Halton County, Ontario Genealogy
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Guide to Halton County ancestry, family history and genealogy: birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, parish registers, and military records.
Contents
- 1 Boundary Changes
- 2 Civil Registration
- 3 Census Records
- 4 Church Records
- 5 Cemetery Records
- 6 Populated Places Table
- 7 Websites
Boundary Changes [edit | edit source]
Prior to 1816, Halton County was part of the Home District of Upper Canada. In 1816, the Gore District was formed, comprising of two counties: Halton and Wentworth. [1]
Halton County has seen many changes over the course of the years:
- In 1816, Halton County contained the following townships: Beverly, Blandford, Blenheim, Dumfries, Flamborough, Nelson (formed in 1806), Nichol, Trafalgar (formed in 1806), Waterloo and Woolwich.
- In 1821, the Esquesing and Nassagaweya townships were added.
- In 1840, Halton County is divided into East and West Ridings. The West Riding included Garafraxa, Nichol, Woolwich, Guelph, Waterloo, Wilmot, Dumfries, Puslinch and Eramosa Townships.[2]
- In 1845 the townships of the West Riding of Halton form Waterloo County and the townships of Blandford and Blenheim become part of Oxford County.[3][4]
- In 1849, all Districts including the Gore District ceases to exist. [5]
- In 1853, the Beverley township was transferred to Wentworth County.
- In 1854, the Flamborough township was transferred to Wentworth County. [6]
- In 1973, Halton County was dissolved to form the Regional Municipality of Halton.[7]
Civil Registration[edit | edit source]
Birth[edit | edit source]
- 1869 - 1911 Ontario Births, 1869-1911 at FamilySearch — index and images
- 1858 - 1913 - Ontario, Canada Births, 1858-1913 at Ancestry.com--index and images. ($)
- 1869 - 1912 - Ontario Births, 1869-1912 at [1]--index. ($)
Marriage[edit | edit source]
- 1801-1858 - Ontario, District Marriage Registers, 1801-1858 at FamilySearch — index and images.
- 1801-1928, 1933-1934 - Ontario, Canada, Marriages, 1801-1928, 1933-1934 at Ancestry.com--index and images. ($)
- 1858-1869 - Ontario, County Marriage Registers, 1858-1869 at FamilySearch — index and images.
Death[edit | edit source]
- 1869-1937, and some 1939-1947 - Ontario Deaths, 1869-1937 and Overseas Deaths, 1939-1947 at FamilySearch — index and images
- 1869-1938, 1943-1944, and some 1939-1947 - Ontario, Canada, Deaths, 1869-1938, 1943-1944, and Deaths Overseas, 1939-1947 at Ancestry.com--index and images. ($)
Writing for a More Recent Birth, Marriage, or Death Record[edit | edit source]
- ServiceOntario, Birth Records is the only government-authorized source for obtaining birth certificates. Go to the section entitled "Order a Birth Search". This is the most economical, searches the widest time period, and allows searches for people not immediately related. A letter of information is provided rather than a certificate.
- ServiceOntario, Marriage Records offers a marriage search option and a historical certificate option.
- ServiceOntario, Death Records offers a death search option and a historical certificate option. Also official death certificates are available to a wider range of relatives than birth and marriage certificates.
FamilySearch Library Microfilmed Records[edit | edit source]
Some of the church/civil records have been microfilmed by FamilySearch.These microfilms may be available for viewing at Family History Centers around the world. To find a microfilm:
- a. Click on records for Canada, Ontario, Halton County. You will see a list of available records for the county.
- b. You will also see above the list the link Places within Canada, Ontario, Halton County. This will take you to a list of towns in the counties, which are links to records for the specific town.
- c. Click on any topic. Click on the blue links to specific record titles.
- d. Some combination of these icons will appear at the far right of the microfilm listed for the record.
. The magnifying glass indicates that the microfilm is indexed. Clicking on the magnifying glass will take you to the index. Clicking on the camera will take you to an online digital copy of the microfilm.
Census Records[edit | edit source]
Year | Census | Links |
---|---|---|
1800-1842 |
Ontario and Nova Scotia Census, 1800-1842 |
|
1851 |
Canada Census, 1851 |
|
1861 |
Census of Canada, 1861 |
|
1871 |
Census of Canada, 1871 |
|
1881 |
Census of Canada, 1881 |
|
1891 |
Census of Canada, 1891 |
|
1901 |
Census of Canada, 1901 |
|
1911 |
Census of Canada, 1911 |
|
1921 |
Census of Canada, 1921 |
Church Records[edit | edit source]
Church records can include baptisms, marriages, burials, membership lists, financial business, and other records for a particular congregation. They may be available online or on microfilm, but frequently they are still with the local church or in centralized archives by religion. The Canadian census records asked for the religion of those listed, so you will be able to narrow down which archives to consult. For help with writing a letter requesting copies of records, see Letter Writing Guide for Genealogy.
- Link to Anglican church archives
- Link to Baptist church archives
- Link to Catholic church archives
- Link to Lutheran church archives
- Link to Moravian church archives
- Link to Presbyterian church archives
- Link to United Church of Canada (including Methodist) church archives
Online Church Records[edit | edit source]
These records are incomplete.
- Ontario Births and Baptisms, 1779-1899 collection includes indexed Ontario church records.
- Ontario Marriages, 1800-1910.
- Ontario, Roman Catholic Church Records, 1760-1923., images only.
- Ontario, Canada, Roman Catholic Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1760-1923, index and images, ($).
- Ontario, Canada, Catholic Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1802-1967, ($).
- Ontario, Canada, Roman Catholic Marriages, 1827-1870, ($).
- Various individual church records at FindMyPast, ($).
Cemetery Records[edit | edit source]
See, Ontario Cemeteries for information on cemetery record collections not yet digitized, but available in published sources and on microfilm.
Online Cemetery Records[edit | edit source]
- Ontario Cemetery Finding Aid website has a free, searchable database of over 2 million burials in Ontario. It can be searched by name, cemetery, county and town, but its references do not include dates of death. Although it does not include any gravestone inscriptions, it can be used to locate graves in Ontario.
- Ontario Cemetery Index - Directory to transcriptions
- Ontario Name Index (TONI)
- The Ontario section of Canada GenWeb Cemetery Project
- Ontario, Canada Headstones.com
- Ontario, Toronto Trust Cemeteries (FamilySearch Historical Records)
- Canada, Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current
Resources[edit | edit source]
Biographies[edit | edit source]
Thomas Merrick (Oakville)
Colonel William Chisholm and family (founder of Oakville)
Chief Joseph Brant (Thayendanegea) - (Burlington) He owned the land which later became Burlington
Also, refer to Biographies in the Province of Ontario Resources - Biography.
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
Refer to the follow resources for information regarding cemeteries in Halton:
Transcriptions and online resources:[edit | edit source]
- Archives of Ontario Microfilm collection for Halton - provides a list of the cemetery transcriptions available at the archives and through ILL (Interlibrary Loan)
- Halton-Peel branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society - provides a list of cemeteries transcribed in Halton and available for purchase. Also includes an online Index to Cemeteries, providing historical details about each cemetery and GPS co-ordinates.
- Ontario Cemetery Finding Aid - online database for names of indivduals interred in various Ontario cemeteries. Searchable by given name, last name, cemetery, township and/or county.
Cemetery websites:[edit | edit source]
Burlington:
[edit | edit source]
- Burlington Memorial Gardens
- Greenwood Cemetery
- Holy Sepulchre - Catholic Cemetery
Oakville:
[edit | edit source]
- City managed cemeteries - includes Trafalgar Lawn and seven inactive or "pioneer" cemeteries (Bronte, Merton, Munn's, Oakville/St. Mary's, Palermo, St. Jude's and Wedgewood).
- Glen Oaks
Milton:
[edit | edit source]
Evergreen - includes online search
Halton Hills:[edit | edit source]
- Town managed cemeteries - including Greenwood (Georgetown), Fairview (Acton) and seven inactive or "pioneer" cemeteries (Trafalgar Road Pioneer Cemetery ( Georgetown), Pioneer Cemetery
- (Georgetown), Pioneer Cemetery (Hornby), Acton Pioneer Cemetery (Acton), St Paul’s Anglican Cemetery (Norval), Worden Pioneer Cemetery (Acton), Hornby Presbyterian Cemetery (Hornby))
- Holy Redeemer - Georgetown Catholic Cemetery
Additionally, please read about Cemeteries in the Province of Ontario Resources - Cemeteries .
Census Records[edit | edit source]
- 1841 census for Trafalgar Township - online transcription
- 1852 census for Halton County - online transcription with original images
- 1901 census for Halton County - online transcription with original images
- 1911 census for Halton County - online transcription with original images
Additionally, please read about Census Records in the Province of Ontario Resources - Census .
Church Records[edit | edit source]
Halton County Marriages - online transcriptions of 1858-59, 1860, 1865-66, 1868, Georgetown Congregational 1858-1872
Halton Marriage records - manual transcription lookups for:
- Halton Journal 1855- 1858 - Halton Co. Ontario
- Halton-Peel Marriages performed at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church,
- Halton-Peel Marriage performed at St. James Anglican Cathedral
Home District - online transcriptions of:
- 1840-56 (Vol II pg 37)
- 1831-33 (vol 10)
- Register of Stephen Howard, Clerk of the Peace, 1803-1830 (Vol 6)
- Register of Rev. James Harris, Presbyterian Church, 1823 - 1825 (Vol. 7)
- Register of Rev. James Harris, Presbyterian Church, 1826-1831 (Vol. 8)
- Brock Parish, Anglican Church records
Also check out: Church Records in the Province of Ontario Resources.
Directories[edit | edit source]
Online searchable index of Halton names in the following directories:
- Canada Directory of Professional and Business Men, Montreal: John Lovell, 1851
- Canada Directory of Professional and Business Men, Montreal: John Lovell, 1857
- Fuller's counties of Peel and Halton Directory for 1866 & 1867, Blackburn's City Steam Press, Toronto, 1866
- County of Halton Directory, 1869-70, Hamilton: A. Lawson and Co., 1869
- Lovell's Business and Professional Directory of the Province of Ontario for 1882, Montreal: John Lovell & Son, 1871
- Lovell's Business and Professional Directory of the Province of Ontario for 1882, Montreal: John Lovell & Son, 1882
- Morrey's Business Directory - Halton, Waterloo and Wellington, Ingersoll: Union Publishing Co., 1896
- Morrey's Business Directory - Halton, Waterloo, Wellington counties, Ingersoll: Union Publishing Co., 1899
Land and Property Records[edit | edit source]
1877 Halton County Illustrated Historical Atlas
1877 Halton County and township maps - includes list of property owners
Local Histories[edit | edit source]
The history of Georgetown (now part of the Town of Halton Hills)
- http://www.downtowngeorgetown.com/about/history-of-georgetown
- http://www.georgetownon.ca/index.php/culture/heritage/80-brief-history-of-georgetown-ontario
The history of Limehouse (now part of the Town of Halton Hills)
The History of Oakville
- Town History - http://virtualwalk.ca/index.php/Oakville-Ontario/History-Geography-Oakville.html
- Oakville Images collection (searchable) - http://images.oakville.halinet.on.ca/search
- Oakville Hydro http://www.oakvillehydro.com/ohc/about_history.aspx
- Oakville Trafalgar High School - http://oth.hdsb.ca/?q=node/6
- Oakville Trafalgar Hospital - http://www.haltonhealthcare.com/about_otmh_history.php
- Oakville Masonic Lodge - http://www.oakvillelodge400.ca/history_of_oakville_lodge.html
Newspapers & Obituaries [edit | edit source]
A Number of Halton County and present day Regional Municipality of Halton newspapers have been digitally scanned, indexed and are searchable online. http://news.halinet.on.ca/search provides a portal to search for birth, marriage and death announcements, article and in some cases, full issue browsing.
Searchable and/or archived Halton newspapers, including publication dates ranges:
- Acton Free Press, 1875-1984[8] (HHPL)
- Acton Tanner, 1992-1997[8] (HHPL)
- Burlington Gazette, 1899-1986[9] (BPL)
- Burlington Post (BPL)
- Canadian Champion (MPL)
- Daily Journal Record
- Erin Advocate (HHPL)
- Georgetown Gemini (HHPL)
- Georgetown Herald, 1867-1992 (HHPL)
- Georgetown Independent, 1973-1978 (HHPL)
- Georgetown Leader (HHPL)
- Halton Hills This Week (HHPL)
- Hamilton Spectator
- Independent & Free Press, 1985-present (HHPL)
- Nassagaweya Country News
- New Tanner (HHPL)
- North Halton Compass (HHPL)
- Oakville Beaver (OPL)
- Oakville Journal Record (OPL)
- Oakville News (OPL)
- Oakville Record (OPL)
- Oakville Record-Star (OPL)
- Oakville Star & Independent (OPL)
- Oakville Trafalgar Journal (OPL)
- Standard and Halton and Peel Gazetteer
The acronym in brackets after each newspaper denotes the public library that holds archived material for these papers (microfilm, microfiche etc). Library details are listed below:
Societies and Libraries [edit | edit source]
Societies:
[edit | edit source]
- Bronte Village Historical Society: http://www.brontehistoricalsociety.ca/
- Burlington Historical Society: http://www.burlingtonhistoricalsociety.ca/
- Esquesing Historical Society: http://www.esquesinghistoricalsociety.ca/
- Milton Historical Society: http://www.miltonhistoricalsociety.ca/
- Nasagiweya Historical Society (Nassagaweya Township): http://www.nasagiweyahistoricalsociety.com/community.htm Email: info@nasagiweyahistoricalsociety.com
- Halton-Peel Genealogical Scoiety: https://haltonpeel.ogs.on.ca/
- Oakville Historical Society: http://www.oakvillehistory.org/
- Trafalgar Township Historical Society: http://www.tths.ca/
Libraries:[edit | edit source]
- BPL: Burlington Public Library (www.bpl.on.ca)
Central Branch: 905.639.3611
- HHPL: Halton Hills Public Library (www.hhpl.on.ca)
Georgetown Branch(note this branch is closed until Fall 2012): 905-873-2681
- MPL: Milton Public library (www.mpl.on.ca)
Main Street Branch: 905-875-2665
- OPL: Oakville Public Library (www.opl.on.ca)
Central Branch: 905-815-2042
Populated Places Table[edit | edit source]
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
POPULATED PLACE |
FORMER NAME, if applicable | TYPE |
FHL CATALOG |
WIKIPEDIA |
Acton | Link | Link | ||
Aldershot | Link | Link | ||
Appleby | Link | Link | ||
Bronte | Link | Link | ||
Burlington | Link | Link | ||
Campbellville | Link | Link | ||
Drumquin | Link | Link | ||
Dumfries | Township | Link | Link | |
Eden Mills | Link | Link | ||
Esquesing | Township | Link | Link | |
Georgetown | Link | Link | ||
Glen Williams | Link | Link | ||
Halton Hills | Link | Link | ||
Hornby | Link | Link | ||
Kilbride | Link | Link | ||
Limehouse | Link | Link | ||
Lowville | Link | Link | ||
Merton | Link | Link | ||
Milton | Link | Link | ||
Moffat | Link | Link | ||
Nassagaweya | Township | Link | Link | |
Nelson | Link | Link | ||
Nelson | Township | Link | Link | |
Norval | Link | Link | ||
Oakville | Link | Link | ||
Omagh | Link | Link | ||
Palermo | Link | Link | ||
Stewarttown | Link | Link | ||
Tansley | Link | Link | ||
Trafalgar | Township | Link | Link | |
ANY NEW LOCATIONS IN FHL CATALOG??? | Link |
Websites[edit | edit source]
The Forebears website will give you an extensive list of websites that could have information for people who lived in this county. Some sites cover just the county, some cover all of Ontario, and some cover all of Canada. Some sites are databases of names and facts about people; other sites cover background information such as maps, history, geography, or genealogy strategies and methods for the region.
- ↑ http://www.halton.ca/cms/One.aspx?portalId=8310pageId=8886
- ↑ http://sites.rootsweb.com/~onbrant/twpoak.htm
- ↑ http://sites.rootsweb.com/~onwaterl/waterloo-history.htm
- ↑ http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~onbrant/twpoak.htm
- ↑ http://www.halton.ca/cms/One.aspx?portalId=8310pageId=8886
- ↑ http://www.myhamilton.ca/articles/chronology-cities-towns-and-township-hamilton
- ↑ http://www.halton.ca/cms/One.aspx?portalId=8310pageId=8886
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 http://www.hhpl.on.ca/Genealogy_And_Local_History.pdf
- ↑ 3: http://www.insidehalton.com/community/burlington/article/1047511