ARCHIVED - Canadian Families

Search Help

• Background
• Database
• Search Screen
• How to Interpret the Results
• How to Obtain Copies

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Background

Library and Archives Canada holds a small collection of church records, some of which are indexed by name. To provide better access to those indexes, the information they contain has been entered in a database that will expand slowly over the next few years.

This database currently includes references found within the following fonds or collections:

• St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Williamstown, Ontario
  These records consist of a register of baptisms and marriages performed by Rev. John Bethune, 1779-1817. The originals are held at the Archives of Ontario. A copy is available at Library and Archives Canada, microfilm C-3030.
• Miller, W.J. (Bill) Collection
  These are genealogies compiled by Bill Miller relating to some 1200 families of Leeds County, Ontario. Mr. Miller searched newspaper obituaries, census returns, church records and other local sources. He created a page for each individual and entered the information and sources he found for that person. In some cases, he also included copies of correspondence, certificates, announcements, newspaper clippings, etc.
• Kipling Collection: Card Index
  Part of the Kipling Collection consists of approximately 4,000 index cards prepared by Clarence Kipling from three parish registers of the Red River area of Manitoba. These cards are also available on microfilms H-1344 and H-1345. Please note that the transcribed information on the cards is all that is available at Library and Archives Canada, not the actual registers. The Anglican Church records are held at the Archives of the Diocese of Rupert's Land in Winnipeg [www.rupertsland.ca/reference_and_downloads/archives.html]. The St.Boniface church records are held at the Heritage Centre (La Société historique de Saint-Boniface) [www.shsb.mb.ca/en].

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Database

This research tool provides access to 6,976 references to church records held at Library and Archives Canada. Staff members had originally created a nominal card index to these records. Information from the cards was input into this database. The records were consulted to verify the original indexing. The content of the database entries reflects the original language used in the documents. This information was not translated. Important note: Given that some of the original documents are very difficult to read, some information in the database may be incorrect and/or incomplete.

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Search Screen

The search screen allows you to search by name. You can enter a surname and/or a given name. You can limit your search by selecting a collection.

The entries reflect the spelling of names as they appear on the documents. You can try spelling variations of names or use the * wildcard character.

When you have entered your search terms, click on "Submit." The number of hits found will be shown at the top of the results screen.

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How to Interpret the Results

Your search will produce a results list, from which you can obtain more detailed descriptions.

For most of the entries, the results list contains the following fields:

• Name (surname and given name). This column may also include the names of parents or spouse.
• Date
• Parish or Place

For other entries, the results list may show only a name.

You can export the results to a portable storage device or to your own computer.

Click on the underlined name of the individual of interest to you for a more detailed description. The detailed description contains relevant fields for that entry and collection. The archival reference for the actual record appears at the end of each description.

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How to Obtain Copies

Use the following link for options such as borrowing microfilm or ordering copies:

How to Access Library and Archives Canada Records

For the references from the Kipling collection, please see the explanation provided above under Background.