Ontario Land Records Workshop

[KarenM]

While checking out Global Genealogy's upcoming workshops I seen that Fawne Stratford Devai is doing one on Ontario Land Records.  I've been to hear her speak before and she amazing with her knowledge of the Land Records.

I think I might attend, anyone else interested?

http://globalgenealogy.com/workshops/index.htm

Tracing Your Ontario Ancestors Using LAND RECORDS
Campbellville, Ontario
Workshop Leader: Fawne Stratford-Devai
People did not come to Ontario for the good of their health to chop down trees. They came here in search of new opportunities - the opportunities that land ownership could offer. It stands to reason that some of the earliest and most important records of settlers in the province can be found in land records! Here is your opportunity to learn about both Crown Land Records and Land Registry Office Records in one afternoon!
Morning - Part 1: Ontario Crown Land Records
Crown land records are the records generated about the inhabitants of land while the government owned it. Many thousands of early settlers in the province inhabited crown lands through renting, leasing, squatting, government grants and sales. However, hundreds and even thousands of these early settlers never received the actual patent to the land from the government. Fortunately, records of the initial request for land, or attempts to settle crown land were still generated. In some instances, these records represent the only evidence of a settler's existence in the province before they died or moved on to other areas of Canada or the US.
Afternoon - Part 2: Ontario Land Registry Office Records (Post Patent Land Records)
Land Registry Office records are the records generated once land in Ontario had been granted or sold to an individual from the Government. All transactions after the initial patent is issued are filed in local land registry offices in counties across the province. Land Registry Office records are public documents that span more than two hundred years ~ from 1796 up to yesterday! This session will discuss how to access and use land registry records to learn about the individuals and families who owned property and the rich variety of other records that were also filed in Land Registry Offices.
The workshop is only 35.00 + tax, and includes the workshop registration plus coffee, bottled water and snacks.

Karen

[eillo]

Fawne is a friend of mine and she is indeed an amazing resource of knowledge on Land Records in Ontario. I would urge those close enough to attend!

For those too far to go, there are some overviews and brief guides on Ontario Land Records at http://olivetreegenealogy.com/can/ont/land.shtml

Perhaps these brief explanations will also help:

CLRI (aka Ontario Land Record Index) summarizes land grants from sales of Crown Land, from Canada Company sales or leases and from Peter Robinson settlers' grants.  Mmore at
http://olivetreegenealogy.com/can/ont/clri.shtml

UCLP (Upper Canada Land Petitions) are the actual Petitions for land which were submitted in Upper Canada (Ontario) . They frequently contain information about the petitioner and his or her family. Loyalists and discharged soldiers often mentioned the regiment in which they served. More at
http://olivetreegenealogy.com/can/ont/uclp.shtml

Land Books  are basically a summary of land grants. They rarely contain more info than name, date and location. Sometimes they have little gems in the comment section. But they're helpful because if you can't find a petition in the UCLP it may be in the Land Book so at least you have some record of the event.

Township Papers are a miscellaneous group of land-related records have been arranged by township name, then by concession and lot or by town name and lot number. They're a mixed bag - they may contain correspondence re land, some petitions, copies of orders-in-council, etc

The above definitions/explanations are very brief. Ontario Land Records are a maze of challenges and wonderful details. I can't attend Fawne's workshop but if anyone else goes perhaps they would give us an idea of how it went and what you learned?