Finding Ancestors in Canadian Genealogy Records

 

Finding Ancestors in Canada 

To find ancestors in Canada you need to know which Province or Territory in Canada your ancestors settled. 

Provinces and Territories in Canada were settled at different times. Canadian genealogy records such as Vital Stats or Census were kept starting at different times. Not all Canadian genealogy records have survived. 

Where do I Start Looking for my Canadian Ancestors?

To find your Canadian ancestor, start your search in Ontario,  Quebec , Acadia ,  Alberta , British Columbia ,  Manitoba , New Brunswick,  Newfoundland , Nova Scotia  , Northwest Territories , Prince Edward island , Saskatchewan , or Yukon Genealogy records. 

Search Canadian Immigration Records 

Did your ancestor arrive in Canada BEFORE 1865? Search for passenger names in Olive Tree Genealogy free ships passenger lists 1535 to 1864

Did your ancestor arrive in Canada AFTER 1865? Search for passenger names in Olive Tree Genealogy free ships passenger lists 1865 to present

I is For Immigrant

Olive Tree Genealogy is continuing a new Alphabet Genealogy series of blog posts. I'm not following the usual way of going A-Z surnames. Instead I will create a one word "tag". Then I will share an ancestor (mine, my husband's, an inlaw's or one of my children's) who fits the tag

Today's letter is I for Immigrant. Who was your first immigrant to arrive in N. America or your country of residence? My first to arrive in Canada, where I live, was Jacques Hertel.

Jacques was one of Samuel de Champlain (The Father of Canda)'s interpretors, brought to New France (Quebec) in 1613

Jacques' daughter Ots-Toch, a half French half Mohawk woman, married the Dutchman Cornelis Van Slyke in New Netherland.

My most recent immigrant ancestors were my maternal grandparents who came from England to Canada in 1913. That is 300 years of dozens of my ancestors coming to North America from their home countries!

Here's a few of my ancestors who arrived in that 300 year time span. I'm sure most of us have similar multiple immigrant arrivals.

1. Cornelis Van Slyke from Holland to New Netherland (New York) in 1634
2. Albert Andriessen de Noorman (Bradt family) from Norway to New Netherland (New York) in 1637
3. Leendert de Grauw from Holland  to New Netherland (New York) in 1637
4. Cornelis Van Schaik  to New Netherland (New York) in1640
5. Jan Snediker from Germany to New Netherland (New York) in 1641
6. Lambert Van Valkenburg from Holland  to New Netherland (New York) in 1643
7. Adriaen Crijnen Post from Brazil  to New Netherland (New York) in 1650
8. Christian Van Horn from ?  to New Netherland (New York) in 1653
9. Jan Van Alystyne from Holland to New Netherland (New York) in 1655
10. Willem Pieterse Van Slyke from Holland to New Netherland (New York) in 1655
11. Herman Coerts from Holland  to New Netherland (New York) in 1659
12. Simon de Ruine  to New Netherland (New York) in 1659
13. David Usille from Calais to New Netherland in 1660
14. Soert Olferts (Shuart family) from Holland to New Netherland (New York) in 1663
15. Georg Wilhelm Kehl from Germany to New York 1709
16. Johann Frederich Marical from Germany to New York 1710
17. Harmanus Hommel from Germany to New York 1710 
18. Nicholas Bieri from Germany to Holland then New York 1727
19. Hartmann Hunsaker from Switzerland to Pennsylvania in 1731
20. Ulrich Gingerich from Alsace to Pennsylvania in 1747
21. Jacob Burkholder from Switzerland to Pennsylvania in 1765 
22. Sophia de Roche from France to Pennsylvania in 1765
23. Thomas King from England to Canada 1831 
24. Betty Bell (nee Higginson) from England to Canada 1831
25. Joseph McGinnis & Fanny Downey from Ireland to Canada in 1846

 So there you have just a few of my many immigrant ancestors to North America in that 300 years between 1613 and 1913. Who were your immigrant ancestors? Who was your earliest?

Don't Let Assumptions Mislead you in Your Genealogy Research

Lisa asked:

I have my Grandfather’s birth certificate which was issued in 1965 (he was born in 1917), his name on the certificate is Leo John Roy.  All his Military ID is listed as Leo Napoleon Roy.  His Father’s name was Pierre and his Mother, Cecile.  I found them on the 1921 census,  however,  the names are listed as Pete and Elvina.  Childrens names (Leo, Bertha and Albert) are correct.  I cannot find any info apart from that census on anyone in the Roy family.  My Great Grandmother, Cecile is listed on a tomb in Manitoba as she later married a William McNabb.  I believe her maiden name was also McNabb but am unsure.  Her death date is not listed on the tomb.  I believe she was born on June 26, 1893. Pierre,  I believe was 1 year older.  My Grandparents (Leo and Minnie May) lived in Thunder Bay, ON but came from Manitoba.  I believe Cecile came from Manitoba also,  not too sure on Pierre (Pete).  Cecile also looks native in the few pictures I have.  Leo was born in Stonewall,  Manitoba and later lived in The Pas, Manitoba.  He joined the military in the early 1940’s and was based out of Winnipeg.  He was born on June 20, 1917 and died on January 12, 1967.  He was a hoisting engineer after his Military time.  

1921 Census Manitoba

Lisa - Let's go through your query one question at a time. First, in the 1921 census we do see Elvina. I suggest that is likely Cecile's middle name. You will want to look for records to verify this - her marriage, birth or death record perhaps.

Next, seeing Pierre listed as Pete in 1921 is not unusual since the French name Pierre is the English name Peter.

The tomb with Cecile's name on it but no death date suggests to me that the stone was erected before she died but she was never buried there.

As for Pierre and Cecile's ages, you can estimate their years of birth from the 1921 census but of course you will want to find them in earlier census records too. He is listed as 27 born Quebec and she is recorded as 26 born Manitoba. While Census records can be wrong, you do have a starting point for years of birth and locations. (which answers your question about where Cecile and Pierre were from). So you will want to search Manitoba birth and census records for Cecile, and Quebec records for Pierre.  You may want to visit the Manitoba Vital Registration site where you can search the online indexes.

A good clue may turn out to be the recording of little Albert's birth location as USA. I would try to find more on Albert.

Don't be misled by photos where an ancestor "looks native". She may very well be but in the 20th century and earlier, lives were difficult and women especially often had an aged appearance which could lead to an assumption of native heritage.

Finding Ships Passenger Records To Canada

Henry wrote to ask

My great uncle who originated in Germany, born 1872 or 1874, appears in the UK 1901 census as Ferdinand Roks living in London. Within the family there was no mention of him but it was suggested that perhaps he went to Quebec, Since he doesn't appear in a later census, it could be reasonable to assume that he left London sometime after 1901. How do I research the shipping companies or ships records or even the Quebec immigration records to try to trace him, especially as might have changed the spelling of his name.

My answer:

Ships passenger lists to Canada are available as early as 1865. You can search on Ancestry.com, where the passenger names are indexed and linked to images, or you can use Library & Archives Canada (LAC). LAC however does not have a name index so you have to search by date or ship name.

There are also hundreds of ships passenger lists on my Olive Tree Genealogy website. As well I have written a book "Filling in the Gaps: Finding Pre-1865 Ships Passenger Lists to Canada" if you need to find an ancestor before 1865.

New JJ Cooke Ships Irish Passenger Lists online

Irish passenger lists from shipping records can be found in Passenger Books of J & J Cooke, Shipping Agents. Sailings from Londonderry to Philadelphia Pennsylvania, Quebec, St. John New Brunswick & New Orleans Louisiana, 1847-1871

Source: Reference D.2892/1/1-14 (see also MIC.13 in the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland)

I have recently added twenty more ships to my free online JJ Cooke Ships Passenger Lists on Olive Tree Genealogy

Hope you find an ancestor or two! 

Montgomery's inn and My Husband's 4th Great Grandpa

There is a historical site run by the Etobicoke Historical Board on Islington Ave. in Toronto known as Montgomery's Inn. The Inn was owned by our William Montgomery's brother Thomas.  A great stroke of luck has meant that the Inn has quite a bit of correspondence between the different members of the Montgomery family. 

The inn has a letter from William Montgomery,in Durham Quebec, to his brother Thomas, in York, concerning his children.  It isn't dated but would probably be around 1860.  It was invaluable in terms of knowing who is daughters married and where those that left Durham ended up. It is interesting to note how the two brothers, living some distance apart, wanted to make an effort that their two families know about each other. 

This letter is displayed at the Montgomery Inn at the corner of Dundas St.and Islington Avenue

From a blurb on the Inn, "Thomas Montgomery was a young man when he emigrated from County Fermanagh, Ireland early in the 19th century. He brought with him, however, a good head for business.  ... Thomas' account books show that whiskey was the most popular drink, but that he also sold peppermint an shrub (mixed drinks), beer, rum, brandy, white wine, port, gin, 'sider', and, one one ocassion, a hot brandy sling. ... During the surge of patriotism that followed the Rebellion of 1837, Thomas obtained an officer's commission in the local militia, eventually rising to the rank of Captain".

The letter:

"Dear Brother if God spares, nothing will be wanting on my part in making our offsprings, ? acquainted, that they may know to cherish and feel for each other where ever they meet on this earth, happy you are the first to  introduce this most natural introduction of everlasting knowledge of friendship and unity handed down by your  proposition, and suggestion, which I with heart felt pleasure acquiese, and I know brother Johnston say he will also.    I will give you a copy of Journal, of all my childrens names and age of births.

1. J. Mary, born at QuÈbec, August 4th 1813.  Married Brickley.
2. Raechel born Auguest 28 1814.  Married Andrew Bothwell
3. Jane born April 18th 1816 at Drummondville.  Married Charles Bothwell. Died Feby 14th 1837, left 7 children.
4. Elisabeth born May 17th 1818.  Married James McCullogh.
5. Charlotte born May 23rd 1820.  Married John McCullogh.  (Both Charlotte and Elisabeth in Blanchard.)
6. Ellenor born Sept. 23rd 1822.  Married Wm. Mafser [Note: for Mafser read Massey], native near Dublin.
7. Margret born Nov. 14, 1825.  Married Samuel Ployart.
8. Ann born Feby. 9th, 1828.  Married Dr. Wm. White of England.
9. Lucinda born April 13th, 1830.  Died 1849, no family.
10. James born 1833 and William Thomas Joseph born Feby 14th 1835.

Brother in next I will try and give you an account of my grandchildren.
Samuel Ployarts father died last fall, his  uncle in Germany died previously and left a great legacy to his father, brother and sisters two old maids, there is to  come Sam 440 and some pounds.  I know you and Mrs. will be glad to hear Margrets welfare, they have 3 children.  Sam and brother Fredrick is now the Sensus of the township.  I have pleasure in the connection."

Update: Ships Passenger Lists to Canada Before 1865

Olive Tree Genealogy has been reconstructing pre-1865 ships passenger lists to Quebec. As many of my readers know, there are no comprehensive ships passenger lists of immigrants arriving in Canada prior to 1865. Until that year, shipping companies were not required by the government to keep their passenger manifests.

My book "Filling in the Gaps: Finding Pre-1865 Ships Passenger Lists to Canada" in Paperback version or e-book version has gathered many resources and lists to assist genealogists in finding passenger lists in this challenging period. I also have links to all online databases and ships passenger lists to help in this difficult period.

These are new ships which have had their passenger lists partially reconstructed using other sources. 

 Robert Russell 1828
 Congress 1847
 Anna Maria 1848
 British Merchant 1849
 Arial 1851
 Jane Watson 1851
 Maria 1852
 Anna Maria 1852
 Arial 1854
 Anna Maria 1857

How the 'Mother's Curse' Came to Canada

Do you have a Filles du Roi in your ancestry? I do, and my daughter-in-law does too. My Filles du Roi is my 8th great-grandmother Claude des Chalets (ca 1651 France - post 1706 New York). Claude "Blandina" was one of three orphaned sisters who were sent to Canada as a "Filles Du Roi"(King's daughters).

The Filles du Roi (Daughters of the King) were impoverished or orphaned women who were given a dowry by the King of France if they agreed to go to New France (present-day Quebec) to marry and help colonize the land. Over 800 of these women left France for New France. 

With them they brought mutations in their DNA - some common, some more rare. Thus descendants of these Filles du Roi stand a better than average chance of inheriting a rare genetic disorder. According to the article 

"One of these is Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy, which causes vision loss, usually in young men. Recently, geneticists using French Canadian genealogy have reexamined the effects of Leber’s and found a striking pattern of inheritance: It seems to show a long-theorized but never-seen-in-humans pattern called the “mother’s curse.”"

Continue reading this fascinating article How One Woman Brought the 'Mother's Curse' to Canada

Rescue Photo Album Carillon Quebec page 9

This page in the rescued Flynn family album is labelled "Carillon 1930" and contains three photos

Rescue Photo Album 1930s Carillon Quebec page 17

The last page of the Flynn family photo album contains school photos of a young boy. The page is labelled "St Dominic School, March 1837" One photo has 1937 on the frame and it is labelled "age 8" The photo under it has 1938 on the frame and is labelled "age 9"

Rescue Photo Album 1930s Carillon Quebec page 16

The photos of this tombstone on page 16 of the Flynn family photo album finally gave me the clue I need to find the family buried here. Using a photo editing program I darkened the shadows to read the tombstone inscription a bit more easily.

 

In memory of Mary Martha Bradley

beloved wife of

Daniel Flynn


died [?] June? 1891?


[illegible]

Mary died April [illegible] 18? days

Augustus Edward died 1891?

Joseph Bradley

[illegible]





A search of Ancestry.com 's Drouin Records found the marriage of Mary Martha Bradley and Daniel Flynn in Montreal on 18 May 1886. Daniel was recorded as the widower of Mary Ann McCreary. Mary Martha was listed as the daughter of John Bradley. The witnesses were John Bradley and Michael Flynn.

Further research showed that Daniel Flynn married for a third time to Catherine Myles and had a son Fred shown as age 5 in the 1901 census for Montreal. I believe this young boy Fred is the Fred shown on 51 Robert St on page 11 of the photo album. Fred Flynn married a Theresa and we see Fred and Theresa on that page with a young 5 year old boy named Joe.

Looking for the family of Mary Martha Bradley showed that her parents were John and Ann (1881 census Hochelaga Quebec) and she had a brother Joseph born 2 years before Mary. This is possibly the Joseph Bradley on the tombstone photo above.

If we go back to page 2 of the Flynn family photo album to the tombstone picture, here is what I found for that family stone:

William Flynn was married to Brigid/Brigitte and they were the parents of Agnes Brigitte Flynn whose name is also found on the tombstone. William was the brother of Daniel Flynn married to Mary Martha Bradley.

Interested descendants can contact me if anyone is interested in the photo album.

Rescue Photo Album 1930s Carillon Quebec page 15

On this page of the Flynn family photo album we see a wonderful photo of students in a classroom at Saint Dominic's School in April 1936

 

 

Rescue Photo Album 1930s Carillon Quebec page 14

Page 14 of the Flynn family photo album contains three badly faded photos.

Rescue Photo Album 1930s Carillon Quebec page 13

This page of the Flynn photo album has photos that look like they were taken at 51 Robert St but there is no labelling visible.

Rescue Photo Album 1930s Carillon Quebec page 12

The 12th page of the Flynn family photo album has no writing.

Rescue Photo Album 1930s Carillon Quebec page 11

The 11th page of the Flynn family album has some names. The left photo is labelled "Theresa - Fred - Joe" and underneath an address "51 Robert St." The second photo is labelled "Joe age 2 on Robert St."

Please see page 16 of this album when it is available for more information on this family

Rescue Photo Album Carillon Quebec page 10

This page is labelled "Carillon 1931" The photo on the left is labelled "Mrs. A. Pope" but it is not clear if this relates to all three photos or not.

Rescue Photo Album 1930s Carillon Quebec page 8

The Flynn family photo album has another page labelled "Carillon 1930".

Rescue Photo Album 1930s Carillon Quebec page 7

Continuing with the Flynn family photo album that I rescued from a nearby antique store:

 

This page is labelled "Carillon 1930" The photo on the left has "Age 4/30"

Rescue Photo Album 1930s Carillon Quebec page 6

This is the next page of the Flynn family photo album. The page is dated 1930 and above the photo on the left is "age 4"