Early Ontario Research – Upper Canada, 1791-1841

Presented by Janice Nickerson

Old Names for Ontario

Early Ontario Research, by Janice Nickerson, Page 1

Upper Canada Genealogy, 33 Isabella Street, Toronto, ON M4Y 2P7 416-920-2206

  • Canada English
  • Canada Eng
  • English Canada
  • Eng Canada
  • Canada West
  • CW
  • Upper Canada
  • U. Canada
  • U.C.

Early Ontario Research, by Janice Nickerson, Page 1

Upper Canada Genealogy, 33 Isabella Street, Toronto, ON M4Y 2P7 416-920-2206

Six Basic Types of Records

  1. Censuses
  2. Land Records
  3. Church Records
  4. Tax Records
  5. Wills and Estate Files
  6. Gravestone Inscriptions

For each record these notes will tell you where it’s located, the time period it covers, who is likely to be represented, what information you’re likely to find, and whether or not there is an index (when the record is not itself an index).

1.i. Pre-1842 Censuses

Where: / Various – Archives of Ontario, local archives, and libraries
When: / 1791 to 1842
Who: / Heads of households only in districts of Gore, Johnstown, Midland, Newcastle, Niagara and Ottawa.
What: / Typically names of heads of households, number of individuals in household, numbers of males and females over and under 16
Index: / A few scattered published and online, check with local OGS branch

1.ii. 1842 Census

Where: / Library and Archives Canada, Archives of Ontario, major libraries
When: / 1842
Who: / Heads of households only in most locations
What: / # of males 16+, males 16-, females 16+, females 16-, country of birth, years in colony, religious denomination, amount of land owned, house type, livestock and carriages owned.
Index: / Scattered published indexes, check with local OGS branch

2.i. Upper Canada Land Petitions

Where: / Library & Archives Canada, Archives of Ontario
When: / 1764 to 1867
Who: / Mostly new settlers asking for land
What: / Index has name of petitioner, date of petition, township name
Petitions often include place of origin, name of father/husband if claiming Loyalist grants, approximate date of arrival in province, reason for requesting grant
Covering page/envelope includes details of how the request was processed/approved/refused
Index: / Card index at LAC, on microfilm at AO, online at LAC

2.ii. Petitions to the Commissioner of Crown Lands

Where: / Archives of Ontario
When: / 1827 to 1856
Who: / Mostly new settlers asking for land
What: / Actual petition describing land requested, settler’s place of origin, length of residence in Canada, reason for request
Index: / No, but filed alphabetically

2.iii. Ontario Land Records Index

Where: / Archives of Ontario
When: / 1784 to 1870s
Who: / First land owners in Ontario
What: / Name of land owner, date of acquisition, location of the property, type of grant, source information

2.iv. Second Heir & Devisee Commission Index

Where: / Archives of Ontario website <www.archives.gov.on.ca>
When: / 1805–1911
Who: / Claimants to crown land properties when the original locatee died before receiving the patent.
What: / Name of claimant, date of claim, township in which property is located.
Actual file includes a vast array of information about the claimant, the original locate, and the property.

2.v. Abstract Index to Deeds

Where: / Various - Land Registry Offices, Local repositories, on microfilm from LDS, copies at Archives of Ontario
When: / Early 1800s to late 1900s
Who: / All land owners
What: / Document number, date of transaction, date of registration, type of transaction, grantor name, grantee name, description of relevant part of property, amount paid

3.i. Church marriage records before 1831

Where: / Anglican and Roman Catholic diocesan archives
When: / Before 1831
Who: / Majority of population
What: / Roman Catholic records usually include maiden names of mothers and the names of witnesses.
Anglican records often only record bride and groom’s names.
Usually place of residence of both bride and groom is recorded.
Index: / Many registers have indexes at front or back. Ottawa Anglican diocese has comprehensive electronic database of entire diocese.

3.ii. District Marriage Registers

Where: / Archives of Ontario
When: / 1831 to 1858 (some start earlier)
Who: / All church registers other than Anglican and Roman Catholic
What: / Names of bride and groom, residence, date and place of marriage, name of minister, names of witnesses.
Index: / Published in books for each district (District Marriage Registers of Upper Canada/Canada West (Ontario), compiled by Dan Walker (some volumes with Fawne Stratford-Devai, John Calder, Sharon Molotkow))

3.iii. Other Church Registers

Where: / Archives of each religious denomination, miscellaneous collections at Archives of Ontario, Library and Archives Canada, regional archives
When: / Entire period
Who: / Most residents
What: / Information varies by denomination and time period. Roman Catholic records are the most informative and complete.
Index: / Varies – most Methodist registers now published, especially Wesleyan Methodist baptism registers.

4.i. Property Tax Assessment Rolls

Where: / Various – Archives of Ontario, local archives
When: / Annually or bi-annually
Who: / Owners and renters of land
What: / Occupier’s name, occupation, owner’s name, size and location of property, amount of property under crop/pasturage (if rural), type or size of house, sometimes type, number and value of livestock, other valuable property, sometimes age of occupier
Index: / Rarely, but some are arranged alphabetically, a few online

5.i. Index to Local Surrogate Courts Estate Files, RG 22 Appendix 25

Where: / Archives of Ontario’s website <www.archives.gov.on.ca>
When: / 1793 to 1858
Who: / Men who died with property requiring administration, whose property was in only one county
What: / Name of deceased, date of registration, county, source information

5.ii. Index to the Court of Probate Estate Files, RG 22 Appendix A1

Where: / Archives of Ontario’s website <www.archives.gov.on.ca>
When: / 1793 to 1858
Who: / Men who died with property requiring administration, where the property was in more than one county
What: / Name of deceased, date of registration, county of residence, source information

6.i. Ontario Cemetery Finding Aid

Where: /
When: / Up to 1998
Who: / All whose names appear on gravestones
What: / Deceased person’s name, name of cemetery, township and county, reference number of publication

6.ii. Ontario Cemetery Ancestor Index

Where: /
When: / Up to present
Who: / All whose names appear on gravestones
What: / Deceased person’s name and date of death, name of cemetery, township and county, reference number of publication, gravestone number

Early Ontario Research, by Janice Nickerson, Page 1

Upper Canada Genealogy, 33 Isabella Street, Toronto, ON M4Y 2P7 416-920-2206