People of Belfast, 1600-1799

The transformation of Belfast from a small village to a significant city began when it was granted a Royal Charter in 1613, thereby making it semi-autonomous and allowing economic expansion to occur. At that date the population is reckoned to have been around 1,000; two centuries later the population had grown to around 22,000. This book from Dr. David Dobson identifies residents of Belfast living during the 17th and 18th centuries, and is based mainly on primary sources in Ireland, Scotland, England, and elsewhere. Researchers will find a list of those sources at the back of the volume.