Cemetery Records

 

Cemetery records may provide valuable clues to the genealogical researcher. One of the questions on a historic death registration asked where and when the internment took place. It is important to note whether a community, a church or a public corporation owns a cemetery. Privacy rules may restrict the kind of information that may be shared.

1. The Ontario Genealogical Society

The Ontario Genealogical Society has had a cemetery recording program for many years. This program recorded only those graves with stones. Some of the records are found in the society library, others are held at Archives of Ontario.  The Ontario Cemetery Finding Aid database contains over 3 million names. Note: Not all branches of OGS contribute to this database. Visit each of the branch web pages to check which cemeteries have been recorded in their area.

2. Individual Communities and Cemeteries

Some communities and cemeteries have placed cemetery information on their   websites. Some websites are adding pictures of the grave as well as obituaries. Two sites to check out are Ontario Cemetery Resources and Ontario Canada Gravemarker Gallery.