Have you ever tried exploring local council minutes for your family history research? Many are freely available online, and they’re full of names!
Your ancestors might appear in the minutes because they were council members or appointed to carry out various municipal functions. Or they might have interacted with council as residents: to obtain a shop or tavern license, petition to have a road opened or a sidewalk constructed, complain about neighbourhood issues, or seek financial aid. All valuable tidbits to add to your ancestors’ stories…
The latest addition to the Municipal Records section of the Toronto Branch website is a page dedicated to Council Minutes. You’ll find links there now to digitized council minutes for the Township of York dating from 1860 to 1925… and there’s more to come!
