Frances - re your question about Liber Vast transcripts:

I now have reasonable transcriptions of the Liber Vast for Michael (only) from 1627 to the 18th century. The only years missing are 1653,1654,1655 (need to check these) and 1670,1692,1694 (none of which exist in the original manuscript). The book for 1699 was very damaged and was not microfilmed. The handwriting in the early years (secretary hand) has taken me some practice to begin to understand. I mean to recheck those entries. I'm not aware of any reason why these transcriptions can't be extended back to the early 16th century.

I've also now transcribed the 17th century composition books for Michael. The 1643 book looks extremely useful for genealogy. It contains about 80 entries each typically giving several members of a family group and the relationships between them. Associated information allows us to tie these groups with a particular piece of land (or cottage etc.) and for three individuals to estimate the approximate year of death (within a band of around 10 years) and also for those still alive in 1691 their approximate birth year. (Nigel Crowe outlines these records in a page on MNB) Unfortunately despite their conciseness (around 15 relationships are listed on a typical page) they are horrible to read. (Besides using using old script they have a messy format containing multiple entries made at different times and some of the pages are so faded as to be nearly unreadable.) Maybe this is why I haven't come across any published transcripts. Below are 3 sample records. The messageboard has messed up my formatting so I've inserted a | to indicate the break between the left margin (where receipts are recorded) and the main entry.

When I've tidied all of these records up, I intend to make them freely available somehow. I'm not intending to look at other parishes.

5 Aug 1644 | Dollin Cannell for 1 qtr & Eighth [pte?] of }
Rcd paid 10s of | a qrter rente 18s 6d for the lives of } 33s 9d
Dollin Cannell | himselfe & of John his sun & Hughe his }
28 Aug 1644 Rec of | brother ------------------------------------- }
Wm his father 16s 9d |
18 March 1644 Rec paid 7s |

5 Feb 1644 | Phill Browne for 9d cottage & intack }
Rec 4s in pte | for the lyves of the said Phill & of Ellin } 5s
24 July 1644 | his mother & Anne his sister ---------------- }
rec 12d |

6 Aug 1644 | Rbt Cannell for 2 pls of a qtr rente 11s }
Rec paid 10s of | 4d for the Lves of the said Rbt & of Charles } 20s }
Robt Cannell | his brother & Anne his daughter ------------- } }
18 ? 1644 Recervdd | reservinge John Quayles right duringe } }
of Alice Creere & for | [his?] Lfe ---------------------------------- } }
Creere for 8d rent 18d | reserving the right of John Creere }
13 Octbr 1645 pd 13s 6d | for 8d rente and of Alice Creere his sister }
| Item for the third pte of a qter rent 5s 8d ------ } }
6 Aug | for the same lives reserving his brother Phill 10d } 10s }
Rec also 5s | right -------------------------------------------- }