Return To Main Page | County & District GenWebs | FAQ | Need Help? | Volunteer | Research | Submissions | What’s New to OntarioGenWeb? Ontario Q&A Please take a moment to read what this page is all about. Thanks! Ontario Q&A was set up to help genealogists answer questions that cannot be found elsewhere on the OntarioGenWeb This page is: NOT for area specific questions (please see the County/District GenWeb site for that type of information!) NOT a query page NOT a research service NOT a place locator NOT a miracle worker!! Looking for a town, city, or place in Ontario? Visit the Ontario Locator PLEASE if you have a question about a particular County, District, or place in Ontario. Visit the County/District GenWeb site pertaining to that area. There's a very, very good chance you will find your answer there. Thank you! Ask an Ontario Genealogy Question $ Some links may offer paid services or resources and are not financially associated with the OntarioGenWeb Project $ Q: Are there records for immigrants who landed in Canada at Grosse Ile, if so, where are they located and are they on film? Thanks. A: Yes there are. Some can be found at Immigrants at Grosse-Île Do you have an answer for this question? 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 Do you have an answer for this question? Q: Have used the index to war of 1812 war loss claims.(C-15720) Have found ancestor(s) listed in this card index with a reference number. Don't know what to do next. What resource does this reference number relate to? A: [From Suzanne Schaller] -- C-15720 looks like a National Archives microfilm number. Have you tried looking at this film? Or, if the index is from the National ARchives (which I think it is), there should be info on what the reference number means, or else their reference department should be able to tell you. Hope this helps! Do you have an answer for this question? Q: How can I find out the county I want to look in? I know the areas, but not the counties A: By using the Ontario Locator. It has a listing of Ontario place names and what townships & counties they are located in. Do you have an answer for this question? Q: I am trying to verify that an ancestor of mine, who was a personal representative of the Sovereign and acting out the duties of Canada's Keeper of Customs for (Quebec and Ontario) Between the years of 1820 1830. Are there any government or private resources that contain information about who was the head customs officer for this period for Quebec and Ontario? The individual’s name was Sir Richard Cross. A: Probably! As Canada was not yet a country you might find these records are kept in England (see the UK National Archives: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk) Do you have an answer for this question? 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 Do you have an answer for this question? Q: In the time period of 1834-onward until Canada was a nation in 1867, how did one receive designation of a Justice of the Peace. Was this done by application or appointment and if so was it to Britain they made their requests? A: [From Cathy] The people that would best answer your question is The Osgoode Society - they are the experts on Ontario's Legal History. The time period you are interested in was one in which many changes happened. They have just published a book answering all the questions you ask. The book is called Magistrates, Police and People: Everyday Criminal Justice in Quebec and Lower Canada, 1764-1837, by Donald Fyson, Professor of History, Universite Laval. See if you can get that on library loan. Do you have an answer for this question? Q: Is there a source for famine orphans, specifically those in indentured servitude where after a period of time (7Years?) the individual was given land? Famine victim from Ireland o/a 1841-1846? A: During that time period (actually from the last 1830's to the early 1900's) most immigrants were required to stop at an island in the St Lawrence river called Grosse Ile (part of the province of Quebec). During the famine period this quarantine island was their final resting place. Records of children orphaned on this island were well kept and can be found in several publications about this island. But being given land for indentured servitude is questionable. If the land was given by the person they were indentured to you may wish to check land records for transfer documents. I'm not aware of any program to provide famine orphans with free land. After 1826 Ontario limited free grants of land to Loyalist or Military/Militia claimants. Could try the petitions to Commissioner of Crown Lands of Ontario 1827-1756 [RG 1, Series C-I-1 at Archives of Ontario, MS 691. Do you have an answer for this question? Q: male ancestor died 1821 in Hamilton Twp. He left all his property to his widow and money to his daughters. If women were not allowed to own land in those days and he had no male heirs, what would have happened to the property? A: [From Cathy]: Married women didn't have property rights but widows did. If the husband willed the house to the widow, it was hers. Do you have an answer for this question? Q: My ancestor in applying for land (& trying not to choke over the sugar melting in his mouth, apparetnly) reassures the council that he is not "affiliated with the Ryerson Faction" & other land petitions of family members refer also to "internal commotions"& "the MacKenzie Rebellion". What were these matters? A: [From Suzanne Schaller] -- The MacKenzie Rebellion took place in 1837. See: The 1837 Rebellions and Rebellion of 1837 overview for more information. I'm not sure about the Ryerson Faction, but an online search might tell you something. [From Leanne] -- The 1837 MacKenzie rebellion was instigated by William Lyon MacKenzie; earlier in his career as a reform politician, he'd been allied with Reverend Egerton Ryerson, a Methodist minister and moderate reformer. As MacKenzie's politics became more radical, he and Ryerson parted ways. Nevertheless, neither would have been greatly appreciated by the corrupt, conservative Tory regime in place at the time. So yes, the ancestor in question was definitely "sucking up" in order to be assured of a land grant LOL (nor do I blame him...that was something too important to fool around with). Do you have an answer for this question? Q: What connection did the loyalists have with the American Revolution? A: The American Revolution began in 1775 when several British colonies in America (USA) declared independence from Britain. The term Loyalist was coined when some individuals chose to remain loyal to Britain or chose to fight for/with Britain. So their connection would be with the British side of the Revolution. Do you have an answer for this question? Q: Where can I find information and records on prisoners in Ontario penitentiaries between 1837 and 1851? A: Inmate records are of an administrative nature and would be kept at the individual prisons. Obtaining this information may involve contacting either one specific prison or the prisons in the area involved. For instance Kingston Pennitentary has been the subject of many historical books on its first one hundred years and I believe that it has its own archives. To my knowledge there is no specific province-wide agency that has such info. {Special Thank you to Laura Carter for her help in answering this question} I would contact the ministry of the Attorney General for penal system inquiries, even that long ago. They do have an "archive" division, because I have used it ATTORNEY GENERAL 'Archives Division' 720 Bay St Toronto ON M5G 2K1 General Inquiry: 416-326-2220 TTY: 416-326-4012 Fax: 416-326-4007 Do you have an answer for this question? Q: Where did the Loyalists settle in Ontario? A: All over. Loyalists, like most new settlers, basically settled wherever land was available. Primary areas of settlement were along the St. Lawrence River and the shores of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. Large settlements of Loyalists can be found in the areas of extending East from Northumberland County to Quebec, and in the counties of Haldimand, Norfolk, Lincoln and Welland. Do you have an answer for this question? Q: Which area was considered as Western Canada during the 1830's and 1840's? A: Ontario :-) From 1841-1867 Ontario was known as Canada West and the Province of Canada's western edge was the current Ontario-Michigan boundary line. From 1791-1841 Canada West was known as Upper Canada. Before 1791 it was part of Quebec Do you have an answer for this question? Have an Ontario genealogy question that's not answered on OntarioGenWeb? Please note that questions that have already been answered elsewhere on OntarioGenWeb will not be answered again. Queries for specific family information are not answered - submit a query instead please. PLEASE NOTE - This is NOT for genealogical queries!! If you're not sure what this page is for, please read what's already posted. Your Name: Your E-Mail: What is your Ontario genealogy question (please be as specific as possible - many questions cannot be fully answered as important details are not included in the question): Finding something on this website Ontario genealogy resources Finding a place in Ontario Overcoming a brick wall A question about research Posting a query Searching outside Ontario, but still in Canada Searching outside Canada The meaning of a word Finding others researching my surname How to research a specific area in Ontario Genealogy Forms OntarioGenWeb Mailing List None of the above Help! These questions need answers... can YOU help? If you can see this message your browser does not support iframe's or has blocked access to iframe's (see the 'Options' section of your browser to allow iframe's). Don't worry though! <a href=http://www.geneofun.on.ca/db.php?database=ogwqa&template=ogwqahelp.html&sort=QNO&search=ANSWER&max=200&find=ffffff&sort=newest>Click here</a> to view the page. 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