Avery James b. 1620 d. 18 APR 1700

1620 - 1700

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Birth 1620 [1, 2]

Gender Male

_UPD 09 SEP 2009 17:21:45 GMT-5

Died 18 Apr 1700 [1]

Person ID I813 Alan Donald Vibber

Last Modified 08 Dec 2009

Father Avery Christopher, b. Abt 1590, d. 12 Mar 1670

Mother Stephens Margery, d. 1643, Brixham, Devonshire, England, U.K.

Married 28 Aug 1616 Abbots Kerswell, Devonshire

Family ID F354 Group Sheet

Family 1 Greenslade Joanna, b. Abt 1622, Devanshire, England, U.K. , d. Between 1693 and 1698, Groton, New London, Connecticut or Richmond, Kings, Rhode Island

Married 10 Nov 1643 [1, 2, 3]

Children

	1. Avery Rebecca, b. 06 Oct 1656, New London, Connecticut, USA , d. 22 Oct 1727, Groton, New London, Connecticut, USA
	2. Avery Thomas, b. 06 May 1651, d. 05 Jan 1736/37, New London, Connecticut, USA

Family ID F353 Group Sheet

Family 2 Ingraham Abigail, b. 12 Jan 1633, Massachusetts, USA , d. 09 Sep 1717, Groton, New London, Connecticut, USA

Married 04 Jul 1698

Family ID F363 Group Sheet

Notes	2. Capt. James Avery, the only child of Christopher, was born in 1620. Came to America with his father, and lived at Gloucester for several years. The Rev. Mr. Blinman, who had been the minister of Gloucester for eight years, was engaged to become the minister of the Pequot Plantation. A party of his friends proposed to move with him, and came on to make preparatory arrangements, Oct. 19, 1650. It appears that James Avery went back to Gloucester, sold his possession there to his father, and in 1651 returned to New London. In March of that year the principal body of these eastern families arrived. Capt. James acquired large tracts of land at what is now Poquonoc Bridge, Groton, east of New London. About 1636 he built the hive of the Avery's at the head of Poquonoc Plain, a mile and a half from the river Thames. In 1684, the old Blinman edifice, first church of New London, the unadorned church and water-tower of the wilderness, which had stood for thirty years, was sold to Capt. Avery for six pounds, with the condition that he should remove it in one month's time. According to tradition, the church was taken down, its materials carried across the river, and added to the house he hadalready built at Poquonoc. In spite of this analytic and synthetic process, the ancient dwelling seemed to have retained some of its sacred character, for a century later it was occupied until July 21, 1894, when a spark from a passing locomotive ignited its well-seasoned frame, and in a short time only the ancient chimney remained to mark the spot of this historic house of Eastern Connecticut. Afew years later the chimney was taken down, the grounds graded, and a tasteful monument was erected by the descendants of James Avery. He was ensign, lieutenant and captain of the New London companies and served throughout King Philip's war in command of forty Indians from Stonington, New London and Lyme. In 1676 he was captain of one of the four companies which protected the frontier, and for twenty-three years an officer of the town, and twelve times deputy to the General Court, 1656-80; also assisting judge in the Prerogative Court, and was most prominent in matters relating to the church,as references to him in such connections are numerous. He m. 1st, Nov. 10, 1643, Joanna Greenslade, b. about 1622 ; she d. after 1693. He m. 2nd, Mrs. Abigail (Ingraham) Chesebrough, widow of Joshua Holmes, July 4, 1698, (No. 2) Holmes family. He d. April 18, 1700. His widow was living at late as 1714. The reference is to Lucretia, relict of Jonathan Brewster, (mother- in-law to Mr. Hill,) but no record of her death is to be found. James Avery in 1685 gives a deed to his four sons, of the house, orchard and land, "which belonged, (he says) to my deceased father Christopher Avery." No other son but James, has been traced. It may be conjectured that this family came from Salisbury, England, as a Christopher Avery of that place, had wife Mary buried in 159 1.3 James Avery and Joanna Greenslade were married, Nov. 10th, 1643. This is recorded in Gloucester. The records of Boston church have the following entry. " "17 of 1 mo. 1644. Our sister Joan Greenslade, now the wife of one James Averill had granted hr by the church's silence, letters of recommendation to the Ch. at Gloster." The births of three children are recorded at Gloucester ; these are repeated at New London, and the others registered from time to time. The whole list is as follows. Hannah, born Oct. 12th, 1644. Rebecca, born Oct. 6th, 1656. James, Dec. born 16th, 1646. Jonathan, born Jan. 5th,, 1658-9. Mary, born Feb. 19th, 1648. Christopher,born Ap. 30th, 1661. Thomas, born May 6th, 1651. Samuel, born Aug. 14th, 1664. John, born Feb. 10th, 1653-4. Joanna, 1669. James Avery was sixty-two years old in 1682 ; of course born on the other side of the ocean about 1620. At New London he took an important part in the affairs of the plantation. He was chosen townsmen in 1660 and held the office twenty-three years, ending with 1680. He was successively, ensign, lieutenant and captain of the only company of train-bands in the town, and was in active service through Philip's War. He was twelve times deputy to the General Court, between 1658 and 1680, and was in the commission of the peace, and sat as assistant judge in the county court. He removed to Pequonuck,east of the river, between 1660 and 1670, where both he and his wife were living in 1693. Deeds of lands to his sons, including the homestead farm, in Feb., 1693—4, probably indicate the near approach of death. His sons Jonathan and Christopher died young, and probably without issue. The descendants of James, Jr., Thomas, John, and Samuel, are very numerous, and may be regarded as four distinct streams of life. Groton is the principal hive of the family. ' AVERY FAMILIES. The first of the name was Christopher Avery, who first appears in Gloucester, Mass., between 1646 and 1654, and at New London in 1665. In October, 1669, made freeman of the colony. He died at New London, but no date of his death is to be found. He must have been quite an old man, and born in the latter part of the sixteenth century. James, his son, in 1685, gives a deed to his four sons of the house, orchard, and land, "which," he says, "belonged to my deceased father, Christopher Avery." This James Avery is the only son that can be traced. He married 10 Nov., 1643, Joanna Grcenslade, the record of which marriage is found recorded in Gloucester, Mass. Three or more of his children w?re born in Gloucester, and the remainder probably at Now London. At New London he took an active part in the affairs of the plantation. In 1660 he was chosen selectman, and held the offieo twenty-threeyears. He was successively ensign, lieutenant, and captain of the only train-band in the town, and was in activo service through King Philip's War. He was twelve times. deputy of the general court. His descendants have been very numerous, very many of them have been persons of distinction, filling position of honor in the church and state. It is not ascertained at what date he died, but deeds of Iands to his sons, including the homestead in February, 1693-4,.may indicate his near approach to death. Children. 2. Hannah, b. 12 Oct., 1644. 3. James, b. I6 Dec., 1646. 4. Mary, b. 19 Feb., 1648. 5. Thomas, b. 6 May, 1651. 6. John, b. 10 Feb., 1653-4 7. Rebecca, b. 6 Oct., 1O?6. 8. Jonathan, b. 5 Jan., 1658-9. 9. Christopher, b. 30 April, 1661. 10. Samuel, b. 14 Aug., 1664, m. Susanna Palmer 25 Oct., 1686. Had a son, Jonathan, b. 18 Jan., 1688-9. 11. Joanna, b. , 1669.

Sources

[S33] History of the Town of Stonington, County of New London, Connecticut, Richard Anson Wheeler, 200 (Reliability: 3).
[S64] History of New London, Connecticut, Frances Manwaring Caulkins, Cecelia Griswold, 331 (Reliability: 3).
[S2] History of Montville, H.A. Baker, (Name: Press of The Case, Lockwood & Brainard Company;), 518 (Reliability: 3).