Antigonish County, Nova Scotia Genealogy

Canada Nova Scotia  Antigonish County

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

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

 * 1823-1905 -


 * Church Records at NSARM: A Searchable Database is an index to the records available on microfilm at NSARM (in-person use only).


 * 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