How do I find the marriage record of my father and mother's marriage in or around the year 1954 in Toronto, Ontario?

You can request a marriage records search from Service Ontario and can use the result to order a marriage certificate.

I understand that in Ontario, Banns only need to be read once prior to the wedding (no earlier than 5 days before the wedding & the wedding must take place within 3 months of the Banns being published).... is this correct?

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Has anyone any information on where recorded information from Justices of the Peace can be found. Has anyone any recorded information on just who Justice of the Peace where? Where can I find information at the turn of the century (1900) on who these Justice of the Peace were?

[From Cathy] Unfortunately, the only registry of JP appointments that exists that I know of is the one for New Brunswick (It is searchable online. Scroll down to "Misc. Records" http://globalgenealogy.com/links/canada-nb.htm)

JP's tended to do marriages. Some resources to find mention of JP's might include: Thomas B. Wilson has published an index and partial abstraction of surviving Ontario Marriage Bonds for the years 1803 - 1834. There are some bonds available beyond 1834. The original bonds are held by the National Archives of Canada in Ottawa and are available on microfilm through Inter-Library Loan and through local Family History Centres of the Church of Latter Day Saints. Wilson’s Ontario Marriage Bonds book is now available with many other invaluable vital records references on CD #204 from Family Tree Maker's Family Archives Series, produced by Broderbund. Unfortunately marriage licences have been lost to us over time as have the records of most Justices of the Peace.

Occasionally the records of a local J.P. will turn up in a private manuscript collection, however, there are no comprehensive collections of J.P. records available. You could also ask Osgoode Hall - they are the experts on Legal History in Ontario. http://www.osgoodesociety.ca

the david Milne family is in California by 1870 but all children born in Ontario. Can I find either marriages or births for the 1850-60 date. They give no town only Ontario as place of birth. Parents born Scotland.

Before venturing into Ontario research exhaust all leads that may give you a specific place of birth: death records, marriage records, newspaper notices, naturalization records, military records. Look at all the siblings, if you find a place of birth for one you have a place to start looking for the others.

Births & marriages were not required to be registered until 1869, so for earlier births & marriages you will have to look at church records (which means you'll need to know their religion AND the place where they were born). There are some marriage registrations available from the 1830's and can be found organized by county, so you will need to know the county of origin unless you have the time and resources to check them all. Another option is the 1861 census but again you should know where to look.

How do I find out if someone married, and died in Ontario between 1930-1940. where to write, how many years will be searched, and cost? Thanks

If this someone married 82+ years ago or died 72+ years ago you can search the Ontario Vital Statistics for their marriage and/or death registration (available at LDS Family History Centres worldwide, as well as libraries with access to inter-library loan). If they married or died within the past 82/72 years you will have to apply to the Registrar General's Office in Thunder Bay and provide proof that you are next-of-kin. They will do a 3-5 year search for a fee on top of the certificate fee. See Ontario.ca for more information about the process & fees. For more information on marriages & deaths see our vital statistics page and cemetery records page for more information.

Is it true that once our parents are deceased we are entitled to the information? I am adopted, but my birth mother was also adopted, which prevents me from going back any further. Her parents are long deceased, and I have just learned that my mother died 7 years ago. Can I get HER birth information, to find MY roots? What do I need to access this information? Thanks for your help.

To the first question: Due to the Privacy Act no one is 'entitled' to birth information on any person born within the past 92 years other than themselves or their minor children. The exception is those who have power of attorney over the person in question, or executors/next-of-kin seeking information on a deceased person (proof of death and proof of your relationship to the person is required).

Your other questions are difficult to answer as your situation involves two adoptions. Contact the Adoption Disclosure Register, they'll know how to help you.

Adoption Disclosure Register
Ministry of Community and Social Services/Ministry of Children's Services
2 Bloor Street West, 24th Floor
Toronto, Ontario M7A 1E9
Tel: (416) 327-4730
Fax: (416) 327-0573

I'm quite familiar with Vital Statistics in Ontario, however I have a question. My great-great-grandfather was married 29 May 1873 in Ontario. I have checked Vital Statistics for the marriage registration from 1869-1900 with every possible surname spelling and I can't find it. He was also married a second time in Ontario and I can't find it either. Could anyone explain why Marriages after 1869 wouldn't be in the Vital Statistics and where else I might look?

[From Suzanne Schaller] -- When the Ontario Vital Statistics records, which start in 1869, were microfilmed and indexed, the marriages from 1869-1873 were left out. The marriages on the microfilm start in 1873, so there is some overlap between them and the "forgotten" records. So for 1873 you need to check both! The earlier marriages have been indexed and published. The index is not on microfilm, but in a six-volume set of books available at many libraries in Ontario. It's not as easy to use, because you have to check all six books for each name. If you don't have access to the books, maybe someone can do a lookup for you. The name of the series is something like "Index to Ontario Marriage Registrations 1869-1873." Once you find a record in the index, the actual record can be ordered from the Archives of Ontario in Toronto, or through your Family History Center.

I am from New Zealand & am trying to trace my great grandfather's ancestors. I have found him in 1861, 1871 1891 & 1901 for Lambton County & Middlesex Counties. I have his death registration information - 1904. His parents, however, are not mentioned. Where would I go to find that information. He was Mennonite & his parents are listed as being born in Ontario.

His marriage registration - they usually list the names of parents. Obituary - it usually lists the names of family, perhaps even siblings that you can trace and see if their records mention the names of their parents. There are many resources besides census and death registrations that can be used to find this information.

I have information that a female ancestor living in Grenville Co. was married in Quebec, but the time period was before 1792. I think she may have been married in Grenville Co. Apparently the commanding military officer of the time performed the marriage, to a captain. Can the military perform marriages when there were no clergy and were records kept?

[From anonymous] -- Yes, the Commander could have performed the marriage as he is a recognized authority in any area where there is a command post, particularly if this involves one of his officers. If a record exists for the marriage in question it would be in the collection of State papers related to the governing of Canada by British forces and would likely be obtainable wherever those papers are held in Britain. If you know the exact date and the Commander's name this will also help.

What word does one use to record two people who are living together, not married, and may or may not have a child?

Partner and common-law are two choices. Non-solemnised marriage is another.

I am in England. Where can I find copies of the b,m,d registers of Niagara in 1780 and early 1790s. I know this area was ceded to the USA in 1797 but I think I have both a g-g-grandmother born there and her parents married there. The Mormons do not appear to have microfilms of these. Do they still exist? If I draw a blank there any lists of bmd regsietres elsewhere in Upper Canada available.

Note that Fort Niagara, which is on the east or American side of the Niagara River and therefore situated in New York State, was ceded to the Americans following the American Revolution in the 1770s. It didn't officially change hands until 1797. But nothing else was ceded. In fact, the War of 1812, in which the US invaded Canada, was fought and won by the British in defence of Niagara and Upper Canada. (Thanks to Mark McGarry!). If you're looking for information on the area that was ceded you would be seeking US records, not Canadian records. For Canadian Niagara info, please click here , as for Upper Canada registers, try the Eva Brook Donnelly Museum or the Toronto Reference Library

How can I obtain vital records without exact dates and living in California?

Ontario Vital Statistics are available worldwide on microfilm at any Latter-Day Saints Family History Centre. You can order in the film needed after viewing the index.

Updated 2010:
Indexes for some years are available for free viewing at the FamilySearch website, images of the registrations can be accessed through a subscription to Ancestry.