Mary Ann Aldis (1794-1889)
Aldis Wills
Of the four original settlers only Alfred, it would seem, made a will. Robert died young; Mary Ann, presumably, had no need of a will; and Salem probably died suddenly and unexpectedly, leaving, in any event, a relatively young widow and large family to be provided for. Alfred, a 74-year old farmer in Raleigh, died the 29th of September 1896. His obituary appeared the following day in “The Chatham Weekly Planet”:
“Alfred Aldice (sic) Dead:
Alfred Aldice, an old and respected resident of Raleigh, died this morning from the effects of a stroke of paralysis. He was 74 years of age. The funeral will take place tomorrow afternoon at 2.30.”
Alfred Aldis, described as a yeoman, made his Will the 29th of December 1894:
“I direct all my just debts funeral and testamentary expenses to be paid and satisfied by my Executors hereinafter named as soon as conveniently may be after my decease by my sons Alfred Sidney and John Hilliard equally out of the estate given to them. I give devise and bequeath all my Real and Personal Estate of which I may die possessed in the manner following, that is to say:-
FIRST, I give and bequeath to my daughter Jennie the piano now in my dwelling house to have and to hold unto her absolutely, also the sum of one thousand dollars to be paid to her by my said sons hereinafter mentioned.
SECOND, I give and bequeath to my said daughter Jennie and my said sons Alfred Sidney and John Hilliard all my household goods, furniture and effects therein to be divided amongst them equally or to be sold by my Executors and the proceeds therein to be equally divided amongst my said three children.
THIRD, All the residue of my personal estate, including my horses, cattle, sheep, pigs, farming implements, conveyances and whatsoever it may be of every kind and nature. I give and bequeath unto my said sons Alfred Sidney and John Hilliard, equally between them, share and share alike, or the estate bequeathed to them may be sold by my Executors and the proceeds thereof equally divided between my said sons.
FOURTH, I give and devise to my said son Alfred Sidney the north east quarter of lot number twenty-two in the eighth concession of the township of Raleigh in the County of Kent, containing fifty acres more or less subject to the payment of one half the encumbrances which may be against it at the time of my decease, and to the further payment of five hundred dollars to my said daughter Jennie by my said son Alfred Sidney within one year after my decease, which said payment to my said daughter shall be a charge upon the land so devised to my said son Alfred Sidney.
FIFTH, I give and devise to my said son John Hilliard the southwest quarter of lot number twenty-two in the seventh concession (or fourth eastern boundary) of the township of Raleigh in the County of Kent containing fifty acres more or less, subject to the payment of half the encumbrances which may be against it at the time of my decease and to the further payment of five hundred dollars to my said daughter Jennie by my said son John Hilliard within one year after my decease, which said payment to my said daughter shall be a charge upon the land so devised to my said son John Hilliard.All the residue of my estate not hereinbefore disposed of I give, devise and bequeath unto my said sons Alfred Sidney and John Hilliard, guardians of my infant children and Executors of this my last Will and Testament.
INVENTORY TAKEN: Household goods and furniture $400.00 Farming implements 200.00 Horses 300.00 Horned cattle 150.00 Sheep and swine 200.00 Cash on hand 20.00 Farm produce of all kind 725.00 Real estate-less mortgages of $3,575.00 1,425.00 $3,520.00
Alfred was evidently a successful farmer, leaving his three surviving children well provided for (the modern equivalents of $1,000, $500, and $3,520 are, respectively, c. £15,600, £7,800, and £53,000). The reference to his sons as “guardians of my infant children” is somewhat puzzling, since Alfred did not remarry or, apparently, have further children; “my infant children” may indicate his anticipated grandchildren since none of his own children had married by the time Alfred wrote his will. Alfred Sidney married Margaret Isabella BROWN, daughter of Thomas BROWN and Laverna MORDEN, in 1902; he died in 1941, she in 1962, and they are both buried in Old Maple Leaf Cemetery. John Hillyard married Annie Winnifred WOOLLATT, daughter of Henry WOOLLATT and Asinath ROBINSON, in 1909; they had at least two sons.