Family Trees
We are fortunate to have been given many completed family trees which may save you hours of frustration. We also respond to many research requests which result in hundreds of family files already started.
Ancestry
Ancestry is the world’s largest online family history resource – including historical records, photos, stories, family trees and a collaborative community of millions. Members have access to Ancestry Institution on the workstations at the archives.
Master Names Database
The project for data-basing the family genealogies of the founding families of the Five Counties that we service began 27 years ago when past TVA President Andre Dorfman began gathering information for the Dummer Township history book. He began with the 242 founding families of Dummer Township. Since then, the project has been expanded to include Peterborough County and is rapidly encompassing the Counties of Victoria, Durham Northumberland, Hastings and Haliburton.
There are now 300,000+ names in the database (15,000+ surnames). The active participation of the members of Trent Valley Archives is continually increasing the size of the project. All data collected has been carefully researched, but no source documents are attached. It is intended as a finding aid. Birth, marriages, deaths, cemeteries, addresses, dates etc. are listed and available in the Master Genealogist® and Brother’s Keeper® program formats.
Census Records
At the Trent Valley Archives we have the Census reels for Peterborough, Victoria, Northumberland, Durham and Haliburton between the years: 1851-1901. More importantly, we have the invaluable Newcastle District microfilms which begin around 1810-1850 and cover the same area listed above. Available online are the 1840 City Assessment of Douro Township, the 1851 Census of Smith Township, and the 1869 City Assessment of Peterborough.
Parish Records
We have the entire Peterborough Diocese records here on microfilm. We also have the St. John’s Anglican records. These consist of microfilmed copies of parish registers, registers of service, financial records and early records of St. John’s Anglican Church from 1825 to 1935. St. John’s was the first church in Peterborough, and as a result, many of our early and prominent Peterborough residents belonged to this parish. In addition we have copies of the Warsaw United Church records from 1890-1960 and the early Methodist Registers from 1805-1850.
Marriage Registries
Trent Valley archives holds the marriage registries of Upper Canada (Canada West). These resources list many of the early marriages that are impossible to find elsewhere. We also have the early baptisms, marriages and deaths on microfilm (Peterborough and Victoria 1841-1858, 1858-1869) These reels contain the same information for these Counties: Peel (1858-1887), Perth (1858-1869), Prescott (1858-1869), Prince Edward County (1833-45, 1858-1869), Renfrew (1858-1869), Russell (1855-1869), Simcoe (1842-1866), Talbot (1838-1857) and Victoria (1839-1858).
Newspaper Obituaries
These contain invaluable resources for the budding genealogist. Most include day of death, residence, next of kin, cause of death, place of interment etc. At the Trent Valley Archives we have births, marriages and deaths for the Peterborough area from 1845-1885 and from 1980-2004. If you are looking outside the Peterborough area we can also assist you. We have births, marriages and deaths from the Cobourg Star from 1831-1849, and from the Lindsay area from 1861-1882. We also have indexes to the Lindsay papers from 1883- 1919.
Cemetery Transcripts
A great resource for finding birth and death dates for ancestors and possibly where they were born. Transcripts contain the information that is written on the tombstone. We have the full set of transcripts from Little Lake Cemetery, Lakefield and St. Peter’s cemeteries and many more in Peterborough County area.
Telephone and City Directories
Trent Valley Archives holds a nearly complete collection of Bell Telephone directories for Peterborough, Lindsay and area for the years 1962 – present. We also carry an extensive collection of more detailed city and business directories for Peterborough and Ashburnham, listing names, addresses, occupations, companies of employment, names of other people residing in the same dwelling, and more. Click here for a list of all directories available on-site.
Voters’ Lists
Trent Valley Archives holds the Peterborough Voters’ Lists for 1937 and 1971 – 72 listing voters’ names, addresses, occupations and other details.
Court and Jail Records
Records associated with area courts and jails, including a transcription of the Peterborough Jail Records for the years 1876-1896, and of the Colbourne District Court – Certificates of Judgement (1846 – 1861).
Peter Robinson Ships’ Lists
Don’t know whether or not your family was an original Peter Robinson settler? This resource will let you know. Click here to view the Peter Robinson ships’ passenger lists from 1825.
Peterborough County Land Records
Trent Valley Archives holds the hard copy non-city land records for Peterborough County, 1867-1955. This collection includes the abstract and patent books as well as the instruments. The Peterborough County land records contain documents such as deeds, mortgages and the occasional will — all of which can provide a wealth of information to researchers.