Discovering My Roots

27 June 2009

By Jim Onyschuk

 

When planning your genealogical vacation, some advance preparation is essential. First, you have to know exactly where your ancestor lived. For example, if your grand-father was Ivan Ivanovich Ivanchuk and was from Zeleny, you wouldn’t want to visit the village of Zeleny near Zapporiziya, when he actually came from Zeleny near Zhytomyr. In fact, there are at least ten villages spelt Zeleny and six spelt Zelenyy in Ukraine. So, if you weren’t careful, you could end up researching the wrong village. You would end up spending your time and money “barking up the wrong tree.” 

 

So, how do you locate the exact village if you weren’t exactly sure and you didn’t have any documents from Ukraine, such as Ivan’s birth certificate?

 

A)  Asking Around

 

Did he have any siblings living in Canada? Are any still alive? If so, they would know. If they are not alive, then perhaps their off-spring (your aunts and uncles or their children) might know. A simple phone-call might give you the answer.

 

Was your grandfather active in a church? Then there may be records indicating the village of his birth. A small donation to the church building fund might yield the information you are seeking.

 

B)  Paper Trail—Death Records

 

If your grandfather lived a number of years in Canada he would have left a paper trail, which could pin-point his birth-place in Ukraine. A starting point could be by obtaining information surrounding his death. In addition to the Death Registration, other records, such as found in the funeral home files might indicate a birth-place. Perhaps his gravestone reveals this information? How about an obituary notice? If not, then possibly his siblings may have this information in their funeral records or obituaries.

Death Registration

Prior to 1916

The Death Registration provided the name, date and place of death, sex, age, whether single or married, place of birth, religion, name of the physician and the name and signature of the informant.

Starting 1916
It provided racial origin, widowed or divorced, date of birth and age in years, months and days, name and birth place of the father, maiden name and place of birth of the mother, name and signature of the informant, address and relationship to the deceased, place of burial, cremation or removal, date of burial, undertaker’s signature or person acting as such along with their address. In some years they asked for the length of residence in Canada, in the province where they lived and the place where they died.

Starting in 1947
Was added the name of the husband or wife using the wife’s maiden name. Note: The name of the informant because that person may have known few details about the deceased.

 

C)  Marriage Registration

 

Was Ivan Ivanovich married in Canada? Then, his marriage records would provide the names of his parents (your great-grandparents) and where they were from—plus their religion would be indicated.  Additionally, if Ivan’s children (your aunts and uncles) were married in Canada, then these marriage records would most likely indicate Ivan’s birth-place.

Prior to 1916
Marriage records provided names of the bride and groom, ages, places of birth, whether they were a spinster/bachelor or widow/widower, or divorced, the occupation of the groom, the names of their parents, whether married by license or banns, the date and place of the marriage, the religious denomination of the bride and groom and the officiating clergy plus the names and addresses of the witnesses.

Starting 1916
Marriage records added the ages of the bride and groom, their place of birth, the place of birth of their fathers, and their racial origin, and the maiden name of their mothers. Note: Who gave the information, who wrote it down, who signed the document and how they signed their name.

To locate and search the marriage records and other vital records for ancestors born in Canada and the USA go to:
http://www.torugg.org/TUGG%20Links/tugg_links.html#vital

 

D)  Birth Registration of Ivan’s Children

 

If any of Ivan’s children (your aunts and uncles) were born in Canada, then their birth records would also indicate Ivan’s birth-place.

Prior to 1916
The Birth Registration provided name, date and place of the birth, the names of the parents, name and signature of the informant and the date of the registration..

Starting 1916
It provided name, date and place of the birth, tells which child this is, how many children the mother has had and how many are still living, gives the names of the parents, including the mother’s maiden name, the parent’s ages when the child was born, their racial origin, occupation and the date and place of parent’s marriage. Note: Who gave the information, who wrote it down, who signed the document and how they signed their name. You may also look for their Baptismal record, birth announcement in the newspaper, family bible.

 

E)  Naturalization Records

 

Did Ivan apply for Naturalization? If so, then the forms he filled out would indicate his birth-place, when he arrived in Canada, where he first settled and his first employment, among other things.

 

Before 1917 and from 1977 - 1985, one had to be in Canada for three years before one could be naturalized. From 1917 - 1977 and from 1985 to the present, on had to have been in Canada for five years.

Pre 1917
The original records between 1854 and 1917 have been destroyed but a nominal card index survives. The information on the cards provides the present and former place of residence, former nationality, occupation, date and place of naturalization.

1917   To The Present

These records give the name, address, date and place of birth, former citizenship, whether married, single, widower/widow, name of wife is sometimes given, citizenship of parents, physical description, names, birth dates and places of birth of minor children and the date and place of naturalization

1932  To The Present

From 16 January, married women had to make a separate application for naturalization.

Other Information Found in a Naturalization File

In addition to the application form for naturalization, there is a Royal Canadian Mounted Police Report, an Affidavit Proving Petition and an Oath of Allegiance. Other documents could show why they wanted to be naturalized, information about their husband or wife and children and who vouched for their character and reputation.

Indexes

An index of those who were naturalized, along with their addresses and countries of origin, was published in the Canada Gazette. Although naturalization indexes ended in 1947, the lists continued to be published until 1951. From 1917 to April 1921, the lists are in numeric order. After this time, they are listed in alphabetical order.

Copies are found in the National Library of Canada or on microfilm or fiche in the legislative or university libraries in each province. The Saskatchewan Legislative Library has microfilm copies from 1910 to the present.

How to Obtain Copies of Naturalization Records

Records listed in these databases are held by Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Requests for copies of documents must be sent by mail to the under-noted office:

Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Public Rights Administration
360 Laurier Ave West
10th Floor
Ottawa, ON
K1A 1L1

Please note that the following conditions apply:

• Each application for copies must be submitted on an Access to Information Request Form [www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/tbsf-fsct/350-57-eng.asp] by a Canadian citizen or an individual living in Canada.
• Fee: $5.00, payable to the Receiver General for Canada.
• The request must be accompanied by a signed consent from the person concerned or proof that he/she has been deceased 20 years. Proof of death can be a copy of a death record, a newspaper obituary or a photograph of the gravestone showing name and death date.
• The request should include the following information: surname, given name, date and place of birth, and, if known, the number of the naturalization certificate including the alphabetic Series identifier and the “F” suffix if the certificate was issued in French. Specify that you want copies of the original documents.
  http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/naturalization-1915-1932/index-e.html

 

F)  National Registration 1940

 

Was he alive in 1940? There was compulsory registration in Canada during World War Two. Everyone over the age of 16 was to fill in a detailed questionnaire that asked for their name, date and place of birth, names of parents, date of immigration, religion, occupation plus many other details. The form was sent to Ottawa and each individual was issued with an identification card which they were required to present whenever they were stopped by a member of the constabulary. Not all questions were always answered. These forms still survive.

Available from: Census Operations, Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0T6. You need to show proof that the individual is dead. Fee: $48.15 including GST. If no record is found $5 will be retained and the remainder of the fee returned.

http://www.statcan.gc.ca/bsolc/olc-cel/olc-cel?catno=93C0006&lang=eng

So, you can see, there are many places you can search, which can reveal the birth-place of Ivan, Ivanovich.