My 3rd Great Grandfather, Able Jay Hubble left Connecticut and settled in Cramahe sometime before 1819. In winter of 1844 his daughter Mary and her husband Elias Williams made a 300 mile trip Michigan. Her father and some of her siblings followed. I am wondering: Why would someone move from Connecticut to Cramahe and then why brave a winter trip to Michigan? In other words, what was the draw to Ontario and then what made them leave? I'm sure there are many possible reasons, but was there some historical or political reason for such migrations?

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How do I go about finding a death & burial that occurred about 1848?

Our Research By Year pages detail what records are available during specific time periods. For 1848 see the 1840-1849 page. As a death during this time period pre-dates Vital Registration you will have to seek out church and cemetery records.

Also see our links page for a link to the genealogy group that covers the area where the death took place. Many genealogy groups have published transcripts of local cemeteries plus have a wealth of local knowledge.

As well be sure to check out the Ontario Cemetery Finding Aid and CanadaGenWeb's Cemetery Project.

In the 1847 typhus epidemic was there or is there a list of those who passed away from the epidemic?

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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).

My 2nd gr grandmother was the youngest of her family, having 8 siblings. Her parents, born in Ireland, immigrated to the states in 1848. I have recently found Wisconsin, USA census records that indicate her oldest sister, born 1845 and oldest brother, born 1846 were actually born in Canada. One record says her brother was born in Ontario. There was no indication as to where in Ontario I should start my search as I follow the path backwards to Ireland. I am wondering if someone knows a particular immigration flow for people leaving Ireland, travelling into Canada and then removing themselves, again, to the USA? If there was a pattern, then that would at least give me a place to start. Any other suggestions would be much appreciated.

See our Beginner's Guide to Ontario Genealogy and follow the suggestions regarding those born "somewhere" in Ontario.

In the time period of 1834-onward until Canada was a nation in 1867, how did one receive designation of a Justice of the Peace. Was this done by application or appointment and if so was it to Britain they made their requests?

[From Cathy] The people that would best answer your question is The Osgoode Society - they are the experts on Ontario's Legal History. The time period you are interested in was one in which many changes happened. They have just published a book answering all the questions you ask. The book is called Magistrates, Police and People: Everyday Criminal Justice in Quebec and Lower Canada, 1764-1837, by Donald Fyson, Professor of History, Universite Laval. See if you can get that on library loan.

Where can I find Militia Rolls and/or information about the East York Militia?

These rolls can be viewed at the Library & Archives of Canada (From David Agar)

Is there a source for famine orphans, specifically those in indentured servitude where after a period of time (7 Years?) the individual was given land? Famine victim from Ireland o/a 1841-1846?

During that time period (actually from the last 1830's to the early 1900's) most immigrants were required to stop at an island in the St Lawrence river called Grosse Ile (part of the province of Quebec). During the famine period this quarantine island was their final resting place. Records of children orphaned on this island were well kept and can be found in several publications about this island. But being given land for indentured servitude is questionable. If the land was given by the person they were indentured to you may wish to check land records for transfer documents. I'm not aware of any program to provide famine orphans with free land. After 1826 Ontario limited free grants of land to Loyalist or Military/Militia claimants. Could try the petitions to Commissioner of Crown Lands of Ontario 1827-1756 [RG 1, Series C-I-1 at Archives of Ontario, MS 691.

I have an ancestor listed on the 1837 Toronto census as living in York County on "Yonge Street Road from Toll Gate to Montgomery's Tavern". Where can I locate what churches might have been in that particular area in 1837 and do any of them still exist?

You might want to check the book call Toronto Landmarks. It is available on film at your local LDS Family History Center, on the shelf at some public libraries, through inter-library loan, and the Ontario Archives. This book contains Toronto City Directories for 1836-37 and 1846-47 as well as a wealth of other info. The directories will list churches in the Young ST area at the time. Then go to the Church archives that will hold your record

I have an ancestor who is Huron indian from the London, Ontario area born about 1841. She married my great, great grandfather who came over from England as a soldier with the Kings Royal Rifles 4th Battalion in 1857. Where do I find information about my native ancestors.

To find resources for Native research see the Archives of Ontario publication "Aboriginal Peoples in the Archives". This is a guide to sources located at the Archives of Ontario. And "Records of the Federal Department of Indian Affairs at the National Archives of Canada" by Bill Russell, available through globalgenealogy.com

Where can I find information and records on prisoners in Ontario penitentiaries between 1837 and 1851?

Inmate records are of an administrative nature and would be kept at the individual prisons. Obtaining this information may involve contacting either one specific prison or the prisons in the area involved. For instance Kingston Pennitentary has been the subject of many historical books on its first one hundred years and I believe that it has its own archives. To my knowledge there is no specific province-wide agency that has such info. {Special Thank you to Laura Carter for her help in answering this question}

I would contact the ministry of the Attorney General for penal system inquiries, even that long ago. They do have an "archive" division, because I have used it
ATTORNEY GENERAL
'Archives Division'
720 Bay St
Toronto ON M5G 2K1
General Inquiry: 416-326-2220
TTY: 416-326-4012
Fax: 416-326-4007

How do I find out the name of ships that docked at Whitby Harbour during June, 1840?

The best place to start looking for possible records in this instance is by contacting the harbour master at Whitby and asking if log books were kept at that time and if so where they would be located. A lot of harbours have marine and historical societies where one might have access to archives including log books. Contact information for these types of lake front societies may be available at Great Lakes Shipping Genealogy Downward Bound {Special Thank you to Laura Carter for her help in answering this question}

Try the municipal offices of the town of Whitby, or try the Department of Transportation if they have a "Great Lakes" division. Maybe even Archives Ontario under shipping?

I have a family in the 1861 census, but would like to go back a previous census. It seems to be missing. Can't find either the 1851 or the 1842 census for that area

It's possible those census returns did not survive. If you've checked the book "Catalogue of Census Returns on Microfilm, 1666-1891" published by the National Archives of Canada and it does not include a census for the area you're seeking, you're likely out of luck. The National Archives is the caretaker of most Canadian census records. There are a few census records out there that are not at the National Archives but in order to find these you will have to do some research. Write to the genealogy and history societies in the area to learn if there was in fact a census that survived or if there are alternative resources available.

Which area was considered as Western Canada during the 1830's and 1840's?

Ontario :-) From 1841-1867 Ontario was known as Canada West and the Province of Canada's western edge was the current Ontario-Michigan boundary line. From 1791-1841 Canada West was known as Upper Canada. Before 1791 it was part of Quebec

I am trying to find a family on the 1851 and 1861 censuses. The parents were married in 1849 in St. Paul's RC Church in Toronto but I don't know the ward or township of that church and it might lead me to the township of the family. How can I find St. Paul's location?

[From Pat Jeffs] St Paul's RC Church was in St David's Ward. The 1851 census for Toronto was lost, so the only possibility is 1861

[From Susan] There is a website called ontarioroots.com that has a transcription of the tax rolls for Toronto for 1853. It was created because of the lack of an 1851 census. All heads of households are listed, whether home owners or tenants. To to the site and look on the left for "tax rolls". There's a search engine.