The Simcoe County Branch would be pleased to assist you with your family history project. Send your request, outlining as much detail as possible, by email to simcoeresearch@ogs.on.ca, or by mail to Simcoe County Branch Research, P.O. Box 892, Barrie, ON L4M 4Y6. Once an initial assessment has been completed, you will be contacted regarding the length of time to complete your request, and the fees associated with it. Once your fee has been received by the Branch, your request will be completed. The following sections of this page detail the research services provided by the Simcoe County Branch and the corresponding fees.
Basic Research per Individual Name
Two to four hours of research will be conducted per individual name using the resources available to the Branch Research team. A comprehensive report will be provided with digitized copies of all documents found. The following list is an example of the resources that will be searched:
- Simcoe County Settlers Sheets
- Wesleyan Methodist Baptismal Register – Simcoe County (1825-1910)
- Simcoe District Marriage Register (1842-1857)
- County Marriage Register (1858-1869)
- Index to Probate and Surrogate Court Records for Simcoe County (1828-1929)
- Simcoe County Cemetery Transcriptions
- Simcoe County Local History Books
- Simcoe County Land Records
- Local Newspaper collections (as available)
Research fee per individual name for Simcoe County Branch members is $25.00, non-members $40.00. Depending on demand, priority will be given to Simcoe County Branch members. Research will only be conducted after payment is received by the Branch. Fees are for research and the Branch cannot guarantee information will be found.
Specialized Research
If you require more in-depth research to that provided above, please send details of your request, including as much information as possible and detailing what you are looking to achieve, to simcoeresearch@ogs.on.ca. A member of our Research Team will contact you with suggestions, a plan, and the cost, allowing you to make an informed decision. The fee will vary depending on the request. Examples of this type of request would include research using materials (i.e. Women’s Institute Tweedsmuir Histories, or taxroll documents) that are only available at the Simcoe County Archives or other libraries or repositories in Simcoe County.
Photocopies of Branch Publications
After you have searched the Settlers Database, you may find that someone has already submitted information about your Simcoe County ancestor or their family through Simcoe County Settler Sheets, or that the Branch, through their transcription projects, has transcribed information about your ancestor. You can request photocopies of this information for a nominal fee. Contact the Branch Publications Coordinator or check out the How to Place an Order page for assistance with this type of request.
Newsletter Queries
The Branch publishes its newsletter, the Simcoe County Ancestor News (SCAN) quarterly in February, May, August, and November. Queries are published free of charge in the next issue after receipt. Contact the Newsletter Editor with your submission.
Other Researchers for Hire
If you feel that you need to hire a professional researcher, the Ontario Chapter of the Association for Professional Genealogists maintains a list of its members who will research for a fee. As well, the Archives of Ontario have a list of genealogical researchers on its website. Please note that the Simcoe County Branch assumes no responsibility for agreements contracted between individuals.