# Public Records (Ireland) Act 1867, Amendment Act 1875

Cited as: Public Records (Ireland) Act 1867 Amendment Bill, 38 & 39 Vict. c. 59
A Bill to amend the Public Records (Ireland) Act, 1867, and to make provision for keeping safely certain Parochial Records in Ireland.
To amend the Public Records (Ireland) Act, 1867, and to make provision for keeping safely certain Parochial Records in Ireland.
WHEREAS the registries of baptisms, marriages, and burials, and other parochial and diocesan records, books, and documents which at the time when the Church of Ireland ceased to be established by law were or ought to have been in the care or subject to the control of the officers of the said church are now under the care of several persons, and many of them are kept in unfit and unsafe buildings:
And whereas doubts have arisen as to whether the said several records, registries, and parochial documents are public records within the meaning and for the purposes of the "Public Records (Ireland) Act, 1867":
And whereas it is expedient to provide for the safe custody of the said records, registries, and parochial documents by the transfer thereof to the Public Record Office of Ireland, and to make such other provisions in relation thereto as are in this Act contained:
Be it therefore enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
1. This Act may be cited for all purposes as "The Public Records (Ireland) Act, 1867, Amendment Act, 1873."
2. This Act shall extend to Ireland only.
3. The Public Records (Ireland) Act, 1867, and this Act shall be read and construed as one Act.
4. In this Act:
* The expression "parochial officer" shall be taken to mean any rector, vicar, curate, parish clerk, diocesan registrar, or other parish officer of the Church of Ireland, holding such office on the thirty-first of December one thousand eight hundred and seventy, and any person since that date duly appointed or who hereafter may be duly appointed to succeed to the exercise and discharge of the functions of any such officer.
* The term "record" shall mean any diocesan or parochial record, minute of proceedings, paper, book, document, or registry, of or relating to any baptism, marriage, burial, or ordination, or other diocesan or parochial matter of a public nature.
* The expression "Master of the Rolls" shall mean the Master of the Rolls for the time being in Ireland.
* The expression "Record Office" shall mean the Public Record Office of Ireland.
* The term "transcript" shall mean a transcript or copy of any record made, authenticated, and deposited with any parochial officer under the authority of this Act.
5. Every record shall, from and after the passing of this Act, be under the charge and control of the Master of the Rolls, in the name and on behalf of Her Majesty, her heirs and successors, and shall be removed to the Record Office in manner by this Act provided.
6. The Master of the Rolls shall, as soon as conveniently may be, issue warrants directed to the several persons having the care of any record or records, ordering such persons to allow the same to be removed and deposited in the Record Office.
7. The removal of any record to the Record Office, by authority of the Master of the Rolls, shall not in any manner affect the authenticity or legal validity of such record.
8. The Master of the Rolls or Deputy Keeper of the Records may allow copies to be made of any of the said records at the request and costs of any person desirous of procuring the same. Such copies shall be examined and certified as true and authentic and sealed with the seal of the Record Office.
9. Every certified copy of a record, sealed with the seal of the Record Office, shall be received as evidence in any court of justice, before any legal tribunal, and before either House of Parliament or any committee thereof.
10. The Master of the Rolls shall cause a transcript of each removed record to be made and certified. These transcripts shall be deposited in the appropriate parish or diocesan register and shall take the place of the originals.
11. The parochial officer having custody of any transcript under this Act may allow its inspection and permit copies to be made upon request and payment of fees.
12. Every copy of or extract from a transcript, certified and signed by the parochial officer, shall be received as evidence in courts of law and before Parliament.
13. All expenses incurred in the execution of this Act shall be paid by the Commissioners of Her Majesty’s Treasury out of funds provided by Parliament.