To add to Kirsten's message. I have this note in the Upper Canada and Lower Canada location:
1791-1841 In 1791 the Constitution Act divided Quebec (the former New France) into Upper and Lower Canada. Each had its own legislature and its own unique civil law codes and rules of land tenure. Upper Canada was largely English-speaking and Lower Canada was almost entirely French-speaking. In 1841 the Act of Union united Upper and Lower Canada as the Province of Canada with two halves -- Canada West and Canada East -- collectively known as "The Canadas." Then in 1867 the British North American Act created the Dominion of Canada and Canada East and Canada West became separate provinces known as Quebec and Ontario. Also that year the Province of Canada, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick agreed to join together. These dates are important to family historians because references to Upper and Lower Canada indicate a date before 1841; references to Canada West and Canada East means sometime between 1841 and 1867, and any reference to Ontario implies a time after 1867. When someone born before 1867 told an American census taker that they were "born in Canada" they usually meant Ontario, but might mean Quebec. and for Canada West and Canada East location I have the same note with the date range 1841-1867. Russ Strong -----Original Message----- From: Kirsten Bowman Sent: Wednesday, May 02, 2012 8:13 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [LegacyUG] 1851 1861 Census of Canada East, Etc. Locations? Colonies? Peggy: For events prior to 1776 in the (now) US, I use the official name of the colony for the country since that was locally the highest jurisdictional level. Ontario locations are a little more difficult. From 26 Dec 1791 to 10 Feb 1841 Ontario was Upper Canada and that's what I use for country. After that it was, as you say, Canada West for a time, then Ontario, Canada. The only exception I make is with very early settlers (prior to 1791). At that time the whole area was officially Quebec, but I find it confusing to list a location as Ancaster, Wentworth (county), Quebec, so I use Ancaster, Wentworth, now Ontario, Canada. You'll quickly see that the four field convention doesn't work for colonial locations. Some people add "British North America" for the country but, of course, there was no level of government by that name and I find the colonial name to be sufficiently clear on its own. You'll have to decide for yourself whether you want to add the placeholder commas. During the period when France controlled part of Canada I use New France for the country, so I have Port-Royal, Acadia Colony, New France. Kirsten From: Marg Strong Sent: Wednesday, May 02, 2012 3:42 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [LegacyUG] 1851 1861 Census of Canada East, Etc. Locations? Colonies? Since Canada was still a British colony during these years, how do you record the location? In the image I'm looking at now (1861) the township and county are given and at the bottom of the census (Either plate added originally, or added later to the image) is "Canada West." Canada West is what I've been using, though ancestry adds (Ontario) with the parentheses. It didn't become Ontario until later, so that would be incorrect. Before Canada West, when there were simply regions, how is that addressed in the location? Sometimes I confuse myself instead of keeping it simple. I can put the history in the notes but would like the location to be accurate. The same problem happens with what is now the United States, when it was a colony. The branch I'm now researching immigrated to Canada from Europe, but there is at least one branch of my family history where I will have to deal with that problem. What do you put in the country field for the colony years there? I have been reading about Canadian history, somewhat intertwined with (the now) United States history and it is difficult to keep straight since the boundaries changed so often. I suppose the saving thing here will be the location notes. If my location isn't right, the notes will at least give the historical data. Anyhow, to make if simple, I'm wondering what you put in the location field for Country, when the land is actually a colony of another country? Peggy Legacy User Group guidelines: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp Archived messages after Nov. 21 2009: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ Archived messages from old mail server - before Nov. 21 2009: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ Online technical support: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Help.asp Follow Legacy on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/LegacyFamilyTree) and on our blog (http://news.LegacyFamilyTree.com). To unsubscribe: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/LegacyLists.asp
