OGS Kingston Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington
OGS Kingston

Research

Important Information

Volunteer members of our Research Committee provide research assistance to genealogists who are unable to visit the area in person. At present, we are experiencing a shortage of volunteers at the same time as the number of research requests is unusually high, which limits our ability to respond promptly to requests. We are doing our best to assist everyone; however, response times may be significantly delayed.

Due to the volume of requests and our limited volunteer resources, we cannot undertake extensive research projects. Priority is given to requests that include specific names, dates, locations, and a summary of sources already consulted.

Please review the following information when considering a request to the branch.

What Our Branch Can Do

  • Explain what records exist for our area. 
  • Direct you to the appropriate repositories. 
  • Provide local cemetery transcriptions. 
  • Share information on local churches and settlement patterns.
  • Search publications in our library collection that are not available online.

Donations to the branch are appreciated and help support these services.

What Our Branch Cannot Do

  • Provide birth certificates for any year.  
  • Provide provincial birth records before 1869. 
  • Search all Ontario churches for a baptism record. 
  • Access restricted or private church records. 
  • Guarantee that a specific record exists. 
  • Search subscription websites or conduct extensive online database searches.
Before Contacting Us

Please gather as much of the following information as possible: 

  • Full name of the person(s). 
  • Approximate dates of relevant events.
  • Location (township/town/county). 
  • Religion/denomination (if known). 
  • Sources you have already checked (TONI, Archives of Ontario, FamilySearch, etc.). 

Contact for Research Inquiries For research requests, please email  [email protected]

Newsletter Queries

Members of Kingston Branch may submit genealogical queries for publication in our chapter newsletter at no charge.

  • Queries should contain references to people who lived in our area (Frontenac and Lennox & Addington Counties) and/or events that occurred in these areas.
  • We do not publish queries about people who are still living.
  • Please include your contact information for responses.

Queries for the newsletter may be sent to [email protected]

Independent Local Researchers

Some of our branch members are available for hire as independent researchers who can help you with your genealogical research in the Kingston area. Click here for more information.

Research Tips:

Birth & Baptism Records in Ontario (Pre‑1869) Civil birth records did not exist in Ontario before 1869. Churches, municipalities, or families created earlier records, and many have not survived.

Where to Search 

1. TONI – The Ontario Name Index 

A province‑wide index pointing to names found in church registers, cemetery transcripts, local histories, newspapers, and archival collections. (This index is extensive but not comprehensive. Additional names and sources are being added to it regularly.) https://ogs.on.ca/toni/

2. Archives of Ontario 

Holds many (but not all) early church and congregational records, plus some municipal and court records. Provincial birth, marriage, and death registrations are also maintained here.  https://www.archives.gov.on.ca/

3. FamilySearch (Free Account) 

FamilySearch provides access to a large collection of digitized Ontario church records, cemetery records, probate files, and other genealogical resources.  https://www.familysearch.org/

4. Church & Denominational Archives 

If you know the denomination of the person or family that you are researching, consider contacting the appropriate archive. (The extent of coverage, the ability to search, and the costs charged vary considerably between the different denominations and archives.)