William Betham (1779–1853)

Sir William Betham (1779–1853) was an English-born Irish herald and antiquarian who held the office of Ulster King of Arms from 1820 until his death in 1853.

[3] He died suddenly on 26 October 1853, at his home in Rockford, County Dublin, having spent the previous day writing letters at the Office at Arms.

[4] Betham made genealogical notes from virtually all of the prerogative wills of Ireland from 1536–1800 and formed them into charts of pedigrees.

[6] Most of the prerogative wills of Ireland were later destroyed in the fire at the Public Records Office at Four Courts in Dublin during the Irish Civil War on 13 April 1922.

Betham’s original notebooks are now in the National Archives of Ireland and the Genealogical Office in Dublin has his sketch pedigrees based on his will abstracts.