Research Resources

The Thomas Raddall Research Centre provides researchers with access to numerous historical and genealogical records. The centre's resources continue to expand due to the efforts of individual researchers and a very active Family History Group. The fee to use the centre is $ 5.00 per day. Our staff takes genealogical inquiries by mail and phone. There is a $10.00 per hour research fee. Please contact Linda Rafuse at rafusela@gov.ns.ca or by phone at (902) 354-4058 for more information.

T.B. Smith Collection

T. Brenton Smith, a native of Queens County, compiled the family histories of over 1500 Queens County Families. The collection ranges from about 1700 to 1955 and is contained on 15 reels of microfilm. A listing of the surnames can be found in the Microfilm Reference Binder at the Thomas Raddall Research Centre or on the Genweb Project Website.  Top of Page

Robert Long Collection

Robert Long was born in Liverpool in 1849. At the age of 18, he moved to Boston, Mass. Through the years he painstakingly carried out research that told the early history of his native home and the families that lived there, thus six volumes of the Annals of Liverpool and Queens County, 1760-1867. After his death in 1933, his papers were turned over to the Queens County Historical Society where they were typewritten and microfilmed. An index of family names is included with this collection.

Top of Page

Surname Vertical File

There are over 575 files in this collection. They are arranged in alphabetical order by surname. Genealogical data pertaining to the surname on the folder are contained in these files. A listing of the surnames can be found in the Reference Manual at the Thomas Raddall Research Centre.

Chandler’s Funeral Home

The Funeral Home records start in 1893 and end in 1980. These records are very informative to the researcher giving you such details as place and cause of death, age, when died, where born, occupation, residence and where buried. After 1935, death records include names of the deceased’s parents, if known. Available on microfilm.

Top of Page

Marriage Licenses

The province of Nova Scotia did not keep marriage records prior to 1864. Although there are marriage bonds existing before 1864, they are not as informative as the marriage certificates that usually contain the names of the parents of the bridge as well as the date and place of marriage, age, residence, occupation and religious denomination.

The following are Marriage Records and Licenses on microfilm:

Queens County Marriage Records and Licenses - 1849-1910

Pictou County Marriage Records and Licenses - 1866-1917

Shelburne County Marriage Records and Licenses - 1864-1908

Richmond County Marriage Records and Licenses - 1849-1918

Annapolis County Marriage Records and Licenses - 1849-1908

Antigonish County Marriage Records and Licenses - 1864-1901

Victoria County Marriage Records and Licenses - 1864-1901

Lunenburg County Marriage Records - 1864-1908

Lunenburg County Marriage License - 1849-1866

Kings County Marriage Records - 1864-1909

Kings County Marriage License - 1909

The following are dates of Nova Scotia Marriage Bonds on Microfilm:

1763-1788

1789-1809

1810-1815

1816-1822

1823-1830

1831-1837

1838-1844 (July 25)

 Top of Page

Cemetery Records

For your convenience, some of our cemetery records have been made available on the Queens County Genweb Project Website. For individual pictures of the gravestones within these cemeteries or for more information, please visit the Thomas Raddall Research Centre.

To search our cemetery records please refer to the 4 volumes titled “Shelburne, Queens, Lunenburg County Cemeteries” printed by the South Shore Genealogical Society. Also the following cemeteries have been individually researched and photographed by Tim McDonald:

The Old Milton Cemetery

“Sacred to the Memory” Epitaphs from the Old Cemeteries of Liverpool, N.S. by Charles Warman

Zion United Church Cemetery, Main Street, Liverpool, N.S. May 1994

Zion United West Cemetery, Payzant Street, Liverpool, N.S.

The United East Cemetery, College Street, Liverpool, N.S. January 1996

United Baptist Cemetery, Church Street, Liverpool, N.S. March 1995

St. Gregory’s Roman Catholic Church, College Street, Liverpool, N.S. November 1994

Catholic Church Cemetery, Old Bridge Street, Liverpool, N.S. June 1994

Anglican Church Cemetery, Bog Road, Liverpool, N.S.

Anglican Church Cemetery, Church Street, Liverpool, N.S. June 1994

Milton Cemetery by Tim McDonald and Connie Cole 1995

Grace Anglican Cemetery, Western Head, N.S. November 1996

The Old Brooklyn Cemetery, Brooklyn, N.S. July 1996

The Old Congregational Cemetery, Main Street, Liverpool, N.S. April 1994

Seaside Cemetery, Brooklyn, N.S. February 1997

Old Port Medway Cemetery, Port Medway, N.S. May 1996

Holy Redeemer Anglican Cemetery, Port Medway, N.S. July 1998

Greenwood Cemetery, Port Medway, N.S. September 1998

Beach Meadows Cemetery, Beach Meadows, N.S. January 1998

St. John’s Anglican Cemetery, West Berlin, N.S. April 1997

St. John’s Anglican Cemetery Churchyard, Eagle Head, N.S. July 1998

White Point Cemetery, White Point, N.S.

Old Hunts Point Cemetery, Beach Hill Road, Hunts Point, N.S. April 1996

St. James Anglican Churchyard Cemetery, Hunts Point, N.S. March 1996

Laurel Hill Cemetery, River Head Road, Port Mouton, N.S. June 1996

Baptist Churchyard, Hunts Point, N.S. February 1996

Oceanside Cemetery, Hunts Point, N.S. February 1996

Peaceful Hill Cemetery, Port Mouton, N.S. September 1996

Cemeteries of Danesville, Queens County, N.S. March 1997

The Loyalist Cemetery, Port Mouton, N.S.

Southwest Port Mouton Cemetery, Southwest Port Mouton, N.S.

Individual Gravestones in Southwest Port Mouton, N.S. December 1995

Black Methodist Episcopal Church 1841-1908

Pine Rest Cemetery, Greenfield, N.S. January 2000

Top of Page

Census Records

Census records prior to 1871 list the head of the household an the ages of the members of the family whereas those for 1871, 1881 and 1891 include all members of the household by name as well as sex, age, religion, origin, occupation, and marital status. The 1901 Census provides the birth date of each family member listed.

Year Polling District
1871-1901 Queens County
1871-1901 Lunenburg County
1871-1901 Shelburne County
1871-1901 Annapolis County
1871-1901 Yarmouth County

1891-1901 Antigonish County
1891-1901 Victoria County
1891-1901 Pictou County
1891-1901 Kings County
1891-1901 York County, New Brunswick

Note: Index books are available for Queens, Lunenburg and Halifax County Census Records Contained on Microfiche

Some Census Records are also available on the Genweb Project Website.

Top of Page

Provincial Registers

Vital Statistics include the birth, marriage and death records for the individuals in one's family. The province of Nova Scotia did not keep birth, marriage and dead records prior to 1864 and no provincial birth or death registry was kept from 1877 to 1907 due to difficulties in the financing of officers to maintain the records. Birth registrations, in particular, are very informative in that they list the individual's birth date, sex, the names of the parents, as well as the date and location of the parents marriage. Unfortunately, the death registrations are not well as informative as the birth and marriages for they only list the date of death, the cause of death, and sometimes the name of the next of kin. There are indexes for each of the eighteen countries available on microfilm for the registry of Birth and Deaths (1864-1877).

Some Vital Record are also available on the Genweb Project Website.

 Top of Page

Obituaries

Liverpool Advance Obituaries, 1976-2011. 

Perkins Diary Genealogical Extracts

All genealogical data has been extracted from the Simeon Perkins Diary, 1762-1812. The following surnames are mentioned in the diary. For more specific information, such as given names or specific years, please visit the Thomas Raddall Research Centre.

Published and Non-Published Genealogies

The following surnames are contained in our collection of printed genealogies. These books also contain genealogies of related families.

Newspapers

Since 1854, Liverpool has had six newspapers. The Liverpool Transcript established in 1854, the Advertiser established in 1869, the Times established in 1876 and re-established in 1890, the Advance established in 1878, and the Leader established in 1904. Today, the Advance is our weekly paper. The North Queens District had a weekly newspaper named “The Gold Hunter.” It ran from 1891-1941. A few trips to researchers: Birth notices did not become common until the 1890’s and obituaries in the nineteenth century newspapers were usually only death notices which provided the names of the deceased, age, and place of residence. Seldom did they give the names of parents, brothers, sisters, or offspring. Marriage notices provided the same sparse information. All births, deaths, and marriages have been extracted from  our newspaper collection and now consists of almost 115,000 cards.

Liverpool Transcript January 1854-December 1867

Liverpool Advance 1881-1973

Gold Hunter April 1930-October 1941 (Misc. Dates from 1892-1941)

Top of Page

Shipping Records

In the large storage file unit you will find over 200 files which contain documents and sometimes photographs of a specific vessel. These files are similar to the surname files except each file is named for a vessel and is arranged in alphabetical order. We do not have the complete set, but have the following years:

1875

1877-1878

1881-1883

1888

1904

1906

1911

1913

1918

1920-1921

1925-1926

1928-1929

1931-1932

These volumes have vessels listed in alphabetical order and give you all the specs on the desired vessel. All vessels noted by Perkins in his daily recording have been extracted, typewritten, indexed and microfilmed. The last wooden vessel was built in Queens County about 1934. Several Ships Logs are also contained in the collection.

Top of Page

Land Records

Land records may include such documents as petitions, warrants of survey, grants of land from the Crown and the registration of land purchase transactions between individuals or parties who had previously bought of been granted land (Registry of Deeds). These records may contain such information as your ancestor’s residence in Nova Scotia, his occupation and former residence. The names of the family members, length of time spent at the previous residence and origin are sometimes mentioned as well. Available on microfilm.

Top of Page

Land Grants

Land Grants contain information pertaining to the description of the property, which may include a map or a plan of the land being granted. 1754-1969, on microfilm.

Top of Page

Land Deeds

Land Deeds contains information similar to that of the land grant. On microfilm, 1964-1969.

Top of Page

Court Probate Records

These records are divided into two basic groups: wills and estate papers. Wills consist of ledgers into which individuals wills were transcribed following the death of the person. Wills provide basic information concerning heirs, the disposition of property and an indication of material wealth. A majority of people did not leave wills and there was no Probate Court intervention when the estates were small and the disposition of property uncomplicated. However, the Probate Court did regulate estate settlements if a person died without a will, leaving considerable property or litigious heirs: these details were filed in the estate papers. The estate papers provide inventories of real properties, documents concerning litigation, papers detailing involved settlements, etc. The other papers included on the Probate Court records are of little genealogical value. Available on microfilm.

Will Books 1768-1970

Estate Papers 1765-1901

Probate Acts 1843-1970

Probate Decrees 1897-1907, 1925-1949

Probate Letters 1843-1970

Top of Page

Maps

Queens County Maps

Contained in large map case, dating early to resent (partial index).

Insurance Maps

Communities had insurance maps that located fire hydrants and other pertinent information used by the communities and fire departments. Every so many years new updated maps would be prepared. These are marked by year and community.

Top of Page

Eric Millard Collection

This collection contains over 1000 files and over 150 maps. The subject concerns various documentation concerning land transactions. Also contained in this collection is an extensive amount of genealogical information and various old Queens County records. Please ask a staff person to direct you to the location of these records. An index will be provided.

Top of Page

The MacLeod Collection

The MacLeod Collection was compiled by Arthur MacLeod of Caledonia, Queens County on the MacLeods of that district and all related families. This collection, contained on two reels of microfilm, is available with an index.

Top of Page

The Marguerite Letson Collection

The Marguerite Letson Collection is contained on two reels of microfilm. It offers Vital Statistics and Genealogical Data of many Port Medway families and several Hants County families.

Top of Page

Blake Conrad Collection

Blake Conrad is a Queens County native who has, over the past many years, researched the families of Port Medway, Charleston, Danesville, and Mill Village. It is contained in seven volumes with over 180 surnames starting with Antonia (Anthony) through Zinck.

Top of Page

Tancook Island Genealogies

Tancook Island Genealogies was compiled by Muriel M. (Farquhar) Davidson. It contains families from Tancook Island in Lunenburg County.

Top of Page

Vertical Files

Subject File

These files contain information on almost any subject that has played a part in the history of Queens County. Subjects pertain to people, events, architecture, industry, culture and so on. Data has been collected from researchers, newspapers, old books, and historians. We welcome suggestions of subjects that have not yet been included. A listing of the subject files can be found in the Reference Table.

Photograph File

The photograph collection contains over 2000 photographs. This is a photocopied set of the collection. Photographs can be photocopied or if you wish a photocopy from a negative, please arrange it with one of the staff who will inform you of the cost and procedure. There is a subject file available for this collection and can be found in the Reference Manual.

Other

Black History Collection

Queens County Roads and Highways

Mi’Kmaq Collection

Top of Page

Religious Records

The following records are not indexed but are in the process of being indexed. They contain the recordings of baptisms, marriages and deaths. All church records contained in our collection can be viewed and photocopied with the exception of the Anglican and Catholic Church Registers, where written permission is required to photocopy. Take note that the Baptist Church records have not been collected, except for one, by our Archives, as they do not contain the above information.

Trinity Anglican Church, Liverpool

St. John The Evangelist (Anglican) Church, Eagle Head

Anglican Church, Caledonia

Barrington Anglican, Shelburne County

St. Peter’s Anglican, West LaHave, Lunenburg County

St. Augustine’s Anglican, Conquerall, Lunenburg County

New Dublin Parish, Lunenburg County

St. James Anglican, Conquerall, Lunenburg County

Baptist Church, Milton

Zion United Church, Liverpool

Zion Congregational Church, Liverpool

Congregational Church, Milton

St. Gregory’s Roman Catholic Church, Liverpool

St. Jerome’s Roman Catholic Church, Liverpool

Photocopied sets of records are held for the following churches:

St. John’s Anglican, Lunenburg

Brooklyn United Pastoral Charge

Methodist Church, Barrington, Shelburne County (Baptisms only)

Zion Lutheran, Lunenburg (Marriages only)

St. Andrew’s Presbyterian (Marriages only)

St. Stephen’s Anglican, Chester, Lunenburg County (Marriages only)

Methodist Church, Liverpool (Baptisms and Marriages only)

Trinity Anglican (Marriages only)

Top of Page

Special Collections

Lunenburg Births, Deaths, and Marriages

These records have been extracted from church registers, LDS records, personal documents, etc.

Queens County Highways and Maps

These papers came to us from the Municipal Planning Department. They are indexed and provide a great insight into the early history of our road and highways system in Queens County. Plans and drawings are included in this collection.

Liverpool and Queens County (Hard Copy)

There is a typescript collection of early records such as grantees, land boundaries, Proprietor’s Minutes, Proprietor’s Allotments, Church histories, cemetary records, etc. See reference manual for breakdown of contents.

Top of Page

Mi’Kmaq History Collection

Mi’kmaq Surnames

Charles

Christmas

Cope

Fancy

Foster

Francis

Glode

Jeremy

Labrador

Lowe

Luxey

Paul

Penaule, Pennel

Penault

Pictou

Rhyno

Whynot, Pennal

Top of Page

Black History Collection

Black History Subject Files

Miscellaneous

Freemasonry

Slavery

Black Loyalists

Early Black History information

Excerpts from the book “Sandy Cove’ by WHY and TBS

The Sandy Cove school house

Black communities of NS

Queens County Marriages - Blacks

American refugee negroes received into N.S. from the US

Shelburne court cases involving Birchtown

Blacks/miscellaneous

Petition from Blacks in Liverpool to erect an African Chapel, March 1, 1841

Top of Page

Diaries

Maurice Harlow Diaries

The Maurice Harlow diaries are contained on 4 reels of microfilm and date from 1877 to 1935. These diaries have also been transcribed and typewritten. Mr. Harlow lived in Northern Queens.

Alfred Etherington Diaries

The Alfred Etherington diaries contain data of the day to day life of Mr. Etherington at the time he lived in Milton and Kings County. Mr. Etherington was the inventor of the bedspring. His diaries start just around the turn of the century.

Enos Ford Diaries

The Enos Ford diaries are about the day to day life of Mr. Ford. He talks of hauling lumber to saw mills, working in his yard and the men who worked for him.

Top of Page

Books & Periodicals

Community History

Several Queens County community histories have been written by local citizens throughout the years.

New England

An extensive collection of New England publications containing a vast amount of genealogical data. This collection contains Mayflower lineages. The collection was donated by the late R.F. Kirkpatrick.

Church History

You will find church histories provided for the:

Milton Church of Christ

Liverpool Zion Church

West Caledonia’s St. Jerome’s Roman Catholic Church

Liverpool Baptist History

Liverpool Trinity Anglican Church

St. Gregory’s Roman Catholic Church

Liverpool and Yarmouth’s Church of Jebogue

Top of Page

Website Developed by Jessica Wentzel