH | Samuel | Ballyleaghry |
| SUMMERS | Danl. | Drumnahay |
| SUMMERS | John & Wm. Summers | Ballymiltimber |
| SUMMERS | Wm. & John Summers | Ballymiltimber |
| SWINEY | Cornelius | Margymonaghan |
| TATE | James | North Duncrun |
| TATE | James | Woodtown |
| TATE | Mathew | Ballyleaghry |
| TONER | Edwd. | Ballymaclary |
| TONER | Edwd. | Upper Middle Doaghs |
| TOWNSEND | Geo. | Tircreevan |
| TYLER, CATHER & MOODY | Messrs. | Umbry |
| WRAY | Robert | Carnowry |
| WRAY | Samuel | Carnowry |
Commissioners:
William Patton, Culmore, Co. Londonderry and parish of Tamlaght Finlagan
Hugh Stephenson of Legnathraw in Parish of Taughboyne [Co. Donegal]
Dated 2nd September 1826