[Biography Sketch] | [Obituary] | [Last Will]

Jonathan Uttley – 1829-1895

Biographical sketch of Jonathan UTTLEY goes here <================

Obituary

From the Daily Record, Saturday October 26, 1895 on page 1:

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An Elmira Business Man's Death Mr. Jonathan Uttley, a prominent business man of Elmira, died this morning at 4.30 o'clock, after a long illness, at the age of 66 years and 20 days. The deceased was one of the best known merchants in North Waterloo, having for the last eighteen or twenty years conducted a grocery, grain, pork and commission business in that village. For many years before the railway was extended to Elmira, he had pork and grain warehouses at Waterloo and was almost a daily visitor there and here. After passing through a number of vicissitudes such as are more or less common in the business world, he succeeded and has been well-to-do for quite a number of years and has built up a large business. As a business man he was a man of sterling honesty, straightforward and aggressive. To the many hundreds of farmers with whom he dealt constantly, his word was as good as his bond and they regarded him as a friend.
The village itself owes him not a little debt of gratitude for his enterprise and will no doubt pay a tribute of respect to his memory. He took a great interest in public affairs, both municipal and national, was an out and out Conservative and swore by the late Sir John A. Macdonald.
He leaves a widow and two daughters, Mrs. M. Wildfong and Miss Ellen, to mourn his death. His funeral will take place on Monday next at 1.30 p.m. to the Union Cemetery. He was an uncle to the editor of the RECORD.

And from the Waterloo County Chronicle, Thursday November 7, 1895 on page 1:

OBITUARY -- It is with deep regret that we have to chronicle the death of Mr. J. Uttley, one of our best known citizens. The deceased has been engaged in active business in Elmira for a long term of years and will not only be sorrowfully missed in the family circle, but also among his many business friends. The funeral took place on Monday afternoon, memorial services being held afterwards in the Presbyterian church, the Rev. Mr. Hamilton officiating.

UTTLEY
JONATHAN UTTLEY
Died Oct. 26, 1895
Aged 66 yrs. 20 ds
his wife
MATILDA GIRLING
Died Nov. 2 1918
in her 86 year
JAMES W. UTTLEY
Died Jan. 16 1894.
Aged 31 yrs. 2 ms. St James Cemetery, Elmira

Notes

Not a wealth of great 'family' detail here. Even the widow Matilda isn't named and there's not a mention of England. The description of Jonathan as an honest business man is great as is the reference to his politics. It points to the Union Cemetery in Elmira, but in fact Jonathan is buried across the road from the Union Cemetery in the St. James Cemetery.
The Elmira Signet for 1895 has been lost. Only 1893 is intact in the microfilms around the year we need. Too bad for us.

Last Will and Testament

[These are extracts from the Last Will and Testament of Jonathan Uttley taken from microfilms of Waterloo County Wills. This will is numbered 2899, on reel number 676 that contains wills from 2940 to 3035 which are wills from the end of 1895 and the start of 1896.]

Following the cover and a page on probate fees ($25.15 in total) the submission continues:

No. 2988
In the Surrogate Court of the County of Waterloo
In the Estate of Jonathan Uttley DECEASED
Novbr 11th 1895
In have the honor to submit the following papers hereunto annexed in the above matter, all of which have been duly signed, sworn to and executed, namely:

Application of Matilda Uttley et als for Probate.
Schedule of Real Estate, (valued at $3100) and Inventory of Property, valued at $11,749.96.
Certificate of Surrogate Clerk.
Affidavit of death and place of abode of the testator.
Affidavit of value of property devolving.
[STROKED OUT] Affidavit of search for Will.
[STROKED OUT] Affidavit of plight and condition and finding of Will.
Affidavit of execution of Will.
Will of Jonathan Uttley signed by Witness and Commissioner as an Exhibit.
Oath of Executor.
[STROKED OUT]
Deed of Renunciation by Frank Mickus [an executor].

Followed by the Petition of the beneficiaries:

In the Surrogate Court of the County of Waterloo
The Petition of Matilda Uttley of the Village of Elmira in the County of Waterloo widow and Annie Matilda Wilfong of the same place married woman (wife of Menno Wilfong)
humbly sheweth:
THAT Jonathan Uttley late of the Village of Elmira in the County of Waterloo, Merchant deceased died on or about the twenty-sixth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety-five at the said Village of Elmira in the County of Waterloo and that the said deceased at the time of his death had had his fixed place of abode at the said Village of Elmira in the said County of Waterloo.
THAT the said deceased in his lifetime duly made his last Will and Testament bearing the date the Twenty-fifth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety-five that Frank Mickus the Executor named in the said will has renounced all his right and claim to Probate.
THAT your Petitioners are the Executrices named in the said Will.
THAT the value of the whole Property of the said deceased which he in any way died posessed of or entitled to, and for and in respect to which PROBATE of the said Will is to be granted is under thirteen thousand dollars,
THAT the value of the Personal Estate and Effects is under Nine thousand dollars, and of the Real Estate is under four thousand dollars, and that full particulars and an appraisement of all said property are exhibited herewith and verified upon oath.
WHEREFORE your Petitioners pray that Probate of the said Will of the said deceased may be granted to them by this Honorable Court.
Dated the fifth day of November A.D. 1895
{Received and Filed 7th day of November A.D. 1895}

Then there is a Registration page, a page where Matilda says she is an Executrice and notice that attachment "B" is a true and correct inventory and valuation of the property. Attachment "B" follows:

B
Schedule B referred to in the affidavit of hereto
annexed --

                      Personally
     Stock of goods consisting of
      groceries, crockery, fancy
      goods etc in store                   374
      Potatoes, turnips + other goods
      in cellar of store                   185
     Stock of liquor in store              513
     Grain + groceries + seed in
      Warehouse                            895
     Implements + goods in Barn            430
     Grains in warehouse at station       2298
     Bank accounts                        2000
     Promissory Notes                      200
     Cash on hand                          100
     Hides in warehouse                    205
     Cash in Bank                         1449.96
                                         --------
                                         $8649.96

     Real Estate consisting
      of brick dwelling House
      in Elmira on Church street
      part lot 89 G.C.T. Woolwich  1500
     Frame Dwelling + lot
      therewith on Park
      Street in Elmira              250
     Elevator at Station           1000
     Barn+lot on Walker[?] Street   350   3100.00
                                -----------------
                                        $11749.96

Then follows three more pages of witnessing followed by attachment "A", the will itself:

This Instrument Witnesseth; that I Jonathan Uttley of the Village of Elmira in the County of Waterloo, and Province of Ontario, Merchant, being of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding do make publish and declare this to be my last will and testament, hereby revoking and making null and void all former last wills and testaments or writings in the nature of last wills and testaments by me heretofore made.
My will is first that my funeral charges and just debts shall be paid by my executors hereinafter named, all the rest and residue of my estate which shall not be required for the payment of my just debts funeral charges and the expenses attending the administration of this my estate I give and bequeath as follows:
I give and bequeath unto my wife Matilda Uttley as much of my estate as she may require for her own use during her natural life time, after the decease of my wife Matilda Uttley whatever remains of my estate either real personal or mixed is to be equally divided share and share alike between my two daughters Annie Wilfong wife of Menno Wilfong and Ellen Uttley to have and to hold the same for their own use forever.
I hereby nominate and appoint my friend Frank Mickus and my wife Matilda Uttley and my daughter Annie Wilfong Executor and Executrices of this my last will and I do hereby authorize and empower them or the surviving of them or the acting of them should either or any of them renounce my real estate and personal property and to give and grant good and sufficient Deed or Deeds of conveyance for said real estate whether sold by me and not Deeded or sold by him, her or them after my decease, and to take Mortgages if necessary and grant discharges and all such other legal documents as may be necessary or required to carry out the true intent and meaning of this my last will and testament.
In witness whereof I have herewith set my hand and affixed my seal this twenty fifth day of October one thousand eight hundred and ninety-five.
Jonathan Uttley [signature]
Signed sealed and declared by the said Jonathan Uttley to be his last will and testament, in the presence of us who at his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses hereto.
Reuben Winger }
Nickolaus Hoebrich } both of the Village of Elmira

And finally three more pages attesting to the authenticity of attachment "A".

Notes on the Will

the only new fact I spotted was that Annie's middle name is 'Matilda'. No doubt the first daughter, Emma M., who died before 1871 also had a middle name of Matilda.
Jonathan's signature on this will was small in size and rather shakey. Not surprising, I suppose, as the will was made out the day before he died.
the goods on hand in the store and elevator is the most interesting information. Was the $513 worth of liquor in the store all Rye Whisky from Seagram's in Waterloo?
all in all, it is very ordinary and not at all illuminating for future generations.

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Reuben Winger	}
Nickolaus Hoebrich	} both of the Village of Elmira