Henry and Annie Weaver were both slaves. 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 who also took in laundry. However, when the Duke Hotel, which was located on the corner of Park and Duke streets, was partially destroyed by fire, the owners subsequently placed the building on the market 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 their 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, for the Province of Ontario and the state of Michigan, 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 experiences as a slave to a rapid rise to prominence 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.

Sources:
(1) Records at City Hall - (alderman)
(2) Masonic records of St. Johns Lodge # 9 Chatham, Ontario. Minutes of the first 5
years of the Grand Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star of the Province of
Ontario and the State of Michigan. (1889 - 1894 minutes.
Other: Interview with Mrs. Alberta Judah Price along with the photographs.

Note: Isaac Holden was also an alderman in the late 1800's and today we have our 3rd
Black alderman in the city, Melvin Crewe.