In 1788, Job Aylworth, a Loyalist, aged 66 and his wife Sarah age 42, and their large family made the
arduous journey from Rensselain County, NY to settle in Ernestown, Upper Canada. Their son
Bowen, who was 10 years old at that time related in later years how they had traveled for several
weeks through heavy forests. His daily chore had been to tend two horses laden with bundles while
seated on one and leading the other. After arrival Job was able to purchase the rights to lot 11 of
Concession II, located directly north, 1 1/2 miles north of the future town of Bath. The land they
settled on had been previously assigned but not much work had been done on it and it was still mainly
virgin forest. 10 years later, on Dec. 31st, 1798 he received the official Patent from the crown for that
property. That may seem long, but it wasn't until 1803 that Robert Perry United Empire Loyalist,
received the Patent for his land grant of lot 2, Concession II  which was located 2 miles west of the
Aylworths.

In those difficult years there were no doctors or trained nurses and settlers had to solve their own
medical problems. A story passed down in the family is about how Job dealt with a badly diseased
finger. With a chisel and the help of a daughter to swing the mallet he had the problem removed and
then carried it back into the house and throwing it on the table commented “Now may be I can get
a little sleep”. In 1803 the family was stricken by and epidemic of “spotted fever” (later known as
cerebro-spinal meningitis) with the result that Job, Sarah and their sons Haskell, age 21 and John,
age 16, all lost their lives. They were buried in a mound near the roadside.

Most of the children of Job and Sarah married and had large families producing a total of 66
grandchildren, with all but 3 being born in Ernestown. On October 24th, 1793 their daughter
Esther married Robert Perry Jr. at St. Johns Church in Bath. 3 weeks before that Esther and
Robert were among the five witnesses to the marriage of Don Pomeroy to Robert's sister Patience.
These marriages were among the first to be celebrated in the old church building, erected in 1793
and destroyed by fire in April 1925. Fortunately the old records had been saved and preserved.
Ester also died in 1803, perhaps by the same epidemic that had killed her parents and brothers.

 About 1861, when roadwork was being performed in front of the Aylworth farm, the family
graves were exposed. Their son Bowen, though very ill at that time, and 3 of his grandsons
carefully removed the bones and had them reburied at a lot he had purchased in the Violet
cemetery.
 

At the Aylesworth family reunion held in Bath in 1929, it was resolved to erect a memorial
at that grave site in honor and reverence to the memory of Job and Sarah. There were a
number of talks given at the reunion by older members of the family and included in a bound
Memorial booklet which was subsequently printed.  A copy of the booklet may be viewed at
the Lennox & Addington Museum and Archives (929-2).
 
1803 was a tragic year for the Aylworth family with Sarah, Job and two of their sons losing
their lives to a "spotted fever" epidemic.  That was the year that their daughter Esther had
also died, perhaps from the same affliction.  In the Will, Job had bequeathed five shillings to
each of Esther's surviving children and gave no mention of his wife Sarah, or to their son
Haskell indicating that they must had lost their lives by that time.  He did mention his 16
year old son John, and did in fact bequeath the farm to him. But both John and Job, Sr. died
before the year ended so by the terms of the Will, the care of the farm and of daughter Sarah
must have become the responsibility of Job, Jr.  The Will was hand written, but not by Job
who signed it with an "x".  Perhaps that explains the use of the spelling Aylesworth rather
that the Aylworth that Job preferred. Some of the words were obscure in the copy that I had
read, and I have marked them with ? marks, A copy may be found in the Ontario Archives,
Surrogate Court, reel 1222.

I Joab Aylesworth ??? of Erns Town farmer being of perfect mind and memory do make this my
last will and testament.  First to my son Eseck Ayiesworth I bequeath sum of five shillings, (item)
To my son John Aylesworth I bequest the farm I now live on which is number eleven in the second
concession of Ernest Town when he comes of age and which time the said farm shall before the
benefit and support of my home family, and my said son John Aylesworth shall maintain and ???ly
provide for my daughter Sarah Aylesworth in consideration for the said farm and that he shall be
provided for by my executor, hereafter mentioned and the said expenses of my said daughter shall
be paid out of the said farm, and in case my said son John shall die without spouse the said farm
shall become the property of my son Job Aylesworth on the above mentioned conditions and after
my youngest child is of age then my other property shall be divided in the following manner, namely
that all my lawful debts shall be discharged I will also bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth Brisco one
cow, and to the children of my daughter Ester deceased I give the sum of five shillings each.  Next I
will and bequeath to my daughter Elsie the sum of twenty shillings and to my daughter Catherine I
will and bequeath, a bed bedding cow four sheep and the household furniture, next to my son Nial I
will and bequeath a pair of steers now five years old, and to my son Joab Aylesworth I will and
bequeath a yoke of steers now two years old and two heifers.  Next to my son Bowen Aylesworth
I give the sum of five shillings and if either of the above mentioned children should die without
spouse then I give and bequeath such as that should have been his, hers, or their portion to my
sons Nial, Joab, or John, or either of these that I have ?and leave lawful theirs?, and the residue
and remainder of my property, I will and bequest to my aformentioned daughter Catherine
Aylesworth and I do hereby constitute nominate and appoint, John Ham, Andrew Miller, and
Jeptha Hawley, (the whole and total) Executors of this my last will and testament, and I do hereby
utterly revoke disallow and disannul all former bequests, wills and legacies by me heretofore in any
wise left or made, declaring, ratifying and confirming this to be my last Will and Testament
.
In witness whereof, I have herewith set my hand and Seal this twenty sixth day
November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and three.
his
          Joab "x " Aylesworth”