Mary Ann Delena Saunburn Uttley -- 1845-1920

Obituaries

Mary Ann Saunburn Uttley -- 1845-1920

From the Daily Telegraph, Kitchener, ON, Feb 18, 1920:

MRS. MARY UTTLEY

    The death took place at Stratford on Monday evening, Feb. 16th of Mrs. Mary Uttley of Waterloo, aged 82 years. She had gone to Stratford on a visit to her daughter Mrs. Isabella Hohner where she was taken ill and died quite suddenly on Monday night, of heart failure. The remains will be taken to Waterloo this afternoon, and the funeral will take place on Thursday afternoon from the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Archibald Wildfong, Erb St.
    The late Mrs. Uttley was a resident of Waterloo for many years and the past few years made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Wildfong. A family of five sons and four daughters survive to mourn her loss, namely:-- Jack and Dianna, Port Huron; William of Zurich, Peter, Abram C. [actually Abram S.] of Kitchener; John, Lena (Mrs. Arch. Wildfong), of Waterloo; Carrie (Mrs. Fred Kalbfleisch), Toronto, Mrs. Isabella Hohner, Stratford.

The News Record, Kitchener, ON, Feb 18, 1920 printed:

OBITUARY --- MRS. MARY ANN UTTLEY ---

There has departed this life a well-known resident of the county in Mrs. Mary Ann Uttley, relict of the late Nathan Uttley of Waterloo. Her death occurred suddenly in Stratford at 3 o'clock Tuesday morning at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Henry Hohner, with whom she had been visiting. While Mrs. Uttley had suffered with muscular rheumatism she was able to be around and continue her usual activity. The end came unexpectedly during the early hours of the day when she passed peacefully away.

The late Mrs. Mary Ann Maud Delena Uttley had reached the advanced age of 82 years. She was born in England and came here as a child. For many years she resided in Waterloo. The husband predeceased her in 1903. Her acquaintance was wide, her friends many, and the respect in which she was held high. The family's loss is also felt by the many who knew of her worthy qualities. Her death is deeply regretted by all.

Surviving her are the following children: Mrs. Fred Kalbfleisch, Toronto; Mrs. Archibald Wildfang, Waterloo; Mrs. Henry Hohner, Stratford; Peter J., Abraham and Jonathan, of this city. There is also one brother, Patrick Birmingham of Crosshill.

The funeral will be held at 2 o'clock Thursday afternoon from the residence of Mrs. Wildfang on the Bridgeport Road, No. 40, Waterloo. Interment will follow in Mount Hope Cemetery.

The remains were brought to this city on the 2.32 p.m. train today, being accompanied by Mr. George Sloan of Stratford.

And on page 2 of The Elmira Signet, Elmira, ON, Feb 19, 1920:

Mrs. Nathan Uttley Dead
    On Sunday, Feb. 15, Mrs. Mary Uttley (nee Birmingham), widow of Nathan Uttley, of Waterloo, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Bella Hofner [Hohner], Stratford. Mrs. Uttley had not been in good health for some time. The Signet was unable to presently obtain information as to her age and when her funeral is to be held. The deceased was born in Crosshill and she and her husband lived for many years in Elmira. Six children mourn her death: Bella, of Stratford; Peter and Abraham of Kitchener; Carrie of Toronto; John and Lena of Waterloo. Mrs. Uttley was a woman who was well liked because of her kind and neighborly disposition.

Notes

• This answers which son was known as 'Jack' -- John Robert or Jonathan? From the Daily Telegraph version it must have been John Robert Uttley from the first marriage.
• Mary Ann's brother was Patrick Birmingham of Crosshill. The 1871 Census gives confirmation by listing a younger brother Patrick for Mary A.
• The News Record reports she was born in England. Mary Ann's granddaughters Beatrice and Mable said she was born in Ireland. But the Census of 1851 says that Mary A., age 6, was born in Canada and The Elmira Signet says she was born in Crosshill, Wellesley Twp. Mary Ann's father William was born in Ireland and her mother Caroline was born in England, but Mary Ann was born in Canada.
• The News Record and Daily Telegraph report that Mary died in 1920 at an age of 82. If true, then she would have been born in 1838.
      The Ontario Archive record of her marriage to Nathan says she was 29 years old in 1874 which means she was born in 1845. The 1851 Census says Mary A. was 6 years old which puts her birth in the year 1845. Finally her granddaughters Beatrice and Mable recall she was born in 1845.
      Her last child Samuel was born in 1888. She would have been 50 years old at the time if she was born in 1838. The obvious conclusion is that Mary Ann was born in 1845 and that she was 75 years old when she died in 1920.
• The Ontario Archive record of the marriage to Nathan in 1874 lists that he was a widower ('W') and that she was a single ('S' for spinster). Is this just another error in the data as we know Isabella born in 1870 was her daughter.
• No mention of the Saunburn connection in any obituary.

Copyright © 1997 Dorothy Gwynn
Most recent revision October 18, 1997