Newcastle District Explained

The Newcastle District was a historic district in Upper Canada which existed until 1849. It was formed in 1802 from the Home District, consisting of the counties of Durham and Northumberland.

History

The legislature had enacted in 1798 that "as soon as there are one thousand souls within the said counties, and that six of the townships therein do hold town meetings according to law," the government shall constitute them as a separate district;^[1] which was done in 1802.^[2]

The district town was originally Newcastle, located near the current town of Brighton, and then Amherst, later renamed Cobourg.

In 1841, the northern part of the District was detached to form the Colborne District, consisting of Peterborough County.^[4] It consisted of the following territory:

In 1850, the district was dissolved, and replaced with the United Counties of Northumberland and Durham that was established for municipal purposes.^[6]

Further reading

• Armstrong, Frederick H. Handbook of Upper Canadian Chronology. Toronto : Dundurn Press, 1985.

Notes and References

1. An act for the better division of this province. S.U.C.. 1798. 5. 25. https://hdl.handle.net/2027/aeu.ark:/13960/t42r4wr64?urlappend=%3Bseq=158.
2. An Act to provide for the Administration of Justice in the District of Newcastle. S.U.C.. 1802. 2. https://hdl.handle.net/2027/aeu.ark:/13960/t42r4wr64?urlappend=%3Bseq=197.
3. 1798 Act, ss. 19-20
4. An Act to authorize the Erection of certain Townships, and other territory heretofore forming part of the Newcastle District, into a new District, by the name of the District of Colborne, with Peterborough for the District Town. S.U.C.. 1837. 115. https://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.35112103435170?urlappend=%3Bseq=467., implemented by the Proclamation of October 14, 1841
5. 1837 Act, s. 1
6. An Act for abolishing the Territorial Division of Upper-Canada into Districts, and for providing for temporary Unions of Counties for Judicial and other purposes, and for the future dissolutions of such Unions, as the increase of wealth and population may require. S.C.. 12 Vic.. 78. C. https://books.google.com/books?id=MLxRAAAAYAAJ&lpg=PA614&ots=1MREstwySD&pg=PA440#v=onepage&f=false.