History of NewcastleDistrict:
Newcastle District was created in1802, and had been previously part of the Home
District. Newcastle Districtencompassed the present day counties of Durham,
Northumberland, Peterborough, Victoria,and all land to the north. In 1838, the
District was divided into the Newcastle and ColborneDistricts. In 1849, the district
system was abolished, and the Newcastle District became known asNorthumberland
and DurhamCounties in 1850, and Colborne District became PeterboroughCounty in
1850. F rom the land comprising Peterborough County, VictoriaCounty was created in
1852, and HaliburtonCountywas created in 1874.
It is also important to note that,in 1851, BrightonTownship, NorthumberlandCounty, was created from portions ofland previously belonging to Cramahe and MurrayTownships.
(Taken from: Hillman, Thomas A. "AStatutory Chronolgy of Ontario:Counties and Municipalities." Gananoque: Langdale Press, 1988.)
In 1792, the United Counties ofNorthumberland and Durhamwere officially created in a
proclamation made by Lieutenant-Governor John Graves Simcoe. Theproclamation divided Upper Canadain 19 Counties for representation purposes. The United Counties ofNorthumberland & Durham are bounded by LakeOntario in the south, HastingCountyin the east, OntarioCounty in the west and Peterboroughand VictoriaCounties in the north. The town linebetween Hope and Hamilton Townships divide the two counties.
Durham County consists ofthe Townships of Cartwright, Manvers, Cavan, Darlington,Clarke and Hope. NorthumberlandCounty consists of South Monaghan, Hamilton,Haldimand, Alnwick, Percy, Cramahe, Seymour,Brighton and MurrayTownships.
(Taken from: "IllustratedHistorical Atlas of Northumberland and DurhamCounties, Ontario."Belleville:Mika Silk Screening Limited,1972.)