The Nathan Family History

In 1814 Charles Nathan married Mary Ann Collier in England.

They were quoted as being of Irish descent in the obituary of their son Henry Anthony Nathan.
The family myth has it that Charles had changed his name from Nathaniel O?Carroll and was a Catholic who changed his religion to a Methodist. His employer at the time was an Isaac Nathan.

Henry Anthony Nathan was born in London on the 16th August 1816 and married Jane Hearn ( who was born also in London on the 26th June 1813 and christened at St George The Martyr , Southwark ) at St Leonards , Shoreditch , London on 1st August 1831. This church was made famous by the song ?The bells of St Clements?. This would have made Henry Anthony aged 15 and Jane Hearn aged 18 when they married. We don?t know whether or not Henry Anthony had any siblings.

Henry Anthony and Jane sailed for New Zealand in the Slains Castle arriving in Wellington on 25th January 1841. They were accompanied by their daughter Jane who was born in London on 4th February 1832 - baptised at St George The Martyr on the 27th April 1836. Henry Anthony?s occupation was that of a goldsmith.

In a letter to Rev R Taylor in September 1841 , John Garner , who was appointed by Governor Hobson as Chief Constable at Wanganui , describes their journey on the schooner ?Surprise? from Wellington to Wanganui. Henry Anthony had been made a sergeant and his contribution was described glowingly.

Henry Anthony had a very active business life in Wanganui . He became a member of the first Town Board in 1867 , Municipal Council 1878 and then Mayor of Wanganui from 17th December 1890 to 16th December 1891. Member of the 1st Wanganui Harbour Board.
His business interests included sawmilling and farming and he was a prominent freemason.
The various properties he owned in Wanganui included a farm at Goat Valley , Wicksteed Place , Glasgow Street . The Glasgow property was built in September 1881. One of the properties was destroyed by fire on the 5th December 1899.

Henry Anthony died 11th March 1893 aged 77 years and Jane Hearn died 4th April 1898 at their residence in Glasgow Street , and both are buried together in the Heads Road Cemetery , Wanganui.

Their children were :

Jane born in England on the 11th April 1832 died 1st September 1912 - married James Rapley and then George Ormsby.
Jane and James had four children - Janet , William , Thomas and Mary Ann.




Thomas Wellington born in Wellington on the 8th April 1841 died 2nd March 1909 - married Jane Harris in March 1863 , died 4th December 1871.
Thomas and Jane had two children - Jane Hearn and Mary Brown

Anthony Charles born in Wanganui on 7h April 1843 died (Palmerston North?) 19th October 1933. Possibly the first white baby born in Wanganui.
Married Sarah Ann Kells ( born in 1854 ) in March 1867. A Maori War veteran. First Mayor of Taihape June 1906 - 1912. Was a roading contractor & farmer.
Anthony Charles and Sarah Ann had four children - Alice Maud , Francis Anthony, Ada Winifred , Jane Frances and Norah Margaret


Charles William born in Wanganui on the 10th September 1844 died 18th January 1846. Drowned in the Wanganui River

Joseph Charles born in Wanganui in 1846 died 1933 - married Emma Penfold in March 1868.
Details in ?The Cyclopedia of New Zealand? - Joseph Charles was a councillor in the Palmerston North Borough Council in 1896. Had own road contracting business for 25 years , Vice President of the Manuwatu Racing Club , Past Master of United Manuwatu Lodge.
Joseph Charles and Emma had five children - Charles Joseph & four daughters.
Charles Joseph married Emily Maria Theresa Sutton and they had seven children - Laurence , Mavis & Dulcie , Arthur & Charles , Leo & Dorothy

George born in Wanganui in 1852 died in 1925 - married Mary Connery ( born at Kilkenny Ireland in 1866 ) at Wellington on 10th November 1898.
They had three children Irene (Renee) , Winifred Hearn , Henry George Hearn ( born at Te Awaroa on the East Coast )

William Born in Wanganui in 1853 died at Palmerston North 26th January 1933 - married to Catherine Matheson from Timaru.
They had four children - Eileen , Lorna , Brian William Hearn , Vera

Mary Ann born in Wanganui in 1856 died 24th September 1925 married Thomas Bush and they had three children Charles , George and Ernest

Susan Hearn born in Wanganui in 1858 died 24th October 1930 - married Walter George Coker then Thomas Bush

Winifred born in Wanganui - married James Morey at Wanganui in 1880
They had two children Guy and Arthur.

Norah Margaret Carroll born in Wanganui in 1868 died 8th September 1899 - married William Gardiner Jnr in March 1885