Manitoba Birth, Marriage, and Death Records (National Institute)

History
The first European settlers arrived as employees of the Hudson’s Bay Company during the 17th century and were primarily connected with the fur trade. It wasn’t until the Selkirk Settlers arrived in 1812 that the land was taken up for agricultural use.

The area was known as the Red River Settlement or Assiniboia District or Rupert’s Land until entering Confederation in 1870 when the Hudson’s Bay Company sold the land to Canada and the name changed to Manitoba. Civil registration of births, marriages and deaths started in 1882. Some church records prior to 1882 are also available.

Provincial Archives
The Provincial Archives of Manitoba (PAM) and the Hudson’s Bay Company Archives (HBCA) are the two major repositories of original documents in Manitoba. The PAM houses records of the Manitoba government, as well as other private collections. A limited collection of early church records is found here—Anglican, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, Unitarian and Jewish.

Hudson’s Bay Company Archives
The HBCA houses the extensive records of the Hudson’s Bay Company (the “Company” was the ‘administrator’ of most of western Canada before 1870).

The Manitoba Genealogy Society tells us that “Many of the documents in the Hudson’s Bay Archives have been indexed. The register of baptisms, marriages and burials (1820-1841, 1841-1851) performed by the chaplain of the Hudson’s Bay Company has an index which includes witnesses to the ceremonies. Further indexed materials are: correspondence with George Simpson; wills of Hudson’s Bay Company’s employees and their relations; and biographies of fur traders.”

Also included in the Hudson’s Bay Company Archives are records of its operations across the northern hemisphere and elsewhere since its establishment in 1670. For those interested in HBC’s records, a guide titled Biographical Resources at the Hudson’s Bay Company Archives: Volume one by Briggs and Morton (1996) can be consulted at the Provincial Archives or can be purchased. See their website for research tools.

Legislative Library of Manitoba
The Legislative Library of Manitoba is the provincial government library. It contains a large collection of published works relating to Manitoba, especially local histories, newspapers, (dating back to 1859, the newspaper holdings are available on microfilm for on-site research or for interlibrary loan) and city/provincial directories. The legislative library will make copies for a fee of obituary notices if the exact date of death or date of obituary notice is given.

All three above mentioned facilities are housed at:

Archives of Manitoba 130 - 200 Vaughan Street Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 1T5 Telephone: 204-945-3971 Toll free: 1-800-617-3588 Email: [mailto:archives@gov.mb.ca archives@gov.mb.ca]

Civil Registration
Manitoba is another province which allows unrestricted access to certain historic vital records:


 * Births more than 100 years ago
 * Marriages more than 80 years ago
 * Deaths more than 70 years ago

A searchable database has been created as an index or guide at the Vital Statistics Agency website. You are given instructions for then ordering a copy of the complete record. Similar to other provinces, the older records have less information than the modern ones; information collected in the past was not as full as it is more recently. The fee for records ordered electronically from this database is $12 per record (as of January 2013)

Civil registration of births, marriages and deaths started in 1882. (Some church records prior to 1882 are also available at the Vital Statistics Branch below but the denomination of the subject person must be known) After receiving a written application stating the purposes and relationship of the applicant, a five year search is conducted. The search covers the entire region specified and variations for the spelling of names. There is an entitlement restriction for modern records under legislation protecting privacy. Consult the website for details of this restriction.

The fee at the present time is $30 and a Certified Copy is issued if the record is located. A Certified Copy contains all the information appearing on the Original Registration. If the record is not located, a Search Receipt is issued stating there is no record for the years searched. A genealogical application form (PDF format) is available. You will be required to verify that the person sought and all immediate next-of-kin (spouse, children, parents and siblings) are deceased or, if not, written proof of consent from the living people must be attached. Fees may be paid by cheque or money order (payable to Minister of Finance), Visa or MasterCard.

Manitoba Vital Statistics Agency 254 Portage Avenue Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 0B6 Telephone: 204-945-3701 Toll free: 1-866-949-9296 Email: [mailto:vitalstats@gov.mb.ca vitalstats@gov.mb.ca]

Manitoba Genealogical Society
The Manitoba Genealogical Society was founded in 1976 and incorporated in 1982. They will do limited research through its Resource Center, time permitting. Fee schedule for this service is available upon request and with a Self Addressed Stamped Envelope.

They also have a lending library for members and will ship books to members who live at a distance. The online catalogue is available. Long distance members should contact the library about availability of books and cost at their email address: [mailto:library@mbgenealogy.com library@mbgenealogy.com]

A list of independent researchers will be provided but this does not imply recommendation by the Manitoba Genealogical Society.

A useful work, Reference Sources for Researching Family History in Manitoba, is an information booklet produced by the Manitoba Genealogical Society. It outlines the genealogically relevant records held by the Provincial Archives of Manitoba and provides information on genealogical records elsewhere in the province as well.

Manitoba Genealogical Society Unit E - 1045 St. James Street Winnipeg, Manitoba R3H 1B1 Telephone: 204-783-9139 Email: [mailto:contact@mbgenealogy.com contact@mbgenealogy.com]

The Manitoba Genealogical Society has many branches. Please view their webpage or contact the society for listings.

Additional Archives, Libraries, and Societies
Mennonite Heritage Centre Archives 600 Shaftesbury Blvd. Winnipeg, Manitoba R3P 0M4 Telephone: 204-888-6781

East European Genealogical Society P.O. Box 2536 Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 4A7 Telephone: 204-989-3292 Email: [mailto:info@eegsociety.org info@eegsociety.org]

Winnipeg Public Library 251 Donald Street Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 3P5

Metis Culture &amp; Heritage Resource Centre 506 - 63 Albert Street Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 1G4 Telephone: 204-956-7767 Email: [mailto:metisrc@mts.net metisrc@mts.net]

Anglican Church
Archives of the Anglican Church of Canada - Diocese of Rupert’s Land

In 1820, the first Anglican clergyman, Reverend John West arrived. For many years the Anglican Church was the only protestant religion practiced. Therefore, those who wanted sacraments went to the Anglican clergy.

When James Evans arrived in 1840 the Wesleyan Methodist Church was represented and then the first Presbyterian clergyman, Reverend John Black arrived in Red River in 1851. Remember to search the records that would have been created at the time, not necessarily the religion your ancestors were or are now.

Baptism, marriage and burial records for the Anglican Church will be of great value to those looking for early settlers. Many of those early records, most significantly those first registers kept by Reverend John West, can be found in the Archives of the Diocese of Rupert’s Land, Fort Garry, Winnipeg. This is a small archive with part-time staff so calling or writing first is a prerequisite. Their website states that “information is available to the public to the extent that the records have been processed for research.” The search fee is $20 per hour to a maximum of two hours (as of January 2013) for each search (baptism, confirmation, marriage or burial) and $20 for each Certificate of Verification of Baptism, Confirmation, Marriage or Death. Fees paid by cash, cheque (payable to Diocese of Rupert’s Land), Visa or MasterCard.

You will need to know a specific geographic location and time period to determine which register will be used. Another thing to remember is that often there was not the benefit of clergy when people needed them and life continued anyway. When Reverend John West arrived he found himself solemnizing marriages and performing baptisms although the actual wedding celebration and births had taken place years earlier.

If you suspect the time period was the early 1800s but are unsure of the location, there is a card catalogue at the Provincial Archives of Manitoba that represents a name index. The time period covered is approximately 1820 to 1930. This is not a complete index, though.

Other records of correspondence and diaries are found at the Diocese of Rupert’s Land Archives. Records of missions located within the Diocese are also there. Check the Guide to the Holdings of the Archives of Rupert’s Land: Records of the Anglican Church of Canada (published in 1986). Some early church records are not found here.

The records of the first St. John’s College and Miss Davis’ School for girls are found at St. John’s Ravenscourt and Balmoral Hall respectively. Lists of pupils for the former native residential schools at Middlechurch and Elkhorn are held with the records of the Church Missionary Society which posted most of the early Anglican clergy to Red River are held at the University of Birmingham in England with copies at the Provincial Archives of Manitoba (there is a finding aid).

A final important note is necessary regarding the geography. Although the Diocese of Rupert’s Land originally covered a huge area and included most of what is now Western Canada, the current area covered by the diocese is much smaller (generally southern Manitoba). As the other dioceses of Western Canada were created they took custody of the records for their parishes.

In Manitoba, there are now two other dioceses; Brandon (from 1913), which covers the western third of the province and Keewatin (from 1899), which covers most of Northern Manitoba and North-western Ontario. The addresses for their archives are given below. The names and addresses of the other dioceses of Western Canada can be obtained from the Anglican Resource Centre in Winnipeg.

Anglican Church of Canada Diocese of Rupert’s Land Archives 935 Nesbitt Bay Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 1W6 Telephone: 204-992-4203 Email:[mailto:archives@rupertsland.ca archives@rupertsland.ca]

Anglican Church of Canada Diocese of Brandon, Synod Office Mail Address: Box 21009, W.E.P.O. Brandon, Manitoba R7B 3W8 Telephone: 204-727-7550 Email:[mailto:diobran@mts.net diobran@mts.net]

Anglican Church of Canada Diocese of Keewatin 915 Ottawa Street P.O. Box 567 Keewatin, Ontario P0X 1C0 Telephone: 807-547-3356 Email:[mailto:dioceseofkeewatin@shaw.ca dioceseofkeewatin@shaw.ca]

United Church Records
The United Church of Canada Archives holds the local church records of the United Church and its uniting denominations (Methodist, Congregational, Presbyterian (1925 union); and Evangelical United Brethren—joined in 1968). The records of the churches which did not join at union but remained part of the continuing Presbyterian Church in Canada after 1925 are held in Toronto.

Presbyterian Church in Canada Archives and Record Office 50 Wynford Drive Toronto, Ontario M3C 1J7 Telephone: 416-441-1111

Geographic Distribution: The Manitoba and Northwest Conference includes more than just Manitoba. You will also find records of some bordering municipalities in Ontario. Other United Church local church records are available in Conference archives across Canada.

United Church of Canada Archives (as of September 16, 2013) 40 Oak Street, Lower Level Toronto, Ontario M5A 2C6 Email:[mailto:archives@united-church.ca archives@united-church.ca]

Conference of Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario - United Church of Canada University of Winnipeg Library 515 Portage Avenue Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 2E9 Telephone: 204-783-0708 By appointment only Email:[mailto:d.haglund@uwinnipeg.ca d.haglund@uwinnipeg.ca]

[Ukrainian Catholic] Archeparchy of Winnipeg Museum and Archives 233 Scotia Street Winnipeg, Manitoba R3V 1V7 Telephone: 204-338-7801 Email:[mailto:uccarchives@gmail.com uccarchives@gmail.com]

Records of Other Religions
Jewish Heritage Centre of Western Canada Suite C140 - 123 Doncaster Street Winnipeg, Manitoba R3N 2B2 Telephone: 204-477-7460 Email:[mailto:jewishheritage@jhcwc.org jewishheritage@jhcwc.org]

Lutheran Church-Canada Archives - Lutheran Historical Institute 7100 Ada Blvd. Edmonton, Alberta T5R 0S7 Telephone: 780-474-8156 By appointment only Email:[mailto:kbaron@lccarchives.com kbaron@lccarchives.com]

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Information in this Wiki page is excerpted from the online course offered by The National Institute for Genealogical Studies. To learn more about this course or other courses available from the Institute, see our website. We can be contacted at [mailto:wiki@genealogicalstudies.com wiki@genealogicalstudies.com]

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