In 1849 and 1853 the government of Canada West, later to be known as the Province of Ontario, created a system of municipal governance based upon the creation of County and Township governance. The legislation was based upon the recommendations of Lord Durham contained in the “Durham Report” that had flowed from the Rebellion of 1837 which recognized the need for local representative government. Melancthon Township was initially part of Grey County before the County of Dufferin was formed and the Township became part of the County of Dufferin.