OTTER, Isabella (Mary)

   Another name for Isabella was Mary.

  General Notes:

The Quote below is from the Internet Surname Data Base
Surname: Otter
"This very unusual and interesting surname is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and has two possible sources. Firstly, it may be derived from a metonymic occupational name for an otter hunter, or from a nickname for someone supposedly resembling an otter, from the Middle English (1200 - 1500) "oter", from the Olde English pre 7th Century "otor", an otter. Job descriptive surnames originally denoted the actual occupation of the namebearer, and later became hereditary. Secondly, the surname may be derived from the late Olde English personal name "Ohthere", which was borrowed from the Old Norse "Ottar", which is itself composed of the elements "otti", fear, dread, and "herr", army. The personal name was first recorded as "Otre" in the Domesday Book of 1086, and the surname was first recorded in the late 12th Century (see below). Recordings from London Church Registers include the marriages of John Otter and Katherin Hunt on March 12th 1631, at Katherine by the Tower, and of Leonard Otter and Elizabeth Thompson on October 15th 1640, at St. Mary Somerset. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Roger Oter, which was dated 1185, in the "Pipe Rolls of Cambridgeshire", during the reign of King Henry 11, known as "The Builder of Churches", 1154 - 1189. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling."



The 1818 Poll of the County of Lincoln shows
Freeholders residing in the Parish of Skillington.
Atter, John, Farmer

The 1841 UK census shows John Atter whom I believe to be the fathter of Isabella Otter at Skillington
John Atter 45 - Head "Farmer" born Lincolnshire
Mary Atter 45 - Wife
John Atter 3 - Son
Skillington is in the District of Grantham sub registration district of Denton.
Source Citation: Class: HO107; Piece 622; Book: 8; Civil Parish: Skillington; County: Lincolnshire; Enumeration District: 5; Folio: 7; Page: 6; Line: 17; GSU roll: 438759.


Birth
At the birth of Isabella no father is named. However on the marraige certificate for Isabella and William her father is named as "Batters Gentleman".
The entry for Isabella's Christening was found on the Family Search Site IGI record.
Christening
ISABELLA OTTER
Christening: 24 MAR 1828 Deeping St. James, Lincoln, England
Parents:
Mother: ELIZ OTTER
Source Information:
Batch No.: Dates: Source Call No.: Type: Printout Call No.: Type:
C028771 1791 - 1860 0421986 Film 6907684 Film
Sheet: 00

Find My Past - 1841UK census shows Isabella with her mother and Step father at West Deeping
Bryan William M - 55 born Lincolnshire
Bryan Elizabeth F - 35 born Lincolnshire
Bryan Thomas F - 8 born Lincolnshire
Bryan John M - 0 (6 months) born Lincolnshire
Otter Isabella F - 12 born Lincolnshire

Emmigration
William & Isabella Walker emmigrated from Lincolnshire Via Plymouth on the ship Catherine in 9th February 1851 arriving at Port Adelaide 27 May1851.
William Walker is listed as a labourer.
Listed as a family - John Thomas is registered on the Ships log as 2 years and Elizabeth 2 months - which hints she may have been born on the voyage. - CW 16.05.2004

Also listed on the same voyage also of Lincoln are:
Thomas Walker (Age 26 - B1825) labourer and Charlotte Walker (Age 28 - B1823) - Listed as a family
George Walker (Age 19 - B1832+-) labourer - Listed as a single man.
The B number on the ship's list for William Walker's family and Thomas Walker's family is 1661/3 and George as 1660/1

Biographical Index of South Australians 1836 -1885
"WALKER William b:15.02.1822 d:17.11.1903 Redhill Sa arr: 1851 Catherine occ: Farmer, Contractor res Mt Barker, Redhill, Koolunga m: Isabella ( Mary) OTTO b:20.03.1828 d:20.04.1902 Redhill Sa ch: John Thos (1848-1925),Eliz (1850-), Joseph (1857-1940), Cath (1861-), Charlotte (1862-), Caroline Rose Steele (1867 - 1953), Jas."

Note:
The following inscription from the family bible of William & Isabella Walker reads:
" Isabella Walker beloved mother of the above children died April 20th 1902 aged 74 years 1 month".
I suspect this bible entry was penned by William Walker because the entries continue in the same hand after the death of Isabella in 1902. CW May 07

Isabella married William WALKER, son of William WALKER and Catherine BONSEL, on 18 May 1847 in West Deeping Lincolnshire England. (William WALKER was born on 15 Feb 1822 in Lincolnshire, UK ¹, christened on 16 Feb 1822 in Bourne, Lincolnshire, England, died on 17 Nov 1903 in Redhill South Australia ¹ and was buried in Redhill South Australia.)

  Marriage Notes:

Marriage Record Free BMD Web site
Marriages Jun 1847
Otter Isabella District: Stamford Vol 14 Page 1133
Walker William District: Stamford Vol 14 Page 1133

Marriage Certificate
The marriage of William Walker and Isabella Otter was performed by R.E. Hubberty, Curate of West Deeping at the Parish Church after Banns on 18 May 1847.
William was a batchelor, a labourer, 25 years old and residing at Bourn. His father, William Walker's occupation was "Wheelwright". Isabella was a 19 year old spinster residing at West Deeping. Her father was --- Batters, "Gentleman".
Witnesses were John Otter and Elizabeth Wallace. William signed his name and Isabella made her mark.

Family Bible
The entry from the "Marriages" page of the family bible of William and Isabella Walker reads:
" William Walker & Isabella Otter was married at West Deeping, Lincolnshire England 18th Day of May 1847".
It appears William Walker may have recorded this entry. CW May 2007.