Waterloo Region Generations
A record of the people of Waterloo Region, Ontario.

Michael Peter Empey[1]

Male 1806 - 1888  (82 years)


Personal Information    |    Media    |    Notes    |    Sources    |    Event Map    |    All    |    PDF

  • Photos
    Michael Peter Empey
    Michael Peter Empey
    Lizard, V. (2016). Canadian Art | Winnipeg Art Gallery. Wag.ca. Retrieved 25 June 2016, from https://wag.ca/art/collections/canadian-art/display,historical/49744

  • Name Michael Peter Empey 
    Born 5 May 1806  Osnabruck, Stormont Co., Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location  [2, 3, 4, 5, 6
    Gender Male 
    FindAGrave https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/106676626 
    Interesting business, story, politics, military 
    Name M. P. Empey 
    Occupation 1851  Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [4
    Merchant 
    Residence 1851  Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [4
    Church of England 
    Occupation 1858  Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [3, 7
    Postmaster 
    Residence 1861  Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    Church of England 
    Occupation 1864  Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [8
    Clerk of Division VI Court 
    Occupation 1864  Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [8
    general dealer in dry goods, groceries 
    Occupation 1864  Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [8
    Magistrate 
    Occupation 1871  Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    C.D.C. & Postmaster 
    Residence 1871  Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Presbyterian 
    Eby ID Number Waterloo-292537 
    Died 6 Dec 1888  Harriston, Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [5, 6, 9
    Cause: premature decay 
    Buried Newmarket Cemetery, Newmarket, York Co. , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [6
    Person ID I292537  Generations
    Last Modified 6 Apr 2024 

    Family Maria Uretta Hewitt,   b. 1820, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1 Apr 1899, Bradford, West Gwillimbury Twp., Simcoe Co., Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 79 years) 
    Children 
     1. Eleanor Elizabeth Empey,   b. 1841, Newmarket, York Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 27 Dec 1904, Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 63 years)
     2. Frances Mariah Empey,   b. 25 Aug 1845, Newmarket, York Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 14 Feb 1922, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 76 years)
     3. Alice Josephine Empey,   b. 1847, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 26 Mar 1871, Hawkesville, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 24 years)
     4. Michael Pembroke Empey,   b. 1851, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1908, Chilliwack, , British Columbia, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 57 years)
     5. Emily Caroline Empey,   b. 22 Jun 1851, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 23 Jun 1909, Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 58 years)
     6. Pembrooke M. Empey,   b. 1853, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     7. Robert Arthur "Arthur" Empey,   b. 10 Mar 1854, Hawkesville, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Brooklyn, Cattaraugus, New York, United States Find all individuals with events at this location
     8. Alexander Boulton Empey,   b. 29 Mar 1856, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     9. Charles David Empey,   b. 16 Jun 1858, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     10. William Hewitt Empey,   b. 22 Oct 1859, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     11. Lillian Florence Empey,   b. Oct 1863, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 14 Jul 1938, Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 74 years)
    Last Modified 7 Apr 2024 
    Family ID F34423  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • The celebrity of the village seventy-five years ago was Michael Peter Empey, general merchant, postmaster, and general counsel or adviser for the village. This pioneer merchant was so successful in acquiring a competence, that he was able to employ a colored coachman, a governess for the daughters of the family, a nursemaid for the small children, housemaids, a gardener, as well as clerks for the store and assistants in the post office. Several sons had more than ordinary artistic ability, and their budding genius was evidence in the clever cartoons of the colored folks that lived in the country, which decorated the white walls of the old village hall, long since abandoned. Under the village hall, which was mounted on posts, the vagrant sheep found shelter from the warm sun, and after fifty years the odor of sheep's wool, is a reminder of the faraway days in Hawkesville.

      A grandson of Michael Peter Empey, Arthur Guy Empey, became noted for his thrilling war story, "Over The Top."

      Twenty-Second Annual Reports of the Waterloo Historical Society, Hawkesville, A Pioneer Village of Waterloo County, by Orpheus Moyer Schantz, Chicago

      ___________________________

      Michael was a prisioner in the Home District Jail in 1837 & 1838 for his role in the 1837 Rebellion of Canada. "M. P. Empey, merchant. Dec. 22, 1873, Feb 17, 1838, pet. under 1 Vict. C. 10, discharged on his own recognizances."

      "The Life And Times Of Wm. Lyon Mackenzie". Google Books. N. p., 2016. Web. 25 June 2016.

      ________________________


      Michael, P. Empty, Esq., of Newmarket.

      On the 13th July, 1846, Mr. Smith called in the early part of the evening, and stated to Witness that he thought there would be disturbances, in consequence of some intention to have a procession and celebration. Did not go to Mr. Cawthra, as he thought perhaps there might be nothing in it. Later in the evening there was a procession, which was was understood to be the Orange procession. Later still in the evening, saw another procession, which he supposed was in opposition. That was all Witness saw of the matters. The collision which was likely to take place was in the latter part of the evening. When Witness went to the Post Office, in the earlier part of the evening, he saw so many of the young men of the village standing about, whom he knew, that he did not apprehend any serious danger would arise, as he supposed they would conduct whatever demonstration they intended to make in such a way as that danger would not arise, unless sonic opposing force were used.

      (Signed,)M. P. EMPEY.

      Journals of the Legislative Council of the Province of Canada. (2016). Google Books. Retrieved 25 June 2016, from https://books.google.ca/books?id=nRc6AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA82&lpg=PA82&dq=1837+rebellion+of+canada+empey&source=bl&ots=LJTvzj-nLw&sig=z1PS1d2x1jn5DM-XcVYo3HWl9Ks&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiSyceO_8PNAhUj0oMKHSjeB6cQ6AEIPjAF#v=onepage&q=1837%20rebellion%20of%20canada%20empey&f=false

  • Sources 
    1. [S5] Vit - - ON, Waterloo - 1858-1869 Marriage Register.
      James Driffill b. Bradford res: Bradford Age: 23 born abt 1842 father: Thomas mother: Jane married Eleanor E. Empey Age:: 23 born abt 1842 b. Newmarket Spouse res: Hawkesville father: Michael Empey mother: Maria Empey married 21 Sep 1865 county: Waterloo

    2. [S269] Census - ON, Waterloo, Wellesley Twp. - 1871, p 36.

    3. [S855] Census - ON, Waterloo, Wellesley Twp. - 1861, Div. 13 Page 90.

    4. [S242] Census - ON, Waterloo, Wellesley Twp. - 1851, Div. 2 Page 6.

    5. [S713] Vit - ON - Death Registration, death certificate 18390 (1887), Michael Peter Empey.
      Michael Peter Empey, d. 6 Dec 1888 Harriston, Wellington, Ontario, aged 81 y 5m b. Osnaburck, Stormont, Occ. Agent, cause: premature decay

    6. [S3231] Find A Grave, Cemetery, N., America, N., Municipality, Y., & Cemetery, N. (1806). Michael Peter Empey (1806-1888) - Find A Grave.... Findagrave.com. Retrieved 7 August 2019, from https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/106676626/michael-peter-empey.

    7. [S1802] Post Offices and Postmasters - Waterloo Region Entries.
      Empey, M.P. Date of appointment: 1858-05-01 Date of vacancy: 1872-11-04 Cause of vacany: Resignation Place: Hawkesville, Ontario

    8. [S330] Directory - ON, Waterloo - 1864 - County of Waterloo gazetteer and general business directory for 1864, pg 16.

    9. [S7] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Berliner Journal (1859-1917), 20 Dec 1888.
      December 6, 1888 M.P. Empey, formerly a resident of Hawkesville, died in Harriston at age of 81 years.

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 5 May 1806 - Osnabruck, Stormont Co., Ontario Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Merchant - 1851 - Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Church of England - 1851 - Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Postmaster - 1858 - Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Church of England - 1861 - Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Clerk of Division VI Court - 1864 - Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - general dealer in dry goods, groceries - 1864 - Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Magistrate - 1864 - Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - C.D.C. & Postmaster - 1871 - Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Presbyterian - 1871 - Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - Cause: premature decay - 6 Dec 1888 - Harriston, Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBuried - - Newmarket Cemetery, Newmarket, York Co. , Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth