Hilda May Uttley – 1896-1987
Cecil Howard Bone – 1894-1961

Hilda May Uttley was born December 30, 1896 in Waterloo. She was the last of seven children and the third daughter of John Robert Uttley and Catherine (nee Birmingham).

Birth The birth is found in the Ontario Vital Statistics of 1896, reference #242-909. The births of her older brothers are not recorded, but the birth of Hilda's sister in 1894 was. Perhaps it remained more difficult to avoid birth registrations now they lived in Waterloo. Date: Dec 30/96 Place: Waterloo, Ontario Name: Hilda May Edna Female Father: John R. Uttley Engineer Mother: Catherine Birmingham Informant: John R. Uttley Reg'd: Feb 15, 1897 Doctor: Dr. J.H. Armitage

Hilda May Uttley as a child

A daughter, Hilda M., age 4, is listed with the family of John R in the Census of 1901. This entry almost confirms Hilda's date of birth with December 29, 1896.

The story passed down in the family was that Hilda May an her older sister Mary Edna were placed in an orphanage in Port Hope when Hilda was four years old. Their father, recently widowed, was working as an engineer at the local porcelain factory or he may have moved on to Sudbury already. An older brother, either Gordon or perhaps Russell, came to the orphanage after a few years and took the two girls out of it. They then lived with the brother in Port Hope or back in Berlin.

By 1908-1910, Hilda was back in Port Hope and got a job in domestic service (maybe as a nanny). The 1911 census shows Hilda working as a servant at the home of Edward Pipher on King Street and later she worked with the Helm family on King Street. In 1914 she left the job and married Cecil Bone.

Cecil Howard Bone was born on June 19, 1894 in Port Hope, Ontario, the son of George Mullen Bone and Minnie Maria Keeler.

Marriage Record

The marriage of Hilda to Cecil Bone on November 26, 1914 took place in Port Hope, Ontario. It is recorded in the Marriage Vital Statistics for 1914 under #016-107:

Date: November 26, 1914 Place: Port Hope, Ontario By: Licence Groom: Cecil Howard Bone Res: Port Hope, Durham Co Bachelor Age: 21 Relig: Baptist Parents: Geo. Bone, Engineer, Minnie M. Keeler Bride: Hilda Mary Utley Res: Port Hope, Durham Co Spinster Age: 18 Relig: Baptist Parents: Jno. Utley, Laborer, Catharine Birmingham Witness: Edgar S. Bone, Port Hope; Stella Maurole, Port Hope Hilda's middle name was consistently written as "Mary" in the marriage register.

Cecil Bone and Hilda May Uttley

Cecil Bone -- 1894-1961

Hilda May Bone -- 1896-1987

The couple had eight children and lived at 117 Bruton Street in Port Hope for the rest of their lives. Cecil worked at the Nicholson File Factory and as a handyman at night. Money was always short and there were few frills, but they had a rich family life.

Deaths

Cecil passed away in Port Hope in 1961.

Hilda was a great lady and much loved by a grandson who spent a lot of time with her as he grew up. She was very spry and mentally sharp until just before her death from a stroke in 1987.

BONE Cecil H. Bone 1894-1961 his wife Hilda M. Uttley 1896-1987 Welcome United Cemetery, outside Port Hope, Ont

[Copyright Information]
Most recent revision February 2017