Thomas Critchet Avery (1800 - 1864)

Born 9 Sep 1800 in Thetford, Orange, Vermont, United States

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 29 Jul 1864 in Highland Falls, Orange, New York, United States

Biography

Thomas Critchet Avery was born 9 September 1800 in Thetford, Vermont to parents Josiah Avery and Hannah Critchet.

Soldier, Professor of Science, inventor who aided Samuel Morse to invent the telegraph, and musician in the West Point band.

Born in Thetford Vermont in 1800. After his father's early death, his mother, Hannah Critchet Avery, took him and his siblings by foot from Vermont to Highland Falls, New York. "Here she found employment. These lads were bound out struggled for an education, and one Thomas Avery, became the first professor of Science, or as it was then styled, Natural Philosophy at West Point. Thomas Avery according to tradition, knew perhaps more about electricity than any person of his time. Samuel F. B. Morse ... was confronted with the failure in operation of his telegraph instruments, wired from one another. Morse went to Avery with his trouble. On looking over the instruments, Avery did not give any definite advice, but secured old bottles broke off the necks and used them as insulators. The instruments worked successfully. Morse paid Avery $350 and with this Avery built a home still standing at Highland Falls, close to the West Point Military Academy. The minds of the famous West Pointers, the heroes of the Mexican and Civil Wars were trained in Avery’s classes. Thomas Avery turned his attention to lightning rods, and made a number of installations about the Academy buildings and around West Point and Highland Falls. Some are still in use it is said." ^{[1] [2]}

Thomas C. Avery passed away 29 Jul 1864 in Highland Falls, New York and was buried in Union Cemetery. ^[3]

Source

1. ↑ From the Jefferson Gazette, Ashtabula OH on Thursday, January 28, 1926 [Broderbund Family Archive #238 Ed. 1, Genealogical Records: New York, Date of Import: Oct 26, 2000, Internal Ref. #1.238.1.1042.6]
2. ↑ Doggett'S New York City Directory, For 1849-1850 Publisher: John Doggett, Jr. & Co. NY, NY, 1850. Page: 33
3. ↑ Find A Grave Memorial 132214657 https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/132214657/thomas-critchet-avery#source

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