The convert rolls

Catholics were restricted from owning property, voting and other civil rights during the 1700's. Some of them renounced their religion, converting to the Church of Ireland in order to enjoy such rights. Besides taking the sacrament in the Church of Ireland, they were required to file a certificate in a court of law. These Convert ceritficates were kept in the Chancery Court Rolls Office until 1867, at which time they were transferred to the Public Records Office. The actual rolls were destroyed by the fire in 1922, but they had been calendared and recorded.