Solano County Biographies

THOMAS AYLWARD

Transcribed by Kathy Sedler

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

 
was born in Quebec, Lower Canada, where he remained till October 6, 1837, when 
he left for New York, arriving there in the same month, where he bound himself 
apprentice sailmaker with Stout & Blackledge, 144 South street.  In 1846 he went 
to Virginia, being employed in the Gosport Navy Yard as sailmaker for five 
months and twenty-seven days, where he assisted in fitting out the men-of-war 
�Mississippi,� �St. Lawrence� and �St. Mary�s.�  Returned to New York in May, 
1847, when he was dispatched in charge of some men to New London, Connecticut, 
where he worked for three months.  He then was removed to Sag Harbor, remaining 
there three months, and was again changed to Greenport, Long Island, when, at 
the end of six weeks, he went back to New York, and shortly afterward returned 
to Greenport, where he stayed till November 5, 1848.  It was Mr. Aylward�s 
intention to have left Greenport on November 3d, but owing to a terrific 
snowstorm which prevailed he delayed his departure, and well for him that he did 
so, for the train which he should have traveled by was run into and more than 
twenty lives lost, and a large number wounded, those who escaped having done so 
by jumping into the snow.  He remained in New York till March 12, 1849, when he 
sailed in the ship �Salem,� owned by a stock company, who were on board, the 
captain, George Douglas, being part owner.  Spending eighteen days in Rio de 
Janeiro and fifteen at Talcahuana, they arrived at San Francisco October 12, the 
voyage having occupied precisely seven months.  The day after Mr. Aylward 
arrived he set to work at his trade, making as high as one hundred dollars a 
day, but this he was forced to relinquish on account of a neuralgic affection, 
which the fogs of San Francisco enhanced.  He therefore got his party together, 
chartered a schooner and sailed for Stockton, en route for the mines.  From 
Stockton they went to the Chinese Camp in Tuolumne County, where he remained a 
fortnight, and then removed to Murphy�s Camp, prospecting; and, returning to 
Chinese Camp, took his whole party back to Murphy�s, in Calaveras County, in 
March, 1850, and there remained until November 21, 1853, when he left for San 
Francisco.  It was now Mr. Aylward�s intention to go to the Amazon, but he did 
not.  Several of his party started thither, however, but nearly all of them 
perished from cholera, in Callao.  One month after returning to San Francisco he 
went into business as a sailmaker, on the corner of Clay and Davis streets, 
which he carried on till May, 1856.  He then sold out, and recommenced mining 
operations in Oroville, Butte County, remaining there six days, when he moved to 
Forbestown.  In October he left his district for San Francisco, and commenced 
working as a journeyman sailmaker, and as such continued till 1858, having 
occasional jobs in the Mare Island Navy Yard.  In the Spring of that year he 
restarted on his own account, at the corner of Clark and Davis streets, 
remaining in business there till May, 1860, when he left his partner in charge 
and once more went himself to the mines, his destination being Washoe, now known 
as the district around Carson and Virginia Cities.  Remained there till October 
20, and again returned to San Francisco, remaining at his business till the 
Spring of 1861, when he was called to the Navy Yard at Mare Island as a 
journeyman sailmaker, was put in charge of the sailmakers� department in 1865, 
and remained in charge till the 23d of February, 1872, when he was superseded, 
along with fourteen others.  In 1876 Mr. Aylward visited the Centennial 
Exhibition � his first trip to the Eastern States since he first left them in 
1849.  He sojourned there three months, during which he visited Missouri, 
Kentucky, New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Portland, Quebec, Montreal, and 
elsewhere, and started for California on the 13teh of July, 1876.  Is a member 
of the Society of California Pioneers, of which association he is one of the 
charter members; he being also a member of the Vallejo Lodge, No. 64., I.O.G.T.  
Mr. Aylward has made nearly all the sails for several vessels which have been 
built in Vallejo.
 
History of Solano County � San Francisco, Cal. - Wood, Alley  & Co., East 
Oakland, pub 1879, pp 331-332