Part I: OnLand Records: Historical Books: First Registration Book

On December 18, 2017, the Ontario Land Registry built a web portal (https://www.onland.ca/ui/) to deliver key statutory services relating to land and property ownership in Ontario to land registry professionals and the public.

This is a gold mine of information for genealogists with ancestors in Ontario.

This post, Part IV,  is about the First Registration books which contain a list of first registrations from registry to land titles (e.g. Crown Patent or Crown plan).

Here is a walk-through of how I found the records for my 4th great-grandfather Matthew Moynahan (1770-1860) who lived in Maidstone (known originally as Sandwich), Ontario.

I started by selecting the "Essex" Land Registry Office and then "Browse First Registration Book".

Source: Screenshot: Land Registry Office; Historical Books

 In the First Registration Book I selected the "Patent Index"

Source: Screenshot: Land Registry Office; Historical Books

The Index was 357 pages and the subsections were as follows

• Anderdon: pages 3 - 23
• Colchester: pages 25 - 59
• Gosfield: pages 61 - 93
• Kingsville: page 95
• Maidstone: pages 96 - 122
• Malden: pages 124 - 134
• Pelee: page 170
• Rochester: pages 172 - 188
• Sandwich: pages 190 - 259
• Tilbury West: pages 260 - 284
• Amherstburg: pages 285 - 318
• Colchester: pages 321 - 333
• Sandwich: pages 335 - 354

By scrolling page by page, I found my 4th great-grandfather Matthew Moynahan on page 255 (of 357) of 296 North Talbot Road, Sandwich.

Source: Screenshot: Land Registry Office; Historical Books

I noted in the description for Mathew Moynihan/Minehan "des, 521" and "des, 548" so I returned to the previous page and selected Book 3 which covered Crown Patents: 476 to 662.

Source: Screenshot: Land Registry Office; Historical Books

This is the result below on page 147 (of 234)

Source: Land Registry Office; Historical Books; First Registration Book  ESSEX (12), Book 3  CROWN PATENTS; 476 TO 662

And also this entry #548 on page 161 (of 234)

Source: Land Registry Office; Historical Books; First Registration Book  ESSEX (12), Book 3  CROWN PATENTS; 476 TO 662

Definitions

What Are Crown Patents ?

Land patents were issued by the Crown to the first owner, to confirm the transfer of ownership. They include a description of the land granted, and may include legal restrictions or conditions.
See Archives of Ontario Research Guide 225:  Researching Crown Land Records

What Are Crown Plans?

Using the name of the township or town, you can find Patent Plan images at the Archives of Ontario (RG 1-100) with a keyword search in the Archives of Ontario’s Visual Database.

List of:  Ontario Government Record Series RG 1-100;  Patent plans (alphabetical)

Here is how I found the Crown Plans for my 4th great-grandfather Matthew Moynahan. In the Archives of Ontario, Visual Database RG 1-100 I searched "Sandwich" and it displayed seven results.

Lucky for me, 4th great-grandfather Matthew was found on the first result RG 1 - 100 - 0 - 0 - 2458

When viewing results from searches in the Archives Descriptive Database, please look for a camera icon beside the search results. Clicking the CAMERA icon will open a corresponding image in the Archives Visual Database.

There is a magnifier on the page or you can just open a larger image to view all of the names. Magnified below is my 4th great-grandfather Mathew Moynahan/Minahan

Source: Archives of Ontario; Ontario Government Record: Map Crown Lands; Sandwich South Township; RG 1-100-0-0-2458

There is so much detail to be found in this visual database, that you must visit the Archives of Ontario website where you can magnify the image sufficiently to read the names. Click here for the Sandwich South Map http://ao.minisisinc.com/FS_IMAGES/I0051098.jpg

Source: Archives of Ontario; Ontario Government Record: Map Crown Lands; Sandwich South Township; RG 1-100-0-0-2458

Source: Archives of Ontario; Ontario Government Record: Map Crown Lands; Sandwich South Township; RG 1-100-0-0-2458

Here you can see Mathew Moynahan/Minihan located at 296 North Talbot Rd. Sandwich, Ontario.

I hope I have simplified the process for searching the OnLand Records: Historical Books: First Registration Book.

Other Ontario Land Records Links 

• Part I: Historical Books: First Registration Book: where genealogists can find their ancestors Crown Patents etc.
• Part II: Historical Books: Abstract/Parcel Register Book: where genealogists can find all the entries of every transaction on their ancestors land from the date the Crown Patent was issued (all instruments recorded) up to January 30, 1981
• Part III: Historical Books: General Register Index: where genealogists can locate information about their ancestors wills, etc.
• Part IV: Historical Books: Canada Lands Index:where genealogists can find information about public lands under the Canada Lands Surveys Act, Navigable Waters Protection Act, Transfers of Jurisdiction and Control, Indian Reserves and National Parks
• Family Search: Digitization of Essex County Land Records 1779-1955