William Harrison Tilley was the eldest son of Samuel Leonard Tilley, a Father of Confederation.
He married Elizabeth Mary Matthew, daughter of George Matthew and his wife Debby Eliza Harris.
William and Elizabeth had at least 3 living children:
1. Bessie Matthew Tilley, born 1872
2. Julia Jessie Tilley, born 1874
3. Samuel Leonard Tilley, born 1877
William graduated from the University of New Brunswick in 1864, followed by theological training at King's College in Windsor, N.S. He was ordained in 1867. In 1868, he served as curate in the parish of St. Luke's, Portland, in St. John, N.B., under the guidance of the Rev. William Harrison, an old friend of his father's after whom he was named.
In 1871, William came to London, Ontario as assistant curate at St. Paul's Cathedral. When Bishop Cronyn Memorial Church was constructed in 1873, its members asked the bishop to assign William Tilley as their first rector, where he served until 1877.
In 1877, William was appointed as the chief assistant to the dean of Toronto at St. James Cathedral. His work load was extremely heavy, and took its toll on his otherwise robust health. In the summer of 1877, William went home to New Brunswick to convalesce. He returned to Toronto and died there at the age of 33.
His funeral was held in London. Returning to the city on the Grand Trunk Railway, his body lay in state at Bishop Cronyn Church before the service was conducted there by Bishop Hellmuth. Several dignitaries took part, including Edward Blake, Bishop Cronyn's son-in-law and the most controversial member of Prime Minister Alexander Mackenzie's cabinet, and Rev. Dr. John Schulte.
William was first buried in St. Paul's cemetery on Rectory Street. When that cemetery closed shortly after his death, his grave was transferred to Woodland Cemetery.
He married Elizabeth Mary Matthew, daughter of George Matthew and his wife Debby Eliza Harris.
William and Elizabeth had at least 3 living children:
1. Bessie Matthew Tilley, born 1872
2. Julia Jessie Tilley, born 1874
3. Samuel Leonard Tilley, born 1877
William graduated from the University of New Brunswick in 1864, followed by theological training at King's College in Windsor, N.S. He was ordained in 1867. In 1868, he served as curate in the parish of St. Luke's, Portland, in St. John, N.B., under the guidance of the Rev. William Harrison, an old friend of his father's after whom he was named.
In 1871, William came to London, Ontario as assistant curate at St. Paul's Cathedral. When Bishop Cronyn Memorial Church was constructed in 1873, its members asked the bishop to assign William Tilley as their first rector, where he served until 1877.
In 1877, William was appointed as the chief assistant to the dean of Toronto at St. James Cathedral. His work load was extremely heavy, and took its toll on his otherwise robust health. In the summer of 1877, William went home to New Brunswick to convalesce. He returned to Toronto and died there at the age of 33.
His funeral was held in London. Returning to the city on the Grand Trunk Railway, his body lay in state at Bishop Cronyn Church before the service was conducted there by Bishop Hellmuth. Several dignitaries took part, including Edward Blake, Bishop Cronyn's son-in-law and the most controversial member of Prime Minister Alexander Mackenzie's cabinet, and Rev. Dr. John Schulte.
William was first buried in St. Paul's cemetery on Rectory Street. When that cemetery closed shortly after his death, his grave was transferred to Woodland Cemetery.
William Harrison Tilley was the eldest son of Samuel Leonard Tilley, a Father of Confederation.
He married Elizabeth Mary Matthew, daughter of George Matthew and his wife Debby Eliza Harris.
William and Elizabeth had at least 3 living children:
1. Bessie Matthew Tilley, born 1872
2. Julia Jessie Tilley, born 1874
3. Samuel Leonard Tilley, born 1877
William graduated from the University of New Brunswick in 1864, followed by theological training at King's College in Windsor, N.S. He was ordained in 1867. In 1868, he served as curate in the parish of St. Luke's, Portland, in St. John, N.B., under the guidance of the Rev. William Harrison, an old friend of his father's after whom he was named.
In 1871, William came to London, Ontario as assistant curate at St. Paul's Cathedral. When Bishop Cronyn Memorial Church was constructed in 1873, its members asked the bishop to assign William Tilley as their first rector, where he served until 1877.
In 1877, William was appointed as the chief assistant to the dean of Toronto at St. James Cathedral. His work load was extremely heavy, and took its toll on his otherwise robust health. In the summer of 1877, William went home to New Brunswick to convalesce. He returned to Toronto and died there at the age of 33.
His funeral was held in London. Returning to the city on the Grand Trunk Railway, his body lay in state at Bishop Cronyn Church before the service was conducted there by Bishop Hellmuth. Several dignitaries took part, including Edward Blake, Bishop Cronyn's son-in-law and the most controversial member of Prime Minister Alexander Mackenzie's cabinet, and Rev. Dr. John Schulte.
William was first buried in St. Paul's cemetery on Rectory Street. When that cemetery closed shortly after his death, his grave was transferred to Woodland Cemetery.
He married Elizabeth Mary Matthew, daughter of George Matthew and his wife Debby Eliza Harris.
William and Elizabeth had at least 3 living children:
1. Bessie Matthew Tilley, born 1872
2. Julia Jessie Tilley, born 1874
3. Samuel Leonard Tilley, born 1877
William graduated from the University of New Brunswick in 1864, followed by theological training at King's College in Windsor, N.S. He was ordained in 1867. In 1868, he served as curate in the parish of St. Luke's, Portland, in St. John, N.B., under the guidance of the Rev. William Harrison, an old friend of his father's after whom he was named.
In 1871, William came to London, Ontario as assistant curate at St. Paul's Cathedral. When Bishop Cronyn Memorial Church was constructed in 1873, its members asked the bishop to assign William Tilley as their first rector, where he served until 1877.
In 1877, William was appointed as the chief assistant to the dean of Toronto at St. James Cathedral. His work load was extremely heavy, and took its toll on his otherwise robust health. In the summer of 1877, William went home to New Brunswick to convalesce. He returned to Toronto and died there at the age of 33.
His funeral was held in London. Returning to the city on the Grand Trunk Railway, his body lay in state at Bishop Cronyn Church before the service was conducted there by Bishop Hellmuth. Several dignitaries took part, including Edward Blake, Bishop Cronyn's son-in-law and the most controversial member of Prime Minister Alexander Mackenzie's cabinet, and Rev. Dr. John Schulte.
William was first buried in St. Paul's cemetery on Rectory Street. When that cemetery closed shortly after his death, his grave was transferred to Woodland Cemetery.
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