She also hopes to increase legislators’ awareness of historic cemeteries.

A developer has proposed relocating some of the grave sites amid opposition from descendants of the Hatt and Cooley families. The proposed development plan includes 40 single detached homes, six future development blocks, a parkland block and public streets.

Richard Hatt, a descendant, says that he believes this to be the largest abandoned cemetery find in Ontario – perhaps Canada. “We do need to pressure our MPP’s to react before it is again too late. Everyone can help by writing and by meeting with your MPP to ensure that at least, our representatives in Ontario are aware of what is happening to Ontario Heritage.”

Hatt-Cooley Cemetery Closure Background
By Marjorie Stuart

The Hatt-Cooley Cemetery is an unapproved cemetery with approximately 99 burials. The property is located in the City of Hamilton on the Niagara Escarpment in the Greenbelt. It has been purchased by developers who have appealed to the Ontario Municipal Board for the approval of a plan of subdivision. The hearings will be held in October and November.

Richard Hatt (1769-1819), and his wife Mary Cooley, along with some of her family and several of their nine children are buried there. Richard Hatt was a businessman, judge, politician and militia officer. He established mills in Ancaster and Dundas Mills. The latter complex had a distillery, potashery, general store, sawmills, a coopery and a blacksmith shop.

Richard Hatt served in the War of 1812 as a Major in the 5th Lincoln Militia and was severely wounded at the Battle of Lundy's Lane. He was appointed Justice of the Peace in 1800 and a judge of the District and Surrogate Courts. He purchased Joseph Willcocks' printing press and published the Upper Canada Phoenix.

Click here for the PDF of the petition

An individual can only sign the petition once and it is important that you print your name clearly with your full address.

The original signed petition should be sent to: The Ontario Historical Society, 34 Parkview Avenue, Willowdale, ON M2N 3Y2. The Society will deliver all original petitions, arranging for the introduction of petitions to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in Autumn 2010.

Please circulate petitions to your members, friends and family. We need all the support we can muster. If this cemetery is closed it will set a precedent for the estimated 1,500 unregistered (unapproved) cemeteries in Ontario.

If Bill 149, The Inactive Cemeteries Protection Act 2009 had passed, it would have prevented the closure of the Hatt-Cooley Cemetery. (See OHC story at www.ontarioheritageconnection.org/live/main.php?page=news.200903_f.html)
There was tremendous support for Bill 149. Hopefully, we can help save this historic pioneer cemetery. Thank you.

Marjorie Stuart
June 24, 2010
marjstuart@sympatico.ca

Mary Kate (Polly) Cooley (1780-1843) wife of Richard Hatt,
daughter of Preserved Cooley (1750-1816)
from http://larryhatt.com

Richard Hatt built the store at 2 Hatt Street in about 1805.
It is the oldest building in Dundas.