|
|
Flip-Pal
Mobile Scanner
Compact, lightweight, cordless mobile scanner empowers you to scan big or small originals in full colour... More information >>
|
|
|
Advertisement
Ontario birth, marriage and death records guide
Posted 04 December 2012.... Updated 26 March 2013
By Rick Roberts
Ontario coat of arms |
This online guide's purpose is to provide researchers with an overview of which records are available, where those records are housed and how to access them. We've also included links to online data and tutorials, as well as references to physically archived records and microfilm. I begin with recent records and work back in time. Regardless of the years that you are interested in, it is important to review the complete article insofar as some categories involve all time frames.
CIVIL REGISTRATION - 1869 to present
Civil registration began in Ontario on July 1, 1869 resulting in a bounty of valuable records for family historians. On that date it became mandatory for all births, marriages and deaths within the province of Ontario to be reported to the provincial government and for a permanent record to be archived.
Many areas of the province did not register vital information on a regular basis until some years later. This depended in large part on how developed or populated an area was at the time vital registration began, how capable the local clerical administration was, and how well the requirement was communicated and enforced. The result was that civil registration compliance was less than stellar initially but improved annually until becoming near universal by the late 1870s.
Privacy concerns were addressed by establishing rules whereby vital records were to remain confidential for a prescribed number of years, then turned over to the provincial archivist to be housed in the provincial archive and made available for public access. Today, the records remain with the Office of the Registrar General during the privacy period, then are turned over to the Archives of Ontario.
MODERN RECORDS of birth, marriage and death under civil registration
The Office of the Ontario Registrar General holds Ontario records for births that happened during the past 95 years, marriages that happened during the past 80 years, and deaths that happened during the past 70 years. Access to those modern records are restricted to replacement certificates and transcriptions of registrations for family research use under certain conditions. Information about ordering certificates, restrictions and local government service counters where you can order certificates in person is available on the department's website.
Contact information:
Office of the Registrar General
PO Box 4600, 189 Red River Road, 3rd Floor
Thunder Bay, Ontario P7B 6L8
Telephone: (416) 325-8305 | Toll Free in Ontario phone: 1-800-461-2156
Office of the Registrar General website
Email: cbsinfo@cbs.gov.on.ca
Fax your application with credit card payment to: (807) 343-7459
HISTORIC RECORDS of birth, marriage and death under civil registration
Every year an additional year of BMD records is transferred to the Archives of Ontario (AO) from the Office of the Registrar General. Those records are completely restricted during the transfer process while they are catalogued and microfilmed, a process that can take some months. All historic records of civil registration are publicly available on microfilm.
The Archives of Ontario (AO) holds the indexes and registration records of vital events for the following years (as of December 2012). Every year, one additional year of records becomes public:
- Births: 1869-1914
- Marriages: 1869-1929
- Deaths: 1869-1939
The method of public access to civil registration records of birth, marriage and death has evolved as technology has improved. Today we can use microfilm at a variety of institutions or access the records online.
MICROFILM historic civil registrations of birth, marriage and death for Ontario:
All historic records of civil registration are publicly available on microfilm. Microfilm can be used at the Archives of Ontario, some other institutions and public libraries (usually through inter library loan)
- The Archives of Ontario:
The new Archives of Ontario building is a state of the art facility located in north Toronto. Microfilm is available to the public in the Reading Room on the main floor. Check in with reception. They will take your information and give you a pass. You enter the Reading Room doors to your right and proceed to the help desk for guidance. How-to pamphlets are available to help you navigate your way around the collection. Microfilm use is self serve . Microfilm readers are modern computer driven units with large high resolution screens that empower you to locate and print documents, or save them to your own USB memory stick. Paper copies are charged for... digital copies are free.
Archives of Ontario
134 Ian Macdonald Boulevard
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
M7A 2C5
Telephone: 416-327-1600 | Toll Free in Ontario call: 1-800-668-9933
Fax: 416-327-1999
Email: reference@ontario.ca | Website: http://www.archives.gov.on.ca
The Archives of Ontario staffers do not conduct searches.
- Other places to access microfilm:
- Libraries Some large reference libraries keep microfilms of the Ontario civil registrations of birth, marriage and death on hand. Most libraries will have to order microfilms from the Archives of Ontario (limit of 3 reels per researcher will be sent). More information is available from the Microfilm Inter Library Loan Services catalogue (AO).
- LDS Family History Centers Some local Family History Centres of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS) have copies of the Ontario civil registrations of birth, marriage and death on hand though most will have to bring the film in from the main Family History Library in Utah. You must visit a local Centre as they do not accept written inquiries. Find a Family History Center near you.
- Professional genealogical researchers can also be hired to do searches. Contact your local genealogical society for a list of recommended professional genealogists in your area. There is a list of genealogical societies in Ontario and links to their web sites in the "links section" further down this page.
ONLINE historic records of birth, marriage and death under civil registration:
- Ontario births, marriages and death records - Ancestry.ca
 ($$) Searchable index, transcriptions, images of original documents, AO microfilm ref.
- Ontario births 1869-1912 - FamilySearch.org (free)
Searchable index, partial transcription, LDS microfilm ref.
- Ontario Marriages, 1869-1927 - FamilySearch.org (free)
Searchable index, partial transcription, LDS microfilm ref.
- Ontario Deaths,1869-1937 and Overseas Deaths, 1939-1947 - FamilySearch.org (free)
Searchable index, partial transcription, LDS microfilm ref.
GOVERNMENT VITAL RECORDS before 1870 :
Births and Deaths - pre 1870
Prior to July 1, 1869 there was no requirement in Ontario (Upper Canada, Canada West) for recording provincial government records of birth or death. The first place to look for records of birth or death is in religious records of baptism and burial. Baptisms were usually performed soon after a baby's birth with the exception of those faiths that do not practice infant baptism. Most faiths kept carefully recorded registers of baptisms. Burial services were usually performed within a few days of the death and recorded in the parish register. A section on researching Religious Records is included later in this article. More recommended resources are covered in other sections.
County Marriage Registers - 1858-1869
Legislation was passed in 1857 to that required registration of all marriages performed by all clergymen in the Province of Canada West (Ontario) resulting in the "County Marriage Registers". They were to begin on January 1, 1858 and finish on July 1, 1869. Some counties started early, including marriages performed before 1858, and some include marriages performed in the later months of 1869.
How to access the County Marriage Registers 1858-1869
- Microfilm: The County Marriage Registers are available on microfilm at the Archives of Ontario (not indexed) and via inter library loan MS 248, reels 5-18. LDS Family History Centers also have microfilms under their reference: FHL microfilm 1030055-1030068.
- Published: The definitive published work on this collection is County Marriage Registers of Ontario 1858-1869 series published by Global Heritage Press. These books are more than just indexes of the original registers. Most volumes contain transcriptions of names, dates and places and oftentimes, ages of bride and groom, and names of parents. The first 37 county volumes were compiled by Elizabeth Handcocks & William Britnell, and published by Generation Press between 1979 and 2000. The Second Edition of the County Marriage Registers of Ontario 1858-1869 was published by Global Heritage Press in 2005. The 38th volume (Glengarry County) was compiled by Donald A. McKenzie and published by Global Heritage Press in 2008. The CD version of the collection was released in 2011. A full set of the printed books is available for public use in the Reading Room at the Archives of Ontario and some reference libraries.
Individual County Marriage Registers 1858-1869 volumes can be purchased in either printed and digital formats. Click here for a complete list of volumes
- Online: Ancestry.ca has digitized and indexed the microfilm of the original County Marriage Registers and made them available online. If you find that the microfilm that contains your marriage is unreadable, check the Global Heritage Press transcriptions in book form.
District Marriage Registers - pre 1869
The first legislation to create a government record of marriages required all ministers who performed marriages, with the exception of Anglican (Church of England) and Roman Catholic,to submit returns to the Clerk of the Peace for the District. The majority of returns begin in the 1830s with a few Districts having earlier marriage returns (1780). The Clerk of the Peace then copied these returns into a register kept in the District office. Most District Marriage Registers survive.
What were "Districts"? When Upper Canada was first established it was divided into five administrative "Districts". As the province's population grew the five original Districts were subdivided and re subdivided into more districts. Legislation was eventually passed to abolish the Districts (1850) and establish administration and courts within each county. An administration building/land registry office, court house and jail had to be established in every county, a conversion that took a different number of years in each county, creating inconsistencies and confusion for researchers.
Anglicans and Roman Catholics were authorized to keep their own parish registers. Look to the Religious Records section of this article for information about those registers. Don't assume that because your family is Anglican or Catholic that your ancestors' marriages are not recorded in the District Marriage Registers. Early communities did not always have an Anglican or Roman Catholic church yet. Circuit riders, primarily Methodist, travelled the roads and trails around Upper Canada preaching and performing marriages. People of all faiths took advantage of the availability of a circuit riding pastor or church of another faith in their community when the need arose.
It is important to remember that the ministers who performed marriages were required to submit their returns to the District in which the minister lived. Not necessarily the same district where the marriage was performed. That means that you should always check the registers of the Districts surrounding the District where your ancestor lived.
How to access the District Marriage registers
- Microfilm: The District Marriage Registers are available on microfilm at the Archives of Ontario (not indexed) and via inter library loan District Marriage Registers, 1801-1858. MS 248, Reels 1-4. LDS Family History Centers also have access to microfilms. If you find that the microfilm that contains your marriage is unreadable, check the Dan Walker transcriptions in book form.
- Published: Dan Walker transcribed the District Marriage Registers from both microfilm and surviving registers in 27 volumes. Some of the microfilm is not readable while the original registers often were. Every volume was proof read by experienced genealogists in the communities where the marriages took place. Walker published the transcriptions in conjunction with Fawne Stratford Devai with Global Heritage Press. Those transcriptions are considered to be so reliable and complete that they are prominently available in the Reading Room at Archives of Ontario. Click here for a list of volumes and detailed descriptions of each
- Online: Ancestry.ca has digitized and indexed the microfilm of the original District Marriage Registers and made them available online. If you find that the microfilm that contains your marriage is unreadable, check the Dan Walker transcriptions in book form.
RELIGIOUS RECORDS - including parish records of baptism, marriage and burial
Parish registers are a particularly important resource for family history researchers. They typically record baptisms, marriages and burials. The strength of the document is that it was recorded at the time of the event by the parties who were present at the event. This can be considered a primary record. That doesn't mean that the information in parish registers is infallible. People make clerical errors, and can have faulty memories especially when recording emotional events. Researching the parish registers should be your first goal but it is equally important to look to other church records including conversions, confirmations, correspondence, diaries, tithe records, pew rentals, disputes, introductions, discipline and more.
Every faith has its own method of archiving records - some archive centrally, others regionally, and a few still keep historic records in individual churches. The records that churches will allow you to use vary greatly between faiths. Even within one faith there can different levels of access from parish to parish, from archdiocese to archdiocese. Some churches offer research services for a small fee to help support the cost of preservation. Others are self serve. Some refuse any access at all. It is best to contact the church or church archive that houses the records you are interested in and ask for their guidelines so you know what records are available and your options to access them.
Some church records have been transcribed and published. Those are usually provided in either alphabetical order or are indexed so that it is easy to find the record that you are looking for. I've often used a published transcription of parish register to find a record, record names, when the event happened and where, then use that information to find the original record in the register. Original parish registers are not usually indexed.
How to access religious records including parish records of baptism, marriage and burial
- Archives:
- Published:
- Notices of Births, Marriages, Deaths & Obituaries From Methodist Newspapers 1830-1895 (Canada, British North America)
- Notre Dame Du Rosaire Roman Catholic Baptisms, Marriages and Burials 1869-1925 in 3 Vols (Crysler, Ontario)
- St. Margaret of Scotland Roman Catholic Church Parish Register Transcription 1886 to 1999 (Glen Nevis, Ontario)
- St. John's Presbyterian Church Parish Registers 1833-1896 (Cornwall, Ontario)
- St. Mary's Williamstown, Glengarry Parish Registers 1854-1928 (Glengarry County, Ontario)
- St. Raphael's Roman Catholic Parish Registers 1805-1904 (Glengarry County, Ontario)
- The Parish Registers of Births, Marriages, Deaths of St. Regis Roman Catholic Mission (Early Jesuit) 1784-1879 (located in Hogansburg, New York includes many southeastern Ontario baptisms, marriages and burials)
- The Roman Catholic Parish of "Our Lady of The Angels" Moose Creek, Baptisms, Marriages and Burials 1882-1925 - Second Edition (Moose Creek, Ontario)
- Parish Registers of Births, Marriages, and Deaths, St Joseph's Roman Catholic Parish, 1904-1925 (Lancaster, Ontario)
- The St. Columban's Mission/Parish - Third Edition (Cornwall, Ontario)
- St. Andrews West Roman Catholic Parish Registers 1804-1944 (Glengarry Township, Ontario)
- The Old & New St. Andrews West and MacMillan South of Finch Cemeteries (Cornwall & Finch Townships, Ontario)
- The Story of St. Andrews West From Index cards of the Late Edwin McDonald (Cornwall Townships, Ontario)
- The Complete Parish Registers of St. Catherine of Sienna Roman Catholic Parish, 1894-2000 - Second Edition (Greenfield, Ontario)
- The Parish Register of Kingston, Upper Canada 1785-1811
- Published materials listed by county/place in Ontario
- Online:
- FamilySearch.org the official website of the Family History Library of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints lists one collection of Ontario church records titled "Ontario, Roman Catholic Church Records, 1760-1923". An incomplete collection but worth checking out.
- Ancestry.ca has those Ontario Catholic church records that were included in the Drouin Collection, 1747-1967. An incomplete collection but worth checking out.
OTHER VITAL RECORDS SOURCES- 1780 to present - OntarioONLINE LINKS & RESOURCES for Ontario
Searchable online databases - Ontario-wide:
- Ontario births, marriages and death records - Ancestry.ca Searchable index, transcriptions, images of original documents, AO microfim ref.
- Ontario births 1869-1912 - FamilySearch.org
Searchable index, partial transcription, LDS microfilm ref.
- Ontario Marriages, 1869-1927 - FamilySearch.org
Searchable index, partial transcription, LDS microfilm ref.
- Ontario Deaths,1869-1937 and Overseas Deaths, 1939-1947 - FamilySearch.org
Searchable index, partial transcription, LDS microfilm ref.
- Marriage Bonds - Upper (Ontario) and Lower Canada (Quebec) Library & Archives Canada A completely searchable database of 7899 marriage bonds for Upper Canada (Ontario) issued between 1803 and 1865, and 2960 marriage bonds for Lower Canada (Quebec) issued between 1779 and 1858.
- The Ontario Cemetery Ancestor Index Ontario Genealogical Society
(temorarily out of service - Dec 2012) Includes names from transcriptions of monumental inscriptions, cemetery records, and other sources. Most cemeteries in Ontario have been transcribed. This project is in process and some online records may not be complete yet.
- OCFA - Ontario Cemetery Finding Aid OCFA Volunteers
Search a database of more than three million records of burials in Ontario. Not all Ontario burials are listed here. Soundex option is available.
- Ontario Cemetery Locator Ontario Genealogical Society
(temporaily out of service - Dec 2012) A directory to cemeteries in Ontario. Provides about individual cemeteries: cemetery name; County/District; Township; address; microfilm reel; transcription status; link to local OGS Branch.
- Ontario online newspapers portal Our Ontario
200 years of Ontario newspapers now online and growing
- Paper of Record. Paper of Record
More than 21 million scanned pages of historic and modern newspapers in Canada (several Ontario newspapers), and other countries around the world. Any-word searchable. World's largest repository of online newspaper pages!
- Upper Canada (Ontario) and Canada West (Ontario) Naturalization Registers (1828-1850) Library and Archives Canada
Before 1947, foreigners could petition for naturalization. Library and Archives Canada holds several naturalization registers for Upper Canada/Canada West (now Ontario), for the years 1828 to 1850 only, organized by year within each county. This research tool contains 3,344 references.
- Historic Bridges of Ontario Nathan Holth & friends
A detailed listing of Ontario bridges sorted by county. Counties and regions include: Bruce County;
Chatham-Kent Region; Haldimand County; Huron County; Lambton County; Middlesex County; Niagara Region; Oxford County; Perth County; Waterloo Region; Algoma District and more being added. Information, maps & photographs.
- Second Heir and Devisee Commission Case Files Database 1805-1911 Archives of Ontario
This database is an index to the 5184 case files that document land claims made to the second Heir and Devisee Commission.
- Searchable Names Database Quinte Branch OGS
This growing database includes names from the hundreds of genealogies, family histories, pedigree charts and many of the published works in the Quinte Branch OGS Research Library including names from business and residential directories, local histories, parish register transcripts, newspapers, surrogate court wills and funeral cards. If unable to visit the library Quinte Branch research volunteers will locate the records for you and also check non-indexed resources in the Branch Research Library for more information.
- Government Documents Collection Our Ontario
Access more than 32,000 government documents from the collection of the Ontario Legislative Library, with new documents being added quarterly. Find documents by using the search box, or by browsing lists of titles, a list of the ministry/agency, authors, subjects, or years.
- Books, maps, and other useful Ontario resources GlobalGenealogy.com
Browse through hundreds of physical and online resources for Canadian provinces and territories. hard to find history and genealogy books, maps, CDs are available in the online store as well as searchable online databases, useful links and more in the News and Hot-To's section.
Searchable online databases - County or region-wide:
Useful links - Ontario:
- Map of southern Ontario showing county and township boundaries plus list of townships sorted by county
- Ontario birth, marriage and death records guide
- Ontario Chronology for family historians
- Ontario Land Registry Offices List and contact info
- Sources of religious records in Ontario (archives and repositories)
- Genealogical and family history societies:
British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa (BIFHSGO).
- Haliburton Highlands Genealogy Group They manage a resource centre open to the public at the Minden Library for genealogical research. Local cemetery data is in a searchable database in the computer at the resource centre.
- Lanark County Genealogical Society An independent society with interests focused on Lanark County in Ontario.
- Manitoulin Genealogy Club resource centre open to the public at the Minden Library for genealogical research.
- Ontario Genealogical Society Ontario's biggest genealogical society with more than 30 branches spead across most areas of the province. Though they compile and publish a wide range of resources their primary record groups of interest are Ontario cemetery and burial records. Branches:
Brant County;
British Home Child SIG;
Bruce & Grey County;
Durham Region;
Elgin County;
Essex County;
Haldimand County;
Halton-Peel;
Hamilton (Wentworth County);
Huron County;
Ireland SIG;
Irish Palatine SIG;
Kawartha (Haliburton, Peterborough, Northumberland and Victoria Counties);
Kent County;
Kingston (Frontenac, Lennox and Addington Counties);
Lambton County;
Leeds & Grenville;
London & Middlesex County;
Niagara Peninsula (Lincoln and Welland Counties);
Nipissing District (Nipissing, Parry Sound & Temiskaming Districts);
Norfolk County;
Ottawa (Carleton, Lanark, Renfrew, Russell [Russell-Prescott] Counties);
Oxford County;
Perth County;
Quinte (Prince Edward, Hastings & part of Northumberland Counties);
Sault Ste. Marie & District of Algoma;
Scottish SIG;
Simcoe County;
Sudbury District;
Thunder Bay (Districts of Thunder Bay, Kenora & Rainy River);
Toronto;
Waterloo Region;
Wellington County;
York Region (former York County excluding Toronto)
- Temiskaming Genealogy Group Founded in 1991, the Temiskaming Genealogy Group serves the communities of Latchford, Cobalt, Haileybury, New Liskeard, Elk Lake, Matachewan, Gowganda, Earlton, Englehart, Tomstown, Kirkland Lake, Larder Lake, and Virginiatown Ontario.
- Upper Ottawa Valley Genealogical Group was formed in 1990 as a non-profit organization to foster the study of the genealogy of the families who live or lived in the Upper Ottawa Valley in Renfrew and Pontiac Counties.
- Uxbridge Genealogy Group The aim of the Group is to provide genealogy expertise and, in partnership with the Uxbridge Public Library, support to the public in the Uxbridge, Ontario
- Ontario Genweb Volunteer-powered website with Ontario genealogy and historical facts and resources listed.
- Historical societies
- Ontario Historical Society is a non-government group
bringing together people of all ages, all walks of life and all cultural backgrounds interested in preserving some aspect of Ontario's history
More Ontario Resources - from Global Genealogy
- Ontario-wide Interest includes books, maps, and resources involving the entire province or more than a single county.
Ontario titles concerning a specific town, city, township or county are listed under their respective counties or regions
Advertisement
Browse the resources at GlobalGenealogy.com:
History & Genealogy Books, Maps, & CDs...
History and genealogy books, maps, CDs from a wide selection of publishers, including Global Heritage Press. Browse resources listed by country, location or topic.
|
|
GHP eBooks & Vital Records on CD
Searchable, electronic versions of Global Heritage Press books and vital records provided on CD Rom for both PC and Mac users. A cost-effective way to grow your personal research library while saving shelf-space.
|
Software & Technology
for the Family Historian
Genealogy & family tree software, hardware, scanning, digital imaging including Family Tree Maker, Reunion Family Tree, Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner, Digital Imaging Essentials |
|
Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner
A compact cordless stand-alone portable scanner that doesn't need to be attached to a computer. Scans images both big and small using its automated stitching feature.
|
Acid-Free Document & Artifact Preservation Products
Acid-free storage and display products to preserve and safely store your family heirloom documents and artifacts.
|
|
Family Tree Charts & Census Forms
Poster-size blank family tree charts, plus a variety of free blank letter-size charts and census forms
|
O R D E R D E S K
1-800-361-5168( 9-5 Monday to Friday )
|
|
|
Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, Father of the Canadian Crown Exiled from the court of his father, and accompanied by his long-time mistress Julie de St. Laurent, the 24-year-old Prince and future father of Queen Victoria arrived in Quebec City in 1791....
Read on...
Edwardsburgh Family Histories
[Grenville County, Ontario] Includes family histories of more than 70 families in Edwardsburgh Township and...
Read on...
Abbey pH Testing Pen A fast, easy, inexpensive and dependable way to determine the acidity of paper, documents, storage boxes, packing tissue and....
Read on...
Prisons, Asylums, and the Public:
Institutional Visiting in the Nineteenth Century sheds new light on popular nineteenth-century attitudes towards the insane and the criminal......
Read on...
Household Counts:
Canadian Households and Families in 1901 This collection not only makes an important contribution to family history, but also to the widening intellectual exploration of historical censuses......
Read on...
The Trail of the Black Walnut Starting soon after the outbreak of the American Revolution numerous Pennsylvania-German families and so-called "Plain Folk" (i.e. Mennonnites, Dunkards, Moravians, Amish, Hutterites, etc) migrated north to Canada in successive waves. Together, in cultural and religious and kinship groups they settled.....
Read on...
Catherine Tekakwitha: Her Life
"Lily of the Mohawks" The story is told by an eye-witness -- her spiritual director -- of the events in her life from the time she arrived at the Jesuit mission just outside of Montreal, known at that time as.......
Read on...
How Our Ancestors Died,
A Guide For Family & Local Historians
[United Kingdom & elswhere] In addition to describing causes of death and setting them in the context of the times, his book shows readers how to find and interpret patient records, death certificates and other documents in order to gain an accurate impression of how their ancestors died......
Read on...
Dictionary of Glengarry Biography
[Glengarry County, Ontario] BACK IN PRINT: A comprehensive history of Glengarry county told through the lives of pioneers, fur traders, soldiers, farmers, railway barons, politicians, criminals, anybody and everyone who helped make Glengarry one of Canada's most storied and celebrated counties. This thick book includes 1600 biographical sketches, with more than...
Read on...
|
|
|
| |
