Colborne District Marriage Register of Upper Canada 1841-1857 (includes earlier marriages and some baptisms)

By Dan Walker & Fawne Stratford-Devai

Includes the following records for the counties of Peterborough and Victoria:

• All marriages recorded in the Colborne District Marriage Register from 1841-1857
• Complete transcription of all returns in the register that is now called the Peterborough County Register (1841-1859)
• Marriage Register (1834-1857) of the Reverend John M. Roger, First Presbyterian Minister of the Newcastle District
• Marriage Register of the Reverend John MacMurchy (1842-1857)
• Baptisms from Rev. John MacMurchy 1842

Click to Browse the Index

Towns and townships that were reported in the Colborne District Register include: Blenheim, Eldon, Cavan, Smith, Town of Peterborough, Emily, Asphodel, Mariposa, Otonabee, Douro, Monaghan, Fenelon, Ops, Alnwick, Rice Lake Indian Village, Hamilton, Percy, Sidney, Manvers, Oro (Simcoe District), Brock (Home District), Mara (Home District), North Gwillimbury (Simcoe District), Belmont, Norwood, Town of Lindsay, Town of Cobourg, Reach, Cartwright, Dummer, and a number of other areas.

Background: In April of 1838 the District of Colborne was separated from the Newcastle District and included the present counties of Victoria and Peterborough and points to the north. Despite being officially created in 1838, the Colborne District would not be proclaimed until a Court House and jail were constructed and officials appointed. The District of Colborne was therefore not proclaimed a separate district until 1841. Effective October 14th, 1841 marriage returns for the counties of Peterborough and Victoria were required to be returned to the Clerk of the Peace in the District town of Peterborough. Returns were sent to the Clerk from clergy who performed marriages, with the exception of Anglican and Roman Catholic ministers. However, many Anglican and Catholics settlers married in churches of convenience or by passing circuit riders when churches of their own faith had not been established yet -- the result is that many of those marriages appear in these District Marriage Registers.

As of January 1850 all Districts were abolished and the Colborne District became the United Counties of Peterborough-Victoria. In 1858 the County of Victoria assumed the duties of registering its own marriages. Peterborough County did the same in 1858.

Check bordering Districts:  Complete District Marriage Register Series booklist When searching for marriages recorded in District Marriage Registers keep in mind that many returns were submitted by ministers who were circuit riders who often performed marriages at great distance from their home bases. Circuit riders reported marriages in the register of the District where they lived which was not necessarily in the same District where the marriage took place. That said, if you cannot find the marriage in the Colborne District register you would be well advised to search bordering districts such as the Newcastle District, Home District, Simcoe District and Victoria District.

Related article: District Marriage Registers of Upper Canada (Ontario) 1786-1870 - What are they and why are they important?

Details:

174 Pages
8.5" X 11" 
Maps
Index 
Originally published by Norsim, Toronto, 1995
This revised and updated edition with new maps and introduction published by Global Heritage Press, Milton, 2000 
ISBN  978-1-894571-26-5 (coil-bound edition)