Ontario Land and Property: Difference between revisions

#Use the Family History Library Catalog Film/Fiche Search.  

#Type in the beginning film number listed for each source and click the Search button. Click on the title and then the View Film Notes button for a list of film numbers.  

#Search for the alphabetical sequence that would contain your ancestor=s name.  

#Type in the same beginning film number for each of the sources, using the catalog Film/Fiche Search.  

:'''''Petitions for Land Grants and Leases, 1791-1867.''''' On 257 films beginning with FHL film 1832344. Upper Canada. Executive Council. Salt Lake City: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1992. These petitions may describe a land applicant=s military service or relationship to a Loyalist ancestor. They may also list the names and ages of family members.

:'''''Land Records, 1796-1894.''''' On 100 films beginning with FHL film 1313768. Ontario. Heir and Devisee Commission (2nd). Salt Lake City: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1982. These records may explain a person=s entitlement to land, such as military service or Loyalist ancestry. They may list the date of an application for land, the age of the applicant, and his place of birth.

 Find the land description. 1. Locate your ancestor=s name in the records listed in this section. 2. Note the county name, township name, concession number (often written in Roman numerals), and lot number (usually in Arabic numerals) where your ancestor lived:  

Canadian Genealogy Index, 1600sB1900s. FHL compact disc no. 9, part 118. Family Tree Maker=s Family Archives; 118. [Novato, Calif.]: Brøderbund, 1996. Containing over 2 million entries, this CD shows name, event, date, location, province, county, source (sometimes an illustrated historical atlas), and page.  

 Use the land description to find the land records. 1. Once you know the county, township name, concession number, and lot number, use this information to find the land records. 2. Look for your ancestor=s land records in the sources listed below:  

$ Township Papers, ca. 1783B1870's. On 541 films beginning with FHL film 1319288. Ontario. Crown Lands Department. [Toronto]: Archives of Ontario, 1982. This series includes early records for most southern Ontario townships and some cities. Search alphabetically for the names of the townships and cities. Papers for lots in townships are arranged by concession and farm lot. Papers for cities are arranged alphabetically by owner=s name. These records may include maps; petitions; correspondence about land disputes, including the names of ancestors; or military discharge papers showing the place of birth. These papers are listed in the Family History Library Catalog Place Search under Ontario and the topic Land and Property.  

When individuals died, their land was usually sold or transferred to an heir or creditor. Usually a person=s last will and testament was copied either into a deed book at a land registry office, or into a probate record at the probate court or surrogate court to make a land transfer official.  

The Abstract Index Books, listed under Step 2, are the major indexes to wills recorded or memorialized in deed books. If land records show the person=s estate was Aproved@ or probated before a court, look for the person=s name in one of the following sources:  

$ Court of Probate: Registers and Estate Files at the Archives of Ontario (1793-1859). FHL book 971.3 P2z [Toronto]: Ontario Genealogical Society, 1986. This record indexes Probate Registers, 1793B1858; and Estate Files, 1793B1859. On 41 films beginning with FHL film 1312313. Upper Canada. Court of Probate. Salt Lake City: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1982. Search alphabetically for your ancestor=s name. The probate registers may include wills, administrations, guardianships, or citations of next of kin. Estate files may include inventories, administration papers, bonds, affidavits, letters, or wills.