Simcoe District Marriage Register of Upper Canada 1842-1857 (includes some Presbyterian Baptisms and Burials)

By Dan Walker & Fawne Stratford-Devai

 The Simcoe District was separated from the Home District and included the present County of Simcoe. Administrative boundaries changed as the population grew. See the Background section below for those details.

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This book includes

• Complete transcription of the original Simcoe district marriage register 1842-1857
• Complete transcription of the Baptismal Register of First Canada Presbyterian Congregation of Essa 1835-1858
• Complete transcription of the Birth Register of the Mono Mills Presbyterian Pastoral Charge (1831~ circa 1877)

Also included:

• The Baptismal Register of First Canada Presbyterian Congregation of Essa 1835-1858 has been transcribed with the permission of the Presbyterian Church in the Canada Archives. These records have not been microfilmed.
• The Birth Register of the Mono Mills Presbyterian Pastoral Charge (1831~ circa 1877) has been transcribed for inclusion in this publication with permission from the Church of Canada Archives.

Towns and townships where marriages occurred and were reported in the Simcoe District Register include: All towns, cities and townships within Simcoe County and adjoining areas wherein marriages were preformed by clergy whose own domicile was in Simcoe District (Simcoe County).

Background: The Simcoe District was created from the Home District in March 1837, however, the Simcoe District was not officially proclaimed until a court house and a jail were constructed by 1843. Once formally established in late 1842 and early 1843, marriage returns for Simcoe County had to be returned to the Clerk of the Peace in the District Town of Barrie. Returns were sent to the Clerk of the Peace from ministers 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.

On the 30 May 1849 the Simcoe District was abolished. For marriages prior to 1842, consult the Home District Marriage Register. Beginning in 1858, a seperate Simcoe County Marriage register was created.

This publication has been transcribed from the original Simcoe District Marriage Register 1842-1857 held by the Archives of Ontario. Entries have been transcribed in the exact order they appear in the original register.

Check bordering Districts:  Complete District Marriage Register Series booklist

When searching for marriages recorded in 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 Simcoe District register you would be well advised to search bordering districts such as the Home District, Colbourne District, Wellington District and the Newcastle District.

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

Details:

142  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  978-1-894571-43-2 (coil-bound edition)