John Avery (1654 - 1724)

Born 10 Feb 1654 in New London, New London, Connecticut

Ancestors

Husband of Abigail (Chesebrough) Avery — married 29 Nov 1675 in New London, Connecticut

Descendants

Died 17 Apr 1724 at age 70 in Groton, New London, Connecticut

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Biography

This profile is part of the Avery Name Study.

John Avery, born 10 Feb 1654 New London, Connecticut, was a son of Joanna (Greenslade) Avery and James Avery.

John Avery was in King Phillip's War ^[1]. An account of his military service to the Connecticut colony was published in the Avery genealogy ^[2], as follows: In the general court, Hartford, May 12, 1692, it was recorded that

"This Court doe not sea reason to confirm those nominated for officers on the east side of the riuer at New London, at present, but doe appoynt Capt. James Aurey to be Captn of sayd Company, and James Morgan Lnt, and John Aurey to be Ensign of sayd Company untill the Honoured Major Generall and Mr. Witherell shall see cause to lead them to a new choyse of officers. (Conn. Col. Rec, 4:74)"

The record of the general court of May 11, for the following year has:

"Thomas Aurey is approued to be Captn of the traine band of New London on the east side of the riuer, and John Morgan Lnt., and John Aurey Ensigne, of sayd Company and are to be commissionated accordingly." (Conn. Col. Rec, 4  : 94)"

From a similar record of the general court, May 13, 1697, we learn that

"John Aurey [was] appointed Captain of the train band at New London on the east side of the riuer." (Conn. Col. Rec, 4.: 212.)"

His marriage to Abigail Chesebrough was recorded in Stonington and New London, Connecticut, on Nov 29 1675. Children of John Avery and Abigail (Chesebrough) were:

1. Abigail Avery, b 14 Jan 1676/7, d 18 Jul 1677
2. Abigail (Avery) Packer, b 18 Jan 1679; married James Packer
3. Mary (Avery) Palmer, baptized 14 Nov 1680; married 1) William Denison; 2) Daniel Palmer
4. John Avery, baptized 1 Apr 1683; married Sarah Denison
5. Nathaniel Avery, baptized 19 Jun 1692; married 1) Rachel Yeomans; 2) Abigail (surname unknown)
6. Joseph Avery, baptized 19 Jun 1692
7. William Avery (twin), baptized 19 Jun 1692; married 1) Anna Richardson; 2) Sarah Walker
8. Anna (Avery) Crary) (twin), baptized 19 Jun 1692; married 1) William Satterlee; 2) John Crary
9. Elisha Avery, baptized 9 May 1697; married Elizabeth Babcock
10. Desire Avery, baptized 9 May 1697
11. Daniel Avery, baptized 5 Nov 1699
12. Thomas Avery [uncertain as a child of this family, possibly baptized in 1704 in the church on the east side of the (Thames) river]

Again per the Avery genealogy, John Avery was an extensive land owner, holding, in addition to the place upon which he lived, land in several other towns. February 16, 1688, Capt. James Avery, "out of love," gave to his son, John Avery, the land that he had bought of Thomas Hungerford at the head of "poqeuannock plaine," also the land that was originally Jacob Waterhouse's; also a parcel of meadow on a brook commonly called Stony Brook; and "all that meadow each side that I bought of William Meader." (New London Deeds.) John Avery probably lived and died upon the farm at the head of Poquonock Plain, in the vicinity of which each of his brothers received land from his father. April 23, 1685, he sold the land that was given him by his father and that was his honored grandfather's to his brother Samuel. July 6, 1691, he sold the land and dwelling on the Pawtucket river that came from his wife's father, Samuel Chesebrough. August 3, 1691, he bought 200 acres in Preston of John Plumb. January 1, 1695, he bought 100 acres bounded north by Pachauge, of John Morgan. May 29 1702, he, in connection with the other proprietors of Preston, of whom his brother James was one, sold 300 acres of land in Preston, commonly called Pachauge. May 11, 1709, he sold to John Benit land that had formerly belonged to his wife's father. In 1710, he bought, of John Plume, for twenty-eight pounds, land in Preston Farms, and other land of John Morgan for eight pounds in hand and eleven pounds well secured. In 1700, he was one of the original proprietors of Lebanon, and May 10, 1705, the general court confirmed him and his associates in possession of lands in that town. Beginning with 1705, when his oldest son married, he deeded land with a free and open hand "out of love" to his sons for their livelihood. In the allotment of public lands, January 31, 1712, he calls himself a carpenter. In 1715, he was given lot No. 57 of the common land.

John Avery became a freeman of New London, May 12, 1681. His name appears on the patent for New London, Oct. 14, 1704. In the list of the inhabitants of Groton in 1708 and 1712 are found the names of Capt. John Avery and his son, John Avery.

Capt. John Avery was townsman of Groton, 1706. He was chosen with his brother, James, member of a committee to lay out 100 acres of land to Mr. Woodbridge, July 15, 1708. He was a member of the church of Groton, Nov. 22, 1727; as his wife is not mentioned, it is probable that she was then dead.

John Avery died 17 Apr 1724, in N. Groton, New London County, Connecticut ^[3].

Sources

1. ↑ Wheeler: Page 202
2. ↑ The Groton Avery clan by Avery, Elroy McKendree, 1844-1935; Avery, Catherine Hitchcock Tilden, 1844-1911 Publication date 1912 Page 112 acccessed 31 Dec 2017
3. ↑ Massachusetts Vital Records to 1850 (Online Database: NewEnglandAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2008).

• Minor, Thomas. Diary Of Thomas Minor, Stonington Connecticut, 1653 to 1684 (Day Publishing Co., Conn., 1899) Page 133: 1675, November, 29, Monday: "John Averie was married"

• Wheeler, Richard. History of the Town of Stonington, County of New London, Connecticut (Day Publishing, Co., New London, Conn., 1900) Page 202

• The Barbour Collection|The Barbour Collection]] of Connecticut Town Vital Records - White, Lorraine Cook, ed. (Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, MD, 1994-2002) Vol. 1-55.

• Ohler, Clara May Paine. Ancestors and Descendants of Captain John James and Esther Denison of Preston, Connecticut (Lima, Ohio, 1912) Page 181