OntarioGenWeb's Q&A

How can I find someone in Ontario who may, or may not be deceased?

2012-01-22T19:10:00.001-05:00

If presumed living...

Social Media: Regardless of age people are flocking to social media to stay in touch with far-flung relations. Don't restrict your search to just the person you seek. If you know of any relations, spouse, children, etc. try them all!

Search Engines: Try Google and the new genealogy-focused site Mocavo.

Telephone Listings: Canada 411, if they have a publically listed phone number it'll be here. There is also an option to do a reverse address search. Some phone providers (like Telus) also offer their own phone listings that may not be available on Canada 411.

If presumed deceased...

Death Records: Are only available to next-of-kin or a legal representative until 72 years have passed. After 72 years death registrations are released to Archives of Ontario and can be publically viewed.

Cemetery Records: Search OCFA, OGS, CanadaGenWeb's Cemetery Project and other websites that offer Ontario cemetery recordings.

Obituaries: Obituary Daily Times offers an index of some Ontario obituaries, mostly from the past decade. If you know the last known residence of the person you're seeking check local newspapers, many Ontario newspapers now offer an online index of obituaries from 2002 onward.

If you are unable to locate the person in question broaden your search to include their family. A parent, sibling, or child's obituary might yield new clues. Don't forget to browse some online trees to see if someone else is researching the same family.

Where would I find an obituary from 1908?

2012-01-20T01:30:00.000-05:00

Archives of Ontario (Toronto) offers a newspaper research guide. The guide includes a list of microfilmed newspapers that are available in their holdings. Note that most of these newspapers can only be viewed at the Archives.

Library & Archives Canada (Ottawa) has a list of newspapers at Library & Archives Canada. Some of these newspapers may be available through inter-library loan.

Many local archives (such as Norwich & District Archives, Stratford-Perth & Dufferin County Museum & Archives to name just a few) have archived copies of local newspapers available for research. Many of these archives require a visit in person but some offer research services.

There are also some Ontario newspapers that have been digitized and are available through subscription services such as Paper of Record and Newspaper Archive. You can view a list of newspaper titles to see if the newspaper you seek is available before subscribing.

In 1940, how do I find out the area that a particular Rural Route Number covered? Example: RR1 Cloyne Ontario

2011-12-16T19:34:00.002-05:00

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Are there online, directories for trades & professions for the period 1920-1944 for Ontario?

2011-12-15T06:44:00.001-05:00

Directories known to be online are linked from our links page (if readers know of any others please leave a comment).

Some directories are available to search in person at Library & Archives Canada but for most you will have to visit a library in the area of research or have someone visit on your behalf.

The Toronto Public Library's Ask A Librarian service will search three years of Toronto directories per request.

Do you have information available on your website for the Agricultural Component of the 1851,1861 and 1871 censuses?

2011-12-13T14:26:00.001-05:00

Several agricultural census transcripts are available at our Census Project.

The 1851 agricultural census is also available at Library & Archives Canada. Choose Schedule B.

I would like to find a sibling placed for adoption. How would I go about locating this individual?

2011-12-12T23:08:00.001-05:00

The first step for anyone seeking a sibling or child placed for adoption in Ontario is the website Access to Adoption Records Act maintained by the government. From there you can apply to the Adoption Disclosure Registry. This registry exists to bring together adoptees and birth relations and is free to use.

While awaiting a match, if the adoptee was placed through the Children's Aid Society you can apply for non-identifying information. There are also numerous internet sites set up for this type of search where you can post your information and hope the adoptee sees it and gets in touch. Be sure to also seek out local adoption groups (such as Parent Finders) for advice and support.

Looking for a cemetery with pictures, where can I look?

2011-12-06T22:59:00.003-05:00

There are several websites that offer cemetery photos but as this is a GenWeb site we suggest starting with CanadaGenWeb's Cemetery Project.

How would I learn more about a sailing vessel and its dates of departure & arrival?

2011-10-08T23:56:00.000-04:00

There are several types of records relating to ships including lists of voyages, crew, passengers and cargo.The Maritime History Archive has a great website that provides information on where to locate information on vessels that sailed in Canadian waters.

However, if seeking information on passengers note that these records do not exist prior to 1865. Passenger lists from 1865-1922 can be found at Library & Archives Canada.

Is there a CDN oriented search engine that against a name inquiry will return place names, ages and related persons similar to www.peoplefinders.com or www.intellius.com for the States? I must be missing something,or maybe CDN privacy laws restrict this.

2011-09-29T22:53:00.000-04:00

No, the closest is http://canada411.ca which lists only names, addresses & phone numbers of telephone subscribers.

Is there a database/website in Canada similar to the Social Security Death Index in the USA, and if so what time period does it cover and where do I access it?

2011-09-22T21:01:00.000-04:00

No, Canada does not have a similar database. We do have Social Insurance but those records remain private.

How do I go about finding a death & burial that occurred about 1848?

2011-06-30T12:02:00.001-04:00

Our Research By Year pages detail what records are available during specific time periods. For 1848 see the 1840-1849 page. As a death during this time period pre-dates Vital Registration you will have to seek out church and cemetery records.

Also see our links page for a link to the genealogy group that covers the area where the death took place. Many genealogy groups have published transcripts of local cemeteries plus have a wealth of local knowledge.

As well be sure to check out the Ontario Cemetery Finding Aid and CanadaGenWeb's Cemetery Project.

In the 1861 Ontario census people are listed as "inmates". Any idea what "inmate" means?

2011-06-29T17:44:00.000-04:00

One of the column headings of the 1861 census is "Names of Inmates" and refers to all persons enumerated. In this case inmate would mean those living within each dwelling enumerated.

I believe my grandparents lived in Cyrstal Beach, Ontario from 1900 to about 1902. What kind of records are available to verify they were there and that my grandmother owned the cottage?

2011-06-23T12:05:00.002-04:00

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Can anyone point me in the right direction to locate info regarding female inmates convicted of adultery in the 1940's in Ontario?

2011-06-22T00:03:00.000-04:00

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Is there any records on the 1884 train wreck?

2011-06-14T22:15:00.000-04:00

There are likely dozens of different types of records available that relate to this incident such as Death Records, Court Records, Funeral Records, Cemetery Records and Newspapers. Don't overlook local records!

I am researching early Canadian Quakers-Friends. I would like to know when and where did this group first appear in Canada and at what age were children of Quaker parents typically "baptized" into the faith?

2011-06-13T14:42:00.000-04:00

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My grandfather was in Kingston Penn I believe for 7 years for a bank robbery and I am trying to find the records of the crime or the correcetional records. His name is William Henry McMillan. He was adopted and his other last name was Chard. This happened in the Niagara falls area. He was a university student. happened approx 1930. He was caught because of some hat he was wearing.

2011-06-12T18:33:00.000-04:00

Correctional Records are available at the Archives of Ontario, check with them first to see if they have the area & time period needed. If they don't have the needed records they may still be held at the local court house.

I am having difficulty in finding out where and when someone died. It may have been in his hometown area or in England. It's from 1897, where can I find the info I need?

2011-06-11T21:26:00.000-04:00

Ontario Death Registrations are available for this period. They are indexed by name and can be accessed at the Archives of Ontario, any Canadian Library with microfilm facilities, Family History Centres worldwide and through a subscription to Ancestry.ca.

In the 1847 typhus epidemic was there or is there a list of those who passed away from the epidemic?

2011-04-20T01:10:00.000-04:00

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I am looking for a death index for Welland County that covers 1947-1960. Where can I find this?

2010-12-28T02:28:00.000-05:00

For the 1947-1960 time period the earliest you would be able to access a death index is 2019 and only for the year 1947 (1948 would be available in 2020, 1949 in 2021, and so on). As explained on our page for Death Records there is a privacy law restricting the release of death registrations for 72 years unless you are next-of-kin or the legal representative of the deceased.

An alternative would be to seek out cemetery records. See:

OCFA

Niagara Branch OGS

CanadaGenWeb's Cemetery Project

I need the census for 1842 for Oxford County Ontario?

2010-12-28T02:22:00.000-05:00

See both our census information page and our census project to learn what is available and where you can locate the appropriate microfilm(s).

I am trying to find out more information about: Gilbert BERKMAN - born abt 1937 in Austria. His name is listed as Gilbert BIRKMAN born abt 1839. Source Publication 1823-19 Source: ELLIOTT, BRUCE S. Index to the 1871 Census of Ontario: Leeds, Grenville, Toronto: Ontario Genealogical Society, 1990.268p Page 17. How can I can this information about my Great Great father Gilbert Berkman (Birkman)

2010-09-30T18:42:00.000-04:00

Locate the source. You've got the title "1871 Census of Ontario: Leeds, Grenville", the author "ELLIOTT, BRUCE S.", the publisher "Toronto: Ontario Genealogical Society, 1990." and even the page number the information is on "Page 17".

This index can be purchased from the Ontario Genealogical Society but it can also be searched online at Library & Archives Canada, Queen's University and Family Search

The entire 1871 census (images included) is available through an Ancestry subscription.

My great grandparents were Samuel May and Jane Sullivan. At one time, they resided in Renfrew County. Most of their children were born in the area, including my grandfather John Francis May. They also had a daughter named Margaret May. She was born on June 5 1877 and died in 1973. She is buried in Eganville. The story goes that my great-aunt Maggie married money. She married her husband Michael Roche June 17 1902 in Brudenell. During her life, she was said to have either built or contributed significantly to the building of a church in the Renfrew area. When I was a child, we toured the small town and have pictures of the church, but I do not have the name or exact location. Are you familiar with this church? It is quite large with grey brick and has a statue (shrine) on the grounds and something about stables. Any idea where that might have been as we are planning a visit to the area and would like to visit.

2010-08-21T18:55:00.000-04:00

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Would like to contact or find family, that i never knew, before i pass on .. where do i start.?

2010-08-01T20:54:00.000-04:00

As with any genealogy project, start with what you know. Have you put together a family tree with the information you currently have? Listed all known aunts, uncles, cousins, etc?

Dig out your address book and Christmas card mailing list (and those of any relatives you do have contact with). Doesn't matter how old this information is, it'll give you a place to start.

Use http://canada411.ca to see if they still live at the address. If not seek out city or phone directories for that place starting with the year of last known contact.

Use http://canada411.ca to cold call possible relations. Look up person(s) that share names of relations or those with their surname in their last known place of residence.

Get in touch with the genealogy societies where your shared ancestors lived. Inquire if anyone is seeking your shared ancestor.

Put an ad in the newspaper of their last known residence.

Track down deceased relations and use that information to find the living. Obituaries are fantastic resources and some cemeteries or funeral homes may be willing to act as an intermediary and pass along a letter from you to next-of-kin.

Use our Brick Wall suggestions and Research Checklist.

In the 1856 Dubuque Co., Iowa state census is a listing for a place of origin as I. O. My questions is ... is the Ontario? The census taker wrote out the complete name for Iowa with no abbreviation.

2010-08-01T20:34:00.000-04:00

I.O. is not a known abbrevation for Canada West as Ontario was known at that time.

What do previous & subsequent census (or other records) show as place of birth for this person?