Canada, British Columbia, Crown Land Pre-emption Registers - FamilySearch Historical Records

British Columbia, Crown Land Pre-emption Registers (FamilySearch Historical Records)

Record Description
This collection contains registers of pre-emptions which is purchased land that has not been fully surveyed. The registers summarize the information from the pre-emption certificates. The pre-emptions are listed in numerical order, with an alphabetical index at the back of each volume. Many people in Canada owned land and thus a very high percentage of the population is named in land records. The availability of land attracted many immigrants to Canada and encouraged westward expansion. Land ownership was generally recorded in an area as soon as settlers began to arrive. These were often the first records available in an area. Although they may not be as easy to use, land records may give pedigree information of earlier times when other records were not kept.

In eastern Canada, most land records begin in the late 1700s. They include land petitions, fiats and warrants, land grants and patents, and deeds. The federal homestead era in the Prairie Provinces lasted almost 60 years (1872 to 1930). Homestead record files cover all those years. In legal land descriptions, township 1, range 1, west of the first meridian is shortened to 1-1-W1: the first figure represents township, the second figure represents range, and the third figure represents meridian. Thus, 3-25-W4 stands for the location of Cardston, Alberta, in township 3, range 25, west of the fourth meridian.

For more information about pre-emption registers, the British Columbia Archives has provided a as a Research Guide for the pre-emption process.

Citation for This Collection
The following citation refers to the original source of the information published in FamilySearch.org Historical Record collections. Sources include the author, custodian, publisher and archive for the original records.

Suggested citation format for a record in this collection.

Record Content
Key genealogical facts found in this collection may include the following:
 * Name and age of landowner
 * Name of spouse
 * Names of children, heirs, relatives, and neighbors.
 * Place where landowner lived previously.
 * Occupation.

How to Use the Record
Beginning Your Search

To begin your search, it would be helpful if you knew the following information:


 * Name of ancestor
 * Place of residence

Searching the Images To search the collection you will need to follow this series of links: ⇒Select the "Browse" link in the initial search page ⇒Select the "District" category ⇒Select the " Register Number, Volume Number and Years" category which will take you to the images. Look at each image comparing the information with what you already know about your ancestors to determine which one is your ancestor. You may need to compare the information about more than one person to make this determination.

Can’t Find Information?


 * Search the Canadian Census to locate your ancestor’s residence.
 * Search for the name of the spouse instead of your deceased ancestor.

Related Websites

 * British Columbia Archives Research Guide: Pre-emption and Homestead Claims

Related Wiki Articles
Canada Canada Historical Geography

Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections
When you copy information from a record, you should list where you found the information. This will help you or others find the record again. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you searched for in the records. A suggested format for keeping track of records that you have searched is found in the wiki article Help:How to Cite FamilySearch Collections.

Citation Example for a Record Found in This Collection
“Argentina, Buenos Aires, Catholic Church Records, 1635-1981,” images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org: accessed 28 February, 2012), La Plata > San Ponciano > Matrimonios 1884-1886 >  image 71 of 389 images, Artemio Avendano and Clementina Peralta, 1884; citing Parroquia de San Ponciano en la Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Matrimonios. San Ponciano, La Plata, Buenos Aires.