History of Erin Township
History of Erin Township History of Erin Township Name Erin Township is said to have been so named by the surveyors, because it was surveyed immediately after the Townships of Albion and Caledon. Albion suggested England, Caledon suggested Scotland, and it was thought fitting that the third should suggest Ireland; so they called it Erin, the poetic name for Ireland. Survey The survey of the Southern part of Erin Township started in 1819, by Deputy Surveyor Charles Kennedy of Esquesing Township, and Donald Black of Eramosa Twp. Starting at the east side, they continued across to the Eramosa boundary, as far as 17 sideroad, leaving a gore at the Eramosa side. In 1820, the northern part of the township was surveyed. The 1906 Atlas names O'Reilly as one of the surveyors, but the History of Erin Township in 1967, states that Donald Black and John Burt continued the survey above 17 sideroad. But instead of beginning at the Caledon side, they started at the Eramosa side, ending up with a gore along the Caledon boundary. This accounts for the jog in the lines at 17 sideroad. J.W. Burt had the instruments used by his father and Mr. Kennedy in the survey, and in 1956, Goldwin Burt presented these instruments to Wellington County Museum at Elora. When the surveyors finished their arduous work, they were offered land in the newly-surveyed Township as their pay, or part of it; but not being favourably impressed with the wilderness, they refused to accept it. Mr. Kennedy was offered 1,000 acres, beginning at lot 14, on each side of the 9th line, to lot 17 inclusive; but in his refusal, he reported the land to be of little value.
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