Canada, Nova Scotia Church and Civil Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
An index of births/baptisms, deaths/burials, and marriages from Nova Scotia, 1727-1884. The collection comes from Catholic parish records and Township books. Originally the records were kept predominately in French, but the index is in English. In Nova Scotia, births, marriages, and deaths are recorded in township books beginning in about 1760, when settlers from New England came to Canada. The township books began in 1760 and were discontinued beginning about 1860.

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

Birth and Baptism
 * Birth date and place
 * Baptism date and place
 * Gender
 * Full name of child
 * Occasionally the legitimacy of the child
 * Parents’ names and their residence
 * Names of witnesses

Marriage
 * Names of the bride and groom
 * Date and place of marriage
 * Names of witnesses
 * Name of officiator
 * Birthdate and age of couple

Death and Burial
 * Name of deceased
 * Residence of deceased
 * Age of the deceased
 * Date and place of burial
 * Names of persons performing ceremony
 * Parents’ names if the deceased is a child
 * Spouse’s name if the deceased was married
 * Date and place of birth

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.

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

 * Add any new information to your records
 * Look at an image of the original record. The original may contain information that was not recorded in the index.
 * Use the information you have found to find the person in census records.
 * Search the records of nearby localities (counties, parishes, etc.).

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 can help you find possible relatives.
 * Search the records of nearby areas. (Add this phrase when you are sure that people crossed boundaries to record events. Do not send someone to another country. Don’t waste their time).
 * Check for other names. An individual might appear under an unexpected name for a variety of reasons:
 * - They might have been listed under a middle name.
 * -A woman may have returned to her maiden name after the death of her husband.

Research Helps
The following articles will help you research your family in Nova Scotia.
 * Nova Scotia Guided Research
 * Nova Scotia Record Finder

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

FamilySearch Catalog

 * edited by Terrence M. Punch with George F. Sanborn, Jr., Genealogist's handbook for Atlantic Canada research 2nd ed. Boston, Massachusetts: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1997, c1989 FS Library 971.5 D27pt 1997
 * Terrence M. Punch, Genealogical research in Nova Scotia 4th ed. Halifax, Nova Scotia: Nimbus Pub., c1998 FS Library 971.6 D27p 1998
 * The Nova Scotia genealogist Halifax, Nova Scotia: Genealogical Association of Nova Scotia, 1983- FS Library 971.6 D25n
 * Genealogy/biography card index to materials in the Public Archives of Nova Scotia collection, ca. 1650-1990
 * Locality index to church records in the Public Archives of Nova Scotia collection, ca. 1750-1940's

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.