We have found a relative who emigrated to Canada from England in 1904. Both parents and two siblings died before 1921. There were three girls left. We have trawled through all the records we have access to and also newspapers but can find no trace of them. One of their brothers who died we believe was adopted.Could you point me in the right direction in trying to find these three young girls?

If the children were minors when their last parent died there may be court records.  While adoptions were possible in that era they were still rare and mostly private.

 

It's also possible the children were placed with living relations - did anyone else emigrate or is it possible they could they have returned to England?

 

Later this year the 1921 Canadian census will be transferred to Library & Archives Canada, once they release it for public viewing it may provide a few more clues.

Where can I get records for the Simcoe Reformatory Prison in 1861?

If records still exist they will be held either by the Archives of Ontario or Library & Archives Canada.

Can anyone point me in the right direction to locate info regarding female inmates convicted of adultery in the 1940's in Ontario?

Help! Do you have an answer to this question? Please post a comment.

Is there any records on the 1884 train wreck?

There are likely dozens of different types of records available that relate to this incident such as Death Records, Court Records, Funeral Records, Cemetery Records and Newspapers. Don't overlook local records!

My grandfather was in Kingston Penn I believe for 7 years for a bank robbery and I am trying to find the records of the crime or the correcetional records. His name is William Henry McMillan. He was adopted and his other last name was Chard. This happened in the Niagara falls area. He was a university student. happened approx 1930. He was caught because of some hat he was wearing.

Correctional Records are available at the Archives of Ontario, check with them first to see if they have the area & time period needed. If they don't have the needed records they may still be held at the local court house.

My paternal grandfather is said to have gone to prison for a year near Sioux Lookout, Ontario in about 1930. How do I find records of this?

See Court Records

I have a copy of a will written in Ontario in 1850 which mentions "property to be given to the girls when of age or married". At what age did children become "of age" in 1850?

Help! Do you have an answer to this question? Please post a comment.

My grandefather was adopted in 1912 but ontario did not legalize adoption till 1921. Who would have handed adoptions before it was legalized and how would i get a hold of them ?

Was he adopted or was guardianship transferred from his birth parents to those who raised him? If it was a private 'adoption' you may find note of it in church records. If it was a guardianship transfer you'll have to seek out court records.

I'm looking for 1924 Coronor records from Cardiff Township, Haliburton, County. The records are not in Ontario Archives or Haliburton East records at Wilberforce, Haliburton or Minden. Can you advise were I might look next?

[From Anonymous] www.serviceontario.ca, 1-800-461-2156 or 416-325-8305. Cost $22., just received coroner's & doctor's report on deceased relative from Eagle Lake Ont!

I have managed to have receive a copy of Mimico Correctional Centre Prison Records (RG20-43-1) for an uncle but unfortunately it seem there are no Inmate Case Files for the centre for 1950 onwards. The register tells me that he was sentenced in Peterboro by W R Philp on June 28 1950. He was sentenced to 5 mths and released Nov 27 1950. Can anyone tell me if there would be a record of the trial in Peterboro?

See Court Records

Would there be any record of an adoption in small town Ontario in 1887? The fact of the adoption was always a well-kept secret. I am interested in learning something of the birth mother and her family.

Prior to the Adoption Act in 1921 formal adoption was rare. For that time period you should seek Guardianship Records (Court Records).

My ancestor Frederick Parr was living in Willoughby Twp near Niagara Falls and accidentally drowned either Jan 1st -3rd, 1871. Where would I find Coroner's Records for this accident?

See Court Records

male ancestor died 1821 in Hamilton Twp. He left all his property to his widow and money to his daughters. If women were not allowed to own land in those days and he had no male heirs, what would have happened to the property?

[From Cathy]: Married women didn't have property rights but widows did. If the husband willed the house to the widow, it was hers.

I have recovered two newspaper articles from the Toronto Reference Library Newspaper Archives. They relate to a motorcycle / car collision in which two of my relatives were killed in 1930. One is noted as coming from Rockton, the other is from Galt and they indicate a coroners inquest took place. If those records still exist, would they be with the town, county or the province?

[From Brenda Dougall Merriman, CGRS, CGL] - This is not easy to answer in a specific way. Coroners were (and appear still are) County- or Region-type positions, although they all come under the provincial Ministry of the Attorney General. Coroners' records for Wentworth County (Rockton) and Waterloo County (Galt) are not listed on the Archives of Ontario website, so they are likely retained somewhere in the current Hamilton-Wentworth Region and Waterloo Region bureaucracy. I could find next to nothing on the Ontario government website re Attorney General, so I suggest your questioner tackle the websites of those two Regions to locate an appropriate address. It will likely be a department concerned with "health." The records are only public after 100 years, so after contact is made, it will be necessary to apply for 1930 material on a provincial Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act access form.

How would I find out about land in 'Upper Canada' that was left in the will (made in Ireland) of Lieut General Richard England - British soldier who fought in the American Revolutionary War. It is said that he 'advanced the colinization of western portions of Upper Canada'.

By looking through land grants and petitions.

Would records still exist of any search for a person (teenage girl) who disappeared from her home and family shortly after 1891? How may I find them?

[From Forebears Research] -- The Toronto Police Archives (accessible through the Metro Police I believe) should be able to help. If she was a minor, then the Children's Aid currently may know what existed then in this capacity. Beyond that, if she was found dead at some point there should be a coroner's report. There may be some school records from the time that could have useful details although not specifically to do with the search, rather info on her personally.
You should also check the newspapers in the area where she resided in 1891, as well obituaries, wills and other such events of the remaining family members.

Where would I find list of justices of peace early 1900 in simcoe county.

The Simcoe Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society have outstanding resources for much of this province and they are really sharp. Also, info is available on micorofilm from the Simcoe County Archives and covers the period 1876 to 1905 and is called the Vernon Directory. It is possibly available in book form from the library.

Where can I get prison records from Mimico Reformatory in the 1950's?

Try the Archives of Ontario in the Preliminary Inventory of the Ministry of Correctional Services (RG20) area. There you can find jail files for inmates 1939-1957... also probation & parole files, adult & juvenile case files, records for industrial schools, jails, detention centres and industrial farms. There is a 30 year restriction on personal information and some files may be closed altogether.

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