Near Richmond Hill in York Region, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

The De Puisaye Settlement

1799

Photographed by Tim Boyd, March 9, 2026

1. The De Puisaye Settlement Marker

Inscription. In the fall of 1798 some 40 exiled French Royalists. under the leadership of Joseph-Genevieve, Comte de Puisaye (1754-1827), emigrated from England to Upper Canada. The following year they were given rations and agricultural implements and settled along Yonge Street in the townships of Markham and Vaughan. However, these members of the nobility and their servants were unable to adapt themselves to a pioneer existence and by 1806 their settlement, known as Windham, was abandoned. De Puisaye lived for a time on an estate near Niagara, but returned to England in 1802.

Erected by Ontario Archaeological 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 1799.

Location. 43° 55.375′ N, 79° 26.957′ W. Marker is near Richmond Hill, Ontario, in York Region. It is on Yonge Street 0.3 kilometers south of Stouffville Road, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 12125 Yonge Street,

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Richmond Hill ON L4E 0B8, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Toronto,

specifically on the Golden Horseshoe,

in the York, Durham and Headwaters Area,

and in the Toronto Metropolitan Area.

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 10 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Yonge Street / Rue Yonge (approx. half a kilometer away); The Founding of Richmond Hill (approx. 5.1 kilometers away); King Railway Station (approx. 8.1 kilometers away); Laskay Hall (approx. 8.1 kilometers away); Kinghorn School (approx. 8.2 kilometers away); The Town Park (approx. 8.5 kilometers away); Aurora Armoury / Manège Militaire d’Aurora (approx. 8.5 kilometers away); "The Old Post Office" (approx. 8.6 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Richmond Hill.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, March 9, 2026

2. The De Puisaye Settlement Marker

Joseph-Genevieve, Comte De Puisaye image. Click for full size.

3. Joseph-Genevieve, Comte De Puisaye

Library and Archives Canada (public domain)

Credits. This page was last revised on March 13, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 13, 2026, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 15 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 13, 2026, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.