Branch Research Policy

Queries are welcomed. Do not send payment with your initial request. A researcher will be in contact to tell you what amount to remit. Research results will follow shortly after payment is received. Charges are for the search, regardless of results.
Send queries to Branch Queries Co-ordinator. or, direct your request to the snail mail address shown below, include your email address should clarification be required. Unfortunately, fax and telephone requests cannot be accepted.

Obituaries / Death Notices: 

Obituaries are available at a fee of $5 per obituary (copy).  Please use our “Obituary and Death Notice Index” link which is prominently featured on our home page.  Please send an email to [email protected] and include the following – all are available on the index results page: 

  1. Given and surname (and maiden name, if available) of the deceased individual. 
  2. Year of death 
  3. Location (where available) 
  4. Reference number as indicated on the search results page 

NOTE: We will perform best efforts (compare name, age, location, date) to ensure the requested copy is the correct person; we cannot guarantee an exact match – especially with common names like Smith or Jones. 

Our obituary copies are clippings obtained from past local newspapers prior to the branch use of genealogical software and scanning tools, so we have no record of the actual publication date or source. Therefore, we cannot guarantee the obituary is from the London Free Press, although there is a high probability it is true. The collection known as the “Totten Collection”, covering the period 1945-1950”, was collected by an individual who later donated it to the branch for the benefit of other researchers.

All fees collected are put to use by the branch in the form of information sessions to the public, ongoing record digitization, preservation of existing resources and advocacy.  We, as volunteers, do not retain any of the fees – we participate due to our genealogical interest. 

Our branch has limited available payment options: 1) submitting payment through PayPal or, 2) submitting a personal cheque through regular mail services.  Payment details will be sent to you as part of our payment request. 

Generally, we respond to obituary requests within 48 hours of receipt of your request, and the obituary copy sent to you via email services within 24 to 48 hours after the receipt of payment. 

Other Research:

Basic Branch Holdings Reviews 

Our branch offers a “basic” surname review of our branch holdings, at a fee of $25 (for a maximum 2 individuals), which covers the extensive collection of historical documents in our possession – which are growing regularly!  Many documents are not readily available on-line.   Some examples: 

  • Mid 1800 assessment rolls 
  • Local church records (births or baptisms, marriages, death records) 
  • Some judiciary records (London Gaol) 
  • Local council minutes (London Township) 
  • Middlesex county cemetery records (tombstone transcriptions)
  • Middlesex county property holder indexes (1878 and 1862 land maps)
  • London Area City Directories

and more!

Please send your request, and as much detail (birth date, time period and residence location you are searching, spouse) as known, through our email address at: [email protected] 

NOTE: While we will perform best efforts (compare name, age, location, date) to ensure the requested name is the correct person; we cannot guarantee our review will produce desired results.

An alternative is to explore membership in our parent organization “Ontario Ancestors”, plus membership in our branch.  This membership allows you to explore our holdings at your convenience, plus all the benefits of the Ontario Ancestors organization! Check out the details at Ontario Ancestors – The Ontario Genealogical Society (ogs.on.ca)

More Detailed Research Requests / Queries

Our branch offers more detailed research on a specific individual, with the intent of researching a specific genealogical question.  Such requests will be charged a minimum of $40 per individual/question, to be assessed prior to completing any research. Our research will include searching our branch holdings, as well as external documentation, such as local historical books and land records (where deemed necessary). Please note that external records of this type may result in additional processing fees.

Some sample specific individual questions:

  • Who is the father of John Smith, born about 1860 in Caradoc township, who resided in Lobo township in 1870?
  • What government grants (1880 – 1885) were available to John Smith residing in Lobo township in 1883?
  • When did John Smith purchase land at concession 22, lot 18 of Lobo township?

The range of questions is too broad to fully disclose; please send along your detailed request, with as much information as possible, including what research you have already done to date on this question. Our team will assess your request, and contact you with further information.

Please contact the branch research volunteer via the link below for further information regarding your specific request.

London & Middlesex County Branch, OGS
715 Fanshawe Park Road West
Unit #FAG23
London ON N6G 5B4
or
Branch Queries Co-ordinator