Antigonish County, Nova Scotia Genealogy

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Nova Scotia

Antigonish County

Guide to Antigonish county ancestry, family history and genealogy: birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, parish registers, and military records.

Nova Scotia Online Genealogy RecordsAsk the
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History

The County of Sydney was created in 1784. In 1836 Sydney County was diminished in size when Guysborough County was organized. In 1863 the name was changed to Antigonish County.

Maps and Gazetteers

1700-1900 - Nova Scotia.ca Historical Maps of Nova Scotia

1895 - Collections Canada Electoral Atlas of the Dominion of Canada (1895)

Populated Places Table

1	2	3	4	5
POPULATED PLACE	FORMER NAME, if applicable	TYPE	FHL  CATALOG	WIKIPEDIA
Antigonish			Link	Link
Arisaig			Link	Link
Havre Boucher			Link	Link
Heatherton			Link	Link
Lochaber			Link	Link
Ohio			Link	Link
St. Andrews			Link	Link
St. Joseph			Link	Link

Neighboring Counties

Inverness County * Guysborough County * Pictou County

Civil Registrations

According to Nova Scotia Archives Records Management:
"Civil registration of vital statistics began in Nova Scotia in 1763 with the introduction of procedures for obtaining a marriage licence; the procedure was optional and the surviving records are incomplete. Formalized registration of births, deaths and marriages began in 1864 and continued to 1877, at which time record-keeping lapsed for births and deaths, but continued for marriages. Compliance was not universal during this period and there are gaps in the surviving records. Since 1 October 1908, birth, death and marriage registrations have been collected and maintained continuously."

Birth Records

• 1661-1959 - Canada Births and Baptisms, 1661-1959, index. - How to Use this Collection
  
• 1702-1896 - Nova Scotia Births and Baptisms, 1702-1896, index. - How to Use this Collection
  
• 1830-1909 - Births 1864-1877, 1908-1909; Delayed Birth Registrations 1830-1909, index and images.
  
• 1836-1907 - Nova Scotia Vital Records, 1763-1957, index. - How to Use this Collection
  
• 1836-1910 - Nova Scotia, Canada, Births, index and images. ($)
  
• 1837-1904 - Nova Scotia Delayed Births, 1837-1904, images.- How to Use this Collection
  
• 1864-1877 - Nova Scotia Births, 1864-1877 at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection

Marriage Records

• 1711-1909 - Nova Scotia Marriages, 1711-1909, index. - How to Use this Collection
  
• 1759-1960 - Court records of Divorce and Matrimonial Causes, 1759-1960; Marriage Bonds 1763-1864; Marriage Registrations 1864-1934, index and images.
  
• 1763-1932 - Nova Scotia Vital Records, 1763-1957, index. - How to Use this Collection
  
• 1763-1942 - Nova Scotia, Canada, Marriages at Ancestry - index and images ($); Also at: MyHeritage ($)
  
• 1864-1918 - Nova Scotia Marriages, 1864-1918 at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection
• 1864-1918 - Nova Scotia Marriages, 1864-1918, images. - How to Use this Collection
  
• 1907-1932 - Nova Scotia Marriages, 1907-1932, images. - How to Use this Collection
  

Death Records

• 1864-1957 - Nova Scotia Vital Records, 1763-1957, index. - How to Use this Collection
  
• 1864-1877 - Nova Scotia Deaths, 1864-1877 at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection
• 1864-1959 - Deaths 1864-1877, 1908-1959, images and index.
  
• 1864-1960 - Nova Scotia, Canada, Deaths, 1864-1877, 1890-1960 index. ($)
  
• 1890-1955 - Nova Scotia Deaths, 1890-1955 index. - How to Use this Collection
  
• 1956-1957 - Nova Scotia Deaths, 1956-1957 index. - How to Use this Collection
  

Census

In Canada, census returns are closed for 92 years after the time of enumeration.

• 1861 - For each county, the agricultural returns follow immediately after the personal returns for the whole county.
  
• 1871 - The personal returns for each enumeration sub-district appear in schedule one. The agricultural returns are schedules three to five and are keyed to schedule one by page and line number rather than by name.
  

Searchable Databases, Books and Images

All surviving census returns from 1851 to 1916 have been digitized and are currently available on various websites, some of which require a subscription to access.

Year	Name of Collection	Where Available
1671	Acadian genealogy exchange - v. 5, no. 4 Oct 1976;	FamilySearch Digital Library. Acadian Families in 1671 begins on page 118 At various libraries (WorldCat)
1708	East Coast of Arcadia 1708	At various libraries (WorldCat) FamilySearch
1714	Acadian families in 1714	At various libraries (WorldCat) FamilySearch
1752	1752 census of Isle Royale (Cape Breton, Nova Scotia)	At various libraries (WorldCat) FamilySearch
1770	Nova Scotia 1770 census	Nova Scotia Archives Ancestry $ FamilySearch
1800-1842	Ontario and Nova Scotia Census, 1800-1842	Ancestry $
1811-1818	Nova Scotia Census Returns, 1811, 1817 and 1818	Nova Scotia Archives
1827	Nova Scotia Census Returns 1827	Nova Scotia Archives Ancestry $ FamilySearch WorldCat
1838	Nova Scotia Census Returns 1838	Nova Scotia Archives
1851	Canada Census, 1851	Archives of Canada Familysearch Ancestry $
1861	Census of Canada, 1861	Archives of Canada Familysearch Ancestry $
1871	Census of Canada, 1871	Archives of Canada Familysearch Ancestry $
1871-1901	Jewish residents of the Maritime provinces in the 1871-1901 censuses of Canada	FamilySearch WorldCat
1881	Census of Canada, 1881	Archives of Canada Familysearch Ancestry $
1891	Census of Canada, 1891	Archives of Canada Familysearch Ancestry $
1901	Census of Canada, 1901	Archives of Canada Familysearch Ancestry.com $
1911	Census of Canada, 1911	Archives of Canada Familysearch Ancestry $
1921	Census of Canada, 1921	Ancestry $

Cemeteries

Cemeteries of Antigonish County online and in print
Tombstone Transcriptions Online	Find-a-Grave Canadian Genealogy
Tombstone Transcriptions in Print	Nova Scotia Cemeteries FamilySearch
List of Cemeteries in the County	Antigonish County RootsWeb Antigonish County Find-a-Grave Antigonish County Canadian Genealogy

Church Records

• 1720-2001 - Nova Scotia Church Records, images. - How to Use this Collection
  
• 1757-1946 - Acadia, Canada, Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), images. ($)
  
• 1823-1905 - Nova Scotia, Antigonish Catholic Diocese, images. - How to Use this Collection
  
• Nova Scotia, Canada, Antigonish Catholic Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1823-1905, index and images, ($).
  *1856-1970 - U.S., Dutch Christian Reformed Church Vital Records, images ($)
  
• Nova Scotia Archives, Church Records, index and images.
  
• Nova Scotia Archives, Regional Church Archives contact information
  
  

See also, Nova Scotia Church Records

City, Provincial, and Business Directories

• 1758-1952 Ancestry $ Publications of the governments of Nova Scotia
  
• 1868-1869 Collections Canada PDF file of McAlpine's Nova Scotia Directory
  
• 1880-1881 FamilySearch McAlpine's maritime provinces business directory
  
• 1890-1897 Collections Canada PDF file of McAlpine's Nova Scotia Directory
  
• 1907-1908 Nova Scotia Archives McAlpine's Nova Scotia Directory
  

Court Records

• 1885-1900 - Nova Scotia Archives Court of Appeal Casebooks
  

Wills and Probate

• 1760-1993 - Nova Scotia Probate Records and Estate Files, images. - How to Use this Collection
  

Land Records

• 1732-1864 - Nova Scotia land grants, microfilm.
  
• 1763-1970 - Land records, microfilm.
  
• 1854-1953 - Land grants, microfilm.
  
• 1965-1970 - Card file index to deeds, grantor and grantee, microfilm, Index.
  

Online Records

• Land Grants, Images.
  
• Crown Land Information Management Centre maps, images.
  
• 1760-1993 - Nova Scotia Probate Records, images. - How to Use this Collection
  
• 1765-1800 - Nova Scotia Land Papers images.
  
• 1787-1843 - Cape Breton Island Petitions, images.
  
  

Additional Reference

• Gilroy, Marion. Loyalists and Land Settlement in Nova Scotia. Halifax: Public Archives of Nova Scotia, 1937.
  

• Smith, Clifford Neal. Whereabouts of Some American Refugees, 1784–1800: the Nova Scotian Land Grants. 7 vols. McNeal, Arizona: Vestland Publications, 1992.

• Land Registration Office - Annapolis County
  396 Main Street
  Lawrencetown, Nova Scotia
  (902) 584-7185
  

Military Records

• The American Civil War : the service records of Atlantic Canadians with the State of Maine volunteers
  
  • FamilySearch
    
  • WorldCat
    
• The civil sword : James Delancey's Westchester Refugees
  
  • FamilySearch
    
• 1749-1867 - Index to commissions in the Public, index.
  

Online Sources

• Veteran Affairs Canada has a Virtual War Memorial with listings of graves and memorials, some with photographs and personal memorabilia. It also has excerpts from wartime letters and diaries.
  

• Library and Archives Canada Records and databases of information over an extensive period of time.
  

• 1910-1967 - The Royal Canadian Navy Virtual archive of non-governmental materials (postcards, letters, photographs, etc.)
  

Newspapers and Obituaries

• List of Nova Scotia newspapers available on microfilm at Library and Archives Canada:
  Library and Archives Canada
  
• Nova Scotia vital statistics from newspapers FamilySearch
  
• 1752-1988 - Hicks, Brenda, Lynn Murphy, and Anjali Vohra. Nova Scotia Newspapers: A Directory and Union List, 1752-1988. Halifax, Nova Scotia: School of Library and Information Studies, Dalhousie University, 1990.
  
  • PDF file online
• 1757-1957 - Tratt, Gertrude E. N. A Survey and Listing of Nova Scotia Newspapers, 1752-1957, with Particular Reference to the Period Before 1867. Halifax, Nova Scotia: Dalhousie University, 1979.
  

Taxation Records

• 1791-1793 - Nova Scotia Archives & Records Management Poll tax rolls
  
  

Voter Records

• 1791–1793 Nova Scotia, Canada, Census, Assessment and Poll Tax Records, 1770-1795, 1827, 1838 at Ancestry - index ($)

Repositories

Nova Scotia Archives & Records Management, formerly the Public Archives of Nova Scotia (PANS):
6016 University Avenue
Halifax, Nova Scotia
(902) 424-6060
www.gov.ns.ca/nsarm/
The library holdings are only available for use on-site, but there are numerous databases and materials available through the Virtual Archives, including the searchable database of Historical Vital Statistics. If you're planning a visit to the library, you can search a portion of the catalogue online in advance (as of July 2010, 20,000 entries); the remaining 50,000 titles are listed in the Archives Reading Room Card Catalogue, available onsite. Search for 'Annapolis' in Acadia University's Planter Database for a more convenient way to view NSARM's record holdings.

Websites

• Nova Scotia Genealogy Records Online
  
• Genealogical Association of Nova Scotia
  
• Nova Scotia Genealogy
  
• Canada Library and Archives Genealogy and History Links
  
• Acadia University's Planter Studies Centre, focused on the New England residents who settled in Nova Scotia in the late 1700s.
  

References

• Genealogy Source: Where to Find Genealogical Information in Nova Scotia. Halifax, Nova Scotia: Council of Nova Scotia Archives, 2002.
  
• Elliot, Noel Montgomery, ed. The Atlantic Canadians, 1600–1900: An Alphabetized Directory of the People, Places, and Vital Dates. 3 vols. Toronto: Genealogical Research Library, 1994.
  
• Marble, Allan E. A Catalogue of Published Genealogies of Nova Scotia Families. Halifax, Nova Scotia: Genealogical Association of the Royal Nova Scotia Historical Society, 1984.
  
• Morris, Julie. Tracing Your Ancestors in Nova Scotia. Halifax: Public Archives of Nova Scotia, 1987.
  
• Morse, William I. Gravestones of Acadie: And Other Essays on Local History, Genealogy and Parish Records of Annapolis County, Nova Scotia. London: A. Smith & Co., 1929.
  
• Peterson, Jean, Lynn Murphy, and Heather MacDonald. The Loyalist Guide: Nova Scotian Loyalists and Their Documents. Halifax, Nova Scotia: Public Archives of Nova Scotia, 1983.
  
• Punch, Terrence M. Erin's Sons: Irish Arrivals in Atlantic Canada to 1863. 4 vols. Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2008-2010.
  
• Punch, Terrence M. Genealogical Research in Nova Scotia. Halifax, Nova Scotia: Petheric Press, 1978.
  
• Punch, Terrence M. Genealogist's Handbook for Atlantic Canada Research. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1989.
  
• Punch, Terrence M. In Which County?: Nova Scotia Surnames from Birth Registers, 1864 to 1877. Halifax, Nova Scotia: Genealogical Association of the Royal Nova Scotia Historical Society, 1985.
  
• Smith, Leonard H, and Norma H. Smith. Nova Scotia Immigrants to 1867. 2 vols. Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1992. Also digitized and searchable on Ancestry.com
  
• County Guide Series, No. 5. Halifax, Nova Scotia: Public Archives of Nova Scotia, 1990.
  

 

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