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Henry and Annie Weaver were both slaves and whether or not they were from the same plantation is not certain, but they were married and had one daughter, Caroline, while they were still in the south. The family escaped the bonds of slavery and headed north on foot, drawing from their meager savings to board a towpath boat (a boat pulled by horses walking along the banks of a river) on the Ohio River. The fear of being discovered forced them to vary their modes of travel and at one point, it was necessary for Annie to hide Henry under her huge skirt to escape detection. However...... |
| .....they did arrive in Chatham, Ontario
safely. Shortly after reaching their northern destination at
Chatham, both Henry and Annie were fortunate enough to find gainful
employment; he as a butcher in a local meat market, she as a seamstress also
taking in laundry. However, when the Duke Hotel which was located on
the corner of Park and Duke streets was destroyed by fire, the owners
subsequently placed the building on the block to be sold. The Weavers
were quick to spot the opportunity to become self-employed and, even though
many of their friends called them foolish, they secured a loan and purchased
the property. The building was renovated so as to accommodate Henry's
grocery store on the lower level and Annie's rooms for rent upstairs.
Annie had no problem finding clients for her rental venture since the
closed-to-blacks policy of the local hotels and rooming houses around town
forced the black entertainers and travelling bands visiting the city to
avail themselves of her services. Being a resourceful woman, she also
served meals to supplement the family income. Henry built a smoke
house at the rear of the store and soon had a reputation of selling some of
the best smoked hams in the city.
Henry and Annie Weaver became one of Chatham's most affluent black families of the era, purchasing several properties and were very much involved in community affairs, with Henry serving as an Alderman in the years 1891-1893 and 1895-1898.(1) His masonic involvements were numerous and he served as the Most Worshipful Grand Master of Ontario from 1887 until 1892, and Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Michigan and Ontario in 1893.(2) When the Grand Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star was formed in Chatham in August of 1889, Henry Weaver became the first Grand Worthy Patron. Henry Weaver died on July 25, 1916 at the age of 86 years after a full life ranging from slavery to prominent positions he held in Chatham. Pictured below is the park dedicated to Henry Weaver by the citizens of Chatham which is located directly across the street from his grocery store.
Reference: (1) Records at City Hall - (alderman)
Other: Interview with Mrs. Alberta Judah Price along with the photographs.
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