Immigrants before 1865
The federal government began keeping passenger lists in 1865 to use as immigration records. Very few of these lists before 1865 survived. Many of the surviving records held at Library and Archives Canada (LAC) may be searched in this database.
On this page
Search the database
- Go to Collection Search and click on "Advanced search"
- In All these words, enter a name
- In Database, select “Immigrants before 1865”
- For Year of immigration, enter a year or a range of years (optional)
- In Fonds, leave the option at "All" or select a specific set of records from the drop-down list
- Click the Search button
Search tips
- Try different spellings of names
- Try using an asterisk (*) as a wild card character (for example, Rob* will also search for Robt. and Robert)
- Try searching by name only, as some records do not include a given name or only have an initial
Access the records
For database entries with a digitized image, you have two options:
- Click on the digitized image to open it
- Click on the person’s name to see the full record, including the archival reference and the image
For database entries that do not have a digital image:
- Note the reference information and search for it in List of records below (see Reference and notes column)
- You may then order a copy of the document, or
-
Visit our
Ottawa location to view the record in person
- If the reference includes a microfilm number, you may retrieve the microfilm reel from the self-serve cabinets in the consultation room
- If the record is not on microfilm, you may pre-order the material before you visit using the Material Retrieval form
Include these details from the database entry when completing the copy or material retrieval form:
- person’s name
- name of the fonds
- RG or MG number
- date
- volume, file, list, page and/or microfilm number
The year shown in the entry may be the year of the document and not the year of immigration. For example, a list of settlers may have been created after the group’s arrival.
About the records
LAC holds some passenger lists and other records about immigrants and settlers before 1865, many of which are in this database. The database includes about 28,000 records and is searchable by name. About 2,000 of the database entries are linked to digitized images.
The following list describes each document or record set, the fonds it is found in, and the archival reference. Many records are linked to digital images.
List of records
| Description of document | Year | Fonds | Reference and notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| List of the persons transported from Rotterdam to Nova Scotia on the ANN | 1750 | Great Britain: Colonial Office 217 |
MG11 CO217 Transcripts: volume 37, pages 233 to 235, microfilm C-9124 Originals: volume 9, folio 162, microfilm B-1024 |
| Lists of emigrants transported from Rotterdam to Nova Scotia on the SPEEDWELL, GALE, MURDOCK and PEARL | 1751 | Great Britain: Colonial Office 217 |
MG11 CO217 Transcripts: volume 42, pages 24, 25, 133 to 135, 201 to 204, microfilm C-9125 Originals: volume 11, G94; volume 12, G108, G119, microfilm B-1025 Transcripts: volume 43, pages 13 to 15, microfilm C-9125 Originals: volume 12, G124, microfilm B-1025 |
| List of Swiss embarked in Rotterdam for Nova Scotia aboard the GALE | 1751 | Great Britain: Colonial Office 217 |
MG11 CO217 Transcripts: volume 42, page 71, microfilm C-9125 Originals: volume 12, G106, microfilm B-1025 |
| Lists of persons leaving various ports in the United Kingdom bound for various ports in North America | 1774-1775 | Great Britain: Treasury. Various registers |
MG15 T47 Transcripts: volume 9, part 1 and 2, pages 1 to 20; volume 10 parts 1 and 2, pages 21 to 31; volume 12, pages 34 to 39, microfilm C-13524 |
| List of Loyalists bound for Halifax on board the CLINTON | 1784 | Great Britain: Colonial Office 217 |
MG11 CO217 Transcripts: volume 104, page 32, microfilm C-9133 Originals: volume 56, page 151, microfilm B-1040 |
| German settlers from New York in Markham Township, Upper Canada | 1793-1808 | William Von Moll Berczy fonds |
MG23 HII6 Originals: volume 1, pages 16 and 17, 65 to 72 and 127 to 130; volume 2 pages 455, 735 and 736, 858 to 861, microfilm H-2298 At the beginning of the microfilm there is a description of the fonds and a complete list of the contents. |
| Declarations of aliens in Lower Canada (mostly from the United States) | 1794-1811 | Lower Canada, Provincial Secretary and Registrar |
RG4 B45 Originals: volume 1, microfilm H-1154 |
| Emigrants leaving Fort William, Scotland, for Pictou, Nova Scotia, on board the ships SARAH and DOVE | 1801 | Great Britain: Home Office 102 |
MG40 D6 HO 102 Extracts from volume 18, 27 pages. Pages not in order. |
| List of passengers forwarded from Lachine to Selkirk’s Baldoon Settlement in Kent County, Ontario | 1804 | Macdonnell family fonds |
MG24 I8 Originals: volume 4, pages 105 to 108 |
| List of the crew and passengers on board the ship CLARENDON of Hull, England, bound for Charlottetown | 1808 | Great Britain: Colonial Office 226 |
MG11 CO226 Originals: volume 23, page 104, microfilm B-1246 |
| Documents concerning mostly the Red River Settlement and the conflict with the Hudson’s Bay Company, with some records relating to the Baldoon and Grand River Settlements and Prince Edward Island | 1811-1823 | Thomas Douglas, 5th Earl of Selkirk fonds |
MG19 E1 Transcripts, selected pages in volumes 6 to 9, 11 to 20, 22, 24 to 28, 31, 32, 45 to 57, 59 to 63, 65 to 76 and 78, microfilms C-2 to C-9 and C-12 to C-20 |
| List of settlers in the Island of Cape Breton | 1813 | Hugh Swayne fonds |
MG24 A5 Photocopies: volume 2, pages 258 to 260 |
| List of settlers enrolled for Canada, sailing aboard the ATLAS, DOROTHY, BALTIC MERCHANT and ELIZA | 1815 | Great Britain: Colonial Office 385, CO 385. Emigration, Entry Books |
MG11 CO385 Photocopies: volume 2 (See also RG4 A1) |
| Settlers arrived at Quebec from England aboard the ATLAS, DOROTHY and BALTIC MERCHANT | 1815 | Quebec and Lower Canada, S Series |
RG4 A1 Originals: volume 147, document 4 September 1815 (See also MG11 CO 385) |
| List of inhabitants of the Island of Guernsey who wish to emigrate to British North America | 1816 | Great Britain: Colonial Office 42 |
MG11 CO42 Transcripts: volume Q139, pages 6 to 9, microfilm C-11924 Originals: volume 169, microfilm B-136 |
| Lists of persons who emigrated from the British Isles to Canada | 1817-1831, 1849 | Great Britain: Colonial Office |
MG11 CO384 Originals: volumes 1, 3, 12, 13, 23, 27, 28 and 83, microfilms B-876, B-877, B-885, B-886, B-946, B-949, B-950 and B-1747. These lists are digitized and indexed on www.ancestry.ca under the catalogue title Canada, Immigration and Settlement Correspondence and Lists |
| Immigrants from Great Britain and Ireland proceeding to Canada via New York, whose passes were signed by the British Consul | 1817-1819 | Upper Canada Sundries |
RG5 A1 Originals: volume 37, pages 17227 to 17578, microfilm C-4601 |
| Petition of John Banfield requesting land in Simcoe County, Ontario, for intended immigrants from the Scilly Islands | 1819 | Upper Canada Land Petitions |
RG1 L3 Originals: volume 43, Bundle B12, petition 232, microfilm C-1625 |
| Lists of persons leaving Scotland bound for Upper Canada on board the GEORGE CANNING, DAVID, EARL OF BUCKINGHAMSHIRE and COMMERCE | 1821 | Great Britain: Colonial Office 42 |
MG11 CO42 Transcripts: volume Q159, part 3, documents 507, 508 and 509 microfim C-11930 Originals: volume 189, pages 515 to 555, microfilm B-148 |
| State of Swiss settlers in the Red River | 1822 | Andrew Bulger fonds |
MG19 E5 Originals: volume 2, pages 172 to 178 |
| Records relating to Peter Robinson settlers in Eastern Ontario. Lists of Irish passengers on board the ALBION, AMITY, BRUNSWICK, ELIZABETH, FORTITUDE, JOHN BARRY, REGULUS, RESOLUTION, STAR and STAKESBY | 1823-1844 | Peter Robinson fonds |
MG24 B74 Originals: microfilms M-140 and M-141 Other records in this fonds contain additional information about the settlers, but they are not indexed in this database. For a description of the other records on these microfilms see Finding Aid 134. |
| Archibald McNab Papers: Correspondence and lists of settlers in McNab Township, Renfrew County, Ontario | 1825-1842 | Upper Canada: Executive Council, State Submissions |
RG1 E3 Originals: volume 53, microfilm C-1196 Some names are also mentioned in the correspondence, but were not indexed. |
| Lists of passengers aboard ships BRITANNIA, WARRIOR, LIVELY, HARMONY and DANIEL O’CONNELL bound for Quebec after clearing customs | 1832, 1840, 1842 | Great Britain: Board of Customs and Excise: Plantation Papers |
MG43 Customs 34 Originals: volume 6625, pages 15 to 19, 165 to 168a; volume 6626, pages 106 to 111, 122, 123, 136, microfilm A-507 |
| Lists of immigrants from Londonderry County, Ireland, that were contained in the original Ordnance Survey records. From various parishes to ports in Canada and the United States. | 1833-1836 | Irish immigration lists, Londonderry county, collection |
MG24 I58 Transcripts: volume 1, 52 pages. The collection has been digitized. See Mikan 104779 for background information about the collection. |
| Lists of emigrants on board the KINGSTON from Liverpool to settle in Hull Township, Lower Canada | 1834 | William Farmer and family fonds |
MG24 I120 Photocopies: volume 1, pages 1 to 7 See Mikan 105802 for more information about this fonds. |
| Returns of destitute at Prescott, Ontario | 1835 | Upper Canada Sundries |
RG5 A1 Originals: volume 156, pages 85852-85857, microfilm C-6887 |
| Lists of emigrants from Kettlestone and Heacham parishes, Norfolk County, England | 1836 | Emigration records collection |
MG24 I156 Photocopies: pages 1, 2, 32, 33, 34, 36 and 40 |
| List of immigrants with capital who arrived at Kingston, Ontario | 1840 | Great Britain: Colonial Office 42 |
MG11 CO42 Originals: volume 477, pages 241 to 243, microfilm B-367 Transcripts: volume 431, part 2, pages 286 to 293, microfilm C-12634 |
| Lists of settlers in the records of James Allison, emigrant agent at Montreal | 1842, 1847 | Neilson Collection, Records of James Allison |
MG24 B1 Originals: volumes 21 and 22 The database entries are linked to pdf images. The complete volumes are on microfilm C-15773 |
| Naturalization certificates | 1846-1849 | Registrar General of Canada |
RG68, volume 208, Liber BE, microfilm C-3951 |
| Lists of emigrant orphans in Montreal and Quebec City | 1847 | Canada East. Provincial Secretary’s Office |
RG4 C1, volume 204, file 3036 The database entries are linked to pdf images. The complete file is on microfilm H-2587 |
| Agricultural questionnaires answered in 1853 by some immigrants in Canada West (Ontario) who had arrived between 1791 and 1848. Only 41 questionnaires survived. | 1853 | Department of Agriculture |
RG17-A-II-6 Originals: volume 2325 |
| Most of the documents are accounts submitted by teamsters and boat captains who provided inland transportation by wagon or boat to indigent immigrants. The person providing the transportation would submit the account to the government emigrant agent for reimbursement. There are also a few vouchers and receipts for other services provided, such as the delivery of provisions or the burial of deceased indigent immigrants. | 1843-1854 | Department of Finance |
RG19, volume 2532 Note that some pages are out of order |
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