Mary Ann Aldis (1794-1889)

Aldis in Chatham

An early print showing one of the first water mills in the area

Thought to be Salem Goldworth Aldis - taken probably in the 1870’s by which time photography became popular for ordinary people.

This family group shows Salem's wife Victoria in the centre surrounded by her children and grandchildren.

There are no references to Mary Ann’s other surviving son, Salem Goldworth; but we know that he entered the timber business and made a success of it. The sawmill operated from premises in Colville Street, Chatham, for many years. Salem was so preoccupied with the business that it was not until 1867, at the age of 46, that he got around to marriage. On September the 1st, at the Blenheim Presbyterian Church, he married Victoria Arabella DAUPHIN of Chatham.

Victoria, born the 3rd of January 1849, was the daughter of John and Nancy DAUPHIN and some 28 years younger than her husband.

Their first child, Mary Ann Goldworth ALDIS, was born in 1868, and a further twelve children, three boys and nine girls, followed between 1869 and 1883. Two daughters, Rosa Adelaide and Emma Algar, died in infancy; and a third daughter, Annie Gertrude, who married Harry Roy EVANS in 1894, died giving birth to their son, Harvey Roy EVANS, in 1895, aged just 19 years. The 1881 Census on Chatham lists Salem ALDES (sic) aged 59 as a ‘lumberman’ with his wife Victoria A., aged 32 and of French origin, with nine of their children ranging from Mary Ann aged 12 to Walter at just a few months. Their given religion is ‘Church of England’.

Collectively some 36 grandchildren, including one adopted daughter, were born to the offspring of Salem Goldworth and Victoria Arabella ALDIS, and the number of descendants in North America was several hundred by the end of the 20th century. Inevitably, many drifted over the border into America, especially to the car manufacturing plants of Detroit. Salem died in Chatham on the 6th of April 1886 of ‘paralysis’ (probably what we would now call a stroke); he was aged 64 and was referred to as a ‘gentleman’. The death was registered by his mother-in-law C.E. DAUPHIN. Salem was buried in Old Maple Leaf Cemetery, Chatham. Victoria Arabella survived until 1913, dying the 9th of June, also aged 65. She, too, was buried in Old Maple Leaf Cemetery, and her obituary notice appeared in the ‘Chatham Daily Planet’ for 14 June, 1913.

“Death of Mrs Aldis.
The death occurred in Detroit of Mrs Aldis, formerly of this city, beloved wife of Salem Aldis, who formerly ran a saw mill in this city on Colborne Street a number of years ago. Mrs Wilcox, of Bloomfield, is a sister of deceased. The remains of the late Mrs Aldis arrived in the city this afternoon on the 2 o’clock Grand Trunk train, and the funeral took place from the depot to Maple Leaf cemetery, Rev Mr Howard officiating.”

Between these two events, Mary Ann ALDIS survived until 1889, dying on the 23rd of September at the age of 95 years and 4 months. She was living at the time with son Alfred in Raleigh township, and the cause of death was given as “summer complaint” (heat-induced diarrhoea) though simply old age might have been considered sufficient. Her death notice appeared in the local newspaper.

“Aldis - On the 8th Concession, Township of Raleigh, on the 23rd inst., Mary Ann ALDIS, aged 95 years and 4 months.”

So Mary Ann, who arrived in Canada as a widow in her early 40s, never re-married; instead she settled her sons in business and remained the matriarchal head of a family comprising some 40 grandchildren from the families of her two sons, Salem and Alfred. One can but admire her sound judgment, good sense, and selflessness. Her GOLDWORTH ancestors would surely have been proud of her, and today hundreds of North Americans trace their descent from this remarkable woman.