Are there records for immigrants who landed in Canada at Grosse Ile, if so, where are they located and are they on film? Thanks.

Yes there are. Some can be found at Immigrants at Grosse-Île

I don't have enough information to know how to start my search. I know the family surname, my ancestor's first name, his mother's first name, that they were probably farmers and that my ancestor was born in 1861 and was fluent in both French and English. He emigrated to western New York state. I believe he used the passage following the great ridge in western NY. Where would be a good place to start my search in Canada?

You do have enough information! You have his name, birth year, name of spouse and where he ended up... much more than most have to start a search. Before you start searching in Canada you should finish your research with New York State - it could give you clues or an exact location. For instance, when did he migrate to NY? Did he go with anyone? Siblings? Have you found their obituaries? Do you have your ancestor's obit? Do you have his naturalization/citizenship records? Canada is huge. Unless you have an approximate location it will be like searching for a needle in a mile-high haystack.

For more help in knowing "Where To Start" there are several websites dedicated to educating "newbies" as well as numerous books (In Search Of Your Canadian Roots by Angus Baxter, and Searching for your Ancestors by Doane & Bell are two excellent books every genealogist should check out). OntarioGenWeb also offers A Beginner's Guide.

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.

Were unmarried women allowed to own property and hold mortgages in Ontario in 1865?

From MJ Smith -- I know that when my husband's grandfather died in the 1900 hundreds, the property that he owned had to be put into their son's name and the reason we have been given was that a women could not own property at that time! Maybe you could check the local municipality in regards to when this changed!? Some help i hope!!

How do I find census records for a County - 1851,1861,1871, 1881?

See our Census Records page or our Census Project

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.

Could you please tell me where to send for information on birth records for 1858?

Global Genealogy covered this topic in their Global Gazette -- Hints & Lists For The Family Historian: The Challenge of Locating Vital Records in Ontario/Upper Canada/Canada West

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

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