Tuesday, December 28, 2010

I am looking for a death index for Welland County that covers 1947-1960. Where can I find this?

For the 1947-1960 time period the earliest you would be able to access a death index is 2019 and only for the year 1947 (1948 would be available in 2020, 1949 in 2021, and so on). As explained on our page for Death Records there is a privacy law restricting the release of death registrations for 72 years unless you are next-of-kin or the legal representative of the deceased.

An alternative would be to seek out cemetery records. See:

  • OCFA
  • Niagara Branch OGS
  • CanadaGenWeb's Cemetery Project
  • I need the census for 1842 for Oxford County Ontario?

    See both our census information page and our census project to learn what is available and where you can locate the appropriate microfilm(s).

    Thursday, September 30, 2010

    I am trying to find out more information about: Gilbert BERKMAN - born abt 1937 in Austria. His name is listed as Gilbert BIRKMAN born abt 1839. Source Publication 1823-19 Source: ELLIOTT, BRUCE S. Index to the 1871 Census of Ontario: Leeds, Grenville, Toronto: Ontario Genealogical Society, 1990.268p Page 17. How can I can this information about my Great Great father Gilbert Berkman (Birkman)

    Locate the source. You've got the title "1871 Census of Ontario: Leeds, Grenville", the author "ELLIOTT, BRUCE S.", the publisher "Toronto: Ontario Genealogical Society, 1990." and even the page number the information is on "Page 17".

    This index can be purchased from the Ontario Genealogical Society but it can also be searched online at Library & Archives Canada, Queen's University and Family Search

    The entire 1871 census (images included) is available through an Ancestry subscription.

    Sunday, August 1, 2010

    Would like to contact or find family, that i never knew, before i pass on .. where do i start.?

    As with any genealogy project, start with what you know. Have you put together a family tree with the information you currently have? Listed all known aunts, uncles, cousins, etc?

    Dig out your address book and Christmas card mailing list (and those of any relatives you do have contact with). Doesn't matter how old this information is, it'll give you a place to start.

    Use http://canada411.ca to see if they still live at the address. If not seek out city or phone directories for that place starting with the year of last known contact.

    Use http://canada411.ca to cold call possible relations. Look up person(s) that share names of relations or those with their surname in their last known place of residence.

    Get in touch with the genealogy societies where your shared ancestors lived. Inquire if anyone is seeking your shared ancestor.

    Put an ad in the newspaper of their last known residence.

    Track down deceased relations and use that information to find the living. Obituaries are fantastic resources and some cemeteries or funeral homes may be willing to act as an intermediary and pass along a letter from you to next-of-kin.

    Use our Brick Wall suggestions and Research Checklist.

    In the 1856 Dubuque Co., Iowa state census is a listing for a place of origin as I. O. My questions is ... is the Ontario? The census taker wrote out the complete name for Iowa with no abbreviation.

    I.O. is not a known abbrevation for Canada West as Ontario was known at that time.

    What do previous & subsequent census (or other records) show as place of birth for this person?

    Wednesday, July 14, 2010

    I downloaded the 1881 census household record of my grandmother's family using familysearch.org. How can I get a copy of the original census page?

    Two ways:
    1. Microfilm - Ontario census records are available worldwide on microfilm at LDS Family History Centres. For those who reside in Canada you can also obtain the census at any local library with a microfilm reader using Inter-Library Loan.

    2. Internet - The 1881 census has been digitized and you can save or print an image of the original census page. The census can be searched for free at the Library & Archives Canada website, or as part of an Ancestry.ca subscription.

    See our Census Project's handy Online Census Records page.

    Wednesday, June 23, 2010

    I need to confirm before I pay, that you have my birth certificate

    OntarioGenWeb does not issue birth certificates (or marriage or death certificates).

    To order a birth certificate you must apply for it through Ontario.ca or look in the blue pages of an Ontario phone book. There is also a toll free number to call (see the Ontario.ca website) if you have questions.

    Keep in mind that they will not confirm or deny the existence of a birth certificate, and in order to get a copy of your own birth certificate you will have to provide proof of your identity.