Sessional Papers of the Government of Canada
and British Parliamentary Papers

UWInfo | Genealogy | Local History | Young Immigrants | 19th Century Immigration

Sources

During my research on the immigration of young people and women into Canada I have come across many other lists of names contained in the Sessional Papers. These papers contain the annual reports of the various federal government departments. Since Canada's papers only start in 1860, some information was taken from the British Parliamentary Papers for the period prior to that date. The Sessional Papers are for the federal government and thus cover all parts of Canada. I hope to add additional pages for the Ontario Sessional Papers as well. As I discover items I will add them to these pages.

Using the sessional papers to do genealogical research can be very time consuming and may not benefit the genealogical researcher in any way. However, if you are using them for a specific purpose it is amazing what you sometimes discover. Since my research has me using these papers a great deal, I have taken to extracting any items of interest.

New

• Agricultural Prizes, 1868
• Royal Sappers and Miners - Rideau Canal 1831
• Teachers granted/renewed certificates in Ontario 1868 (this is a work in progress)
• Militiamen of 1812 paid pensions in 1884
• CPR Employees in British Columbia in 1884
• North West Territories

Extractions

• Land Patents report in 1837 to the British Government
• Progress of the Prussian Emigrants, settled on the Ottawa - In the Sessional Papers of 24 Victoria 1861 (14) is a report on the settlers who took up land in Renfrew County, Ontario. Since this was before the time of German unification some of these people came from parts of what is today Germany and some from other European countries.
• "Return of the Number of Tavern Licenses Issued in each County, City, Town, or Incorporated Village, in detail. Also the name of the party to whom issued, and the name of the Issuer for each County, with the amount received from such Licenses to date." In the Sessional Papers of the province of Ontario, 32 Victoria 1868-9 (31).
• Claims to Pensions - In the Sessional Papers of 32 Victoria 1869 (75). This is a report of militia pensions being paid giving name of soldier, rank, unit, reason for pension and sometimes gives name of a parent.
• Immigration and Shipping Reports - contains extracts from the annual immigration reports and handbooks for the emigrant (a sort of CAA/AAA book of the nineteenth century).
• Royal Military College
  • Cadets at the Military College in 1877 - later named the Royal Military College (RMC)
  • Cadets since opening
  • Cadets from 1880 to 1884
• Pilots and Lighthouse Keepers on the St. Lawrence in 1866

UWInfo | Genealogy | Local History | Young Immigrants | 19th Century Immigration