A guide to genealogical study at the Simcoe County Archives, the first county archives in Ontario.
| Census records |
The five available personal Census records for Simcoe County were recorded in 1861, 1871, 1881, 1891 and 1901. Each is divided by township or municipality, and provides personal details such as name, age, occupation marital status, birthplace, ethnic origin and religious preference. Some indication of literacy is provided and, in the case of the 1861 Census, the type of dwelling is described. The 1851 personal Census for Rama and Mara Townships is also available, as well as the totals from the 1842 Census of the Home District.
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| Vital Statistics |
Pre-1869 Marriage Registers for Simcoe County and the Home District are available on microfilm Legislation requiring municipal maintenance of Birth, Heritage and Death words was passed in 1869. From late 1869 until 1873, these records were maintained by the County, and are also available on microfilm. Inquire of the Archivist what other Vital Statistics records might be accessible.
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| Directories |
Farm, business and nominal directories are Available for a number of representative years dating as early as 1866. Directories will help establish the presence of individuals, and will often, locate them on specific property.
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| Tax Assement Rolls |
The comprehensive County collection, available on microfilm covers the period 1858-1912. Host townships and municipalities have by now deposited collections with the Archives which cover significant portions of the 20th century. This record provides the name of the head of each household (and often the names of others entitled to the municipal franchise), the type of occupancy (ownership, tenancy etc.), age, occupation religious preference, a description of the property, the school section into which taxes were paid, assessed property values, and certain other details including assessed statute labour days, livestock inventories and the number of family members present.
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| Patent Book for the County of Simcoe and Muskoka |
Land patents offer greater security of legal title that deeds alone provided. Due to survey and patent fees, however, land could change title several times before a patent was issued. The Land Patent Book, although incomplete in some respect (not all lots were patented) is valuable to a genealogist since it can help to establish land occupancy prior to the earliest available Assessment Roll (1858).
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| Ontario Archives Land Records Index |
Available on microfiche, this index contains data ranging from 1780's to World War 1, from grants to the United Empire Loyalists, to those given veterans of the South African War. There are 236,747 entries drawn from three Ontario Archives Records Groups: the Crown Lands Papers, the Canada Company Papers and the Peter Robinson Papers. There are two separate alphabetical listings: by locatee and by township or town. Information typically available from this index includes name, residence, location of land, date of transaction, and type of transaction (Order in Counsel, location, sale, lease, grant, etc.).
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| Cemeteries Studies |
Through monumental transcriptions, the headstone information from many cemeteries in Simcoe County has been recorded and indexed by surname. Two valuable publications available at the Archives are Monumental Transcriptions, Central North Simcoe County (Vol.1), and Cemetery Inscriptions, Tecumseh & West Gwillimbury Townships, Simcoe County , Ontario. A number of other cemetery surveys, compiled by various individuals and organizations, are also available at the Archives. In a very few instances, burial records, including undertaker's records, may be available.
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| Newspapers |
The newspaper collection dates from 1847 to current editions includes most of the newspapers published in Simcoe County. A wide spectrum of information is available from newspapers. There is an alphabetical subject index for the Barrie Magnet and Northern Advance 1847-1940. In addition, both papers, along with the Barrie Examiner have been indexed for Birth, Marriage, and Death notices and items. The index, which is extended annually, is currently available for the period 1847-1920.
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| School and Church Records |
Generally speaking, recent practice has been to encourage donors to direct church records to appropriate denominational archives in Toronto. Similarly, most Simcoe County school records are under the jurisdiction of the Records Officer of the Simcoe County Board of Education. The Archives does, however, hold significant numbers of school records, including class registers and school section censuses. While church records usually consist of sessional minutes and financial records, they may include marriage, burial and baptismal records.
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| Genealogical Records of Simcoe County Families |
The Simcoe County Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society has undertaken a program of compiling genealogical records of the Simcoe County settlers The forms are completed by researchers and are collected by the Simcoe County Archives. Joining the Simcoe County Branch of the OGS is a good way to expand the scope of your genealogical research, as well as to meet people with similar interests.
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| Other Records |
The permanent collection of the Simcoe County Archives includes maps photographs, newspapers, municipal records, audio and video magnetic and digital recordings, and a wide spectrum of original manuscript material. Finding aids and inventories are available to facilitate research use. Many of these sources may contain information of interest to family history researchers.
Visit their website for more information. |
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