Ministry of
Government and Consumer Services
Ministry of
Government and Consumer Services
Ontario Government Record Series RG 1-161
81 centimetres of textual records
Series consists of individual fiats for land grants made by the Second District Land Boards as well as registers to the fiats.
The series is arranged into two sub- series based on the type of record.
See sub-series descriptions for further information.
Click here to see a list of sub-series that make up this series
After the first District Land Boards were abolished in 1794, prospective settlers were required to apply for land in person at York. This procedure not only resulted in "great inconvenience to emigrants", but also bogged down the land granting system. Consequently, under an order-in-council, dated 13 March 1819, land boards were established in each of the districts of Upper Canada with the exception of Niagara, where no grantable land was left, in order to expedite the process whereby settlers were located on land. The Land Boards were to convene for one sitting each week to deal with applications from prospective settlers. Although United Empire Loyalists and military claimants were still required to apply in person in York, all other applications, even those of emigrants from the United States (providing they had certificates of British birth), could be dealt with by the Land Boards.
The Boards were required to record the applicant's age, birthplace and date of entry into the province and satisfy themselves as to his "character and the propriety of admitting him to become a settler". Each applicant was required to supply a declaration that he had not previously received land from the Crown and to take an oath of allegiance. Once these terms and conditions were met, the applicant could be located upon an 100-acre lot. A fee of 7s., 6d was charged for hearing the application and making the location. Once settlement duties were completed, the applicant could initiate the procedure for securing a patent. On 31 December 1825 the Land Boards were abolished.
It was a complex process to receive a land grant. Many offices were involved and each office (Executive Council Office, Receiver General's Office, Attorney General's Office, Surveyor General's Office, Provincial Secretary's Office, etc. ) maintained its own numbering system for the documents it generated or received relating to these transactions. Within the Surveyor General's Office, fiats authorising land grants initiated by the Second Land Boards were filed separately from other types of fiats and warrants.
Click on the link(s) below for more information.
Upper Canada. Surveyor General's Office Canada (Province). Crown Lands Dept.Sub-series RG 1-53-14 contains descriptions of full fee land grants authorised by the Second District Land Boards.
See sub-series descriptions.
These records were created by the following Ontario government agency or agencies. Click on the agency reference code for information about this agency and other records it created.
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1820-1845 : |
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Surveyor General's Office (BA84) |
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1845-1854 : |
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Crown Lands Department (AA100) |
See sub-series descriptions.
Click here to see a list of sub-series that make up this series
Scroll up to "Finding Aid" for more information about any available finding aids or listings.
Click on a reference code for more information about a series of records.
| Reference Code | Sub-series Title |
| RG 1-161-1 | Individual fiats for land grants - Second District Land Boards |
| RG 1-161-2 | Register and index of fiats for land grants - Second District Land Boards |