Annapolis County, Nova Scotia Genealogy

Canada Nova Scotia  Annapolis County

This is a guide to historical and genealogical records available for Annapolis County, Nova Scotia, primarily those after 1759 when the County was established. For a general overview of Nova Scotia history and research resources, go to Nova Scotia and www.gov.ns.ca/nsarm/



History
Annapolis County was established in 1759, when Nova Scotia was divided into five counties. In 1836 and 1837, parts of Annapolis County were divided to create Yarmouth and Digby Counties.
 * ''Nova Scotia Archives &amp; Records Management has a virtual exhibit on the early settlement of Port Royal (now Annapolis) and a searchable databaseof "the largest and most complete online presentation of primary-source documents relating to the Deportation of the Acadians from Nova Scotia."
 * Place-Names and Places of Nova Scotia is another database searchable by county or community that contains brief descriptions and historical facts about more than 2,400 communities.
 * Calnek, William Arthur, and Alfred William Savary. History of the County of Annapolis Including Old Port Royal and Acadia: With Memoirs of Its Representation in the Provincial Parliament, and Biographical and Genealogical Sketches of Its Early English Settlers and Their Families. Toronto: William Briggs, 1897. Online Copy at Google Books

Civil Registration
According to Nova Scotia Archives &amp; Records Management: "Civil registration of vital statistics began in Nova Scotia in 1763 with the introduction of procedures for obtaining a marriage licence; the procedure was optional and the surviving records are incomplete. Formalized registration of births, deaths and marriages began in 1864 and continued to 1877, at which time record-keeping lapsed for births and deaths, but continued for marriages. Compliance was not universal during this period and there are gaps in the surviving records. Since 1 October 1908, birth, death and marriage registrations have been collected and maintained continuously."


 * NSARM's online searchable database of Historical Vital Statistics contains an index and digital images of original records for births, delayed births, marriages (bonds and registrations), and deaths for the following years:
 * Births: 1864-1877, 1908-1909
 * Delayed Birth Registrations: 1830-1909
 * Marriage Bonds: 1763-1864
 * Marriage Registrations 1864-1934
 * Deaths: 1864-1877, 1908-1959


 * A database of Annapolis and Digby marriage records is available to members of the Genealogical Association of Nova Scotia.


 * Court for Divorce and Matrimonial Causes, 1759-1960

Census
In Canada, census returns are closed for 92 years after the time of enumeration. For Annapolis County, Nova Scotia, census records are available for the following years: 1770, 1792, 1794, 1827, 1838, 1861, 1871, 1881, 1891, 1901, 1911. Census returns prior to 1851 are rarely complete for any area, and the census returns for Annapolis County in 1851 did not survive.

Agricultural returns provide information such as lot and concession number, acreage, livestock and agricultural products. The agricultural returns for 1881, 1891, 1901 and 1911 were not retained. For 1851, the returns for Annapolis County did not survive.


 * 1861: For each county, the agricultural returns follow immediately after the personal returns for the whole county.
 * 1871: The personal returns for each enumeration sub-district appear in schedule one. The agricultural returns are schedules three to five and are keyed to schedule one by page and line number rather than by name.

Searchable Databases and Images
All surviving census returns from 1851 to 1916 have been digitized and are currently available on various websites, some of which require a subscription to access.

Church Records

 * Church Records at NSARM: A Searchable Database is an index to the records available on microfilm at NSARM (in-person use only). A search for 'Annapolis' reveals information on the holdings for 16 churches in Annapolis County.


 * A database of Nova Scotia church records is available to members of the Genealogical Association of Nova Scotia.


 * A database of ministers of religion conducting marriages in Nova Scotia is available to members of the Genealogical Association of Nova Scotia.

See also, Nova Scotia Church Records

Cemeteries
The Annapolis County GenWeb Project has posted a listing of cemetery records, viewable either by surname or by cemetery. The content comes primarily from Dr. Allen Marble's transcriptions of grave stone transcriptions, which were then transcribed into electronic format by the King's County Historical Committee.

[http://lists.rootsweb.ancestry.com/index/other/Cemeteries/CAN-NS-CEMETERIES.html RootsWeb mailing list for those researching cemeteries in Nova Scotia. ]

Court Records

 * NSARM has an online searchable indices of court records (originals only available in person):
 * Court for Divorce and Matrimonial Causes, 1759-1960
 * Court of Appeal Casebooks 1885-1900

City, Provincial, and Business Directories
Nova Scotia Archives &amp; Records Management (NSARM) has a collection of published directories, beginning with Nugent's Business Directory for the City of Halifax for 1858-59 (1858) and the first McAlpine's Halifax City Directory (1868) to the most recent set of telephone books for the province. Many, but not all, are available on microfilm.

List of directories available on microfilm at NSARM

NSARM has digitized McAlpine's Nova Scotia Directory 1907-08, searchable by county or town name and by first letter of surname.

Others are available in printed form; holdings can be found in the Library Catalogue.

Ancestry.com has digitized some Nova Scotia directories (subscription required).

Education
The Family History Library has filmed records at NSARM, RG14:


 * Annapolis County School Papers, 1811-1923; film numbers: 2260562 Item 2, 2260563 Items 1 - 2
 * Nova Scotia school papers, Academies, 1820-1867; film number: 2260937
 * Nova Scotia school papers, Grammar Schools, 1811-1864; film numbers: 2260938, 2260939 Item 1
 * Nova Scotia school papers, 1827-1872 (school lands, and normal and model schools); film number 2224309 Item 2

A database of some 19th century Annapolis County school records is available to members of the Genealogical Association of Nova Scotia.

Land
Land Registration Office - Annapolis County 396 Main Street Lawrencetown, Nova Scotia (902) 584-7185 Website:Annapolis County Land Registration Office Land ownership and related property information, plus maps and geographic information.

The Family History Library has microfilmed records from the Annapolis County Registrar of Deeds:


 * Index to deeds, 1765-1970; film numbers 814052-814058
 * Deeds, 1763-1910; film numbers 814072-817431
 * Grantor index, 1965-1970; film numbers 814059-814071
 * Extracts of land grants, 1732-1827; film number 477530 Item 1
 * Land grants, 1854-1953 with index for 1854-1950; film numbers 817432-817437

Nova Scotia Archives &amp; Records Management has an online searchable database of transcribed land petitions from 1769-1799. The originals of these petitions, as well as later grant petition papers, are stored at the Crown Land Information Management Centre at the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources, which makes copies available for a fee. Assistance with searches is available through the DNR Library.

The Annapolis County GenWeb Project has posted name indexes to the Land Grants maps for Annapolis County, which identify parcels of land by grantee names. The map numbers correspond to a series of 140 online maps hosted by the Crown Land Information Management Centre.

Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources Founders Square 1701 Hollis Street Halifax, Nova Scotia The DNR Library is on the 3rd floor, phone (902) 424-8633. Displays copies of historical maps of all the counties and sells copies of these and the Crown Land Grant Maps, a series of 140 maps showing the original crown land grants from 1750-1850. The Crown Land Information Management Centre is on the 5th floor, phone (902) 424-3171. Houses copies of all original land grants for the Province of Nova Scotia and grant petition papers for grants issued after early 1850s. Maintains alphabetical index of grants.

Additional Reference Gilroy, Marion. Loyalists and Land Settlement in Nova Scotia. Halifax: Public Archives of Nova Scotia, 1937.

Smith, Clifford Neal. Whereabouts of Some American Refugees, 1784–1800: the Nova Scotian Land Grants. 7 vols. McNeal, Arizona: Vestland Publications, 1992.

Maps

 * Ambrose F. Church was commissioned by the Nova Scotia legislature to create maps of each of Nova Scotia's 18 counties. The map for Annapolis County is dated 1876 and shows names and sometimes occupations of residents, along with detailed topographical information. Copies of the county maps hang in the Library of the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources, and copies are available for purchase from the Library. The maps are very large (approx. 4.5ft x 5ft), and copies are usually made onto two overlapping sheets.
 * A copy of the A.F. Church map divided into 17 leaves is available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.
 * Electoral Atlas of the Dominion of Canada (1895)
 * Free Maps from the Nova Scotia government for general reference of educational purposes
 * Online Map Store provided by the Nova Scotia Geomatics Centre

Military Records

 * '''Veteran Affairs Canada has a Virtual War Memorial with listings of graves and memorials, some with photographs and personal memorabilia. It also has excerpts from wartime letters and diaries.


 * Library and Archives Canada has extensive holdings in microfilm on Canadian military records and topics.


 * NSARM has a searchable virtual archive of non-governmental materials (postcards, letters, photographs, etc.) of The Royal Canadian Navy: First Half Century, 1910-1967


 * Military History Research Centre Canadian War Museum 1 Vimy Place Ottawa, Ontario (819) 776-8652 www.museedelaguerre.ca/cwm/explore/military-history-research-centreNational collections of primary and secondary research material document Canada's military history from the pre-contact period to the present.The Canadian War Museum has an online searchable database of newspaper clippings from World War II.


 * From Colony to Country: A Reader's Guide to Canadian Military History, web resource by the Library and Archives Canada.


 * Canadian Military History Gateway, web resource by the Government of Canada


 * Raddall, Thomas H. West Novas: A History of the West Nova Scotia Regiment. Liverpool, Nova Scotia: The Author, 1986.

Newspapers and Obituaries

 * The Canadian War Museum has an online searchable database of newspaper clippings from World War II


 * NSARM has a virtual image archive of some Nova Scotia newspapers, though none specific to Annapolis County.


 * List of Nova Scotia newspapers available on microfilm at Library and Archives Canada: http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/newspapers/newspaper-collection/Pages/microform-holdings-geographical-ns.aspx


 * Tratt, Gertrude E. N. A Survey and Listing of Nova Scotia Newspapers, 1752-1957, with Particular Reference to the Period Before 1867. Halifax, Nova Scotia: Dalhousie University, 1979.


 * Hicks, Brenda, Lynn Murphy, and Anjali Vohra. Nova Scotia Newspapers: A Directory and Union List, 1752-1988. Halifax, Nova Scotia: School of Library and Information Studies, Dalhousie University, 1990.


 * The Annapolis Valley Newspaper Extracts Project has published online transcriptions of vital statistics from selected newspapers covering 1866-1931.


 * RootsWeb mailing list for postings and lookups of obituaries

Taxation Records
NSARM has an online searchable index to the Poll tax rolls, 1791-1793 (original records on microfilm available in person).

Wills
The Family History Library has microfilmed records of the Annapolis County Courthouse:


 * Probate wills, 1763-1970; probate acts, 1844-1911, 1938-1970; petitions, 1926-1938; letters of administration, 1926-1969; letters testamentary, 1901-1970; film numbers 817440-817455
 * Wills, 1879-1970 (copies of wills pertaining to land transactions); film numbers 817437-817439
 * Estate files, 1763-1930 with index for 1763-1979; index film number: 1838799

Repositories
Nova Scotia Archives &amp; Records Management, formerly the Public Archives of Nova Scotia (PANS): 6016 University Avenue Halifax, Nova Scotia (902) 424-6060 www.gov.ns.ca/nsarm/The library holdings are only available for use on-site, but there are numerous databases and materials available through the Virtual Archives, including the searchable database of Historical Vital Statistics. If you're planning a visit to the library, you can search a portion of the catalogue online in advance (as of July 2010, 20,000 entries); the remaining 50,000 titles are listed in the Archives Reading Room Card Catalogue, available onsite. Search for 'Annapolis' in Acadia University's Planter Database for a more convenient way to view NSARM's record holdings.

Annapolis Heritage Society Geneaology Centre O'Dell House Museum 136 St. George Street Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia (902) 532-7754 www.annapolisheritagesociety.com/genealogyThe Centre has significant collections of genealogies, local histories, cemetery and probate records, old scrapbooks, microfilms of vital statistics for Annapolis and Digby counties, church records and deeds and other pertinent information for researchers. Its primary emphasis is on Annapolis Royal and the old townships which were adjacent to Annapolis Royal: Granville, Annapolis, Wilmot and Clements. It also covers the early Acadian settlements prior to 1755.

Annapolis Valley Historical Society MacDonald Museum 21 School Street, Middleton, Nova Scotia Phone: (902) 825-6116 www.macdonaldmuseum.ca/Holdings: family files; obituaries- various; photographic collection – local people and scenes; scrapbooks of local interest stories; church registers- various; cemetery inscriptions; Robert L. Hall Funeral home records, Bridgetown, NS (1907-1975); Township Books, Annapolis &amp; Kings County; vital statistics, Annapolis, Kings, Digby &amp; Lunenburg Counties; census records 1838-1901 Annapolis County; library of local history; land grants- various; Annapolis County probate records – abstracts 1763-1938; Annapolis County school records; local newspapers: Middleton Outlook/Mirror-Examiner 1901-present (indexed from 1901-1925), Bridgetown Monitor 1876-1902

Websites

 * Nova Scotia Genealogy Records Online


 * Annapolis County GenWeb Project


 * Genealogical Association of Nova Scotia


 * Canadian Genealogy and History Links


 * Acadia University's Planter Studies Centre, focused on the New England residents who settled in Nova Scotia in the late 1700s.