Balinafad in Erin in Wellington County, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Early Settlement in Erin Township

Photographed by Tim Boyd, August 5, 2025

1. Early Settlement in Erin Township Marker

Inscription. Erin Township was formed from land purchased by the Crown from the Missisauga Indians in 1818. It was surveyed in 1818 and in 1820-21. A few grantees, including three named Roszel, settled near the site of Ballinafad by 1820. Other settlers came in 1821-27. By 1828 Aaron Wheller had built a grist mill on the site of Hillsburgh, where Nazareth Hill later established a village. Another settlement formed near the site of Erin village where a sawmill was in operation by 1828 and a grist mill by 1829. These mills were acquired and rebuilt by Daniel McMillan and in 1839 "Erin" post office was opened at "McMillan's Mills." In 1841 the township contained 1,368 persons.

Erected by Ontario Archeological and Historic Sites Board.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Ontario Heritage Trust series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1818.

Location. 43° 41.767′ N, 80° 0.762′ W. Marker is in Erin, Ontario, in Wellington County. It is in Balinafad. It is at the intersection of Trafalgar Road (County Road 24)

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and 32 Side Road, on the right when traveling south on Trafalgar Road (County Road 24). Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Erin ON L7G 4S4, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Huron-Perth-Waterloo-Wellington Area

and in Southwestern Ontario.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Nathaniel Roszel, First Settlement in Erin Township (here, next to this marker); Rolling Hills Farm (approx. 4 kilometers away); Churchill Cemetery (approx. 5.5 kilometers away); Rockside (approx. 6.8 kilometers away); Beaumont Knitting Mill (approx. 7.1 kilometers away); Limehouse Memorial Hall (approx. 7.1 kilometers away); Perkins House (approx. 7.4 kilometers away); St. Alban the Martyr Anglican Church (approx. 7.4 kilometers away).

Photographed by Tim Boyd, August 5, 2025

2. Early Settlement in Erin Township Marker

Erin Township, 1861 image. Click for full size.

3. Erin Township, 1861

Credits. This page was last revised on August 7, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 7, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 81 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 7, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.