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Fenelon Township is located in Victoria County in central Ontario, Canada. In 2001 the administration of Victoria County was replaced by one named the City of Kawartha Lakes. Ontario GenWeb has a sketchmap of the original townships of Victoria County. The map of Victoria County circa 1951 from Ontario Archives locates the individual municipalities, townships, city, towns and villages of the county. [edit] Research TipsThe primary source for basic documents (vital statistics, land records, wills) for people who lived in the Province of Ontario is the Archives of Ontario, 134 Ian Macdonald Blvd, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M7A 2C5. [edit] Early RecordsCivil registration did not begin in the province until 1869. Before then there may be church records of baptisms and burials. For the most part these are still held by the denomination who recorded them. Copies of marriage records made pre-1869 had to be sent by individual clergymen to the registrar of the county in which the marriage took place. These marriage records are available through Ontario Archives, on micorfilm through LDS libraries, and on paid and unpaid websites, but because they were copied at the registrars' offices, they cannot be considered a primary source. [edit] Vital Records after 1869Birth, marriage and death registrations are not open to the public until a specific number of years after the event occurred. Births to 1915 are now available [October 2014]; dates for marriages and deaths are later. Birth and death registration was not universally carried out in the early years after its adoption. Deaths were more apt to be reported than births for several years. The more rural the area, the less likely it would be that these happenings were reported to the authorities.
[edit] Land Records and WillsInformation on how to access land records and wills is best sought on the Archives of Ontario website. An ancestor's land holding might be found on Canadian County Atlas Digital Project if he was in occupancy circa 1878. Association for the Preservation of Ontario Land Registry Office Documents (APOLROD). A list of Land Registry Offices for all Counties of Ontario. [edit] CensusesThe original censuses are in the hands of Library and Archives Canada, known to Canadians as "LAC". Copies of original microfilms are online at the LAC website for all censuses up to 1921. Each census database is preceded with an explanation of the geographical area covered, the amount of material retained (some census division material has been lost), the questions on the census form, and whether there is a name index. Census divisions were redrawn as the population increased and more land was inhabited. [edit] Hard-to-Find Places
[edit] E-books, Books and Newspapers
[edit] Some websites with more local information on Victoria County
[edit] LibraryThe best place to start researching Victoria County or its Townships is the City of Kawartha Lakes Public Library Lindsay Branch although one would never know it from the website. The reference section of the library has books,indexes, donated family histories, microfilm, directories, fire insurance maps, a very large photo collection, etc. and an excellent staff. Send enquiries to lindsaylibrary@city.kawarthalakes.on.ca. There is a charge for large searches however the facilities are free for anyone able to visit the library. [edit] Genealogy GroupThe Victoria County Genealogy Group has volunteers who will search within Victoria County and its immediate surrounding counties for free, time permitting. Enquiries can be made at victoriacountygenealogy@hotmail.com [edit] Blog WebsiteThe Sturgeon Point History Project is a "must see" if your ancestors visited Sturgeon Point in the summer. Lots of photos, information and anecdotes. Well worth taking the time to browse. [edit] Book or BookletTwo booklets, The Village of Sturgeon Point and the Historical Sketch of the Village of Sturgeon Point contain names and comments about individuals. Neither is indexed. Although not indexed, the the book by Randall Speller on Fenelon Falls businesses has about 310 pages of biographies of business owners from 1832 to 1900 arranged alphabetically by surname. |