Other Sources for Births, Marriages and Deaths
In addition to the vital statistics records, the Archives of Ontario holds records from various sources documenting births, marriages and deaths.
Records of the Registrar General
The Office of the Registrar General is responsible for registering births, marriages and deaths in Ontario. In addition to birth, marriage and death registrations, the Archives of Ontario holds the records listed below from the Registrar General. They are available on microfilm, in the Archives of Ontario Reading Room and through the Microfilm Interloan Service. Click on the links for more information and microfilm lists.
- Roman Catholic Marriage Registers - 1828-1870
- Vital Statistics Files - 1838-1952 (predominant 1858-1869)
- Book of Marriages Not Registered (St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church, Toronto) - 1858-1897
- Division Registrar Vital Statistics Records - 1858-1935
- Evidence for Delayed Registrations of Births - 1861-1907
- Direct Clergy Returns for Simcoe County Births, Marriages
and Deaths - 1892-1896 - Registers By Clergy - 1896-1948
- Marriage License Books - 1907-1910
- Miscellaneous Vital Statistics Registers - 1859-1931
- Scrapbook and Forms - 1850-1937
Church Records
Births (through baptism), marriages, and deaths (through burial) may be recorded in church records, even if the event was not registered with the government. To search church records, you will need to know the place and time, as well as the religious denomination (the church or religion the people involved belonged to).
The Archives of Ontario holds some church records. Most of them are available on microfilm, in the Archives of Ontario reading room and through the Microfilm Interloan Service. You may also arrange to visit the Archives to view church records not on microfilm. Click here for more information.
Most church records that still exist are held by the local parish or congregation, or by archives for each denomination. Click here for a list of religious archives in Ontario.
Cemetery tombstone transcriptions
The Archives of Ontario holds microfilm copies of cemetery tombstone transcriptions produced by the Ontario Genealogical Society. The microfilm is available in the Archives of Ontario reading room and through through the Microfilm Interloan Service. Click here for more information.
For information about other cemetery tombstone transcriptions at the Archives, consult Research Guide 204, Sources for Birth, Marriage and Death Records - Word, PDF
Other records
Municipal, government and private (non-governmental) records at the Archives of Ontario include various records regarding births, marriages and deaths, including certificates, registers, marriage bonds, and court records. For information about these records, consult Research Guide 204, Sources for Birth, Marriage and Death Records - Word, PDF
For information about guardianship and adoption records at the Archives of Ontario, consult Research Guide 223, Guardianship and Adoption Records - Word, PDF.