Ontario Archives Patent Plans Collection
Title
Ontario Archives Patent Plans Collection
Description
Series consists of plans showing the status of Crown lands, whether patented, leased, or under a license of occupation. Until the late 1970s, patent plans were used within the Ministry of Natural Resources as a quick reference tool to show the alienation of Crown land. Once this information was computerised, the patent plans became redundant, and they were transferred to the Archives of Ontario.
At the time a survey was completed and a survey plan created, an extra copy of the plan was prepared. Whenever a lot or a portion of a lot was patented, the patentee's name was inscribed on the plan in the appropriate place and the lot normally was marked with a "D" for "described". At times, other information such as a land file number (See Series RG 1-246), an order-in-council number, a licence number or a lease reference also was included. Later survey plans were obtained from other government sources such as land registry offices.
Several patent plans may exist for a town or township, and the information provided may vary among the plans. The series also includes Subdivision plans, which are plans that subdivide land of existing lots into two or more new lots; or, the consolidation of two or more existing lots and their simultaneous redivision along new boundaries into two or more new lots. Subdivision plans include a prefix "M" before the number of the plan.
Particularly in the pre-Confederation period, these plans were used to record locations on land made for grants and sales. Often, however, the individuals named on the plans did not follow through with obtaining a patent on the land. Thus, in order to confirm that a patent was actually issued, it is necessary to examine other sources such as various indices to land patents. (See Inventory 52 for descriptions of these indices).
At the time a survey was completed and a survey plan created, an extra copy of the plan was prepared. Whenever a lot or a portion of a lot was patented, the patentee's name was inscribed on the plan in the appropriate place and the lot normally was marked with a "D" for "described". At times, other information such as a land file number (See Series RG 1-246), an order-in-council number, a licence number or a lease reference also was included. Later survey plans were obtained from other government sources such as land registry offices.
Several patent plans may exist for a town or township, and the information provided may vary among the plans. The series also includes Subdivision plans, which are plans that subdivide land of existing lots into two or more new lots; or, the consolidation of two or more existing lots and their simultaneous redivision along new boundaries into two or more new lots. Subdivision plans include a prefix "M" before the number of the plan.
Particularly in the pre-Confederation period, these plans were used to record locations on land made for grants and sales. Often, however, the individuals named on the plans did not follow through with obtaining a patent on the land. Thus, in order to confirm that a patent was actually issued, it is necessary to examine other sources such as various indices to land patents. (See Inventory 52 for descriptions of these indices).
Collection
Geospatial
License
Publicly accessible
Data Collector
Ontario. Surveyor General's Office (name varies by time period)
Collection Date
[178?]-[ca. 1978]
Distributor
Archives of Ontario
Data Type
Spatial
Geographic Keywords
Ontario
Keywords
Historical maps, Historical GIS, Crown lands
Citation
“Ontario Archives Patent Plans Collection,” MDL Data, accessed January 19, 2026, https://mdl-data.library.utoronto.ca/items/show/1796.