Local History & Genealogy

Guide to Ontario Genealogy

Getting Started

The Canadiana Department at the North York Central Library has resources from many towns and regions across Ontario to help in your genealogy research. We specialize in collecting Ontario local history and family histories.

Searching the Library website

For an introductory guide to Ontario genealogy try

•  A beginner’s guide to Ontario genealogy 
  
• Genealogy in Ontario: searching the records  is a more comprehensive guide.
  

More guides to Ontario genealogy  can be found at Ontario genealogy handbooks.

 Additional tips on searching the library website:

• "Registers"with [place name] e.g. Registers Guelph

• [Place Name] followed by the word "Genealogy" e.g. Simcoe County genealogy

• [place name] "Directories" e.g. Elgin directories

• For family histories use [surname] "Family" e.g Fraser family (Note: Canadiana Dept. collects family and local histories)

Some general Ontario titles

• Central Canadians 1600-1900: an alphabetized directory of the people, places and vital dates
• Early Ontario settlers: a source book
• Province of Ontario immigration records: an overview
• Townships of the Province of Ontario Canada: ... index
• United Empire Loyalists: a guide to tracing Loyalist ancestors in Upper Canada

Early Birth Marriage and Death registers

• County marriage registers of Ontario 1858-1869
• Index to marriage registrations of Ontario… 1869-1873
• Marriage registers of Upper Canada/Canada West
• Surrogate Court index of Ontario, Canada 1859-1900
• Vital records of Upper Canada/Canada West
• Vital records in Ontario before 1869: a guide to early Ontario vital records

Recommended Websites

Ontario - Genealogy

Births, Marriages and Deaths - Ontario

Land Records- Canada

Recommended Databases

• Ancestry Library Edition available in any Toronto library branch
  has Ontario birth, marriage and death registrations and all Canadian censuses
• Globe and Mail - Canada's Heritage from 1844  (TPL library card required to login)
• Toronto Star – Pages of the Past  (TPL library card required to login)

In Library Resources

Available at the North York Central Library

Microfilm or Microfiche

Cemetery records

• OGS – Ontario transcriptions (also in paper format)

Directories/Voters Lists

• Pre 1901 city directories
• Toronto City directories 1833- 2001 (also available in paper at Toronto Reference Library)
• Guelph, Hamilton and London City Directories
• Phonefiche Ontario 1986 -1991
• Federal voters’ lists for Ontario 1935-1980 (including By-Elections)
• Ontario voters’ lists (incomplete 1847 – 1954 for various townships)
• Digitized Ontario directories on Internet Archive

Land Records

• Ontario Land Records Index 1790-1920
• Ontario Land Patents Index 1793 - 1852
• Upper Canada Land Petitions 1790 – 1867 and Index  (microfilmed petitions also on Library and Archives site)
• York Country land records 1797-1876
• York Township assessment rolls 1882-1899

Local Histories

• Early Families of Leeds
• Local Histories (Tweedsmuir)
• Note:published local histories for many Ontario places and institutions. Search library website.

Military records

• Loyalist regiment muster rolls
• War of 1812 nominal rolls and paylists  (microfilm also on  Library and Archives Canada site)
• Records relating to the Rebellion of 1837

Miscellaneous

• Loyalist Lists (C 1475, C 2222, C 9821)
• Toronto Emigrant Office Records  (Hawke Papers)(MS 6909 -  MS 6912)
• Upper Canada Sundries and Contents Listing: (Chronological list of contents C 9822 - C 9825)

Vital Statistics

• INDEXES to Ontario registrations of Births 1869-1913, Marriages 1869 - 1928, and Deaths 1869 - 1938 published by the Archives of Ontario. 
  

Newspapers on Microfilm

 Toronto Area

• (Globe & Mail and Toronto Star are available online and microfilm to approximately one year before the present) 
• Toronto Telegram 1876 – 1971
• Enterprise. North York. 1926 -1969
• Mirror. North York. [1957 - current]

Beyond Toronto

• Ottawa Citizen 1851 - 1991
• Upper Canada Gazette 1793 - 1845
… and selected early newspapers for other cities and towns

Periodicals (in the Reading Room)

• Families (Ontario Genealogical Society OGS)
• Ontario History . Also available online from 2005 (TPL library card required)
  
• OGS branch newsletters including OGS Toronto Tree and OGS York Region Ancestors
• Loyalist Gazette (up to 2008 – continued online) (TPL library card required)
  
… and many regional genealogicaland historical society publications

Maps

County Historical Atlases  many of which have been digitized. Copies of maps, some with names, for Ontario counties.

Deposit Collections

The Canadiana Department at North York Central Library houses the libraries of the following Ontario - based genealogical societies. Search their catalogues at the links given below.

• Ontario Genealogical Society
• Jewish Genealogical Society of Canada (Toronto)
• Canadian Society of Mayflower Descendants

 

Canadiana Department, North York Central Library, 416-395-5623

Humanities and Social Sciences, Toronto Reference Library 416-395-5577

Fall Into Your Family's Past

  
Fall into your family’s past at our exciting family history courses and workshops co-sponsored by the Ontario Genealogical Society, North York Central and Toronto Reference Libraries.

@ North York Central Library 5120 Yonge St. Toronto:

BASIC GENEALOGY AND FAMILY HISTORY Wednesdays Sept. 28 to Nov. 16 2-4 pm (Room 1 Oct. 5, Nov. 2 and 9, and Room 2/3 Sept. 28, Oct. 12, 19, 26 and Nov. 16)

Designed for those just beginning to research or looking to upgrade basic research skills, this course will cover terminology, types of sources, the use of on-line resources , libraries and archives, including LDS Family History Centres and recordkeeping  to help you to “think like a genealogist”. Techniques discussed will apply to a wide variety of geographic areas providing you with a base for further courses. 

Cost: $132 for 8 sessions ($120 for OGS members) Download a registration form at www.torontofamilyhistory.org or available at the 6^th floor information desk, Canadiana Department, North York Central Library or call Toronto Branch OGS 416-733-2608.

ENGLISH FAMILY HISTORY WORKSHOP Saturday Nov. 5 9am – 5pm (Auditorium and Room 1)

This full day workshop for family historians with English roots is being held on Guy Fawkes Day – a fitting coincidence.

Topics will include:

• English Parish Records
• Researching Early 20^th Century British Immigrants to Canada
• Solving Genealogical Problems Using English Probate Records
• Find Your British Family History in Newspapers
• The Genealogical Use and Abuse of English Gazetteers: Finding Assessing and Using them in Family History Research
• British Directories
• According to the Custom of the Manor : an Introduction to English Manorial Records
• Some Lesser Known Websites for British Family History

 Cost: $55 registration fee. ($40 for OGS members)   Full Details including a downloadable registration form will be available at www.torontofamilyhistory.org by September 1, 2011.

@ Toronto Reference Library 789 Yonge St. Toronto: 

BIOGRAPHICAL RESEARCH FOR ONTARIO GENEALOGISTS Tuesdays Sept. 13 to Oct. 4   6:15 – 8:15 (Learning Centre 1)

For experienced genealogists wanting to learn the stories behind their Ontario ancestors' names, places and dates. Ideal for writing the family history book.

Cost: $66 for 4 sessions ($60 for OGS members) Download a registration form at www.torontofamilyhistory.org or call Toronto Branch OGS 416-733-2608.

INTRODUCTION TO GENEALOGY RESOURCES IN THE TORONTO REFERENCE LIBRARY Wednesday Sept. 21 2:00 - 3:30 (Learning Centre 1)

Introduction to family history resources at Toronto Reference Library including the catalogue, databases and the Internet. Basic computer skills required. To register, call 416-393-7209.

USING THE RESULTS OF THE NEW TESTS FOR GENETIC GENEALOGY Thursdays Oct. 6 to 27 6:15 - 8:15pm (Learning Centre 1)  

For people who have received the results of one or both autosomal tests for genetic genealogy. Fee: $66 ($60 for OGS members). For more information and to register, call the Toronto Branch OGS 416-733-2608, or go to www.torontofamilyhistory.org  

MAPS AND MAPPING FOR GENEALOGISTS Thursdays Nov. 3 to 24 6:15 - 8:15pm (Learning Centre 1)

Explore the ways maps and new mapping tools contribute to family history research, analysis and writing. For intermediate and advanced-level genealogists. Fee $66 ($60 for OGS members). For more information and to register, call Toronto Branch OGS 416-733-2608, or visit www.torontofamilyhistory.org

Guide to Birth, Marriage & Death Records

Getting Started

This guide has had minor revisions in April 2013.

These records may  include information such as the event date and place, parents' names, occupation, residence and religion. The cause of death is also included in most death records.

Searching the Website

Search within these subject headings

• Baptisms [place name] e.g. Baptisms Truro
• Obituaries [place name] e.g. Obituaries Saskatchewan or for more general listings try obituaries indexes
• Registers [place name] e.g. Registers British Columbia

Suggested Titles

• County marriage registers of Ontario, Canada, 1858-1869.
• Guide to Quebec's parishes, civil registers and census : Catholic, Protestant and other denominations, 1621-2000.
• International vital records handbook 
• Marriage registers of Upper Canada/Canada West [1 or more volumes per district]
• Phillimore atlas and index of parish registers (Great Britain)
• Répertoire des actes de baptême, mariage, sépulture et des recensements du Québec ancien
• Researching Canadian vital statistics records: births, marriage and deaths
• Wesleyan Methodist Baptismal Register [county name]

 Recommended Websites

• Births, Marriages and Deaths
• Cemetery Records

Recommended Databases

• Ancestry Library Edition (available in any  Toronto Public Library  branch) has the following:
  Ontario Birth Registrations 1869 -1911
  Ontario Marriage Registrations from 1857 - 1926 (soon to 1928)
  Ontario Death Registrations up to 1936 (including Ontario overseas deaths 1939 to 1947)
  Ontario Roman Catholic Marriages in 6 counties for 1827 - 1870
  Various French Canadian databases ( see "French Ancestors" section in this guide)
  Free BMD Index England and Wales
  JewishGen Online Worldwide Burial Registry
• Globe and Mail - Canada's Heritage from 1844  TPL library card required to login.
• Toronto Star – Pages of the Past  TPL library card required to login.

 

In Library Resources

Cemetery Transcriptions from the Ontario Genealogical Society's Provincial Library collection

Index to Ontario Vital Statistics  on microfilm to 1912 for births, 1927 for marriages and 1937 for Deaths. Images of the registrations themselves are at the Ontario Archives and except for the most recent year or two, are also on Ancestry Library Edition.

York County Surrogate Court Indexes 1940 - 1967.

French Ancestors

• Ancestry Library Edition has added several useful databases (Drouin Collection) whose records are primarily from 1621 to the late 1940’s.
  • Quebec Vital and Church Records 1621 - 1967 which contains records for all religious denominations
  • Ontario French Catholic Church Records 1747 - 1967
  • Acadia French Catholic Church Records 1670 - 1946
• QuebecRecords.com database, available at North York Central Library and Toronto Reference Library, has a wealth of databases including:
  • Parish Records: church records from origin to 21st century. Cropped records of baptisms,marriages and deaths and
  • 1926 - 1966 Quebec Marriages and Deaths

 Other Deposit Collections aAt the North York Central Library

• Canadian Society of Mayflower Descendants Deposit Collection
• Jewish Genealogical Society Deposit Collection

 

Canadiana Department, North York Central Library 416-395-5623

Humanities and Social Sciences, Toronto Reference Library 416-395-5577

 

Guide to British & Irish Genealogy

Getting Started

The North York Central Library and the Toronto Reference Library house research material for genealogists and local historians, including books, microforms, pamphlets, maps, government documents, periodicals and online databases, and at North York Central Library the Deposit Collections of five genealogical societies. Staff at the reference desk will be glad to assist you at any time. Note:Toronto Reference Library (TRL)has an in-depth collection of British and Irish genealogy. 

Searching the Library Website

Suggested Subject and Keywords

• Names, Personal [location]  e.g. Names Personal Ireland
• [location] Genealogy Sources  e.g. Great Britain genealogy sources
• [location] Emigration  e.g. Scotland emigration
• [location]  Genealogy Handbooks e.g.  Wales genealogy handbooks
• [place name] Directories  e.g. Dublin directories
• [place name] Registers e.g. Yorkshire (Eng) registers

Suggested Titles

General Guides

• Ancestral trails: the complete guide to British genealogy and family history
• Essential maps for family historians
• The family tree detective: a manual for tracing your ancestors in England & Wales
• How to trace your family tree in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales
• Migration records: a guide for family historians
• The National Archives: a practical guide for family historians
• Tracing your pauper ancestors: a guide for family historians
• Who do you think you are? Encyclopedia of genealogy

Ireland 

• Basic guide to Irish records for family history
• How to trace your Irish ancestors
• Irish Palatine pioneers in Upper Canada
• New genealogical atlas of Ireland
• Tracing your Irish ancestors: the complete guide
• Tracing your Irish family history

 Scotland

• A dictionary of Scottish emigrants to Canada before Confederation
• Researching Scottish family history
• Scots in the USA and Canada 1825-1875
• Scottish family history on the web: a directory
• Scottish family tree detective
• Scottish genealogy
• Tracing your Scottish ancestors: a guide to ancestry research in the National Archives of Scotland

Using Online Resources

Recommended Websites

• Great Britain - Genealogy

• Ireland - Genealogy

In Library Resources

Recommended Database

• Ancestry Library Edition (available in any  Toronto Public Library branch) has extensive collection of censuses, births, marriages and death records for Great Britain as well as some Irish resources.

Journals and Magazines

• Family tree magazine [Great Britain] available at TRL and in the OGS collection at NYCL

• Genealogists’ magazine [Great Britain] available at TRL and in the OGS collection at NYCL

• Gonfanon [Royal Heraldry Society of Canada] available at TRL and at NYCL

• Scottish genealogist  available at TRL and in the OGS collection at NYCL

Other In Library Resources

At the North York Central Library use the  Ontario Genealogical Society Collection which includes Scottish cemetery transcriptions and journals of British county family history societies. Search the OGS collection. 

Canadian Society of Mayflower Descendants Collection available at the North York Central Library.

Toronto Reference Library

Collection highlights:

• Extensive collection of British Isles city and county directories
• Ireland's Griffith’s General Valuation of Rateable Property
• Earlier Tithe Applotment Books and their Indexes all in microform
• Some cemetery records
• Directories of nobility

For further assistance contact:

Canadiana Department, North York Central Library 416-395-5623

Humanities and Social Sciences Department, Toronto Reference Library 416-395-5577

Guide to French Canadian & Acadian Genealogy

Getting Started

The North York Central Library and Toronto Reference Library have resources in English and French to help you research French Canadian and Acadian genealogy.

Aslo available at the North York Central Library is the collection from Société franco-ontarienne d’histoire et de généalogie (SFOHG) now called Réseau du patrimoine franco-ontarien (RPFO) with their recent merge.

Searching the Library Website

Suggested Subject and Keywords

• Acadians genealogy
• French Canadians genealogy
• Registers Acadian
• Baptisms Québec

Suggested Titles

English

• Acadian-Cajun genealogy: step by step
• French and native North American marriages 1600 – 1800
• French - Canadian Sources
• Granby & Eastern Townships newspaper extracts 1855-1910
• Miller’s manual: a research guide to the major French-Canadian genealogical resources

French

• Dictionnaire généalogique des familles du Québec
• Dictionnaire généalogique des familles acadiennes
• Dictionnaire généalogique des familles canadiennes depuis la fondation
• Histoire et généalogie des Acadiens
• Nos origines en France : des débuts à 1825
• Recensement du bas-Canada  en 1825: (3 vols. Eastern townships)
• Répertoire des actes de baptême. mariage, sépulture et des recensements du Québec ancien
• Tour of inspection made by the Sieur de la Roque:census 1752
• Traité de généalogie

Using Online Resources

Recommended websites:

• Acadian - Genealogy
• Quebec - Genealogy

In Library Resources

Available at the North York Central Library:

Databases

• Ancestry Library Edition (access from any Toronto Public Library computer)
  Drouin Collection whose records are primarily from 1621 to the late 1940’s. Includes the following databases:
  • Quebec Vital and Church Records 1621 - 1967 (which contains records for all religious denominations)
  • Ontario French Catholic Church Records 1747 - 1967
  • Acadia French Catholic Church Records 1670 - 1946

• Réseau du patrimoine franco-ontarien catalogue
  Copy of the catalogue is at the North York Central Library. The RPFO website also has some useful links.

• Loiselle Marriage Index : (index and microfilm numbers)

CD - ROMS

These 2 items are loaded in the RPFO computer:

• Dictionnaire généalogique du Québec des origines à 1765
• Répertoire des actes de baptême, mariage et sépulture du Québec 1621-1799 (PRDH)

Periodicals

• Acadian genealogy exchange
• Le chaînon / La Société franco-ontarienne d’histoire et de généalogie
• Mémoires de la Société généalogique canadienne-française

Newspapers

• Canadian Illustrated News (Montreal) 1870-1881
• Montreal Gazette 1785-1949 (microfilm)
Note:1950 onwards available at Toronto Reference Library
• Montreal Herald 1814-1817 (selected extracts only) (microfilm)
• Quebec Gazette 1764-1817, 1862-1873  (microfilm)

Microforms

Check the Finding Aids for the following:

• Catalogue of census returns on microfilm: 1666-1891 and 1901 supplement
→See online version at Library and Archives Canada
• Drouin répertoire alphabétique des mariages des Canadiens-français 1760-1935 (Drouin bleu : fiche)
• Généalogies des familles acadiennes (Placide Gaudet)
• Lower Canada land petitions - records partially digitized on Library and Archives Canada
• Lower Canada marriage bonds nominal index
  Also:Marriage bonds digitized on Library and Archives Canada
• Some Ontario Catholic Parish Registers

 

Canadiana Department, North York Central  416-395-5623

Humanities and Social Sciences, Toronto Reference Library

Guide to Genealogy on the Web

Getting Started

Find out as much as you can from family sources. This information will help you determine where to start your research and could provide important clues.

Take time to learn the basics before you start.

Once you have some clues, online databases can provide more information for further research (e.g. land records, census, passenger lists, vital statistics etc.)

Searching the Library Website

Suggested Subjects and Keywords:

• Genealogy computer  
• Genealogy data processing
• Genealogy software

Suggested Titles:

Books

• Genealogy: fast, fun, free Canada
• The everything guide to online genealogy: a complete resource for using the web to trace your family history
• Quicksheet: citing online historical resources
→More on internet genealogy

Periodicals

• Family Chronicle
• Internet Genealogy
• Eastman’s Online Genealogy Newsletter (free online)
• Genealogy in Time Newsletter (free online)

 Encyclopedia (User created)

• Encylopedia of Genealogy (free online)

Using Online Sources

Recommended Websites

The Toronto Public Library has an extensive list of top websites on family history, genealogical research search tools ranging from vital statistics to passenger lists.

Where on the Web?

Where you go will depend on what you already know and what you want to find out.

To find useful sites use web directories and search engines such as:

• Canadian Genealogy Centre

• Can Genealogy: Dave Obee's recommended links for genealogy research in Canada

• Cyndi’s List of Genealogy Sites on the Internet

You will probably want to focus your search geographically. The types of records available will depend on where your ancestors lived. The search tools listed above will allow you to narrow your search to a specific country, province, county or town.

Searching by Name

Many web sites offer you the option of searching a database containing thousands of names. Name searches sometimes bring up long lists of unrelated people, especially if you have a common surname.

• If you find too many names, try a more complex search—enter middle names or initials, geographical information, or precise dates.
• If you don’t find any matching names, simplify your search—take out date or place information, and use only the last name. Many sites give you the option of trying a “soundex” or partial-match search, which will look for variant spellings of the name.
• Consider the source of any information you find—are the names derived from official sources, such as government records, or from records submitted by amateur genealogists? Check other sources to verify the information.

TIP: Check to see if someone has already created a Web page about your family. You can search using a regular Internet search engine like Google or try a specialized genealogy search tools like Free Genealogy Search Help for Google.

Recommended free databases

• That’s my Family / Voici ma famille

• Ancestors Search

• CanadaGenWeb

• FamilySearch

• FreeBMD

• RootsWeb

Recommended commercial databases

Many private companies have created large, easy-to-search online genealogy databases that you must pay to access. Some sites allow you to search for free but must subscribe in order to view the records themselves.

• Ancestry.ca (Ancestry.com focuses on U.S. resources).
Access Ancestry Library Edition for free in any Toronto Public Library branches.

• inGeneas (Check their free database)

• The Origins Network

TIP: Be aware that the same information is often available free at libraries, archives, or Family History Centres.

Need  HELP?

Check with your local genealogical society. Branches of the Ontario Genealogical Society have websites, newsletters, publications, and meetings where you can meet other researchers. 

Message boards, blogs, mailing lists, newsgroups, and chat rooms make it easy to reach out to other genealogists who are able to offer advice or share information. Often devoted to specific topics, these tools can be especially helpful when you are researching ancestors from another province or country and need to consult someone familiar with the local resources.

• Message boards (also known as bulletin boards, forums and query pages) let you post your question on a Web site where other people can read it and post answers.

Cyndi’s List: Queries & Message Boards

Genealogy Resources on the Internet: mailing lists

About.com: Genealogy chat rooms

• Blogs (web logs or web journals)

Genealogy Blog Finder

Genealogy Roots Blog

Olive Tree Genealogy Blog

Looking at Additional Sources 

The internet has made it much easier to plan research trips, thanks to Web sites and online catalogues that describe the resources available at libraries and archives.

• To locate institutions in the region that interests you try the following sites:

ArchivesCanada: Canadian archival information network

Canadian Library Gateway (Web Sites and Catalogues)

UNESCO Archives Portal

World Cat

• To locate a digitized copy of older books:

Internet Archive

Our Roots

 

Canadiana Department, North York Central  416-395-5623

Humanities and Social Sciences, Toronto Reference Library 416-395-5577