Lincoln County Surrogate Court Records
Surrogate Court Records Available on Interloan
To View the Microfilm
Use the listings below to identify the reel of microfilm that contains the information that you need. You may then:
Consult the appropriate reel at our reading room 134 Ian Macdonald Blvd., Toronto, Ontario M7A 2C5
or
Borrow the reel through the Interlibrary Loan Department of your public library. Quote GS 1, GS 2 or MS 887 and the appropriate reel #. These reels cannot leave the borrowing library, so make sure to request them from a library that has a microfilm reader.
or
-
Purchase the appropriate microfilm reel directly from the Archives of Ontario. Quote GS 1, GS 2 or MS 887 and the appropriate reel #. For purchasing details, write the Archives of Ontario, 134 Ian Macdonald Blvd., Toronto, Ontario M7A 2C5 (put "Attention: Customer Services - Micrographics" on the envelope), telephone 416-327-1600 (call toll-free 1-800-668-9933 in Ontario only), or email reference@ontario.ca. For pricing information consult Customer Service Guide 105: Reproduction Services and Fees - Word, PDF.
Indexes - 1794 to 1968
The Indexes are organized by surname initial, then by the date that the deceased's estate was dispersed. Most indexes will provide the number of the deceased's estate file. However, some indexes will only list the register and page number where the estate file number is recorded (in these cases, you must next order the appropriate register for the date when the deceased's estate was probated).
In the table below, determine the reel of microfilm that you need and note the Microfilm Reference code. Please note that many estates were not dispersed until the spouse had died. Once you have the microfilm, search for the name alphabetically, then record the estate file number.
- 1794-1858: Files are arranged in one alphabetical
sequence. See table below.
If you cannot locate a particular file, check the register for
that year. NOTE: No registers were kept between 1812 and 1833.
You may wish to consult RG 22
Appendix A25 instead of the index.
- 1859-1880: Look up the page listed to find
the date of the filing of the will. The estate files are ordered
by year. If you cannot locate a particular file, check the register
for that year.
- 1880-1930: Use the 2nd number in the GRANT column in the indexes (e.g. "5-7731", the estate file is #7731).
Go to Estate Files to determine what microfilm to order to see the estate file.
| Indexes | Year(s) | Archives of Ontario Microfilm Reference Number |
|---|---|---|
| Index | 1794-1968 | GS 2, Reel 90 |
Registers - 1794 to 1902
The registers, also known as Probate and Administration books, contain the courthouse's copy of the grants of Letters of Probate (for estates with wills) and of Administration (for estates without wills). Information about registers is normally only included in this list if they serve as the only index to the estate file or if they contain the only copy of the wills.
In the table below, identify the volume that covers the time period relevant to your search and note the Microfilm Reference code. Once you have received the microfilm, look up the relevant entry using the volume and page number found in the index.
| Registers | Year(s) | Archives of Ontario Microfilm Reference Number |
|---|---|---|
| Vol. 1 | 1794-1812 | GS 2, Reel 91 |
| Vol. 2 (Administration Register) | 1833-1847 | MS 7681 |
| Vol. 3 (Administration Register) | 1848-1856 | MS 7681 |
| Vol. 4 (Probate Register) | 1833-1846 | GS 2, Reel 91 |
| Vol. 5 (Probate Register) | 1845-1855 | GS 2, Reel 91 |
| Vols. 6-7 | 1858-1878 | GS 2, Reel 92 |
| Vols. 8 | 1875-1883 | GS 2, Reel 93 |
| Vols. 9 | 1883-1890 | GS 2, Reel 94 |
| Vols. 10 | 1890-1897 | GS 2, Reel 95 |
| Vols. 11A | 1897-1900 | GS 2, Reel 96 |
| Vols. 11B | 1900-1902 | GS 2, Reel 97 |
Estate Files - 1794 to 1930
Estate files contain all the documents needed to grant Letters Probate or Letters of Administration, including the petition for probate or administration, the original signed Will, oaths of executors or administrators, tally of assets, and related evidence.
In the table below, identify the microfilm which covers the time period and estate file number relevant to your search. Use the indexes to determine the estate file number. Order the appropriate microfilm, citing the Microfilm Reference code. Once you have the microfilm, look for the estate file number, which usually appears at the beginning of each file on the docket wrapper, and may appear elsewhere throughout the file.
The estate files are arranged in alphabetical order by surname of the deceased for the years 1829-1858. From 1858 onwards the files are in file number order.
| Estate Files | Year(s) | Archives of Ontario Microfilm Reference Number |
|---|---|---|
| Abor, John - Beaton, Patrick Grant | 1794-1858 | MS 8405 |
| Bebee, Joshua - Brown, Andrew |
1794-1858 | MS 8406 |
| Brown, Christian - Clarke, Margaret | 1794-1858 | MS 8407 |
| Clarke, Mary - Current, William |
1794-1858 | MS 8408 |
| Cushman, Joshua F. - Farr, David | 1794-1858 | MS 8409 |
| Farr, Richard - Gould, John | 1794-1858 | MS 8410 |
| Goulding, George - Hoover, Abraham | 1794-1858 | MS 8411 |
| Hoover, George - Johnson, Wareham | 1794-1858 | MS 8412 |
| Jones, Arthur - Markle, Rebecca | 1794-1858 | MS 8413 |
| Marlatt, Abraham - Mingle, John | 1794-1858 | MS 8414 |
| Mirce, Jacob - Overholt, Isaac | 1794-1858 | MS 8415 |
| Overholt, Jacob - Rasing, John | 1794-1858 | MS 8416 |
| Rawls, John - Shaw, George | 1794-1858 | MS 8417 |
| Shaw, James Peter - Spinks, Elizabeth | 1794-1858 | MS 8418 |
| Sporbeck, Jacob - Thompson, James (1821) | 1794-1858 | MS 8419 |
| Thompson, James (1832) - Weir, Robert | 1794-1858 | MS 8420 |
| Weishuhn, Henry - Zimmerman, Lewis | 1794-1858 | MS 8421 |
| 0002-0088 | 1858-1862 | GS 1, Reel 652A |
| 0089-0209 | 1862-1866 | GS 1, Reel 653 |
| 0210-0336 | 1866-1870 | GS 1, Reel 654 |
| 0337-0459 | 1870-1872 | GS 1, Reel 655 |
| 0460-0599 | 1872-1875 | GS 1, Reel 656 |
| 0600-0736 | 1875-1878 | GS 1, Reel 657 |
| 0737-0859 | 1878-1881 | GS 1, Reel 658 |
| 0860-0982 | 1881-1883 | GS 1, Reel 659 |
| 0983-1103 | 1883-1885 | GS 1, Reel 660 |
| 1104-1226 | 1885-1887 | GS 1, Reel 661 |
| 1227-1331 | 1887-1889 | GS 1, Reel 662 |
| 1352-1469 | 1889-1891 | GS 1, Reel 663 |
| 1470-1590 | 1891-1893 | GS 1, Reel 664 |
| 1591-1697 | 1893-1894 | GS 1, Reel 665 |
| 1698-1803 | 1894-1896 | GS 1, Reel 666 |
| 1804-1913 | 1896-1897 | GS 1, Reel 667 |
| 1914-2017 | 1897-1898 | GS 1, Reel 668 |
| 2018-2123 | 1898-1899 | GS 1, Reel 669 |
| 2124-2216 | 1899-1900 | GS 1, Reel 670 |
| 2217-2309 | 1901 | MS 887, Reel 1057 |
| 2310-2463 | 1901-1903 | MS 887, Reel 1251 |
| 2464-2579 | 1903-1904 | MS 887, Reel 1252 |
| 2580-2698 | 1904-1905 | MS 887, Reel 1253 |
| 2699-2815 | 1905-1906 | MS 887, Reel 1254 |
| 2816-2945 | 1906-1908 | MS 887, Reel 1255 |
| 2946-3070 | 1908-1909 | MS 887, Reel 1256 |
| 3071-3204 | 1909-1910 | MS 887, Reel 1257 |
| 3205-3339 | 1910-1911 | MS 887, Reel 1258 |
| 3340-3469 | 1911-1912 | MS 887, Reel 1259 |
| 3470-3598 | 1912-1913 | MS 887, Reel 1260 |
| 3599-3726 | 1913-1914 | MS 887, Reel 1261 |
| 3727-3849 | 1914-1915 | MS 887, Reel 1262 |
| 3850-3976 | 1915-1916 | MS 887, Reel 1263 |
| 3977-4104 | 1916-1917 | MS 887, Reel 1264 |
| 4105-4235 | 1917-1918 | MS 887, Reel 1265 |
| 4236-4299 | 1918 | MS 887, Reel 1266 |
| 4300-4355 | 1918-1919 | MS 887, Reel 1267 |
| 4356-4490 | 1919 | MS 887, Reel 1268 |
| 4491-4617 | 1919-1920 | MS 887, Reel 1269 |
| 4618-4743 | 1920-1921 | MS 887, Reel 1270 |
| 4744-4850 | 1921-1922 | MS 887, Reel 1271 |
| 4851-4948 | 1922 | MS 887, Reel 1272 |
| 4949-5084 | 1922-1923 | MS 887, Reel 1273 |
| 5085-5207 | 1923-1924 | MS 887, Reel 1274 |
| 5208-5322 | 1924-1925 | MS 887, Reel 1275 |
| 5323-5440 | 1925 | MS 887, Reel 1276 |
| 5441-5558 | 1925-1926 | MS 887, Reel 1277 |
| 5551-5663 | 1926-1927 | MS 887, Reel 1278 |
| 5664-5781 | 1927 | MS 887, Reel 1279 |
| 5782-5880 | 1927-1928 | MS 887, Reel 1280 |
| 5881-5974 | 1928 | MS 887, Reel 1281 |
| 5975-6073 | 1928-1929 | MS 887, Reel 1282 |
| 6074-6180 | 1929 | MS 887, Reel 1283 |
| 6181-6283 | 1929-1930 | MS 887, Reel 1284 |
| 6284-6383 | 1930 | MS 887, Reel 1285 |
| 6384-6418 | 1930 | MS 887, Reel 67 |
Estate Files - 1931-1970
Estate Files processed between 1931 and 1970 are with the Archives of Ontario; they have not yet been microfilmed. To order a copy of all or part of an estate file please contact us with: the estate file number; year; name of county/district; and name of the deceased. Please include: your name; address; telephone number; and a brief description of what documents you would like copied (eg. the entire file, only the will, etc.). Also, please indicate if you need the copies to be certified.
Archives of Ontario
134 Ian Macdonald Blvd.
Toronto, Ontario
M7A 2C5
reference@ontario.ca
For details on photocopy charges, please see our Customer Service Guide 105: Reproduction Services and Fees - Word, PDF .
Estate files - after 1970
The estate files processedafter 1970 have not yet been transferred to the Archives of Ontario. You must contact the courthouse listed below which originally dealt with that court matter.
Superior Court of Justice - Estates Division
59 Church Street, 1st floor
St. Catharines, Ontario
L2R 7N8
905-988-6200
Guardianship Files - 1827 to 1941
This series of files was kept separately from the estate files, and there are many gaps. Files from 1827 to 1858 are in alphabetical order by last name. Files from 1859 to 1941 are in file number (chronological) order.
| Guardianship Files | Year(s) | Archives of Ontario Microfilm Reference Number |
|---|---|---|
| Alphabetically arranged | 1827-1858 | MS 8403 |
| #1 - #73 | 1859-1889 | MS 8403 |
| #76 - #152 | 1891-1941 | MS 8404 |