Local History:
Assessment Records
The tax assessment records can help in accurate dating of the construction of the building as well as disclosing the original owner and a list of occupants. Land assessment and Tax assessment records combined will allow you to determine the original owner and occupant of the property as well as the date at which the structure is built. [Not all buildings are tax assessed. Public and institutional buildings such as churches and schools may not be found on tax assessment records. If they are used for a purpose other than their original use, such as a school that has been converted into a house, it will be assessed only from the time it was converted.] Prior to the construction of a building, the vacant lot is listed by lot number. Following is a list of former municipalities in Hamilton and the available assessment rolls. Note: Since the amalgamation the records of the new City of Hamilton are administered by the Hamilton City Clerk’s Office. Contact Hamilton City Clerk's Office.
Note: there may be gaps in some records. Ancaster: contact the Hamilton City Clerk’s department Barton Township: not available After the date of annexation see Hamilton assessment rolls Beverly Township: 1837-1954 on microfilm in Local History & Archives For 1955 onwards contact the Hamilton City Clerk’s Office Binbrook: 1854-1970 on microfilm in Local History & Archives For 1971 onwards contact the Hamilton City Clerk’s Office Dundas: 1835-1942 on microfilm in Local History & Archives For 1943 onwards contact the Hamilton City Clerk’s Office East Flamborough: 1840-1960 on microfilm in Local History & Archives For 1961 onwards contact the Hamilton City Clerk’s Office Flamborough: amalgamation of East & West Flamborough and Beverly 1973 Glanbrook: amalgamation of Glanford & Binbrook 1973 Glanford: 1840-1957 on microfilm in Local History & Archives For 1958 onwards contact the Hamilton City Clerk’s Office Hamilton: 1834-1899 on microfilm in Local History & Archives For 1900 onwards contact the Hamilton City Clerk’s Office These records are organized by ward (name or number). For a listing of historic wards see the “City of Hamilton Ward Boundary Maps, 1813-1985” (R346.713045 KIN) to determine the ward that your property was in. Stoney Creek: contact the Hamilton City Clerk’s Office Older records are at the Archives of Ontario in Toronto Waterdown: 1880-1959 on microfilm in Local History & Archives For 1960 onwards contact the Hamilton City Clerk’s Office West Flamborough: 1861-1960 on microfilm in Local History & Archives For 1961 onwards contact the Hamilton City Clerk’s Office Note: Several areas in Hamilton have previously belonged to other jurisdictions. West Hamilton was originally part of Ancaster Township and east Hamilton and the mountain were originally part of Barton Township
