Nathan Uttley – 1831-1903

Birth

Nathan Uttley was born November 26, 1831 in Drayton, Norfolk, a son of William Uttley, a shepherd, and Ann Girling. The date comes from the note Nathan himself wrote on the back of his mother's picture in about 1870 -- "Nov 26 at 7 Oclock Evening 1831". He was baptized a few weeks later at St Margaret's church in Drayton on December 11, 1831. The 1901 Canadian Census reports the date of his birth as November 25, 1832, one year later.

Nathan Uttley -- 1831-1903

The 1841 British Census lists Nathan at age 10 with the rest of his family in Wheatacre, Norfolk. He would have started working on the local farms as an agricultural labourer by age 13 or earlier. In the 1851 Census in Wheatacre, Nathan at age 19 is working as an agricultural labourer.

Times must have been hard with few prospects for the future. Nathan's uncle, George Girling had emigrated to Canada in the 1840s where he settled in Canada. Three Uttley brothers, Jonathan, Nathan and Samuel came to Canada in 1856 to join their uncle's family. All three quickly moved out on their own.

When it docked in New York in May 1856, the manifest of the Ship Amazon included the names 'Nathan UTLEE' and 'Saml UTLEE' in its passenger list. Sounds pretty close to two of our three UTTLEY boys but the clincher was the next entry in the list for Matilda GERLING/GIRLING who would later marry the third UTTLEY brother, Jonathan.

On May 20, 1856, Nathan UTTLEY (age 24, shepherd) and his younger brother Samuel UTTLEY (age 18, shepherd) stepped off the Ship Amazon in New York. With them was Matilda GIRLING (age 23), their first cousin. The Amazon had sailed from London and the passenger list says they were berthed on the 'Intermediate Upper Deck' which wasn't the 'Upper Deck' or a private cabin but it wasn't the 'Lower Deck - Steerage' either, so they must have been reasonably comfortable. There were sixteen people listed as Cabin Passengers and another 640 people on the different decks of the Amazon. The birth of at least one baby occurred during the voyage from England and there were no references to any deaths.

On the following day from the New-York Tribune, Wednesday May 21, 1856, page 8: Passengers Arrived. In ship Amazon, from London and Portsmouth -- G. R. Gleddon, lady and son, Mrs. Lawrence and family, H. Grippin and lady, E. Collingwood, D. Gunneil, J. Smith and lady. Arrived. Ship: Amazon (packet), steamship, Master: [Captain] Hovey, From/When: London and Portsmouth, April 20, Consigned/Cargo: with merchandise and 650 passengers, to E. E. Morgan. Remarks: April 28, lat 45, lon. 33, saw a ship called the Driver, bound East; set our colors, but they did not answer them; read her name. May 7, lat. 44, lon. 45 40, fell in with large quantities of ice -- tacked and stood to the south 30 hours, and saw no more. Had heavy weather to the eastward of the Banks, with hail and sleet. Off George's, was in company with ships Ontario, and Johanne Wilhelmine, bound West. Sunday, at noon. Nantucket Shoal due North 28 miles, saw the steamers Edinburg, and Hermann, side by side, bound East. The Amazon was hove to off the Highlands, Monday afternoon, in a thick fog.

First Marriage

Nathan married Lucinda Randall on Wednesday November 25, 1857 in Berlin at what later became St Paul's Lutheran Church. Lucinda's family had moved to the Elmira area from Hamilton about the same time Nathan appeared on the scene.

Below is a composite graphic of their wedding registration:

• Nathan Uttley was a sawyer in Woolwich Township which agrees with other sources
• The witnesses to the marriage are Samuel Uttley and Mary Fleet (sp?). Samuel is Nathan's younger brother and Mary was a first cousin.

The 1861 Census records Nathan and Lucy Otley with their first two boys, William H. and John R., living in a 1 1/2 story brick house in Woolwich Twp on 1/5 acre. Ten years later Nathan and 'Lusinda' Uttley with six children are still living in Elmira, this time on Factory St.

Second Marriage

Nathan married Mary Ann Birmingham on Thursday June 25, 1874 at St Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Elmira. The family Bible records the date as June 17, 1874 but the Ontario Marriage Archive of 1874, reference #009-668, must taken as the correct date. Nathan was recorded as 42 years of age, a widower, a resident of Elmira and working as a sawyer.

Nathan brought his children to the marriage and Mary Ann had a daughter Bella. Nathan and Mary Ann had six children: Peter, Abraham, Caroline, Lena, Jonathan and Samuel.

Nathan Uttley -- 1831-1903 Written by Beatrice Uttley, Nathan's granddaughter: Nathan Uttley was born in Norwich, Norfolk, England on November 25, 1832. His father, William Uttley, was a market gardener there. Nathan and his brothers Jonathan and Samuel emigrated to Canada in the late 1850's. Nathan walked from Hamilton to Elmira. He stayed at wayside inns, paying for his keep by looking after the horses of other travellers. Nathan settled in Elmira eking out a living as a market gardener on a small farm north of Elmira. He married Lucinda Linder [actually her name was Lucinda Randall], in Elmira, sometime in the late 1850's. They had seven children: John Robert, Sarah Ann, Mary Jane, Elizabeth [Henrietta actually], Nathan R., William Henry and Diana. Lucinda died after Diana's birth. Nathan later married Mary Ann Delena Saunburn on June 17, 1874. Nathan and Mary Anne had six children: Peter, Abraham, Caroline, Lena, Jonathan and Samuel. Beatrice Uttley's further memories: Grandpa Uttley's name was Nathan. He was born in Norwich, England sometime in the 1830's. I remember my father telling me that. He came to Canada as a young man to join his brothers John and Samuel who had settled in Elmira, Ontario. He was a gardener by trade and also a hostler, taking care of horses. This came in handy when he arrived in Canada. He said he walked or hitchhiked from Hamilton to Elmira. He would earn room and board when he stopped overnight in an inn taking care of horses. One of these inns was at the corner of King St. and Wellington in Kitchener. At a later date, this inn was remodelled into a house. That was the house where my Dad and Mother were married many years later. He settled in Elmira where he married a Miss Linder [Randall]. They had several sons and daughters. I remember hearing of Wellington, John, Sarah. His wife died quite young. Some short time later he married a very lovely young lady who lived in Crosshill, Ontario. This was my dear Grandma Uttley. Her name was Mary Ann Saunburn.

The family disappears from the Elmira assessments for 1874-76 but reappears in 1877 living on Church Street and then Park Street. In 1881 the whole family has moved to the in-laws farm, the Birmingham farm near Crosshill. The trip to the country didn't last and in 1882 Nathan is back in the village of Waterloo employed as a watchman. His occupation is sometimes erroniously reported as "watchmaker" in the assessments.

Nathan was the plant engineer looking after the large furnace at the Waterloo Woollen Mills when he died in 1903.

Obituaries

THE NEWS RECORD
Thursday, October 22, 1903

WATERLOO NEWS NOTES Which Came This Morning To Nathan Uttley–Dropped Dead While At Work     A startlingly sudden death was that which came to Nathan Uttley this morning about 10 o'clock at the age of 71 years. Deceased was engaged as fireman at the woolen mills and had gone down to work as was his custom, very early – about 5 o'clock – taking his breakfast with him. An attack of rheumatism had incapacitated him for a few days last week, but otherwise he was in good health. While lifting a shovelful of coal he fell over. His assistant hurriedly called his son, who was about the mill. Together they carried him out, but he expired in a few minutes. Dr. Armitage was called in and he pronounced death due to heart failure. Deceased was a native of Norfolk, England, and had lived in Waterloo for the past 22 years, being employed at the woollen mills the whole of that period. He was a well known figure in town, respected by all who knew him, and a most faithful and efficient employee of his firm. He is survived by a widow and ten children. The latter are: William, of Zurich; Mrs. Cook of Port Huron; Abraham, of Oshawa; Peter and Diana, of Berlin; John and Nathan of Waterloo; and Jonathan, Carrie and Mary, at home. Deceased was twice married. The funeral will take place on Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock to the Church of the Holy Saviour, Waterloo, and to Mount Hope Cemetery.

THE NEWS RECORD
Monday, October 26, 1903

WATERLOO NEWS NOTES Funeral Of The Late Nathan Uttley The funeral of the late Nathan Uttley on Sunday afternoon was very largely attended, both by citizens and the members of the Maccabee order, of which deceased was one of the first Charter members. Over 150 of the knights were in the prossession, which marched from the house to the church of the Holy Saviour, where services were conducted by the pastor, Rev. S. P. Irwin. At the cemetery the services were participated in by Messrs. Chas. Stark, D.S.C. and H.B. Duering, D.S.C., of Progress Tent, No. 228.

From the Chronicle-Telegraph, Waterloo, ON, Thur Oct 29, 1903, page 6: SUDDEN DEATH     Waterloo citizens were shocked on Thursday morning to hear of the death of Mr. Nathan Uttley, who expired suddenly Thursday a.m., while performing his usual duties at the Waterloo Woollen Mills. Mr. Uttley, who was fireman at the mills was in the act of putting a shovel of coal into the furnace, when he fell over and died, almost instantly. A paralytic stroke is supposed to have been the cause of death. Deceased has been an employe[e] of the Waterloo Woollen Mills for 22 years. He was a very industrious and much respected man and had not been ill for 40 years. Though past the age of three score and ten, Mr. Uttley, stuck faithfully to his post as fireman. He was not content unless at work, but during the last few years he has been failing in strength. OBITUARY     The late Nathan Uttley was born in Norfolk, England, over seventy-one years ago and came to Canada at the age of twenty-one. He lived for some years in Elmira and has been a resident of Waterloo for 21 years. He was twice married. His first wife, nee Miss Lucinda Randall of Hamilton, preceded him 31 years ago. Of this union five children survive, vis: William of Zurich, John R. of Waterloo, Sarah Ann (Mrs. Cook) Port Huron, Nathan [R.] of Waterloo and Miss Dianna Uttley of Berlin. In 1874 he was again married to Mary Birmingham of Wellesley. Of this union five children and the widow are left to mourn his death, vis: Peter of Berlin, Abraham, of Oshawa, Caroline, Lena and Jonathan at home. Deceased was a member of the K.O.T.M.

Notes

• "came to Canada at the age of twenty-one". Nathan was 21 on November 25, 1852 which points to the spring of 1853 when he immigrated. Nathan was twenty-four years old when he immigrated to Canada.
• Lucinda Uttley would have died in 1872 (Oct 22, 1903 less 31 years). She would have died in the year following the birth of her last child Diana who was born on July 28, 1871.
• Nathan was living in Elmira in 1877-8 and was in Waterloo in 1884-5 according to the Waterloo County Gazetteer and Directory. The assessments for Waterloo County show Nathan on Park St, Elmira in 1880, living with his in-laws in 1881 outside Crosshill and working as a night watchman in Waterloo in 1882. The obituaries are accurate when they report he had lived in Waterloo for 21 years.

I, Nathan Uttley, of the Town of Waterloo, in the County of Waterloo, and Province of Ontario, Engineer, do make and declare this as my last will and testament.

I revoke all testamentary writing by me at any time heretofore made.

I nominate and appoint my wife, Mary Ann Delena, to be executrix and John B. Fischer, of the Town of Waterloo, Butcher, and Conrad Huehnergard, of the same place, Clerk, executors of this my said will and authorize and empower them or the survivors or survivor of them to sign and execute all writings necessary to carry out the provisions hereof.

I give, devise and bequeath all my estate of whatsoever nature and kind unto my executrix and executors hereuntofore named or to the survivors or survivor of them in trust to dispose thereof as follows.

First, to pay all my just debts, funeral and testamentary expenses.

Second, to permit my wife Mary Ann Delena from time to time during her natural life to take the income and so much of the capital of my said estate, as she may ask or require for her support and maintenance.

Third, Upon the death of my said wife, my executors hereuntofore names or the survivor of them shall convert the remainder of my estate, if any, into money, and divide the same amongst my children hereinafter named, and Isabella Hohner, the daughter of my said wife, in the following proportions, that is to say, so that my children, Peter, Abraham, Caroline, Jonathan and Mary Ann Delena shall each receive twice as much as my children, William Henry, John Robert, Sarah Ann, Mary Jane, Nathan R. and Dianah and the said Isabella Hohner.

My said executrix and executors may at any time, upon the request or with the consent of my said wife, sell and dispose of any or all of my real estate, with the discretion of absolute owners.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty second day of April, one thousand nine hundred and one.

Signed, Sealed and Declared by the said Testator, Nathan Uttley, as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses.

J.M. Scully     Lillian M. Lyson

Codicil A:

I Nathan Uttley the Testator in the foregoing will named do hereby make publish and declare this as a codicil to my said will.

I will and direct that the legacy herein before bequeathed to my daughter Mary Jane shall be paid to her daughter, Henrietta Warley whom I have adopted under the name of Henrietta Warley Uttley.

In all other respects, I do hereby ratify and confirm my said will.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this thirtieth day of March one thousand nine hundred and three.

Signed Sealed Published and Declared by the said Nathan Uttley as and for a codicil to his said last will and testament in the presence of us who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses.

Lilliam M. Lyson     J.M. Scully

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Most recent revision March 2013