Other info on the 1931 Census of Canada

 

Finally, we are able to search the 1931 Census of Canada on Ancestry by name, and attach them to profiles. I’d like to remind you that if you come across spelling errors, please correct them while you are there. It only takes a few seconds. Click on “add or update information” on the left at record view. 

At Ancestry on the 1931 census search page scroll down where you can (and should) read the info about the census. I imagine that soon LAC will publish more info, as in other years… district and subdistrict names, street index, and instructions to enumerators. 

In the meantime you can read the instructions to enumerators here… 

Instructions for Northwest Territories, parts of Yukon, Hudson’s Bay here

In case anyone has an ancestor who was an enumerator commissioner for the 1931 census, or you don’t know and would like to check, or you’re just interested… they are listed by province and district in the Report of the Auditor General of Canada 1932-1933 (mark 938). The Commissioner is responsible for each enumerator in his district, who each have a subdistrict. The commissioner is also responsible for giving the enumerators in his district training and handing out supplies they will need to take the census.

Remember that many cities standardized house numbers around this time. If you think your ancestor moved down the street since the last census, it’s more than likely that their house number (and in some cases street name!) was changed. 

Related Posts:

Getting more from a census

Canada Census Takers

Canada 150 - Civil Service List of 1890

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...

The Civil Service List of Canada 1890

Sessional Papers of 1891

... showing name, date of appointment, date of promotion, birth date and salary of civil servants, including those who worked for

Department of Justice Penitentiary branches, Department of Military and Defense, Department of Interior (Surveys, Land board, etc), North West Mounted Police, Customs, Post Office, Railways and Canals etc... 

Not everyone who works at the penitentiary is a guard...

Kingston Penitentiary

...there are also chaplains and instructors, and the storekeeper, surgeon, miller, etc. 

There is an Index of Names for easy searching.

 Relevant Links

Sessional papers of the Dominion of Canada 1891, Civil Service List for 1890

Canada 150 - Pelagic Sealing Dispute

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...

Pelagic Sealing Dispute

Sessional Papers 1919 Vol 51, No.28

What is Pelagic Sealing? According to the document in the 1919 Sessional Papers...

"The term pelagic sealing is defined, for the purpose of this convention, as meaning the killing, capturing or pursuing in any manner whatever, of fur seals at sea." 

They further add that Pelagic comes from the Greek word "pelagos" meaning ocean.

This paper arose from an investigation begun 10 June 1913 by Louis Arthur Audette, Assistant Judge to the Exchequer Court of Canada, into claims by Canadian pelagic sealers of the North Pacific who feel they sustained losses by the Pelagic Sealing Treaty of 1911 (start of preservation of seals) between Canada, the United States, Russia and Japan, and the regulations under the Paris Treaty of 1893.



The Schedules with different classes of claimants names begin at the 278 mark (pg 14 of Paper No.79)

Claimants

Most claimants are aboriginals from British Columbia, with a few claimants from Nova Scotia.



Relevant Links


Pelagic Sealing Commissioners Report, 1919 Sessional Papers (Mark 264 - 326)

Behering Sea Award Act 1894

Fur Seal Treaty of 1911 (from NOAA)

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

Maritime Pilots

A marine pilot is a mariner who is licensed and knows how to guide a ship safely through the local waters. In Canada there are inland pilots like those who work the St Lawrence River, and coastal pilots that help big ships into their berth at ocean ports. Here is a definition and history at wikipedia.

The Marine and Fisheries part of the Sessional Papers of Canada has a section titled "Pilotage Authority".  For the year 1908 it is starting with Appendix 22.

There you will find pilotage rates, names of pilots licensed, pilot earnings, names of apprentices, those paid from the Decayed Pilot Fund including pensioners, widows and children (not all for all cities).

Some also report on the conduct of the pilots...

The Almanak of Montreal and Lower Canada has a list of pilots for the harbour.

Montreal Almanak or Lower Canada Register 1829

Also check the Parliamentary Papers of Great Britain.


Relevant Links

Pilotage Authority Canada 1899

Pilotage Authority Canada 1901

Pilotage Authority Canada 1905

Pilotage Authority Canada 1906

Pilotage Authority Canada 1907

Pilotage Authority Canada 1908

Pilotage Authority Canada 1909

Le pilotage du Saint-Laurent de Québec à Montréal, 1900 w/portraits

Return of receipts of pilotage and number of pilots at Belfast, Dublin, Cork and Londonderry, 1833

Parliamentary Papers of UK - Pilotage 1894

Parliamentary Papers of UK - Pilotage 1889

Info on Pilotage in the United States

South Australia - Pilotage 1883-1884



Relate Posts:  Masters and Mates 

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

More Sessional Paper Discoveries

This past week or more leading up to the Federal Elections in Canada we have been delving into the  Sessional Papers of the Dominion of Canada, where you may find the names of your ancestors in the 1st Volume of each year.  That is the volume reserved for the Auditor General's report, and looking under Expenditures for each section gives names, wages and sometimes other information. Not only payments to employees, but also to outside contractors.

Sessional Papers

 

We have covered quite a few in the last several days, but there is much more. Some of the other departments for 1918 that may hold names and locations of our ancestors are:
(Note that not all years give lists of people, eg naturalization, convicts, census)

Auditor General's Office, legislature, privy council, etc..

Agriculture Department: Experimental Farming, livestock, food inspectors, etc.

Archives Department

Finance Department:  Pensions and supperannuations (1901)

Inland Revenue Department: covering excise tax, adulteration of food

Interior Department:  land sales, surveyors, inspectors, settler inspections, timber and forestry, water power, national parks

Government of the Yukon (under Interior Dept) 1918

Government in the Yukon 1901

Marine and Fisheries: government steamers and inspectors, meteorological, services, marine hospitals, fees collected for Master & Mate certificates

Militia and Defense: Militia, permanent force, cadets, civil employees, military college

Department of Mines: geological surveyors, assay offices

External Affairs:  Canadian Foreign Consuls, Foreign Country Consuls (1921)

Secretary of State:  Companies issued licenses, naturalization, civil service lists.

Department of Indian Affairs: School teachers, agents

Naval Service:  dockyards and staff, lifesaving stations, fishery wardens & patrol and hatcheries

Printing and Stationery 

Public Works:  buildings, harbours, telegraph lines, etc

Railways and Canals: canal and locks staff, Hudson's Bay Railway and other gov't railroads

Northwest Mounted Police: Crimes during the year, often mentioning criminals by name.

Trade and Commerce


Each Volume has an Index in the back to make it easy to find what you are looking for. Perhaps your ancestor worked for or was under contract in one of these departments? 



Related Posts:  Sessional Papers

Citizenship & Naturalization

The Government of Canada published lists of naturalized immigrants as stipulated by the Naturalization Act of 1914 and later acts.  The lists from 1915-1951 were published in the Reports of the Secretary of State in the Sessional Papers of Canada and in the Canada Gazette.

Sessional Papers 1922

Looking at the year 1922, I checked the index at the front of any volume number.  I see in the Index that the Secretary of State Report is No. 29, which I find in the Contents is in Volume 8. So on the list at Internet Archive under 1922 I would look for Vol 58, No 8 Sessional Paper No 27-32, for 1922. I didn't find any lists of names for other years that I checked, just numbers from each country.



Relevant Links

Sessional Papers 1922: Aliens granted Certificates of Naturalization (pg 319-613)

Citizenship and Naturalization Records at LAC, 1915-1951

Nationalization records at olive Tree Genealogy

The Canada Gazette Archives

How to find US Records of Immigration and Naturalization

How to find British records of Naturalization

How to find Australian Naturalization records

Naturalization and Alien Registration Records of New Zealand

The Justice Department

In the Sessional Papers of the Dominion of Canada the employees of the Justice Department are mentioned in the Auditor General's Report.  In this department are the Chief Justice, sheriffs and judges, circuit judges, Court Staff, Provincial justices and judges, the Dominion Police, and Penitentiary staff.

Old Supreme Court of Canada 1890

Search the Sessional Papers for other years, under the No 1, Auditor General's Report.



Relevant Links


Justice Dept 1901

Justice salaries at Ottawa

Supreme Court and Exchequer Court

Justices and judges - Provinces

Dominion Police

Penitentiary Staff - All provinces

Pensions to Judges

Justice Dept - Bilingual 1918

Justice Salaries at Ottawa and Supreme Court

Justices and judges, Provinces

Gratuities to Relatives of deceased officials

Dominion Police

Penitentiary Staff - All provinces

Pensions to Judges



Related Posts:  Sessional Papers

Customs and Immigration Officers

I used to live in a small border town, and we were always going back and forth from Canada to the US. We got to know a lot of the customs officers and they were pretty easy going since we were all "regulars".  One time when I was going across, the long-time officer on the US side, who was stuck there most of the day, asked if I would get him come cigars on my way back. It was like that. The worst was in summer when they had student help... they didn't know us, were more by the book and real sticklers. 

A customs officer is a federal position, therefore in the Sessional Papers of the Dominion of Canada their names, stations and wages were listed in the Auditor General's Report.

The Department of Immigration was responsible for advertising for settlers, and making sure they arrived safely and were cared for. Immigration officers and staff were also listed in the Auditor General's Report, under the Department of the Interior.

My husband's mother's family immigrated to Canada in 1900 from Galicia, Austria. Canadian immigration agencies advertised for hard working families that were willing to farm for free land. They were taken to Hamburg where they were put on a ship to Halifax, from there put on a train to Winnipeg. They stayed there a while before moving on to Saskatchewan. At that time Mr. W F McCreary was the  Commissioner of Immigration in Winnipeg and his report in the Sessional Papers of the Dominion of Canada for 1901 listed several people responsible for locating, transporting, visiting and feeding the Galicians (as well as other immigrant groups).

These records are great whether your ancestor was an Immigration Officer or an Immigrant!

Relevant Links

Customs Department Canada - names and salaries at Ottawa and Provinces 1908

Customs Department Canada - names and salaries at Ottawa and Provinces 1910

Customs Department Canada - names and salaries at Ottawa and Provinces 1914

Customs Department of Canada 1921

Gratuities to families of deceased officers

Inspection, Preventive Service, Board of Customs and Laboratories 1908

How to find British Custom Records

Cdn Immigration: Agencies in Canada 1901

Cdn Immigration: Agencies in the United States 1901

Cdn Immigration: Agencies in Europe 1901

Immigration: general expenses and bonuses 1901

Immigration agents, officers, detention hospital staff 1910

Salaries of Customs Officers acting as Boundary Inspectors

General Services and Travel, Canada and US

Printing and Advertising - interesting background info

Bonuses and Commissions - eg:$2/head for Barnardo's Children 1910

Visit of Scottish Agriculturist and American Editors

Misc expenses: lecturers, translators, medical services, legal services, etc

Immigration: Agencies in the United States 1910

Immigration: Agencies in Europe 1910

Staff and expenses in Manitoba and Northwest (pgs K139 - K149)

Immigration and Colonization 1921

Expenditures for Chinese Immigration 1921

Related Posts:  Sessional papers

The Lighthouse Keepers

Living on the west coast and having visited the east coast we have seen many beautiful old lighthouses. One of our neighbours was once a Lighthouse Keeper, and he and his wife enjoyed the life until he retired.  It took them a while to get their land legs.  Imagine being paid to live by the ocean?  Despite the beautiful surroundings the life of a lighthouse keeper can be a lonely and isolating one.

There are not as many manned lighthouses as there once were, with modern technology both on boats and in lighthouses. Just as one would have a GPS for road vehicles, there are marine GPS's and chart plotters that show shallow waters and trouble spots and keep ships on track and out of harms way. In theory. In a fierce storm it is a comfort to see the lighthouse beacon keeping you company and showing the way.

In 2010 the Canadian Senate Committee was looking into shutting down or automating the remaining lighthouses on both coasts. The Globe and Mail wrote an article about it with an interview with a couple of lighthouse keepers and the story of Canada's first lighthouse keeper. In 2011 the Globe and Mail wrote another article about the Committee's findings.

If you think being a lighthouse keeper is the job for you, you can find out how on John Coldwell's website Lighthouse Memories.  He is also in the ongoing process of making a lighthouse keepers database.

The Sessional Papers of the Dominion of Canada hold names, locations and wages of lighthouse keepers under the Auditor General's reports, under the Department of Marine and Fisheries. The 1903 volume has some old photos of lighthouses.

There is an Association of Lighthouse Keepers open to everyone.  You can get a Lighthouse Passport to collect stamps from lighthouses you visit.

To find names and salaries of lighthouse keepers for years other then those mentioned below, look in No.1 (Auditor General) and its Index (after Contents), sometimes No 1 is in 2-3 Volumes)



Relevant Links

Names, Stations and Salaries of Lighthouse Keepers in the Dominion - 1903

Names, Stations and Salaries of Lighthouse Keepers in the Dominion 1916

Names, Stations and Salaries of Lighthouse Keepers in the Dominion 1922

Marine Expenditures for Maintenance of Lights for 1873 (keep turning pages for location of lighthouses and other provinces)

Lighthouse Keepers of New Zealand list

Where to find Lighthouse Keeper records in New Zealand

Where to find Lighthouse Keeper records in Australia

Where to find Lighthouse Keeper records in the USA

Lighthouse Personnel in England, Wales and the Channel Islands c1790-1911

British Lighthouse Keepers Database

Lighthouse Memories

Women Lighthouse Keepers Canada

US Women Lighthouse Keepers




Related Posts:  Sessional Papers

Workin' on the Railroad!

People that worked for Canadian government departments were often mentioned and paid under the Auditor General Report. These reports were sent to the House of Commons and the Senate during sessions of Parliament. We have covered Postmasters, the Office of Indian Affairs and Census Enumerators and today we will dive into the Sessional Papers of the Dominion of Canada for some Railway workers. Specifically those of the Intercolonial Railway (1872-1918), The Windsor Branch, the Prince Edward Island Railway (1871-1918) and the National Transcontinental Railway 

Intercolonial Depot, New Glasgow, NS: Courtesy McCord Museum

In the Sessional Papers of 1906 they reported not only the expenses of running the railways, but also the names and wages of all the employees - those in the shops, the yards and those on the trains.

In some of the previous pages you may find names of porters, secretaries and officials.



Relevant Links

Intercolonial Railroad Workers and Wages - 1906 (Pg W210)

Intercolonial Travel of Officials - 1906 (Pg W205)

The Windsor Branch Railway - 1906 (Pg W316)

Prince Edward Island Railway 1906 (Pg W317)

National Transcontinental Railway 1906 (Pg W328

Railroad Workers in Sessional Papers 1916 - start here

Railroad Workers in Sessional Papers 1903  - start here

Return of Accidents and Casualties on the Intercolonial Railway lines - 1902

Employees Provident Fund of the Intercolonial and Prince Edward Island Railways records at LAC





Related Post:  All Aboard!

Canada Census Takers

When it came time to conduct the census in Canada, people were hired to go door to door to take down the information.  They were paid for the time they took from their daily schedule for instruction on how to take the census, as well as for doing the work. Some may have been reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses. The enumerators that were given distant or rural routes were paid travel expenses. Some cities hired interpreters for the duration, while in other cities the enumerator paid for his own interpreter and was reimbursed under the travel allowance section with a * beside the amount.

The Sessional Papers of the Dominion of Canada of 1913 (Volume 1, Part 1) holds reports by the Auditor General, which include payments to 1911 Census takers and other officials under the Agricultural Department Expenditures (Pg C68). They are listed by Province, and it gives the route, enumerators name and payment amounts.  

The Sessional Papers of the Dominion of Canada of 1907 (Volume 1, Part 1) holds the same census reports for the 1906 Provincial Census of Western Canada (Pg D10).

Was your ancestor an enumerator for the 1906 or 1911 Census?

For the 1921 census only the Commissioners were named.


Relevant Links


Sessional Papers of the Dominion of Canada 1911

Sessional Papers of the Dominion of Canada 1906

Sessional Papers of the Dominion of Canada 1921