Canada, Prince Edward Island Baptism Card Index - FamilySearch Historical Records

Record Description
This collection contains records from 1751 to 1885.

This collection provides an index of church records of baptisms and births. The baptism card index was created to provide vital record information for the time period during which the government did not record such information on Prince Edward Island.

This index is made up of index cards with an individual’s name typed onto the card. There is one card per baptism record. They are arranged alphabetically by family name. On some of the records the ink has faded or the image was blurred when the photo was taken, although almost all the records are legible.

Before 1906, there was no systematic recording of births, deaths, and marriages on Prince Edward Island. The Vital Statistics Services created this index of baptism records from the church baptism records in the region. The earliest records date from 1751, but the majority date from 1830 onwards.

These records are generally reliable, although because the index cards were transcribed from other documents, some transcription errors may exist.

For an alphabetical list of names currently published in this collection, select the Browse.

Citation for This Collection
The following citation refers to the original source of the information published on 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
These baptismal records usually contain the following information:


 * Full name of child
 * Date and place of birth
 * Date and place of baptism
 * Father’s name
 * Mother’s maiden name
 * Church holding the record, including book and page number
 * Name of officiating clergy

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


 * Last name of child
 * Approximate year of birth
 * Names of parents

Search the Collection
To search this collection, it would be helpful to know the following information:

To begin your search, it is helpful to know the name and some other identifying information such as the birth place or birth date.

Fill in the requested information in the initial search page. This search will return a list of possible matches. Compare the information about the ancestors in the list to what you already know about your ancestors to determine if this is the correct family or person. You may need to look at several images and compare the information about the individuals listed in those images to your ancestors to make this determination. To search the collection image by image: ⇒Select "Browse through images" on the initial collection page: ⇒Select the appropriate "Beginning Surname to Ending Surname" which will take you to the images

Look at the images one by one comparing the information with what you already know about your ancestors to determine if the image relates to them. Keep in mind:
 * There may be more than one person in the records with the same name.
 * You may not be sure of your own ancestor’s name.
 * Your ancestor may have used different names or variations of their name throughout their life.

Using the Information
Continue to search the baptism records to identify siblings, parents, and other relatives in the same or other generations who were born in the same county or nearby.

When you have located your ancestor’s baptism record, carefully evaluate each piece of information about them. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details that can lead you to other records about your ancestors. Compare the information in the baptism record to what you already know about your ancestors to determine if this is the correct person.

For example:


 * Use the birth date along with the place of birth to find the family in census records.
 * Use the residence and names of the parents to locate church and land records.
 * Use the parents’ birthplaces to identify former residences and to help establish a migration pattern for the family.

Tips to Keep in Mind

 * The information in baptism records is usually reliable, but depends upon the reliability of the informant.
 * Earlier records may not contain as much information as the records created after the late 1800s.
 * There is also some variation in the information given from record to record.

Unable to Find Your Ancestor?
If the surname is unusual, you may want to find birth entries for every person of the same surname and sort them into families based on the names of the parents.

Related Websites

 * Baptismal Card Index
 * Prince Edward Island Database projects

Related Wiki Articles

 * Prince Edward Island
 * Prince Edward Island Vital Records

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 to 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 looked 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
"Prince Edward Island Baptism Card Index, 1721-1885." index and images, FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org: accessed 1 April 2011).entry for Elisa Maher, June 11, 1846; citing Church Card Indexes, Maby-Murphy, Image 157; Public Archives of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.