Q: Has anyone any information on where recorded information from Justices of the Peace can be found. Has anyone any recorded information on just who Justice of the Peace where? Where can I find information at the turn of the century (1900) on who these Justice of the Peace were?
A: [From Cathy] Unfortunately, the only registry of JP appointments that exists that I know of is the one for New Brunswick (It is searchable online. Scroll down to "Misc. Records" http://globalgenealogy.com/links/canada-nb.htm)
JP's tended to do marriages. Some resources to find mention of JP's might include: Thomas B. Wilson has published an index and partial abstraction of surviving Ontario Marriage Bonds for the years 1803 - 1834. There are some bonds available beyond 1834. The original bonds are held by the National Archives of Canada in Ottawa and are available on microfilm through Inter-Library Loan and through local Family History Centres of the Church of Latter Day Saints. Wilson’s Ontario Marriage Bonds book is now available with many other invaluable vital records references on CD #204 from Family Tree Maker's Family Archives Series, produced by Broderbund. Unfortunately marriage licences have been lost to us over time as have the records of most Justices of the Peace.
Occasionally the records of a local J.P. will turn up in a private manuscript collection, however, there are no comprehensive collections of J.P. records available. You could also ask Osgoode Hall - they are the experts on Legal History in Ontario. http://www.osgoodesociety.ca
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Q: I don't have enough information to know how to start my search. I know the family surname, my ancestor's first name, his mother's first name, that they were probably farmers and that my ancestor was born in 1861 and was fluent in both French and English. He emigrated to western New York state. I believe he used the passage following the great ridge in western NY. Where would be a good place to start my search in Canada?
A: You do have enough information! You have his name, birth year, name of spouse and where he ended up... much more than most have to start a search. Before you start searching in Canada you should finish your research with New York State - it could give you clues or an exact location. For instance, when did he migrate to NY? Did he go with anyone? Siblings? Have you found their obituaries? Do you have your ancestor's obit? Do you have his naturalization/citizenship records? Canada is huge. Unless you have an approximate location it will be like searching for a needle in a mile-high haystack.
For more help in knowing "Where To Start" there are several websites dedicated to educating "newbies" as well as numerous books (In Search Of Your Canadian Roots by Angus Baxter, and Searching for your Ancestors by Doane & Bell are two excellent books every genealogist should check out). OntarioGenWeb also offers A Beginner's Guide.
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Q: I don't know how to go about finding relatives that can supply me with general info history, medical.
A: Start with who you do know and request names & addresses of other relatives. When you contact these relatives ask the same question. Before you know it you'll have an address book full of relations. Another tactic is gleaning information from family documents such as obituaries, birth notices and the like. They usually provide names and in the case of some obituaries locations (ie, daughter Jane from Toronto, ON). Then take this information and scour the phone books for any matches.
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Q: I'm quite familiar with Vital Statistics in Ontario, however I have a question. My great-great-grandfather was married 29 May 1873 in Ontario. I have checked Vital Statistics for the marriage registration from 1869-1900 with every possible surname spelling and I can't find it. He was also married a second time in Ontario and I can't find it either. Could anyone explain why Marriages after 1869 wouldn't be in the Vital Statistics and where else I might look?
A: [From Suzanne Schaller] -- When the Ontario Vital Statistics records, which start in 1869, were microfilmed and indexed, the marriages from 1869-1873 were left out. The marriages on the microfilm start in 1873, so there is some overlap between them and the "forgotten" records. So for 1873 you need to check both! The earlier marriages have been indexed and published. The index is not on microfilm, but in a six-volume set of books available at many libraries in Ontario. It's not as easy to use, because you have to check all six books for each name. If you don't have access to the books, maybe someone can do a lookup for you. The name of the series is something like "Index to Ontario Marriage Registrations 1869-1873." Once you find a record in the index, the actual record can be ordered from the Archives of Ontario in Toronto, or through your Family History Center.
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Q: In 1918 Why did a person have to carrie a CANADA Registration Board card? What are the numbers for in the top right hand corner for?
A: The Canada Registration Board was established in 1918 to compile information about individuals for the purpose of citizenship, pensions, or other important things. All Canadians were required to register (think of it much like today's Social Insurance), and the information compiled prior to 1940 is available only to the registered person. The National Registration of 1940 was the first to be available for search by anyone willing to pay a fee.
The number on the top right would likely be this person's registration number.
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Q: In order to do research I need to understand how Canada "breaks down" The United States has states; each state has counties; counties have cities; cities have townships. How does it work in Canada? Like Keppel, Grey, Wiarton, Ontario, Canada.
A: Canada has provinces & territories and each one breaks down differently. As this is the OntarioGenWeb only Ontario will be explained here (please see CanadaGenWeb for links to the other GenWebs across Canada for information on their individual breakdowns). Like U.S. states Ontario also has counties which have townships. Cities are geographically within townships but are large enough to have their own municipal government. For more information on how Ontario breaks down and how this effects your genealogy research please see Research By Area
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Q: In the 1901 census, most first nations people are listed as being "Cree f.b" or "Algonquin f.b." What does f.b. stand for?
A: The f.b. would stand for Full Blooded or Full Breed (from Joe Wilson & David Agar). According to the Library & Archives of Canada , F.B. referred to a person with a French parent and a Native parent (French Breed). Other forms used include E.B. (English Breed), S.B. (Scottish Breed), I.B. (Irish Breed), O.B. (Other Breed). "Cree F.B" would mean a person born from a Cree parent and a French parent.
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Q: Is a child of Canadian citizens, who was born in the US a Canadian citizen?
A: From Citizenship & Immigration Canada -- In most cases, you are a Canadian citizen if you were born: in Canada ; in another country, after February 15, 1977, but had one Canadian parent. You may be a Canadian citizen if you were born outside Canada before February 15, 1977, and one of your parents was a Canadian citizen. For more information you may telephone a Call Centre: In Montreal: (514) 496-1010; In Toronto: (416) 973-4444; In Vancouver: (604) 666-2171; For all other areas: 1-888-242-2100
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Q: My g-g-grandfather William Killey (b. 1841or 1842) was known to be a staunch Orangeman, as was one of his brothers. Does anyone know if Orangemen were particularly powerful as a political or religious group in Ontario or the Isle of Man, and if this group exists still would they have records of my g-g-grandfather belonging or not?
A: [From Brian McConnell] - Many members of the Orange Association in Canada were active politically and indeed prominent leaders as you will see from information on the Canada Orange Heritage Site. Most Canadians and others seem entirely unaware of this now. It is a part of Canadian history that has been foregotten and is no longer taught anywhere.
Canada's first Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald, was an Orangemen as were three others, the latest being John Diefenbaker. Joseph Smallwood, the leader who led Newfoundland into Canada in 1949 was an Orangeman as was his father. Many Premiers of Ontario and Mayors of Toronto up to the early 1970s were Orange members.
The author of "The Maple Leaf Forever" , once Canada's unofficial national anthem, was an Orangeman - Alexander Muir.
The Purpose of the Canada Orange Mailing List is to encourage the exchange of information about the culture, history, and genealogy of Orange members who came to Canada and their descendants. Contemporary politics in Canada or anywhere else is banned from the list.
I hope this answers some of your questions. The Orange Association is still active in Canada and has men's and ladies lodges in all provinces. However, as with many other fraternal groups its numbers have dramatically declined in recent years. If you have any other questions please do not hesitate to ask or encourage others to view the Canada Orange Heritage Site and join the Canada Orange Mailing List.
I am the Webmaster of the Canada's Orange Roots . It is an independent site operated by myself with the assistance of information provided by volunteers interested in the heritage of Orangeism in Canada. On the Site you will find links to pages with information about the history, culture and genealogy of Orangeism in Canada.
I am also the Administrator of the Canada Orange Mailing List which is referred to on the Canada Orange Heritage Site. It is a Rootsweb List open to the public which was begun in November, 1998 and has about 225 members. Some 40% are members of the Orange Association and the remainder are descendants of Orange members who are interested in learning about their Orange roots. To join send the message "subscribe" without the quotes, leaving the subject blank, to: Can-Orange-L-request@rootsweb.com
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Q: My grandfather immigrated to the US shortly before 1900. What was required to leave Canada at this time? How can I find out exactly when he did come to the US? I have found him in a city directory for the year 1900 but have not been able to find out if he ever became a citizen.
A: See Immigration Records for information on what was required to leave Canada. US census records should indicate whether or not he became a US citizen (at least prior to 1930), or you search Naturalization Records
From Jo Ann - You didn't need anything to leave except for the means to do so. I have a number of ancestors who left Ontario and Quebec (mostly for economic reasons) 1870 through about 1910 and came earliest via horse and wagon. Later, they came by train. My mother said that her grandparents came in a group and people would put their possessions in open boxcars. These were the French-Canadians. Nearly all of my ancestors were farmers or farming connected. Later it depended upon where you left from. Easiest from Sask. Ont. and harder without ID papers from Que. through NY, Vt or Maine. Need to check US Archives and need to know where they came into States.
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Q: My grandfathers brother Rickard Nordstrom emigrating to Canada, Ontario, around 1913. There are pictures of Rickard in a book called "Rock, Fur, Forest and Trees." It is a history of the area where Richard Emanuel Nordstrom lived. I think the name of the writer is Ronnie Rhind. Where can I buy this book or have copies from it?
A: Call your local bookstore, visit Amazon.ca, Chapters.ca and other such large bookstores. Also call specialty bookstores and request a search for this book. Meanwhile, visit your local library and put in an inter-library loan request. If you live near a college or university, do the same - you may not be able to borrow or request the book if you're not a student or faculty member but you can at least find out where the book is, and then have your local library request it.
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Q: Someone born in 1900 drops out of site in 1935. This person is last seen in 1954. You do not know if this person is dead or alive in 1999. How would you start to find out if that person is dead and where did they die.
A: Start with what you know. Where were they last seen? Who were their immediate relations (parents, siblings)? Track down these relations, through them you may find your missing person. Items such as obituaries, birth announcements, marriage announcements, wills, etc. may mention your missing person and their whereabouts. Try the Ontario Cemetery Finding Aid to see if your missing person is listed in a cemetery record.
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Q: Where would one look to find farms that were around in the 40' + 50's? Ont Fed Agri doesn't have that info.
A: It depends what you are looking for. If you're looking for a list of all farms in Ontario, you're out of luck. If you're looking for a specific farm and know the approximate area where it may be located, check the city directories of surrounding areas, check land records, and most of all check the libraries in the area for a history of that township. Some genealogy societies have compiled land histories that document whom has lived on what plot of land and when. Most of these publications are available in local libraries or through the genealogy society that published them.
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