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.