Nathaniel Sherald Blasdell

Born in Vermont in 1801, Nathaniel Sherrold Blasdell was the second son of Ezra Blasdell and Lydia Ramsdell. He became a foundry operator in Bytown, and one of the owners of the Victoria foundry at the Chaudière falls. On 16 January 1854, he married Margaret, eldest daughter of John Wilson and Margaret French, in Cumberland, east of Bytown. Margaret was his second wife; his first wife had been Harriet Cobb. He died in 1870 [Newton 1990, Serré 2008]. N.S. Blasdell represented Upper Town as a councillor on the first town council [Mika 1982]. The firm of Blasdell, Currier & Co. operated a log mill and attached foundry on the mainland at the Chaudière falls in the early 1850s. Blasdell gave up on milling and returned to his smithy and foundry works [Taylor 1986]

Residence of: Shoreham,VT,Hawksbury,Bytown,Ottawa,Ontario: Hull,Quebec  Occupation; Blacksmidt, Businessman

Moved to Hawkesbury with father and family abt. 1822; he and his brother Julius probably helped thier father establish the new foundary buismess in Hawkesbury after wich Nathanial went into partnership with his father while Julius set up shop in Vankleek Hill. He first appars in the Hawkesbury Township recards in 1824 abd again inthe same year in the records of Philemon Wright in Hull when he arrived to sell products from the family forge at Hawkesbury.

By abt 1828 he had established his own forge and foundry at Bytown, located in the village of Edinburough. His partner Lyman Perkins. (His obit says that in 1826 he became partner of Lyman Perkins to contract for the building of the Rideau Canal,Presumably iron castings for the gate machinery. The obit goes on to say that after completion of the canal abt. 1833, he established himself in business in Hull. So far the researchers have not found to substantiate this.The 1842 census says that the forge and family were located in East Edinburgh but by 1851 both were located in Bytown.) In his book "Hewing Down the Pine" C.S. Bond says that the partners installed a boiler in the mill at ChelsaL.L.C. but that the boiler blew up and the experiment wasn't repleated. Developed a large foundry business in heavy machine castings,Mill machinery and water eheels. From his advertisements in the Ottawa Directory we know that he won a design award for "Planer" and "tonhue-and-groover" in a Montreal design show 1861: the award was Prince of Wales Gold Medal. was in parttnership with his brother Marshall and Julius in lumber milling in Cumberland Twp.1840-1860 abt. Became active in Bytown city politics and in July 28 1847 sat on the first city council as one of the councilors for West Ward, a position he held until abt 1855. The obit also says that he was a member of the Masonic Order. bur in the old Ottawa cemetary on Sandy Hill. the gravestone was transferred to Beechwood in 1911.

Ref: Lennox Grafton ! 1801 born in Vermont,USA Sept 20 : obit says Mount Pleasant, Family Bible say Shoreham,Vermont

! 1815 Came to Canada with father Ezra and mother Mercy and family. Thought to have come to Hawksbury and to have farmed

           there but might have lived in the Village. By 1825 Erxa was living in Bytown where he died. ! 1825 Jannuary 31, he married Harriet Cobb probably of L'Original or Hawksbury. Harriet was born St. Andrews, L. C. May 24 1805

! 1828 Bought at least two kitchen chairs: marked his name and the date on the bottom.( Ann Marker has one,I Lennox Grafton have the

           other) ! 1851 Census Roll C -993, p.363 either east or west roll (not defined ) page 12 (in his own hand)

                        N. S. Blaisdell, Blacksmidt, born in USA, Church of England, age 52, with family of 4 males and 4 females, cohabiting

                        with 4 non-member male and i non-member female.

                        1 1/2  storey wood frame house 1/3 acre

                        Harriet, born U. C. 47. (Note: younger Harriet had married Coulson and left for Ottawa)

                        Frances   17

                        Leona      12

                        Mercy     10

                        N. S. B     15   son

                        George      6

                        Thomas    4

                        I. A. Cobb, Gunsmidt, born U, States, P S N. (?) 55.  (He could have been an older brother of Harriet)

                        One Smith shop, one Foundray, Foundray establishment all in one building of stone one to two storey high. Driven by

                        steam, producing abouth 1000 work in Axes, stoves, Millwork and Machinery.

                                                                         (Signed N. S. Blasdell. Bytown C. W. ( no address)

! 1861 Census: (C-1101 Victoria Ward , p. 199)

                        N. S. Blasdell & Co. Machinist: manufactures Machinery; Capital invested $ 25000.

                        Remarks;  100 tons Pig Iron             $  2100

                                          20 tons Wrought Iron      $ 1600

                                          Water Power

                                          20 male hands; no female hands.

                                           Mill Machinery value     $ 10,000

                                                                                        4,000

                                                                          Total $ 14,000

                                                      Signed; - Ottawa C.W. 14 th January 1861

                                                                  per; N. S. Blasdell & Co.

!1871 Census: Foundary and Machine Shop, S. S. (prob. N. S. ) Blasdell & Co.; 35,000 capital $ 40,000 floating capital

                       Employing 31 men, one boy, wages 13,000, water power, wrought iron tons 105 worth $ 11,057, pig iron,

                       150 tons worth $ 3,300, coal 150 tons worth $ 1,495                       

Mill machinery of every description, $ 44,000.

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