Our Nova Scotia genealogists research on location. They will find and analyze the best records available to further your family history research. They can search the archives and libraries in Nova Scotia, Canada, including:
- Library and Archives Canada
Provides adoptions, deaths / burials, births / baptisms, divorces, cemeteries, marriages, church indexes, parish registers, civil registrations, wills, census, immigration and citizenship, military, land, employment - Nova Scotia Archives and Records Management (NSARM)
One of Canada’s oldest archival institutions, provides records of provincial significance created or accumulated by the government and private sector over the last 300 years - Le Centre d’études acadiennes (Center for Acadian Studies)
Contains parish registers, cemetery records, census records, land grants, notarial records (1687-1758), and numerous other records - Nova Scotia Museum
One of the oldest provincial museums in Canada, containing over 1 million records on the history of Nova Scotia - Planters Studies Center
Houses documentation about the Acadia University, organizations, and individuals of the local area and the Atlantic Baptist community
Our professional researchers can do research projects of many sizes and for many budgets. We customize the amount of research provided according to your needs.
If you want to know more about how our genealogists can further your research, you can request a research quote.
Some of the major records sources that can be used for genealogy research in Nova Scotia include:
- Births, marriages, and deaths are recorded in township books beginning in about 1760, when settlers from New England came to Nova Scotia. The township books began in 1760 and were discontinued beginning about 1860. Marriages were recorded in these books from 1702 to 1920.
- Marriage bonds were kept in parts of Nova Scotia from 1763-1864, with a few for later years to 1871. Marriage licenses began in most Nova Scotia counties in 1849.
- Vital statistics were first recorded in Nova Scotia in 1864. These records are fairly complete from 1867 to 1874. In 1877 birth and death registration was discontinued and in 1908 it began again.
- Local census records were kept in various years beginning in 1671.
- The first census of Canada was taken in 1871 following confederation. Federal censuses have been taken every 10 years since.
- Land records were kept by the towns and counties from the time they were settled and are fairly complete beginning in late 1700s.
- Probate registration began in Halifax in 1749. Probate records are housed in the courthouses of the various judicial districts.
- Catholic church records of baptism, marriage, and burial for the French settlers exist since early 1700s.
- Church of England records for British settlers began in Halifax in 1749.
- Newspapers were written in many areas and time periods that contain information such as notices of marriages, notices of death, and obituaries
- Military records
- Town and county histories about the settlers and their families
