My Scottish "Wilkie" Family

Silas Slaght

Male 1821 - 1901  (80 years)


Personal Information    |    Notes    |    Sources    |    All

  • Name Silas Slaght 
    Birth 23 Jan 1821  Townsend Twp, Norfolk County, Upper Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2
    Gender Male 
    Birth 23 Jan 1821  , , Upper Canada, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Land Assessment 1844  Townsend Twp., Upper Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • 4 acres are cultivated and 14 acres were uncultivated, value 48 pounds.
    Cdn census 1851 1851  Oxford County, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    1851 Census 
    • Silas is Male, Age 31, Birthplace Canada, Occupation Farmer, Lines 1-6 inclusive. Recorded with his Wife Rhoda Slaght and children Cyrenius, Duncan, Charity E. and Job Slaght.
    Occupation 1862 
    1870 USA census 1870  Victory, Mason Cty., Michigan, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    1870 Census 
    • Silas is age 49, living with his Wife Arvilla (Smedley), age 24, and one Son Hugh Slaght, born in Canada, age 9
    1880 Census 1880  Ludington, Mason, Michigan, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    1880 census 
    • Silas is age 59, Born Canada, Occupation Dry good Merchant, Married, living with Wife Alice and children Blanche B. & Harrison Slaght
    1900 Census 1900  Ludington, Mason, Michigan, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    1900 
    • Silas is age 79, Immigrated in 1861, Page 11B, living withWife Melissa (Newton) and Son Arthur.
    Burial Lakeview Cemetery, Ludington, Mason Cty., USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Death 20 Nov 1901  Ludington, Mason, Michigan, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Death 20 Nov 1901  Ludington, Mason, Michigan, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    Death 20 Nov 1901  Ludington, Mason, Michigan, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Burial Old Pioneer Cemetery, Tillsonburg, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I1224  Weeks
    Last Modified 25 Feb 2017 

    Father J.(.R. Slaght 
    Mother E. Mills 
    Family ID F410  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 A. Smedley 
    Family ID F420  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 24 Nov 2006 

    Family 2 Alice Unknown,   b. Abt 1860, , , Michigan, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Yes, date unknown 
    Family ID F735  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 10 Feb 2007 

    Family 3 Melissa Newton,   b. Abt 1855, , Pensylvania, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Yes, date unknown 
    Family ID F736  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 10 Feb 2007 

    Family 4 Rhoda A. Weeks,   b. Abt 1822, Charlotteville, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Yes, date unknown 
    Marriage 29 Jan 1843  Unknown Find all individuals with events at this location  [4, 5
    Marriage Contract 29 Jan 1843  Unknown Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Marriage of Silas Slaght & Rhoda Wicks (Weeks) 
    Children 
    +1. Cyrenius Slaght,   b. Abt 1844, , Canada West, Canada Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 4 Aug 1915, Anacortes, Skagit County, Washington, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age ~ 71 years)
    +2. Duncan Slaght,   b. 18 Aug 1846, Dereham Twp, Oxford County, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 8 Oct 1867, Tillsonburg, Dereham Twp, Oxford County, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 21 years)
     3. Charity Elizabeth Slaght,   b. Jun 1849, , , Canada West, Canada Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 18 Oct 1868, Otterville, Oxford County, Canada West, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location (Age ~ 19 years)
     4. Lillian Emily Slaght,   b. May 1852   d. 11 Jul 1853, Otterville, Oxford County, Canada West, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location (Age ~ 1 years)
     5. Job Slaght,   b. May 1858, , Oxford County, Canada West, Canada Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 12 Aug 1858, Otterville, Oxford County, Canada West, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location (Age ~ 0 years)
     6. Hugh Slaght,   b. Abt 1861   d. Yes, date unknown
     7. Nathan Slaght,   b. Aug 1862, , , Canada West, Canada Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 17 Oct 1862, Otterville, Oxford County, Canada West, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location (Age ~ 0 years)
    Family ID F389  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 11 Feb 2007 

  • Notes 
    • Silas lived his first 30 years in Canada. In 1851 he settled in
      Fentonville, Michigan, lived here 3 years. Following years he travelled, residing in various places until 1863, when he landed in Ludington with a team of horses and a wagon, a few household goods and $28.00. Immediately locating at a focal point about 7 miles from this place, he carried on a general store for nearly 5 years - 4 years of which time he was a Postmaster under President Lincoln. Before leaving Canada, he had lost a fortune of about $40,000.00 and had to begin all over again. He succeeded from the first and made $10,000. During the 5 years he passed in the store situated in the midst of the forest. In 1870, he opened a general store on Ludington Avenue where he did business for 10 years with varying success. Since 1892 he has operated the store at its present location.

      The first wife of Silas was Miss Rhoda A. Weeks. Rhoda Weeks and Silas Slaght were married January 29, 1843, her parents are listed as Joseph Wicks(Weeks) and Rhoda Carnes.* Cyrennius Slaght, son of Silas and Rhoda (Weeks) Slaght married Maria Caroline Weeks and went to Washington, USA.

      Source: Sharon K. Blaine

      * I believe that the author of this info has the parents names mixed up; should be Joseph Weeks and Charity Kern - bur perhaps pronounced 'Carnes' - hw

      Rumor has it Rhoda & Silas divorced, but unconfirmed (HW), query 'divorce' in mid 1800s.

      In 1844 Assessment of Townsend Twp., Silas was listed on the south half of Lot 13, concession 8 with 4 acres culitvated and 14 acres uncultivated, a one storey frame house and 2 livestock, all valued at 48 pounds.

      1851 Canadian Census records; Roll C-11745, Pg 51, Lines 1-6
      Silas Slaght, Farmer, Born Canada, Baptist, Age 31
      Rhoda A. Slaght, Canada, Baptist, Female, Age 30
      Cyrenius Slaght, Canada, Baptist, Male, Age 8
      Duncan Slaght, Canada, Baptist, Male, Age 6
      Charity E. Slaght, Canada, Baptist, Female, Age 3
      Job Slaght, Canada, Baptist, Male, Age 1


      1861 Cdn Census: Enum District 3, Dereham Twp, Oxford Cty, Ontario
      Silas Slaght, General Merchant, Birthpl Upper Canada, Rel Baptist, Age 40 Married
      Rhoda A. Slaght, Birthpl Upper Can, Baptist, Age 39, Married
      Slaght, Cyrennius, Upper Canada, Baptist, Age 17, single
      Slaght, Duncan, Upper Canada, Baptist, Age 15, Single
      Slaght, Charity E., Upper Canada, Baptist, Age 13, Single
      Slaght, Rhoda L. (?), Upper Canada, Baptist, Age 7, Single
      Slaght, Hugh W., Upper Canada, Baptist, Age 2, Single

      He next lived in Otterville, Oxford Cty, then in 1862 he was a merchant in Tillsonburg, Oxford Cty., Ont.

      In 1862, Silas & Rhoda settled in Fentonville, Michigan. In 1863, he settled at Ludington, Michigan
      Source R. Robert Mutrie

      In 1870 Census of Victory, Mason Co., Michigan, p 497, Silas Slaght was listed as a merchant born in Canada, age 49 with his wife Arvilla born in New York, 24 and child Hugh born in Canada, 9.
      Source: R. Robert Mutrie

      In 1880 Census of Ludington, p 486A, Silas Slaght was listed as a dry goods merchant born in Canada West, 59, with his wife Alice, 19, and daughter Blanche B. 4, step-son Harrison 2, all born in Michigan.
      Source: R. Robert Mutrie
      Further verification:
      1880 United States Census
      Silas Slaght Household
      Male
      Birth Year 1821
      Birthplace, Canada West
      Age: 59
      Occupation: Dry Goods Merchant
      Marital Status M (married)
      Race W (white)
      Head of Household: Silas Slaght
      Relation: Self
      Fathers Birthplace NJ
      Mothers Birthplace PA
      Source: Census Place - Ludington, Mason, Michigan
      Family Hisotry Library Film 1254594
      NA Film # T0-0594
      Page Number 486A

      In 1900 census, Ludington Ward 3, Mason Cty., Michigan Silas is recorded as age 79, Immigrated in 1861, living with Wife Melissa (Newton) and Son Arthur. Source: T6233730, Page 11B

      Simcoe Reformer newspaper article, "Slaght, Silas, age 80, formerly of Townsend, died 20 November 1901, Ludinton, Michigan". Further research revealed one Silas Slaght buried in Lakeview Cemetery, Ludington,Mason Cty., Michigan; plot # 01-005-014-08, death date 11/20/1901.

      Birth: Jan. 23, 1821
      Waterford
      Ontario, Canada
      Death: Nov. 20, 1901
      Ludington
      Mason County
      Michigan, USA

      Lived 410 N. William, Ludington
      1st wife Arvilla Smedley
      Husband of Mellisa Slaght 2nd wife
      Married May 4, 1887 in Ludington
      He was married at the time of his death
      Children 16
      Blanch 1876
      Harrison 1878 step-son
      Arthur 1891
      Parents Jobe Slaght & Elizabeth Mills
      Died form prostitutes, rheumatism & conjunction of the lungs




      Burial:
      Lakeview Cemetery
      Ludington
      Mason County
      Michigan, USA

      Created by: Jan
      Record added: Jul 24, 2011
      Find A Grave Memorial# 73872575

      South Victory Cemetery in Ludington,Mason Cty., Pere Marquette Twp., Michigan has recorded data stating 3 Slaght burials there, George Slaght, child of S & A, Lilla Slaght, child of S & A, and Silas Slaght, child of S & A. Further research required to determine whether these children belong to Silas & Arvilla (Smedley) Slaght.

  • Sources 
    1. [S84] 1880 Census, Michigan Silas Slaght.

    2. [S86] Slaght Family Genealogy.

    3. [S349] Family Search, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, Michigan Deaths & Burials Index 1867-1995, FHL Film Number: 1006449 (Reliability: 4).

    4. [S191] Sharon Blaine, Slaght Genealogy, Sharon Blaine (Reliability: 2).

    5. [S191] Sharon Blaine, Slaght Genealogy, Sharon Blaine, Text received from Sharon Blaine on her Slaght Genealogy (Reliability: 2).



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