Finding an Ancestor in Reports of Commissioners

A Commission, or Royal Commission, is a formal public inquiry created by the government. A commission would be put together to look into issues of importance and usually controversy. Many inquiries can last years, depending on the issue, while the commissioners study causes and effects. The findings are then put into a public report.

So, you ask yourself what this could have to do with genealogy? 
Answer....names, names, names!

On wikipedia there is a list of Royal Commissions of the commonwealth by country. Obviously not all commission reports have lists of names, like the Report of the Royal Commission on the Relations of Labour and Capital in Canada which discusses solutions to some labour issues, but gives salaries for different occupations by province.         

I have come across a few where you may find mention of your ancestors. 
The Report of the Royal Commission on Chinese Immigration (Canada) of 1885 contains the report and evidence, plus further along, tables of names.

Commission on Chinese Immigration 1885, pg 389

For Queensland, the Royal Commission appointed to Inquire into the Working of the Pearl-shell and Beche-de-mer Industries of 1908 has names of pearl divers and merchants. 

Royal Commission Pearl Industry 1908, pg 6 

  

Royal Commission on Prisons in Ireland was formed in 1882. The report, vol 1, gives names of medical officers...

Royal Commission on Irish Prisons, Vol 1, pg 180

... but most people, prisoners and prison officers alike are mentioned by their initials only. Return of deaths gives first name and last initial...

Return of deaths, pg 248

Two other commissions worth noting are the 1842 Royal Commission on Children's Employment, which was a three year investigation into the working conditions for children in mines and factories in the UK. Lace schools were very common, usually a room in a woman's cottage where she taught lace-making to young children.

Lace schools

  

There are statements from child workers throughout the report.

Also the 1833 Report of Commissioners inquiring into labour in factories.

Spinners and dressers examined by Dr Barry, Glasgow 1833

Married women in New Lanark factory and number of their children 1833

At Canadiana Online search "Royal Commission", and to narrow down the search from over 6000 results you can add other keywords or change the search in field from everything to title.

At HathiTrust search Report of Commissions. You can also narrow the search by adding a keyword.

At Internet Archive (many for Ireland) and Google Books search Royal Commission and Report of Commissioners.

Canada 150 - Alberta Public Accounts

During our country's 150th anniversary celebration of confederation I will write posts titled Canada 150 with a link to a publication or website I find that may help you tell the story of your Canadian ancestors.
Click on the Canada 150 label on the right or at the bottom to see all the posts.

Today I have for you...

Public Accounts of the Province of Alberta

The public accounts of Alberta revenue section includes fees from insurance, bank and other companies and various licenses. It also includes succession fees from estates, giving names and amounts.

Public Accounts 1921 - Succession fees

The expenditure section includes expenses for the departments of justice, agriculture, dairy, education, public health, public institutions, public works, etc.

The Education Department includes salaries for inspectors, examiners and teachers; normal schools, special summer schools and English schools for foreigners...

Public Accounts 1916, Teachers

The Agriculture Department includes expenses for destruction of wolves and weeds, stock inspectors, brand recorders, game protection, demonstration farms, agriculture schools, prairie fire guardians, and the Women's Institute...

Public Accounts 1916, Women's Institute

The Public Institutes department includes salaries for jail workers, maintenance and transportation of prisoners and committal in the Asylum for the Insane salaries...

Public Accounts 1916, Asylum Salaries

Miscellaneous Expenditures includes return of Big Game licenses purchased by Indians, Patriotic Fund salaries re returned soldiers, and unused marriage licenses... I guess someone(s) got cold feet!

Public Accounts 1916, Refunds

Also under Miscellaneous are salaries for election workers, and in 1906 Indemnity for Losses from the Hail Insurance Ordinance...

Public Accounts of Alberta 1906 - Hail

Public Works Department includes salaries for river ferry workers, road construction (with list of roads), maintenance of public buildings like court houses, gaols, schools and asylum, surveyors and compensation for land for right of way...

Public Accounts 1916, Right of Way Compensation

Relevant Links

Public Accounts of Alberta, Alberta Treasury Department

Amendment of Succession Duties Act 1916

Proceedings of the Municipal Council / Auditor's Reports

We have taken a look many times at the Sessional Papers of Canada and of the provinces, but if you want to know what went on closer to home, it is the Proceedings of the Municipal Council that we need to take a look at.

More often than not local businesses and persons were hired for goods or services in their community. They were paid by the municipal treasurer and probably mentioned in the treasurer's report in the proceedings of the council.

Colchester, NS

You may also find names of citizens who have petitioned the council for something they would like done, either in the town or on their property, or perhaps to be paid for a service rendered.

Baltimore, MD

Look for: Annual Reports of the City council, Proceedings of the City Council, Treasurers Report for the County, Auditors Report for City, etc

Check for more at Internet Archive, HathiTrust and the local library or city archives



Relevant Links

Minutes and proceedings of Municipal Council for Colchester, NS 1882

Minutes and proceedings of the Municipal Council of Cumberland County, NS

Proceedings of the Municipal Council of Welland, ON

Proceedings and by-laws of the Municipal Council of the County of Waterloo,ON

Auditor's Report for Dorchester (Boston, Mass)

Auditor's Report for Dunbarton NH

Auditor's Report for Weston VT

Journal of Proceedings of City Council of Baltimore 

Proceedings of the Board of Aldermen New York

Proceedings of the Council of the City of Manchester, UK

Newcastle upon Tyne (England). Town Council Reports

What is in Provincial / State Sessional Papers?

Besides the Canada Sessional Papers and the Journals of the Assembly, there are Sessional Papers and Journals for the provinces.

In Canada some departments come under the federal government's power, other departments are under provincial power, and some are shared. We have looked at some under the federal jurisdiction - military, navigation and lighthouses, fisheries, borders agents, banking, post office, penitentiaries, patents and Indian Affairs to name a few.

The provincial government looks after prisons, public provincial lands, hospitals and education. They share power over agriculture, immigration and pensions. You can see the whole list here.

So let's take a look at what we can find in the provincial papers.
The following are from the Sessional Papers of the Quebec Legislature for 1895.

Lists of Crown Lands (by county) sold or conceded by free grant 1894-1895

Statement of students of Quebec Government School of Navigation 1894-1895

The next are from the Ontario Sessional Papers for 1874...

Teachers exams, school inspectors and retired teachers (turn pages)

I've heard of "Killed in attempting to escape"... but "Killed in attempting to elope"??? 

Do you recognize anyone by their initials?

Length of Residence in Rockwood Asylum of those discharged during the year

These two are from the papers of Prince Edward Island - 1913

Teachers Salaries in PEI - 1913

People who received payment for work done at public buildings, PEI 1913

In the United States search using keywords: "[state] state journal archives", "[state] state senate journal archives", journal of the senate of the sate of [state], legislative journals of [state], etc - many states have copies of their assembly journals online.

Each state of Australia also has sessional papers. In Western Australia civil servants, are mentioned in the Blue Book.

Western Australia Blue Book 1881, pg 71

Relevant Links

Statement of students of Quebec Government School of Navigation 1894

Quebec Lists of crown lands sold or conceded by free grant 1894

Quebec teachers who received a pension

Ontario teachers exams, school inspectors and retired teachers 1874

Ontario Rockwood Asylum persons discharged during the year 1874

Names and Salaries of Teachers in PEI 1913

Names and amounts given for work done on Public Buildings in PEI 1913

Return of Elementary School Teachers 1880 Western Australia Blue Book

Sessional Papers of Quebec Legislature (Internet Archive)

Sessional Papers of Quebec Legislature (HathTrust)

Journals of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Quebec (Internet Archive)

Journals of the Legislative Assembly of Quebec (HathiTrust)

Sessional Papers of Ontario Legislative Assembly (HathiTrust)

Journals of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario (Internet Archive)

Journal of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Prince Edward Island (HT)

Journal of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Prince Edward Island (IA)

Journals of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of New Brunswick

Journals of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia

Sessional Papers of the Province of Manitoba

Journals of the Legislative Assembly of the province of Saskatchewan

Journals of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia

What You May Find in Government Papers and Journals

Government publications are a vastly underused resource to find our ancestors. We have visited the Sessional Papers a few times in this blog, and today we will explore some other types of publications. Most of my examples are from Canadian works, but you may find the same types of records in your country of research. Below I have links for the UK, New Zealand and Australia.

In the journals, as in the sessional papers, some years you will find lists of names and other years just statistical numbers by county. There is an index in the front to guide you to possibilities.

This page from the Public Accounts for the Province of Canada¹, 1851 shows an example of both... numbers of licenses issued to Auctioneers by district or port, and a nominal return of ferry operators.

Looking further, in 1880 there was a case in the Court of Chancery involving the ferry at Ameliasburgh, though by then there was a different ferryman... (looking to see where Ameliasburgh is I got curious and distracted haha).

The Dominion Annual Register and Review is a political paper, but don't let that fool you! In the 1879 issue there is a Militia section with names of men who joined Cadets, and those who won matches at Wimbleton! A rifle match that is. Team Canada sailed to Liverpool to compete against the British.

1897 Dominion of Canada Register and Review

According to the website of the Dominion of Canada Rifle Association...

"Canadian Teams had been attending the Annual Matches in England since 1870, the first Team being sent by the Ontario Rifle Association. The first DCRA Team went to Wimbledon in 1873 and continued to do so each year until the matches moved to Bisley in 1889."

In 1986 my husband was a member of the DCRA and the vice president of the Alberta Rifle Association. He was invited to Ottawa to try out for the Commonwealth Games, but sadly he didn't make it.

In these papers you will also find appointments and promotions of public servants, obituaries of notable (not necessarily well known) people, and some newsworthy trials. In the section titled Remarkable Occurrences you will find suicides and accidental deaths. This section was included from the years 1878 to 1886. In the back of the publication there is an index of all names mentioned in the paper.

Speaking of Militia, if you have a military ancestor you will want to take a look at the Reports of the Department of Militia and Defense (made for the Sessional Papers). Here you will find names of those who passed exams or were awarded prizes at the Military College as well as general workings of the military.

In the Journal of the House of Assembly, Lower Canada 1793 you will find names of those chosen to serve in the House of Assembly, and other names throughout.  This publication is in English and French.

I had one ancestor who passed the Preliminary Exam for entering Civil Service, but he did not pass the Qualifying Exam.  I found that out, plus more about the exams and the examiners by looking at the Report of the Board of Civil Service Examiners.

The Proceedings of the Parliament publications are another to check out for ancestors. This one for South Australia has  list of fire calls in Adelaide in 1886.

Fire calls Adelaide 1886

At British History Online  there is an excellent online searchable collection of parliamentary papers, including the Journals of the House of Commons and the House of Lords. Put keywords of names and places in the search box and pick your filters on the main search page. I typed in Loddiswell (where my ancestors lived in Devon) and I got 60 results. Then I typed in the name Tait and since this is a family of Scottish Border reivers it did not surprise me to find five instances where my Middle March Tait's were trespassing at the Borders in 1523.

To find out more about the provinces of Canada you can also do a search at Internet Archive for "Journals of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of..."

Note:
¹Province of Canada was formed by the Act of Union of 1840, merging Upper Canada and Lower Canada. Province of Canada ceased to exist with Confederation in 1867.  




Relevant Links

Public Accounts for the Province of Canada

Cases adjudged in the Court of Chancery of Upper Canada Vol 27 (Ameliasburgh) 1880

Dominion Annual Register and Review

Report of the Department of Militia and Defense

Journal of the House of Assembly, Lower Canada 1793

Proceedings of Parliament South Australia

Report of the Board of Civil Service Examiners

British History Online Search

Journals of the House of Commons, UK

Journals of the House of Lords, UK

Journals of the Senate, Australia, 1901 to present

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, New Zealand

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, New Zealand, nominal returns

American State Papers

Related posts:  Sessional Papers

Fishing and Guarding

If you have a fishing ancestor in the USA and you know the name of the vessel they worked on, you may find them in our Canadian waters or on our shores with vessels mentioned in the reports of the Department of Fisheries.

In Canada the reports of Department of Fisheries list names of US vessels that were issued fishing licenses in Canada, as well as vessels that came into port for repairs, shelter, or some other reason.

Our Coast Guard came under the Department of Fisheries from 1868-1936, and was called Fisheries Protection Service. After 1936 it came under the Department of Transport. In 1962 it was officially named the Canadian Coast Guard. In 1995 the Coast Guard was transferred back to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. US vessels fishing out of bounds were seized by Protection Services until fines were paid. 

The August 1855 edition of the Monthly Nautical Magazine (published in New York) told of the Launching of "La Canadienne", the primary vessel used by the Protection Service.
The Fisheries Protection Services were responsible for enforcing Canada's fishery laws, issuing fishing licenses, providing aids to navigation and providing assistance to vessels in trouble.

"La Canadienne"

Irish Fisheries reports and returns of licenses are found in the Sessional Papers of the House of Commons of Great Britain.

Lists of those Canadians who were issued Masters & Mates certificates can be found in the Sessional Papers of Canada.



Relevant Links

Canada Fisheries Protection Service 1890

Salaries of Protection Services 1901 (wages)

List of those granted awards for saving life 1893

List of persons granted rewards for gallant and humane services in saving life, 1872

Fishing Bounties paid to Vessel Owners 1890 (name of vessel and owner)

Annual Reports of Department of Marine and Fisheries

List of US vessels in Port of Canso, Nova Scotia 1890

Lists of US vessels at different ports, 1893

Vessels boarded by Officers of the Marine Police 1873

Life Boat Stations 1893

Certificates granted to Masters and Mates, 1873

Names of Fisheries Officers 1887

Port directory of principal Canadian ports and harbours 1913

British Coast Guard

US Coast Guard

Denmark Fisheries and Protection Services

Irish Coastguards of Yesteryear

Returns of Applications for Oyster Fishing Licenses in Ireland 1867

Certificates granted for Salmon or Trout fishing, Ireland 1873

Nominal Return of every Salmon Fishery in Ireland; Amount ofLicence Duty Paid, 1862

A return for years 1890 to 1900 of prosecutions undertaken in Ireland of masters of beam or otter trawl vessels for infringement of the byelaws of the Fishery Board

Whaling History and databases *(added Mar 2018)

Related Posts:  Sessional Papers - Masters and Mates Certificates

No Luck of the Irish 2

I had another topic ready to post for today, but I discovered something is happening that I couldn't wait to talk about!

Coming to you courtesy of the Library Digitization Unit of the University of Southampton, uploaded to Internet Archive .....

Enhanced Parliamentary Papers on Ireland 1801-1922

Since the beginning of February the good people at the University of Southampton have been uploading sections of the British Parliamentary Publications that have to do with Ireland. 

So although most people with Irish ancestors consider themselves unlucky since most records were destroyed during the uprising of 1922, there are still documents surviving that can help us tell the stories of our Irish ancestors. 

Some papers have statistics...

Inspector of Reformatory Schools of Ireland 1875 

...and others have names of people...

Return of Names of Fenian Convicts recently released 1871

I went through them all and picked out the ones that mention people by name. There are a few subjects that had a lot of returns, some with people's names others with information, and I lumped them into categories at the end. 

Rather than list them all here, I decided to make a PDF so you can download and share. The pdf will have a permanent home under the Resources tab in the above menu, and I will keep it updated as more links are added. 

Relevant Links

Parliamentay Papers on Ireland - pdf

Related Posts:  

No Luck of the Irish 

Also look at posts labeled Ireland

Forfieted Lands & War Claims

When a country was at war, after the dust had settled individuals, corporations or even States for that matter could make a claim against the country for losses suffered during the war. An example would be if soldiers used a school for billeting. Or someone's farm, and confiscated their animals or their crops.

I recently came across this book of interest to those of us with ancestors from the UK:

"Names of  the Roman Catholics, Nonjurors and Others who refus'd to take the Oaths to His Majesty King George... with the value of their estates... Transmitted to the late Commissioners for the Forfeited Estates of England and Wales, after the Unnatural Rebellion in the North, in the year 1715"

This refers to the first Jacobite Rebellion of 1715.  It states that those that refused to take the Oath of Allegiance had their lands confiscated.

One set of claims not stemming from war, are the Indian Depredation cases - these are claims filed with the United States Government by western settlers for property stolen by Natives, mainly cattle and other livestock.



Relevant Links:


A list of claims referred to the Court of Claims under the provisions of the Bowman Act by the Committee on war claims 1911

List of judgments of the Court of Claims in Indian Depredation cases paid - 1894

List of Indian depredation cases pending (USA) 1915

Stub entries to indents issued in payment of claims against South Carolina growing out of the revolution. Bk 1

Stub entries to indents issued in payment of claims against South Carolina growing out of the revolution. Bk 2

War of 1812: Board of Claims for Losses, 1813-1848 at LAC (Browse)

Supplement to The Observer: return of claims for losses sustained during the late War with the United States of America... Canada 1824

Private Claims presented to the House of Commons 1853

List of claims including a few exceptional cases of claims for churches; 1912

Cape of Good Hope War Claims - 1883

Sessional Papers of Dominion of Canada

The Sessional Papers of the Dominion of Canada are an often overlooked source for research in Canada. Probably because they are not indexed by names.  But it is not difficult to search through them. I found the easiest want to search is at Internet Archive in search box write "Sessional Papers of Dominion of Canada" + the year. Pick any one and look in the  "Contents" (after the index) at the beginning of each year. No 1 is usually the Auditor General Report, and that contains names and wages of civil employees by department, including post office employees. Note that each Content number will tell you if it is printed or not. Some university libraries hold copies of unprinted reports. Do the same for the Provincial Papers. At Internet Archive there are also some in French.
 
There are plenty of lists of names throughout - including various Military lists. This one for the year 1887 the Military section starts at Appendix 15.  The next page gives the Index, and you will see lists of men who received certificates, professors and graduates at the Royal Military College, medical officers, retired officers...etc 

There are not just names for military. The "Expenditures" section gives salaries of various people. Keep turning pages, they note payments to individuals or companies for goods and services (furniture, candles, carpentry work, etc). In different years you see there are a reports to do with canals and railroads including goods carried, earnings and summary of accidents. Remember some department reports were not printed.

Here are some other examples of what you will find:

Steamboat Engineers Certificates and Examinations (Names + lots info) 1874

CPR Railroad accidents - lists name, place and cause.

Names of lessees of grazing land in Manitoba and Northwest Territories.

Persons issued Timber Licenses. (and turn pages)

Shareholders of Chartered Banks

Letters that never arrived that contained money that were mailed in Canada - 1874.  Lists name of sender, addressee and place. FRENCH

Dominion Steamers expenditures (names of crew, service people) - 1874

 

Using keywords "sessional papers" you get various years of the English editions.

Using keywords "Canada. Parliament" you get various years of the English editions.

Using keywords "Canada.Parlement" you get various years of mostly the French editions

Following are some Provinces that have some of their sessional papers online.

Sessional Papers for the Province of Ontario (Also try Legislative Assembly)

Sessional Papers of the Quebec Legislature

Sessional Papers of Manitoba Legislature

Sessional Papers of British Columbia Legislature 

It doesn't take long to look through for mention of your ancestor, you can flip pages until you come to lists of names that are often in alphabetical order.

Check your country archives to see what is available regarding their Parliamentary Papers.