Ohio, Diocese of Toledo, Catholic Parish Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
The Catholic Parish entries are recorded in register books in columns or in paragraphs without columns. Records are organized by county, then by community, and finally by parish within each community. This collection includes records for the dates 1796-2004. Some parish records are available for the following counties: • 4

Some parishes, especially German speaking ones, were served by the same priest and so records appear very similar in the various parishes during the time period when they served. For example: St. Mary, Sandusky, Erie County and St. Sebastian, Bismark, Huron County shared the same priests during their early years.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records: • 2

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of your ancestor
 * The date of any event
 * The parish where the event occurred

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

What Do I Do Next?
When you have located your ancestor in the Catholic Parish records, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details that can lead you to other records about your ancestors. Add this new information to your records of each family.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Search for vital records such as birth, marriage, and death
 * Use the information found in the record to find land records
 * Use the information found in the record to find additional family members in census records
 * Search for probate and immigration records

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * If your ancestor does not have a common name, collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you find possible relatives
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching records of a nearby town or county
 * Try different spellings of your ancestor’s name
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names, or even initials
 * Consult the Ohio Record Finder to find other records

Research Helps
The following articles will help you research your family in the state of Ohio.
 * Ohio Guided Research
 * Ohio Record Finder
 * Ohio Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Ohio Research, 1880-Present

Other FamilySearch Collections
These collections may have additional materials to help you with your research.

FamilySearch Catalog

 * Virginia Humling, comp. U.S. Catholic sources : a diocesan research guide for family historians Orem, Utah : Ancestry, ©1995 FHL 973 K27hv
 * Ohio, Diocese of Toledo, Catholic parish records : COLLECTION RECORD, 1796-2004
 * Lawrence A. Mossing, History of the Diocese of Toledo, 4 volumes. Toledo, Ohio : Diocese of Toledo (Ohio), c1983-1986 FHL 977.1 K2mL
 * Roger Fortin, Faith and action : a history of the Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati 1821-1996 [Columbus, Ohio : Ohio State University Press, c2002 FHL 977.178 K2f
 * George F. Houck, The church in northern Ohio and in the Diocese of Cleveland, from 1749 to September 1887 Cleveland, Ohio : Short & Forman, Printers, 1888
 * Catholic cemeteries, Diocese of Toledo, Ohio, 1845-2004

FamilySearch Historical Records

 * Ohio, Cleveland, Trinity Lutheran Church Records, 1853-2013

FamilySearch Digital Library

 * George Francis Houck, History of catholicity in northern Ohio and in the diocese of Cleveland from 1749 to December 31, 1900. 2 volumes in 4. Cleveland, Ohio : Savage, 1903
 * John J. Doyle, Genealogical use of Catholic records in North America Indianapolis, Indiana : s. n., 1978

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.