Mark B. Arslan
This page contains links to many of the primary sources and other online information that I have found useful in researching my French-Canadian and Acadian genealogy. I have decided to share this page on the Internet to help other English-speaking amateur genealogists of French-Canadian and Acadian descent learn about what resources are available to help them in their pursuit of their ancestors and relatives. My focus is on primary sources, in hopes that others will be encouraged to conduct original research on their families and add to the scholarship and knowledge of these pioneers of French settlement in America. It is by no means comprehensive, but I will add links from time to time as I learn about them. Some links are to subscription sites; others are free. Please support the businesses and organizations that bring these primary sources to the Internet where they are more easily accessible to all of us. (If you find any "broken" links, please let me know. I will do my best to keep them current.
Censuses of Canada - Censuses of Canada's provinces from 1851 to 1911 (plus some other census years for selected locations) (Library and Archives Canada), census images and search tools (free!)
Canada Censuses, 1851-1921 - Censuses of Canada's provinces from 1851 to 1921 (Ancestry.com - subscription required)
Electoral Maps of Canada - Electoral Atlas of the Dominion of Canada (1895) (Library and Archives Canada); excellent detailed maps of each county in the provinces of Canada, showing parishes, township boundaries, etc.; an essential resource when researching in Canada! (each county's map can be downloaded as a high resolution .pdf file)
The Genealogical Site of French America - Comprehensive collection of images from French-Catholic parishes in Canada with excellent search tools (Drouin Institute - subscription required)
Québec, Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1967 - Baptisms, marriages, and burials from French-Catholic parishes in Québec (Ancestry.com - subscription required)
Acadia, Canada, Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1670-1946 - Baptisms, marriages, and burials from French-Catholic parishes in Acadia (Ancestry.com - subscription required)
Québec, Catholic Parish Registers, 1621-1979 - Baptisms, marriages, and burials from French-Catholic parishes in Québec (FamilySearch.org - free, higher resolution images than Ancestry.com)
Nova Scotia Archives - An Acadian Parish Remembered - The Registers of St. Jean-Baptiste, Annapolis Royal, 1702-1755
PRDH - Le Programme de recherche en démographie historique (The Research Program in Historical Demography) - Biographical files on all individuals of European ancestry who lived in the St. Lawrence Valley through 1800; great index for finding baptisms, marriages, burials and family groups for this period (no images)
Provincial Archives of New Brunswick - Search tools for births, marriages, and deaths from civil registers from 1800s and 1900s (images available for some records)
New Brunswick Vital Records - Registers and certificates of births, marriages, and deaths (FamilySearch.org)
Nova Scotia Historical Vital Statistics - Search tools for births, marriages, and deaths from civil registers from 1800s and 1900s (with images)
Prince Edward Island Baptismal Index - Search tools for births from 1700s to 1900s (no images)
Prince Edward Island Marriage Registers - Marriage registers from 1832 to 1888 (FamilySearch.org)
Family Tree DNA - Best genealogy DNA testing company for surname-based family projects (using y-chromosome haplogroups and haplotypes)
Fortier DNA Project - Surname-based project for Fortier, Forestier, etc. (see y-Results & Patriarchs links)
Gaudet DNA Project - Surname-based project for Gaudet, Gaudette, Godet, etc. (see y-Results & Patriarchs links)
St-Martin DNA Project - Surname-based project for St-Martin (see y-Results & Patriarchs links)
Toupin DNA Project - Surname-based project for Toupin (need 1st project member!)
French Heritage DNA Project - Project for those of French heritage in France, Canada, and elsewhere (see Y-DNA Results & mtDNA Results links)
Fortier Genealogy - Antoine Fortier (1644-1707) & Marie Magdeleine Cadieu (1659-1715) of Québec - Original research on the family of this couple and their descendants, documented with primary sources
Gaudet Genealogy - Je(h)an Gaudet of Acadia - Original research on the Gaudet(te) family of North America, documented with primary sources; also includes early generations of Leblanc, Hébert, & Forest in Acadia
Richard Genealogy - Michel Richard dit Sansoucy of Acadia - Original research on the family of Michel Richard dit Sansoucy and Magdeleine Blanchard (married 1650s in Acadia) and their descendants, documented with primary sources
St-Martin Genealogy - Jean Martin dit St-Martin & Marie Anne Banlier dit Laperle of Québec - Original research on the family of this couple (married 1709 at Contrecoeur, Verchères County, Québec) and their descendants, documented with primary sources
Michel-Taillon-Lataille Genealogy - Olivier Michel dit Taillon dit Letardif & Marie Magdelaine Cochon of Québec - Original research on the family of this couple (married 1671 at Chateau-Richer, Montmorency County, Québec) and their descendants, documented with primary sources
Toupin Genealogy - Jean Pierre Toupin & Marie Madeleine Maillou(x) of Québec - Original research on the family of this couple (married 1748 at Beauport, Québec County, Québec) and their descendants, documented with primary sources
Québec Parish Register Lookup - Service to help you find baptisms, marriages, and burials in Catholic parish registers of Québec; includes abstract of record (translated from French to English) with fee charged only for successful search
Library and Archives Canada - Great collection of online resources and information about other records in the archives
If you would like to comment on any information contained within, please send me an e-mail message at: marslan@nc.rr.com. Additions and corrections are greatly appreciated.
Mark B. Arslan
© Mark B. Arslan, 2013
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