Recently at the virtual Genealogy Drop-in jointly sponsored by the Ottawa Branch of The Ontario Genealogical Society and the Ottawa Public Library a question arose from one of our regular attendees concerning an entry in a set of digitized records available from FamilySearch and where to find the document in question the index points to.
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| "Index to warrants (v. 57) 1816-1869," FamilySearch, Images (www.familysearch.org : accessed 10 Feb 2022), R.G. 1, C-I-3, Henry McCullough, 3043; citing DGS 8346013, item 6, image 934 of 965. |
Fortunately they provided really useful information on how to find this image by posting in the chat the following information:
"https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/283269?availability=Family%20History%20Library on page 3 of 5 FHL DGS 8346013 image 934 of 965, first page at image 897" and also "Henry McCullough 3043" for the entry they had the question about.
Normally at these drop-in sessions we can use our collective experience in genealogy research to point people in a direction to continue their research...but not this time. So it remained unanswered during the meeting but I had a strange feeling that I had seen that designation of "R.G.1 C-I-3" somewhere before. So later that night I started actually reading the information provided on FamilySearch and paying attention to all the little clues.
The first step was to go back to catalogue entry 283269. In the FamilySearch Catalog it is recorded as "Land records, ca. 1792-1876". The notes also state:
"Microfilm of original records in possession of the Provincial Archivist, Ontario Archives, Toronto"
The first page consists of undigitized microfilms (actually microfiche) of the Ontario Archives land record index or OLRI so that probably explains why I really never paid much attention to this collection since I couldn't view them from home. I've been patiently hoping and waiting for this very useful set of microfiche to be digitized since they hold an index to land transactions between the Crown and individuals along with transactions between individuals and Canada Company or Peter Robinson.
Yet once again I'm proven wrong in another of my assumptions since if one goes to the next page of films, there are five in total, and scroll down the page there appears digitized microfilms. Many digitized microfilms/volumes/documents!
But on with the looking into the original question.
If I was starting to look at this problem from the beginning the
first thing I would do is to read the title card which can be found at
the start of any collection digitized by the Genealogical Society Salt
Lake City, Utah. The Genealogical Society Salt Lake City? For those who
have been doing genealogy research in the days before digitization where
one needed to visit a Family History Center to use microfilm readers
you might know them through their initials "GSU" or as the "Genealogical Society of Utah". We now know them as FamilySearch.
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| "Index to warrants (v. 57) 1816-1869," FamilySearch, Images (www.familysearch.org : accessed 10 Feb 2022), R.G. 1, C-I-3, Index Warrants, Regulations, 6 July 1804, vol. 57, microfilm title card; citing DGS 8346013, item 6, image 897 of 965. |
That card has all sorts of clues which I missed during the drop-in. First of all it tells me where it was filmed at: Ontario Archives in Toronto, Ontario. That place is more properly known as the Archives of Ontario. I probably wouldn't have spun my wheels using the "Search the Collection" feature at Library and Archives Canada if I had paid attention to this card or the notes in the catalogue description.
We also know that the records were held by the Crown Lands Department. The title or description of this specific set of digitized records is "R.G. 1, C-I-3, Index Warrants, Regulations, 6 July 1804, Vol. 57". The entry in the FamilySearch Catalog list for this digitized set of records is "Warrants, bundle 5775-5850 1858-1869 Register for warrants (R.J. no. 2) no. 1-366 (v. 54) 1819-1873 Index to warrants no. 1-366 (v. 55) 1820-1845 Index to warrants (books 4 and 6, R.J. no. 2) (v. 56) Index to warrants (v. 57) 1816-1869"
Scrolling through the list of digitized warrants after that catalogue entry I come to "Warrants (v. 61) no. 2801-3200, 1815-1816". That looks like a really promising collection since number 3043 is within that range.
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| "Warrants (v. 61) no. 2801-3200, 1815-1816," FamilySearch, Images (www.familysearch.org : accessed 10 Feb 2022), R.G. 1, C-I-3, Warrants v. 61, bundles 3001-3100, no,. 3043, Catherine Fraser; citing DGS 8346020, item 3, image 897 of 1195. |
Only one problem, number 3043 in that volume is not for Henry McCullough but Catherine Fraser and there is no mention of a Henry McCullough on the subsequent documents in that packet.
Whereas Dr. Stephen Strange states "The warnings come *after* the spells" in the 2016 film "Doctor Strange" I'm thinking that the same sort of rule can apply to us here, except
The volume holding the index comes after the volumes with the bundles.
Looking at the digitized volumes before the index in volume 57 we find "Warrants (v. 43-44), bundle 2801-3060, 1824" in FHL 1318376/DGS 8345801. Again, it holds the correct range of bundles we are looking for.
Fairly quickly I came across this image:
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| "Warrants (v. 43-44), bundle 2801-3060, 1824," FamilySearch, Images (www.familysearch.org : accessed 10 Feb 2022), R.G. 1, C-I-3, Warrants v. 44, bundles 3001-3100, no,. 3043, Henry McCullough; citing DGS 8345801, item 3, image 1291 of1391. |
That certainly looks to be the right name and bundle number!
Additionally, now that I know that these collections come from the Archives of Ontario I can check the Archives of Ontario Archives Descriptive Database for "RG 1 C-I-3" (without the quotes) to learn more about these records. I quickly find that they have been renumbered since they were filmed by the GSU. I'll leave it to you to read through the numerous collection descriptions in that Archives Descriptive Database but if you are researching early Ontario land records this is yet another treasure trove for you to explore without having to brave the weather or traffic.
There are a few good takeaways from this little research journey:
- the RG 1 C-I-1, C-I-2, and C-I-3 collections from the Archives of Ontario are digitized and available for viewing from home,
- it always pays to check the other digitized volumes in a collection to see if there might be another item which could suit what is being sought, and
- assumptions will constantly cause us grief in our research!
WOW! We are so blessed to have you assisting us with our Family histories~ Your diligence and perseverence are greatly appreciated, good Buddy!! Thank you so very much.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I am presently struggling with West Hawkesbury, Prescott County, Assessment Records. I will take cues from your struggle, & see if I make better progress.
ReplyDelete