Haldimand County - Historic Townships

Historic Townships

Haldimand County area 284,817 acres (1,153 km2) was formed from part of the land grant to the Six Nations in 1783. The County was purchased by treaty and opened for general settlement in 1832. It was first settled by white veterans of Butler's Rangers established there by Joseph Brant. A large number of Germans were among the first settlers.

• Canborough, area 21,586 acres (87 km2). Granted in 1794 by Joseph Brant to John Dochstader of Butler's Rangers. Purchased by Benjamin Canby in 1810 for 5,000, he named the village-site "Canborough. Community centre: Canborough, Darling and it touches Dunnville
• Dunn, area 15,122 acres (61 km2). Opened for settlement in 1833. Community centre: Dunnville
• Moulton, area 27,781 acres (112 km2). Landowner Henry John Boulton named the township from the Boulton family seat in England.
• North Cayuga, area 32,825 acres (133 km2).
• Oneida, area 32,598 acres (132 km2). Joseph Brant granted a 999 year lease of part of Oneida and Seneca townships to Henry Nelles, of Butler's Rangers and his sons, Robert, Abraham, William, Warner and John. Community centres were: Caledonia, Dufferin and Hagersville.
• Rainham, area 25,705 acres (104 km2) Community centres: Balmoral, Selkirk, Rainham Centre and Fisherville.
• Seneca, area 41,721 acres (169 km2). Community centres: York and Caledonia
• Sherbrooke, area 5,098 acres (21 km2), the smallest township in Ontario. Opened in 1825 and named from Sir John Coape Sherbrooke, a Governor-General of Canada. The Township was granted by the Indians to William Dickson (a lawyer) as a professional fee. Community centres: Stromness and Port Maitland.
• South Cayuga, area 13,293 acres (54 km2). Community centre: Cayuga
• Walpole, area 66,213 acres (268 km2). Community centres were: Hagersville, Jarvis, Selkirk, Cheapside and Nanticoke.

Source: Province of Ontario -- A History 1615 to 1927 by Jesse Edgar Middleton & Fred Landon, copyright 1927, Dominion Publishing Company, Toronto