RESEARCH SERVICES
Our branch would be pleased to receive your research request by email at : [email protected]
If you plan to mail material please request the current mailing address from [email protected].
Our research volunteers will complete a limited search of the resources in our library and resource collection. Please include as much information about your request as possible i.e. birth, death, marriage, name of spouse or family members, dates and locations. Please include an email address where you can be contacted. Once your research request has been received it will be acknowledged by email and the cost for us to complete your request will be determined. At that time a suggested donation amount will be sent to your email address for your convenience.
Once your donation has been received your research will be completed. If you prefer, you may send a cheque/money order (payable to The Essex Branch OA) by mail to:
Essex County Branch; c/o The Ontario Genealogical Society
202 – 2100 Steeles Avenue West; Concord ON L4K 2V1
However, this payment method will result in a significant delay in receiving the information.
Following is an example of what suggested donations may apply to a research request, however DO NOT PAY until you are contacted via email by the Essex Research Coordinator who will determine the appropriate donation to your request.
1. BASIC RESEARCH $25 PER INDIVIDUAL NAME
This research will include [if found], vital information about parents, spouses and children of the individual, various residences, occupations, etc. Research can involve many hours of a researchers time. Due to the high demand, and depending on the research results it may take several weeks to complete your request. This research will include up to 10 photocopies and the postage to mail the results, if necessary. Most photos and documents can be emailed to you.
The researcher will use the following from our collection:
Essex County Branch Database
Essex County Censuses (1851-1901)
Essex County Branch Transcribed Cemeteries – about 50 cemeteries
Essex County Church Records
Essex County Family and Local Histories
The Commemorative Biographical records of the County of Essex – 874 pages + index, some 25,000 names
The Western District Marriage Register (1786-1856)
County Marriage Register (1858-1869)
Essex County Marriages (1869-1911)
Essex County Branch Obituary Collection
Essex County Branch Publications – transcriptions and indexes published by the branch.
2. CEMETERY TRANSCRIPTIONS $5.00 per page
Photocopies from our branch cemetery transcriptions are available. Various websites will also be consulted including The Ontario Naming Index (TONI) , The Ontario Cemetery Finding Aid, The Gen/Web Cemetery Project, Canadian Headstones, etc. If known, please identify the exact cemetery, township and surname in your query. These transcriptions were made from the tombstones at the time the branch did the transcribing (circa 1978-1982) however, the researcher will view other websites for later additions that we have not transcribed.
3. COPIES OF NEWSPAPER ARTICLES $5.00 per ARTICLE
The Windsor Public Library has an extensive card file index of local and area newspapers. As well, The Essex County Library in Leamington has an index of some of the area newspapers. You can contact these branches for copies of obituaries, birth, marriage and death announcements. windsorpubliclibrary.com or essexcountylibrary.ca.
OR
Our volunteers will search our extensive indexes of Obituaries from The Windsor Star, the Amherstburg Echo and all other Essex County newspapers which were donated by the Harrow Early Immigrant Society, as well as our collection of 50+anniversaries, 90+birthdays, and 5 generation announcements found in both the Windsor Star and Amherstburg Echo.
4. SPECIALIZED OR EXTENDED RESEARCH
We are happy to help you with a limited amount of research, but for complex or extensive searches you will need to hire a professional researcher. The Ontario Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists maintains a list of its members. The Archives of Ontario also has a list of genealogical researchers on its website. Please note the Essex County Branch OA assumes no responsibility for agreements or contracts between individuals.
5. NEWSLETTER QUERIES
Our newsletter team welcomes your Essex County query. Queries are short messages about a specific person or family from Essex County that you are researching. Include your name and email contact information. Your surname will also be included in the newsletter surname database. Queries may be submitted for inclusion in the Essex County Branch Newsletter “Trails” at the discretion of the editor. Contact the newsletter editor at [email protected] to submit a newsletter query.
Requests for research: donate through Canada Helps:
Link to the CanadaHelps for online donations at: Here (CanadaHelps will provide tax receipts). Or click the “Donate Now” button below.
Donations can be made for research requests.
