Heritage Societies Lineage Certificates

Do you have an ancestor who settled in Ontario 100, 150, or 200 years ago?

Can you trace your roots to someone who fought in the War of 1812 or participated in the Rebellion of 1837?

A lineage certificate to one of our Heritage Societies is a wonderful way to pay tribute to your ancestors.

Membership privileges consist of a certificate stating that the person is a member of the group. If desired, your name and the name of your ancestor will be published in Families and acknowledged at our annual general meeting.  You may also elect to have your contact information made available to people inquiring about the same lineage. Approved applications will be digitized and retained virtually by The Ontario Genealogical Society and will also be made available in our Members Section of our website after being redacted according to privacy laws.

Membership in these societies will require documented proof of your ancestry by showing the genealogical descent from the ancestor to the applicant giving as much information as possible.

Below you will find more specific information and what proof is required by each Heritage Society, as well as suggestions of acceptable documentation and resources for each society. 

The Honouring Our Heroes Society, established by The Ontario Genealogical Society, acknowledges the many people who defended and protected Canada and her allies during the Boer War, First and Second World Wars, and the Korean Conflict. Whether those men and women were soldiers, part of the medical corps, or volunteers who provided assistance on the home front through the many agencies and auxiliary organizations, their contributions and sacrifices were vital in serving and protecting freedom and peace.

Applicants must show the genealogical connection from that ancestor to the applicant, giving as much detail as possible. Documentation of this descent is required. Please see the list of Research Suggestions and Suggested Resources above, as well as the list of Qualified Organizations for this heritage society.

Organizations that would qualify as agencies or auxiliary organizations include, but are not limited to:  

  • Alternative Service Camps
  • Canadian Chaplain Service  
  • Canadian Legion War Service  
  • Farm Service Corps (Farmerettes)
  • Friends Ambulance Corps
  • Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire     
  • Knights of Columbus Army Huts
  • Nursing Sisters 
  • Red Cross
  • Salvation Army War Service
  • Soldiers of the Soil
  • Volunteer Aid Detachment
  • Women’s Army Corp
  • Women’s Land Army
  • Women’s Patriotic Leagues
  • YMCA War Service         
 

Your application package must include:

  • Application Form
  • Pedigree Chart from applicant to the ancestor named on the certificate
  • Family Group Sheets – one for each generation from applicant to ancestor
  • All necessary supporting documentation to confirm each generation including source citations (Please do not include original documents as they will not be returned)
  • All necessary documentation including source citations to prove the ancestor actively participated in the branch of service or organization indicated on the application

Please click on the image to enlarge it.

The Centenary Club, established by The Ontario Genealogical Society, is open to anyone who can show direct descent from a person who resided in what is now Ontario for at least one hundred years prior to the date of application. Every person in the descent from that ancestor to the applicant must have lived at least part of their lives in Ontario.

There are three levels for the Centenary Club:

  • bronze – over 100 years
  • silver – over 150 years
  • gold – over 200 years

Applicants must also show the genealogical descent from that ancestor to the applicant giving as much information as possible. Documentation for this descent is required. Please see the list of Research Suggestions and Suggested Resources above.

Your application package must include

  • Application Form
  • Pedigree Chart from applicant to the relation named on the certificate
  • Family Group Sheets- one for each generation from applicant to relation
  • All necessary supporting documentation to confirm each generation including source citations. (Please do not include original documents as they will not be returned.)
  • All necessary documentation, including source, citations, to prove the that family resided in Ontario for a minimum of 100 years prior to the application.

Please click on the image to enlarge it.

Membership in the War of 1812 Society, established by The Ontario Genealogical Society, is open to anyone who can prove descent from one of:

  • British serviceman based in what is now Canada during the War of 1812-1814
  • member of any Canadian militia unit that saw action during the War of 1812-1814
  • an indigenous person who saw action on the British side during the War of 1812-1814

Specifically, you must show that your named ancestor(s) fits at least one of the categories above, and then show the line of descent from that ancestor(s) to you or the person you wish to be named on the certificate. Documentation for this descent is required. Please see the list of Research Suggestions and Suggested Resources above.

Your application package must include:

  • Application Form
  • Pedigree Chart from applicant to the ancestor named on the certificate
  • Family Group Sheets – one for each generation from applicant to ancestor
  • All necessary supporting documentation to confirm each generation including source citations (Please do not include original documents as they will not be returned)
  • All necessary documentation, including source citations, to prove the ancestor participated in the War of 1812 as per criteria listed above

Please click on the image to enlarge it.

The First World War lineage society, established by The Ontario Genealogical Society, is open to anyone who can show direct descent from a person who served in a documented capacity on the Allied side of the First World War.

Applicants must show the genealogical connection from that ancestor to the applicant, giving as much detail as possible. Documentation of this descent is required. Please see the list of Research Suggestions and Suggested Resources above, as well as the list of Qualified Organizations for this heritage society.

Organizations that would qualify as agencies or auxiliary organizations includes but not limited to:

  • Farm Service Corps (Farmerettes)   
  • Women’s Army Corp                             
  • Volunteer Aid Detachment 
  • Canadian Legion War Service                                        
  • Nursing Sisters 
  • Salvation Army War Service 
  • YMCA War Service                                            
  • Red Cross   
  • Knights of Columbus Army Huts
  • Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire
  • Friends Ambulance Corps                                            
  • Women’s Land Army                                                  
  • Alternative Service Camps     
  • Women’s Patriotic Leagues                                     
  • Soldiers of the Soil                                                        
  • Canadian Chaplain Service

Your application package must include

  • Application Form
  • Pedigree Chart from applicant to the ancestor named on the certificate
  • Family Group Sheets- one for each generation from applicant to ancestor
  • All necessary supporting documentation to confirm each generation including source citations. (Please do not include original documents as they will not be returned)
  • All necessary documentation including source citations to prove the relation actively participated in the branch of service or organization indicated on the application.

Please click on the image to enlarge it.

This Upper Canada lineage society, established by The Ontario Genealogical Society, is open to anyone who can show descent from a person who resided in Upper Canada (now Ontario) prior to February 10, 1841 (the day that Upper Canada became Canada West).

Applicants must show the genealogical connection from that ancestor to the applicant, giving as much detail as possible. Documentation of this descent is required. Please see the list of Research Suggestions and Suggested Resources above.

Your application package must include:

  • Application Form
  • Pedigree Chart from applicant to the relation named on the certificate
  • Family Group Sheets – one for each generation from applicant to relation
  • All necessary supporting documentation to confirm each generation including source citations (Please do not include original documents as they will not be returned)
  • All necessary documentation, including source citations, to prove the that family resided in Ontario prior to February 10, 1841

Please click on the image to enlarge it.

The 1837 Rebellion lineage society, established by The Ontario Genealogical Society, is open to anyone who can show descent from:

  • a person who was charged with being a “rebel” in the rebellion in Upper Canada
  • a member of a militia unit that was mobilized during the rebellion in Upper Canada
  • a member of the regular army who was in Upper Canada during the rebellion
  • a person who was named as being involved in some form with the rebellion in Upper Canada and its aftermath (e.g., court official at a trial, juror, etc.)

Specifically, you must show that your named ancestor(s) fits at least one of the categories above, and then show the line of descent from that ancestor(s) to you or the person you wish named on the certificate. Applicants must show the genealogical connection from that ancestor to the applicant, giving as much detail as possible. Documentation of this descent is required. Please see the list of Research Suggestions and Suggested Resources above.

Books:

  • Letters from Van Diemen’s Land, written during the four years of imprisonment for political offences committed in Upper Canada.   by Benjamin Wait
  • From Hands Now Striving to be Free: Boxes crafted by 1837 Rebellion Prisoner’s: An Analysis and inventory of 94 Boxes.  by Chris Raible

Your application package must include:

  • Application Form
  • Pedigree Chart from applicant to the ancestor named on the certificate
  • Family Group Sheets – one for each generation from applicant to ancestor
  • All necessary supporting documentation to confirm each generation including source citations
  • All necessary documentation, including source citations, to prove the relation participated in the 1837 Rebellion as per criteria listed above. (Please do not include original documents as they will not be returned)

Please click on the image to enlarge it.

The Fathers of Confederation lineage society, established by The Ontario Genealogical Society, is open to anyone who can prove descent from one of these 36 officially named Fathers of Confederation:

Sir Adams George Archibald, George Brown, Sir Alexander Campbell, Sir Frederick Carter, Sir George-Etienne Cartier, Sir Edward Barron Chandler, Sir Jean-Charles Chapais, Sir James Cockburn, George Coles, Robert B. Dickey, Charles Fisher, Sir Alexander Tilloch Galt, Col John Hamilton Gray, Sir John Hamilton Gray, Sir Thomas Heath Haviland, William Alexander Henry, Sir William Pearce Howland, John Mercer Johnson, Sir Hector-Louis Langevin, Andrew Archibald Macdonald, Sir John A. Macdonald, Jonathan McCully, William Alexander McDougall, Thomas D’Arcy McGee, Peter Mitchell, Sir Oliver Mowat, Edward Palmer, William Henry Pope, John William Ritchie, Sir Ambrose Shea, William H. Steeves, Sir Etienne-Paschal Tache, Sir Samuel Leonard Tilley, Sir Charles Tupper, Edward Whelan, and/or Robert Duncan Wilmot.

Applicants must show the genealogical connection from that ancestor to the applicant, giving as much detail as possible. Documentation of this descent is required. Please see the list of Research Suggestions and Suggested Resources above.

Your application package must include

  • Application Form
  • Pedigree Chart from applicant to the relation named on the certificate
  • Family Group Sheets- one for each generation from applicant to relation
  • All necessary supporting documentation to confirm each generation including source citations. (Please do not include original documents as they will not be returned.)
  • All necessary documentation, including source citations, to connection to a Father of Confederation.

Please click on the image to enlarge it.

Need some Suggestions?

Below are some dropdown lists for Research Suggestions and Suggested Resources to use for completing your application.

Suggested documentation options for confirming relationships from applicant to relation and residence in Ontario

  • Birth Registration                       
  • Marriage Registration
  • Death Registration
  • Census records
  • Family Bible                 
  • Church Records
  • Newspaper articles
  • Obituaries
  • Wills and Probate
  • Land Grants and Deeds
  • Local Directories
  • Service Records
  • Organizational Records
  • Militia Lists
  • Muster Roles & Pay Lists
  • Prisoners List
  • Court Records
  • Transportation Lists
  • Prisoners Boxes

Suggested Canadian resources:

War of 1812 specific

Rebellion of 1837 specific

Or you can download our Heritage Societies Research and Resource Suggestions Information Page by clicking here

Ready to Apply?

To apply online, please make sure you are logged in either as a member or a registered user. Then click on the product below. Fill out the form, add any documents and click Add To Cart. You will be directed to our eStore to checkout. 

If you prefer, you can download the application form. print it and fill it out, then mail it in along with your supporting documents and payment.