I have found a relative on the 1861 census of Frontenac County, Ontario on Ancestry.com in the USA. I know how to get hold of free images for the various census of the United States and am wondering how I can go about it for Canada. Are the images on microfilms at the Library and Archives Canada public domain? If so, do you know where to get a copy of the film or public domain images made from it? If not, are there any public domain images, microfilm or digital, of the 1861 census.

The Canadian census images that appear on Ancestry are provided by Library & Archives Canada (LAC) through a collaborative partnership between Ancestry and LAC¹. With the current exception of the 1921 census (Ancestry only) and 1825-1842 censuses (LAC only), all digitized census images can be viewed on both websites.

Ancestry requires a subscription to access all but the 1921 census (which is free to view with free registration), access to LAC is completely free (no registration or subscription).

Microfilm of Canadian census records can be viewed at any Family History Centre worldwide. For those within Canada it can also be viewed at LAC and any Canadian library or archive with microfilm capabilities.

For terms of use of LAC images see: Using Files Located on Non-Government of Canada Servers and Copyright / Permission to Reproduce

¹ Library and Archives Canada Agreement with Ancestry.ca, Library and Archives Canada Partners with Ancestry.ca

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!

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.

Apparently, my grandfather changed his name from Carter to Smith before he got married. Where do I search for this information? The name change would have taken place sometime after 1885 but before the 1st WW.

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I have traced a relative born in July, 1873. I know the mother died in child birth or shorthly afterwards. However, when trying to trace the mother's death, I have found only one "match"...however, it's before the child's birth. Is it possible the date of birth could be wrong?

Even though registration began in 1869 it wasn't enforced until the 1880's and even then not every birth, marriage or death was registered. Her death may not have been registered so don't assume anything unless you can back it up with other evidence. Check into cemetery, church & newspaper records to see if her death can be found there.

Does anyone have info on where were the passenger ports in southwest Ontario that took immigrants/emigrants (who had taken a train from Toronto, instead of going through Lake Erie) from Lake Huron to Chicago in the 1880's? For example, were cities like Kincardine, Goderich, or Southhampton passenger ports? What passenger ships departed from these Ontario ports and how long did it take to get to Chicago.

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Is there a way to convert an entry from the 1881 Census of Canada to a street address. I have found members of my family in the 1881 Census in District 105, Sub-Dist A, Div 2, Page 26, Household #125. I cannot find anything more and would like to find a street address in Ottawa for the entries.

Have you consulted an Ottawa city directory? This would give an address and allow you to track the family between each census.

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).

Is it possible to zero in on the village where people lived in a census year? Is there a detailed map with the location of various census sub-district numbers ie) in Manvers Township in the 1901 census there are 7 sub-districts. It would be great to know whether a fmaily lived in Pontepool or Bethany & where they went to church or are buried.

[From Anonymous] Yes it is. When you find your relative in a particular sub-district (on Schedule 1), make a note of the page and line number for the household number. Then go to the Collections Canada website and find Schedule 2 for the same sub-district and look up that page and line number. It will give you the location of the household - for Manvers, it appears to be concession and lot numbers and not town names, but it should give you a better idea of where they lived. collectionscanada.ca does give some hints - sub-district c-5 is Bethany, c-6 is Fleetwood & Franklin, c-7 is Janetville.

Can one find a birth registration by first name and birthdate and not surname? Cynthia Foster born Feb 1 1880 and raised by paternal grandparents (Charles Foster & Sarah Jane Carey) in Millgrove Ontario. We cannot find her under Foster in Ontario Birth Registration Index at Ontario Archives. She may have been registered under the unknown surname of her mother.

Yes. You can locate a birth registration any way you like. The index is by surname but the registrations themselves were put on microfilm by area and date. So just locate the microfilm that covers the area and year you're interested in and start scrolling. (If you're using Ancestry to locate this birth registration you can enter any search parameter). Keep in mind that while registration began in 1869 it wasn't enforced until the 1880's and many births went unregistered.

I have an 1881 census record for my Ontario ancestors which lists as its census place Olden, Addington, Ontario. But it sure looks to me like Olden Twp is in Frontenac county. Was there an Olden village, perhaps? Were lines redrawn sometime after 1881? Any help you can give me in this matter will be appreciated (PS It also says Distrcit 118, Sub-district 1, Page # 18...if that helps any.)

In the 1871, 1881, and 1891 census Addington was an enumeration district. It has no bearing on geographic county locations. Olden Township is geographically within Frontenac County.

I am researching my family from Osprey, Grey County, Ontario. I show them appearing on the 1871 census and not on the 1881 census. I assume they died during this time frame. I cannot find them in any local cemetery. My question is this: I have a 10 year time frame on their death dates. Is there a way to have a lookup done (by the government or by a newspaper) by their surnames as I don't have a death date?

They could have moved... but in answer to your question the government does not do lookups and most newspapers likely don't either. They may engage in a search on your behalf for a fee but you can do this yourself. All deaths from 1869 onward were required to be registered with the government. These registrations are available for public viewing if the death occurred more than 72 years ago and can be accessed at any Canadian library or any LDS Family History Center worldwide. See our page on Death Records

Does anyone know how far in advance of a census 'publication' the information was collected? For instance, if my ancestor's age on a census is listed as 50 yrs.,does this mean he is 50 at the year of the census, or is he 50 at the year the information was collected?

Information was usually collected between March and June of the year stated on the census (1851/1852, 1861, 1871, 1881, 1891, and 1901) and the ages given were generally how old the individual was between March and June of said year or the age they would be on their next birthday

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

See our Census Records page or our Census Project

Do you know anything about "Immigrant Trains"? My ggrandfather took his family in the 1880s to Nebraska via the immigrant train.

In Ontario railway records are housed in the Archives of Ontario (RG11, Series N). There are lists of people who received assistance with train fares, and lists of internal railway passes issued to new immigrants. The AO website has extensive information, instructions and guides on how to access their holdings, not just railway records, but every record they have archived. See: The Collections at Archives of Ontario and Customer Service & Research Guides