Crown land – Petitions
Research land petitions from 1763 to 1904 that were written or signed by individuals and associations seeking land in what is now called Ontario.
About land petitions
Petitions were written or signed letters sent by individuals or groups (petitioners) to the government of Upper Canada (later Canada West) asking for a grant of land, either for free or to lease. Some petitioners also asked to have land surveyed.
Petitioners usually stated a reason for why they were entitled to land in Canada. These included:
- loyalty to the crown (United Empire Loyalists)
- military service
- status in the British empire
Most petitioners submitted documents with their petition to verify their identity and status claims. These were noted in government record books and returned to the petitioner.
If a petitioner was granted land, the government would arrange to have their lot surveyed. Once the petitioner fulfilled all the terms of settlement – by clearing, farming and building dwellings on the land or by completing payment – they would be issued letters patent confirming their ownership.
What land petitions might tell you
Land petitions often contain personal information about the applicant, including:
- country or place of origin
- family background
- name of parents, including if father was a United Empire Loyalist
- information about military or militia service
- an oath of allegiance
- certificates of good character
Information you need to search
To effectively research petitions, you need:
- name of the individual you are seeking
- location of settlement (township, county or district)
- probable date range (by decade)
Find records by series
Petitions were submitted to three different government bodies with overlapping jurisdiction. You may need to consult multiple series to find the individual you are looking for.
Land Boards of Upper Canada, 1765-1804
These are the record books of the Land Boards of the Executive Council of Upper Canada (RG 1 L4). The originals are held at Library and Archives Canada.
These records mostly pertain to 16,000+ United Empire Loyalists who sought and received land in Upper Canada in exchange for their loyalty to the British crown during the American revolution. They include:
- notes about petitions received by the Executive Council
- meeting minutes
- reports
- regulations governing the land boards
- schedules of locations and lands granted
- oaths of allegiance
Petitions were submitted to one of four Land Boards, each representing a district of Upper Canada ca. 1789:
- Lunenburg (St. Lawrence River area)
- Mecklenburg (Eastern Lake Ontario area)
- Nassau (Western Lake Ontario and Niagara area)
- Hesse (Lake Erie and Windsor area)
The Land Boards were formally abolished in 1794. However, petitions were still added to their books until 1804.
Researching these records is a two-step process.
Upper Canada Land Petitions, 1763-1865
These records document 82,000+ named petitioners, mostly 1794-1827.
This series combines two separate sources:
- Land Submissions to the Executive Council (RG 1 L3)
- Upper Canada Sundries (RG 5 A1)
The originals are held at Library and Archives Canada. We hold microfilm copies.
These records consist of:
- original petitions asking for grants or leases of land
- related administrative records submitted to the Civil Secretary and Executive Council of Upper Canada
Researching these records is a two-step process.
Petitions to Crown Lands Department, 1827-1904
These records contain petitions submitted to the Commissioner of Crown Lands of the Executive Council of Upper Canada, and, after 1841, the Crown Lands Department. In 1867, the Crown Lands Department was placed under the jurisdiction of the newly created province of Ontario.
Petitions for land, 1827-1856
Search this series (RG 1-54-2) in Collection Search.
These records are available in person on microfilm.
Along with a petition, these records might include:
- supporting documents
- original envelope in which petition was mailed
- cover page with location of land requested plus other annotations
Petitions for land surveys, 1842-1904
Search this series (RG 1-54-3) in Collection Search.
These records are available as original documents. Request to view in person RG 1-54-3 box B241993.
Related records
Petitions were typically the first step an individual took to seek land from the Crown. Typically, a successful petition would result in a grant or sale by the Crown or its agents, which usually included conditions of settlement. An individual that met all conditions would be issued a patent.
If you can’t find what you’re looking for in petitions or want to conduct further research, you can try searching related records.
These are records of grants and sales that the Crown and its agents made to settlers to what is now called Ontario, including those who submitted petitions for land.
These are records of land patents secured by settlers who fulfilled all the terms of their settlement. They will tell you about the first owners of land across what is now called Ontario. They also include patent plans.
Get research help
We can point you to resources to help you with your research. Contact us.
For professional research help, we have a list of private companies and freelance researchers who can do research on your behalf.