Land PetitionsMany early settlers, both military and civilian, submitted petitions to the Governor in order to obtain Crown land. Research Tips
Research at Library and Archives CanadaQuebec and Lower Canada, 1764-1841 (RG 1 L3L)This series contains the following types of documents:
Petitions submitted in Lower Canada (Quebec) tend to be group petitions where a letter is drafted and a number of people sign their name; therefore, a name may appear only once within a long section of pages. The index for the Lower Canada series provides name, date and page number and also contains references to the proceedings of the Gaspé Land Commissioners (RG 1 L7). After consulting the index, refer to the list of microfilm reel numbers for the actual records. List of Microfilm Reel Numbers for Index Upper Canada (Ontario) and the United Province of Canada, 1791-1867 (RG 1 L3)This series contains the following types of documents:
Petitions submitted in Upper Canada (Ontario) are for the most part individual petitions, which often contain information about the petitioner and his or her family. Loyalists and discharged soldiers often mentioned the regiment in which they served. Sons and daughters of Loyalists gave their father's name. Civilian petitioners sometimes indicated their country or place of origin. The index for the Upper Canada Collection includes references to two series.
After consulting the index, refer to the list of microfilm reel numbers for the actual records. List of Microfilm Reel Numbers for Index Research in Provincial SourcesThe provincial archives in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick hold collections of land petitions for those provinces. Related Topics |