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Puslinch - Creation of a TownshipThe original inhabitants of Puslinch were the Neutral Indians. Their settlements were obliterated in the Huron-Iroquois wars in 1651. The Mississaugas, from the Ojibway tribes further north, moved into this area, but had only briefly occupied it when the deeds of extinction were passed in 1781. With Indian Treaty #3 of December 7, 1792, with the Mississaugas, the lands came under the control of the government.The Constitutional Act passed by Britain in 1791 established Upper Canada as a separate colony. Puslinch Township's boundary was first surveyed by Augustus Jones in 1784. David Gibson was engaged to survey Puslinch in 1828-31 when settlers began arriving. Puslinch Township was named after the English home of Elizabeth Yonge, wife of Sir John Colborne, the Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada, 1828-35. Puslinch Manor lies just outside the village of Yealmpton on the outskirts of Plymouth, England. Wellington County was first created as a District by proclamation in 1838. When the District of Wellington separated from the old Gore District, Puslinch stayed with the Gore. It joined Wellington County in 1846. The Baldwin Act of 1849 which established the Ontario form of municipal government still in effect today, also created the United Counties of Wellington, Waterloo and Grey. The United Counties separated, and Wellington came into being in 1854. The shape of Wellington County today is unchanged since 1881. Puslinch Township is somewhat smaller today than in 1850 because of annexation of land by neighbouring administrations. Town meetings had been held in Puslinch since 1836, but the Municipal Act of 1849 established municipal administration. Puslinch was incorporated as a township on January 1, 1850 and the first township Council meeting was held on January 21, 1850. In 1966, Puslinch south of Highway 401 was absorbed into Wentworth North riding. In redistribution prior to the Provincial election of 1975, it was back in Wellington South riding. In 1993, a proposed realignment to the previous electoral boundaries, with south Puslinch going to Wentworth-Burlington and north Puslinch to Guelph-Wellington was strongly opposed, and the idea was dropped in 1995. In 1995, the Provincial government began pressuring municipalities to reorganize themselves into more efficient bodies and the two-tier municipal structure and delivery of services came under review throughout the County. In the final restructuring plan of the late 1990s, Puslinch was left essentially unchanged. Taken from Puslinch Profiles 1850-2000 published by the Puslinch Historical Society. Historic Puslinch Sites Ellis Chapel Starkey Hill The Puslinch Historical Society |