INTRODUCTION
This subject guide provides a list of essential resources and records to help you trace your ancestors from Nova Scotia. Many of these resources are held onsite at the American Ancestors library and archives, or available online at our website, AmericanAncestors.org.
HOW-TO GUIDES
Genealogist's Handbook for Atlantic Canada Research by Terrence M. Punch and George F. Sanborn, Jr.
American Ancestors, 7th Floor Reading Rm CS88.A88 G46 1997
Finding Your Canadian Ancestors: A Beginner's Guide by Sherry Irvine and Dave Obee
American Ancestors, 5th Floor CS82 .I78 2007
VITAL RECORDS
Pre-1864
Some 18th and early 19th century vital records can be located in township books for Nova Scotia communities. American Ancestors has the following townships available on microfilm:
Annapolis, Argyle, Aylesford, Chester, Cornwallis, Digby, Douglas, Falmouth, Fort Lawrence, Granville, Horton, Liverpool, Londonderry, Maccan, Manchester, New Dublin, Newport, Parrsboro, River Philip, St. Mary’s, Stormont, Truro, Tusket, Westchester, Wilmot, Windsor, Yarmouth.
American Ancestors, 4th Floor Microfilm CS88.N642
Marriage licenses by county on microfilm for 1849-1918: American Ancestors, 4th Floor Microfilm CS88.N6443.N68
Marriage bond indexes 1853-1864: American Ancestors, 4th Floor Microfilm CS88.N644.N64 #10
1864 and beyond
Official registration for Nova Scotia began in 1864, however, the returns are quite incomplete. (On the births you can often find the pre-1864 marriage date and place of the parents.) American Ancestors has microfilm for births, marriages, and deaths for these years. After 1877 only marriages were recorded until 1908. American Ancestors has microfilm of county marriage registers after 1877 to approximately 1918 for most counties. American Ancestors, 4th Floor Microfilm CS88.N644.N64
Online access to vital records
novascotiagenealogy.com Online access to births (1864-1877, 1908-1912, delayed registrations 1830-1912); Marriages (1864-1937) and marriage bonds (1763-1864); Deaths (1864-1877, 1908-1962); and City of Halifax deaths (1890-1908).
Other vital-record-related collections
American Ancestors also has two collections used in conjunction with vital records on microfilm:
Nova Scotia Coroners Inquisitions 1755-1928
American Ancestors, 4th Floor Microfilm N6485.N68
Divorces and Matrimonial cause case files 1759-1951
American Ancestors, 4th Floor Microfilm CS88.W649.N65
CENSUS RECORDS
The following census records are available for Nova Scotia.
Pre-1851 census or tax list returns exist for various communities. Refer to the book Catalogue of Census Returns on Microfilm, 1666-1891 by Thomas A. Hillman
American Ancestors, 4th Floor Reference MT.HA.742.P82.1987
YearAccessible at:Notes:
1851American Ancestors, Ancestry.comHead of household (only Halifax, Kings, Pictou Counties survive)
1861American Ancestors, Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.orgNames only the head of household, agricultural data
1871American Ancestors, Ancestry.comFirst census to include all names of the household. This continued throughout the remaining years.
1881American Ancestors, Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.orgAll names of the household.
1891American Ancestors, Ancestry.comAll names of the household.
1901American Ancestors, Ancestry.comAll names of the household.
1911Ancestry.com, Archives of CanadaAll names of the household.
1921Ancestry.comAll names of the household.
The Archives of Canada has free access to most censuses online.
PROBATE RECORDS
American Ancestors has microfilm of Nova Scotia probates from the 18th century to the late 20th century.
American Ancestors, 4th Floor Microfilm CS88.N643
Annapolis (1763-1970); Antigonish (1819-1963); Cape Breton (1872-1970); Colchester (1798-1969); Cumberland (1840-1969); Cumberland (1840-1969); Digby (1803-1970); Guysborough (St. Mary’s District 1843-1970, and Guysborough District 1946-1969); Halifax (1749-1968); Hants (1761-1900); Inverness (1831-1969); Kings (1783-1968); Lunenburg (1762-1967); Pictou (1811-1969); Queens (1743-1970); Richmond (1831-1969); Shelburne: (Barrington District 1866-1970, and Shelburne District 1784-1970); Victoria (1851-1969); Yarmouth (1794-1970).
LAND RECORDS
Early land records can often be found in the colonial-era township books for some communities (see Vital Records – Pre-1864 for more about township books).
County Land Records
Annapolis (1765-1910); Antigonish (1785-1907); Cape Breton (1786-1969); Colchester (1770-1959); Cumberland (1764-1967); Digby (1785-1958); Guysborough (Guysborough District 1785-1967), and St. Mary’s District 1815-1969); Halifax (1749-1967); Hants (1763-1952); Inverness (1825-1929); Kings (1764-1901); Lunenburg: (Chester District 1879-1926, and Lunenburg District 1759-1961); Pictou (1771-1924); Queens (1764-1969); Richmond (1821-1963); Shelburne (Barrington District 1854-1950), and Shelburne District 1873-1961); Victoria (1851-1988); Yarmouth (1766-1969)
CROWN LAND GRANTS AND ASSOCIATED MAPS
Nova Scotia Crown Land Maps
A series of 140 maps showing the location of crown land grants in Nova Scotia between 1750 and 1850. View or download the maps here: www.gov.ns.ca/natr/land/grantmap.asp.
American Ancestors also has these maps available. Please ask for them at the reference desk on the 4th floor.
The Crown Land Grant Registers
Available at American Ancestors on microfilm for the years 1732-1901
American Ancestors, 4th Floor Microfilm CS88.N647.N68
The documentation relating to Crown Land Grants 1854-1967 are available on microfilm
American Ancestors, 4th Floor Microfilm CS88.N6472.N68
Ambrose F. Church Maps. In 1864, Ambrose F. Church was commissioned to produce a series of maps for each county in Nova Scotia. Please ask for these maps at the reference desk on the 4th floor.
PERIODICALS
The Nova Scotia Historical Review (1981-1996)
NEHG, 5th Floor Stacks F1036.N928
The Nova Scotia Genealogist (1983- present)
American Ancestors, 5th Floor Stacks F1036.N63.1983
The Casket (Antigonish, NS, 1860-1908, 1928-43)
American Ancestors, 4th Floor Microfilm CS88.N645.C37
MANUSCRIPTS
American Ancestors has a number of Nova Scotia genealogical collections. The Fred E. Crowell collection is useful for those with planters from New England to Nova Scotia in the 18th century. This collection has also been placed online on AmericanAncestors.org.
RESOURCES AT AMERICANANCESTORS.ORG
This subject guide provides a list of essential resources and records to help you trace your ancestors from Nova Scotia.