Untangling Ontario Township Papers

This is the first in a series of posts about an important set of records for Crown Land research, Township Papers. Think of it as a conveniently organized gateway into the massive collection of Crown Land records at the Archives of Ontario.

It may be a gateway, but it is also big—72 metres of paper records, filling 541 microfilms. All those films have been digitized by FamilySearch, and are available at home with your free FamilySearch account.

The files were created by the Crown Lands Department over many decades (c1783–1870) and are now at the Archives of Ontario in RG 1-58. The files are arranged alphabetically by township and within each township, by concession, and then lot. The files are not comprehensive—they don’t include every parcel of land. But because they are relatively easy to access—they should be on every researcher’s checklist.

The pattern of concessions and lots is unique to every township, so it is important to familiarize your self with your township’s layout and nomenclature. Here are a few resources to help you get to know your township.

• Canadian County Atlas Digital Project
• Patent plans, RG 1-100 at Archives of Ontario (unfortunately high-resolution scans are not available at present)
• Local libraries and archives
• Local municipality websites
• Digital Archive Ontario
• Wikipedia

I’ve also written a post about Identifying Ontario’s lots and concessions.

Despite the name Township Papers, RG 1-58 also includes about 120 towns and villages. They are interfiled alphabetically with the townships. Arrangement of properties within the town varies. It may take a bit of figuring out. An older map of the town is an essential tool.

The next post is all about finding the microfilm reels and the digitized images on FamilySearch.

Indexes to Township Papers

The digitized images on FamilySearch are not indexed, but there are indexes for some townships produced by OGS branches and other individuals. Be sure understand the scope of each index—has the indexer included all names—before ruling out the original records. And if you do find a name in the index, don’t stop there. Look at the originals!

Aldborough: Elgin County Township land papers: Aldborough Township (McCallum, James L. 2000)

Aldborough Twp., Elgin County: https://elgin.ogs.on.ca/ancestor-indexes/land-records/aldborough-township-land-papers/

Bayham: Elgin County Township land papers: Bayham Township (McCallum, James L. 2000)

Bayham Twp., Elgin County: https://elgin.ogs.on.ca/ancestor-indexes/land-records/bayham-township-land-papers/

Belleville: Indexed township papers : town of Belleville, townships of Sidney & Thurlow. (OGS. Quinte Branch. 1996)

Blandford: Index to Blandford Township Papers (Darryl Bonk. 1985)

Blanshard: Blanshard Township papers, alphabetical index of names (Greve, Lynda. 2003)

Dorchester South: Elgin County Township land papers: Dorchester Township (South) (McCallum, James L. 2000)

Dorchester South Twp., Elgin County: https://elgin.ogs.on.ca/ancestor-indexes/land-records/south-dorchester-township-land-papers/

Downie: Downie Township papers, alphabetical index of names, Downie Township (Greve, Lynda. 2004)

Dummer Twp. Peterborough County is in TONI. https://ogs.on.ca/toni/

Dunwich: Elgin County Township land papers: Dunwich Township (McCallum, James L. 2000)

Dunwich Twp., Elgin County: https://elgin.ogs.on.ca/ancestor-indexes/land-records/dunwich-township-land-papers/

Ellice: Ellice Township papers, alphabetical index of names, Ellice Township (Greve, Lynda. 2004)

Elma: Elma Township papers : alphabetical index of names (Greve, Lynda. 2004)

Fullarton: Fullarton Township papers, alphabetical index of names (Greve, Lynda. 2003)

Hibbert: Hibbert Township papers: alphabetical index of names (Greve, Lynda. 2003)

Lochiel Twp., Glengarry County is in TONI. https://ogs.on.ca/toni/

Logan: Logan Township papers : alphabetical index of names (Greve, Lynda. 2003)

Malahide: Elgin County Township land papers: Malahide Township (McCallum, James L. 2000)

Malahide Twp., Elgin County: https://elgin.ogs.on.ca/ancestor-indexes/land-records/malahide-township-papers/

McNab: The Township Papers of McNab Township (2011, Computer Disk) Available from Arnprior & McNab/Braeside Archives.

Mornington: Mornington Township papers, alphabetical index of names. Includes some maps of lots (Greve, Lynda. 2004)

North Easthope: Index of Perth County Township Papers: names from North Easthope papers (Greve, Lynda. 2003)

Norwich: An index for the land transactions from the township papers (Buckrell, Muriel. 2005)

Roxborough Twp., Stormont County is in TONI. https://ogs.on.ca/toni/

Sidney: Indexed township papers: town of Belleville, townships of Sidney & Thurlow. (OGS. Quinte Branch. 1996)

South Easthope: Index of Perth County Township Papers: names from South Easthope papers (Greve, Lynda. 2003)

Southwold Twp., Elgin County at https://elgin.ogs.on.ca/ancestor-indexes/land-records/southwold-township-land-papers/

Thurlow: Indexed township papers: town of Belleville, townships of Sidney & Thurlow. (OGS. Quinte Branch. 1996)

Winchester Twp., Dundas County is in TONI. https://ogs.on.ca/toni/

Yarmouth: Early township land papers: Yarmouth (Frank Clarke. 2016)

Yarmouth: Elgin County Township land papers: Yarmouth Township (McCallum, James L. 2000)

Yarmouth Twp., Elgin County: https://elgin.ogs.on.ca/ancestor-indexes/land-records/yarmouth-township-land-papers/