History of the Township of North Dumfries
North Dumfries is situated on the land traditionally cared for by the Haudenosaunee, Anishnaabe and Neutral Peoples. We acknowledge the enduring presence and deep traditional knowledge and philosophies of the Indigenous People with whom we share this land today. For more information, please visit our Reconciliation page
The Honourable James Young wrote about the North Dumfries area in "Reminiscences of the Early History of Galt and the Settlement of Dumfries," and it is from his work that the beginnings of this Township were recorded. In it he states that the land later known as North and South Dumfries was deeded to Mr. Philip Stedman on February 5, 1798 from Colonel Joseph Brant of the Six Nations. On the deed the land is described as Block No. 1, comprising 94,305 acres and Mr. Stedman bought it for 8841 Pounds. A few years later, Mr. Stedman passed away and his sister inherited the property, but she sold it in 1811 to Honourable Thomas Clarke. In 1816, unable to continue payments, the land was bought by Honourable William Dickson for 24,000 pounds.
Mr. Dickson came from Dumfries Scotland in 1792, and settled in Niagara or Newark. Mr. Dickson wanted to use this land and build a community, so he enlisted the help of Absalom Shade. In July 1816, Mr. Dickson and Mr. Shade went forth and searched for the perfect area to start a town, and they found it at the junction of the Grand River and Mill Creek. Mr. Dickson soon had the land surveyed, and it is at this point that he decided to call it Dumfries after his place of birth. The first industry in the Township was Shade's Grist Mill, but sawmills started by 1817.
In 1817 the Township had a population of 38 families, which constituted over 163 people.
In 1820, Mr. Dickson employed the services of Mr. John Telfer who went to Scotland to enlist people to buy land and to come live in Canada. From 1825 until early 1832, there was a steady stream of settlers to the area, resulting in a dominance of Scottish persons living in this Township. By 1832 every plot in Mr. Dickson's tract of land was filled, and most of the settlers were Scottish.
The first municipal meeting for the Township of Dumfries North was held in 1819, and these meetings continued until 1836 when the Provincial Legislature passed a new law which let taxpayers of Dumfries to elect three Township Commissioners. In 1842 two District Councillors were elected and their names were Alex Buchanan and Hiram Capron. In 1850 taxpayers were allowed the freedom of electing five councillors to manage the business of the township.
On January 1, 1973 with the introduction of Regional Government Structure, the current form of the Township of North Dumfries was established.
The Township of North Dumfries consists of:
