Registers of Fiats : Old Regulations : 1796 - 1818.

            Before 1801, land grants were authorized by a variety of documents: certificates from governors; surveyors general; land boards; or magistrates.  From 1801 to 1818 the main document in the land granting process was the Attorney-General's Fiat.  Once a grant had been authorized by an Order in Council, the Attorney-General issued his Fiat to the Surveyor General authorizing the grant of land to the person named on the Order.  In the Surveyor General's office, Fiats were numbered and filed according to the regulations under which they were issued.  After 1818, the Attorney-General's Fiat was replaced by the Warrant, which actually was an Order in Council and originated in the Council office.  The Surveyor-General determined most locations on the authority of the Warrant.  However, Fiats continued to be issued until 1835 when their use was finally discontinued.  Fiats and Warrants, though differing in place of origin, fulfilled the same purpose and are treated as one series of documents.
            

            The Registers of Fiats - Old Regulations form two series.
The first series extends from April 1796 to July 1801, immediately before the Attorney General's Fiat became a regular part of the land granting procedure.
The second series extends from 1801 to around 1850 when the Attorney General's certificate began to be issued.   They are entered in two Registers entitled Warrant Book No. 1, O.R. and Warrant Book No. 2, O.R. The information given includes name, number of acres granted, date of the grant, and description.  Frequently, there are interesting additional comments concerning the person or his family, including the number of children, how much land he had received previously, and if he were a Loyalist or a Military Claimant.

            

            Each volume contains an inventory description and an index which includes the reference to the Register number.
The inventory description is available in print and as a PDF in the electronic finding aids section.