Capt Samuel AVERY

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Like his brothers, Samuel Avery was an extensive land owner. He bought the rights of his brothers, Thomas and John, in their grandfather's land on the General neck, in 1685. In 1693, he received from his father, James Avery the homestead farm on which his father was then living. Uncas, the Indian chief, deeded to him several hundred acres of land, the consideration being an Indian woman, Betty, who was one of the captives taken by James Avery in the King Philip war. Samuel Avery spent most of his life on his farm in Groton and there his children were born. He calls himself husbandman and merchant. he early took a leading part in Groton affairs. In December, 1705, he and his brother James were members of a committee to make up the accounts with New London. Upon the legal organization of the town, December 1, 1705, he was made first townsman and moderator; he held that office until his death. He was one of the committee authorized in 1706 to sell two hundred acres of the town's land to pay its debts. When the schoolmaster was engaged, May 28, 1706, to tach the children in the different houses until the school-house was built, he was to teach first in Mr. Samuel Avery's house. April 12, 1710, Samuel Avery was one of the commission to allot lands. March 20, 1715-16, he was a member of a committee to seat the meeting-house. He was town clerk from 1718 until his death, and justice of the peace from 1719 to 1722 inclusive. In the division of the Nawayunk (Noank) lands, he received lot No. 35.

He also took an important part in the affairs of state, being deputy to the general court from New London in 1693, and from Groton in 1709, 1716, 1718 and 1719. He possessed the same military spirit as his brothers, being commissioned ensign by the general court in May, 1705, lieutenant in may, 1710, and captain in May, 1716.

May 15, 1717, he was witness to a deed given by his father to his brother James....

Samuel Avery, the youngest of four brothers, was the first of them to die, May 1, 1723. he was buried in Ledyard, then the northern part of Groton. His widow, Susannah Avery, was in full communion "at the ordination" of the First Church of Groton, Nov. 22, 1727. She died Oct. 2, 1747, at Groton.

Samuel married Susannah PALMES on 25 Oct 1686. Susannah (daughter of William PALMES and Anne HUMPHREY) was born on 1665 or 1666 in Ardfinan, co. Tipperary; died on 02 Oct 1747 in Groton, New London Co., Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Samuel AVERY was born on 11 Aug 1687 in Groton, New London Co., Connecticut; was christened on 13 Mar 1690/1 in First Church, New London, Connecticut; died on 7 Aug 1714 in Groton, New London Co., Connecticut.
2. Jonathan AVERY was born on 18 Jan 1688/9 in Groton, New London Co., Connecticut; died on 12 Jun 1761 in Groton, New London Co., Connecticut.
3. William AVERY was born on 25 Aug 1692 in Groton, New London Co., Connecticut; was christened on 30 Aug 1692 in First Church, New London, Connecticut; died on 20 Feb 1717/8 in Groton, New London Co., Connecticut.
4. Mary AVERY was born on 10 Jan 1694/5 in Groton, New London Co., Connecticut; was christened on 5 Mar 1694/5 in First Church, Groton, Connecticut; died on 17 May 1739 in Groton, New London Co., Connecticut.
5. Colonel Christopher AVERY was born on 10 Feb 1696/7 in Groton, New London County, Connecticut; was christened on 2 May 1696/7 in First Church of New London; died on 17 Jan 1768 in Groton, New London County, Connecticut; was buried in Starr Cemetery, Groton, Connecticut.
6. Deacon Humphrey AVERY was born on 04 Jul 1699 in Groton, New London Co., Connecticut; was christened on 20 Aug 1699 in First Church of New London, Connecticut; died on 28 Mar 1778 in Groton, New London Co., Connecticut.
7. Nathan AVERY was born on 30 Jan 1701/2 in Groton, New London Co., Connecticut; died in 1760 in Lyme, New London Co., Connecticut.
8. Lucy AVERY was born on 17 Apr 1703 in Groton, New London Co., Connecticut; was christened on 5 Sep 1703 in First Church, New London, Connecticut; died after 6 Jun 1721.
9. Waitstill AVERY was born on 27 Mar 1707/8 in Groton, New London Co., Connecticut; died in 1737 in Groton, New London Co., Connecticut.
10. Grace AVERY was born on 2 Jun 1712 in Groton, New London Co., Connecticut; died in 1713 in Groton, New London Co., Connecticut.

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Captain James Avery is often spoken as the founder of the family or clan that we call the Groton Averys. That he was the only child of Christopher Avery is plainly seen by the following entry on the books of the county court of New London, Connecticut, November 24, 1683:

"Capt. James Avery appearing in this Court and there Declaring himself the only sonn & Heir of his Father Mr. Christopher Avery deceased and that there was neither sonn or Daughter but himself was sole heir and he desiring this court would so constitute him and give him power of administration upon the said estate of his father deceased. This Court having duly considered what hath been alleadged do approve of the same and judge the said Capt. James Avery to be the right and full heir to the said estate and do give him power of administrator to the estate of Mr. Christopher Avery his deceased father,

Attest Charles Hill rec."

James Avery came to America with his father and lived at Gloucester for several years. He married November 10, 1643, as appears by the records of Gloucester:

"James Avery married Joane---- November 10, 1643."
That her name was Joanne Greenslade is learned from her letter of dismissal from the church at Boston to the one at Gloucester in 1644. The first volume of admissions of the First Church of Boston contains what little information we have been able to glean concerning Joane Greenslade. On page 63 is a list of six names of which hers stands third among the admissions as follows:

"The 18th day of ye 4th Moneth 1643 Joan Greenslade, a single woman."

On page 66 of the same volume is an entry showing her dismissal to the church of Gloucester: "the 17th day of ye 1at Moneth 1644 Our Sister Joan greenslade now ye wife of one James Averill of Gloster had granted hir by ye Churches silence Ires of Recomend to ye Church at Gloster."

She, however, seems to have retained her connection with the First Church at Boston, for on page 97 of the book of admissions is the record:
"oe Sister Joan Avery with ye Consent of ye whole church was dismist unto ye church of christ at Pekot on ye 31 of ye 6th mo 1651.".....

He soon became active in military affairs and is generally spoken of by the title of ensign, lieutenant, or captain. The region in which he lived was formerly the chief seat of the formidable Pequot tribe that, a few years before, had been almost exterminated by the English. The Pequot Fort, taken in 1637 by Captain John Mason in command of the Connecticut troops and their Mohegan and Narragansett allies, was on the Mystic River, on the eastern line of Groton. After the Pequot War, a few survivors of that once dreaded tribe still lived in the haunts of their fathers, with the Narragansetts on the east and the Mohegans under their sachem, Uncas, near by on the west. In 1657, the Narragansetts made a wild foray and Uncas fled from the blood and fire that marked their course. He took refuge in a fort and was besieged by his unrelenting foes. but, just in time, "Lieutenant James Avery, Mr. Brewster, Richard Haughton, Samuel Lothrop, and others well armed, succeeded in throwing themselves into the fort; and the Narragansetts, fearing to engage in a conflict with the English, broke up the siege and returned home." The legislature approved the measures that had been taken for the protection of the faithful ally of the English.....

In 1668, James Avery and Cary Latham were chosen by the town to settle the boundary line with the sachem, Uncas. The L15 that secured the desired formal deed was paid by James Avery and two others in consideration of which each received 200 acres of land from the town. Captain Avery's services seem to have been often called for by the town and by individuals in the settling of such controversies. In 1678, the commissioners, granted Captain Avery five pounds "for his good service in assisting in the government of the Pequots for sundry years."........

James Avery represented New London as deputy to the general court for many years. The record runs as follows: May, 1659, Oct. 1660; Oct. 1661; Oct., 1664; May and July 1665; May and Oct 1667; April and May 1668; May and Oct., 1669; May, 1675. Oct 1675, he was reported as absent. He was serving his country elsewhere-raising troops for the Indian war that terminated in the great swamp fight of December 19, 1675. We find him again a member of the general court 1676; also May and Oct., 1677; May, 1678; Oct., 1679; Oct., 1680 oct., 1682; May, 1683, May and July, 1684; May and Oct., 1685; Oct., 1686......

In studying the record of those days, the careful student is strongly impressed with the fact that Capt. James Avery was a very remarkable man. Living as he did in stirring times, he was a leader among strong men, enjoying their confidence and respect because he deserved them. Especially is it to be noted that, although the state took cognizance of affairs that we now call private and interfered in the details of family life and personal relations in a way that would not now be tolerated, he was never censured or "presented" for any shortcoming or alleged dereliction of duty or propriety. Eminent in all the relations of life, his descendants look upon him with pride and affection as one SANS PEUR ET SANS REPROCHE.

James married Joanna GREENSLADE on 10 Nov 1643 in Gloucester, Essex Co., Massachusetts. Joanna was born about 1622 in Devonshire Co., England; died on 16 Apr 1693 in Groton, New London Co., Connecticut; was buried in Avery-Morgan Cemetery, Groton, New London Co., Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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CHRISTOPHER AVERY, the emigrant ancestor and progenitor of the Avery family, was born in England about 1590. He was a weaver by trade, and came to this country and located at Gloucester, Mass., where he was selectman in 1646, 1652 and 1654.
His wife did not come to this country. In 1658 he sold lands at Gloucester and removed o Boston, where on the 16th of March, 1658/9 he purchased land, a small lot, about twenty-six by forty-six feet.

Christopher Avery did not long retain this property, for March 22, 1663, he sold land to Ambrose Dew, for forty pounds. There had evidently been no increase of value in the five years that he had held possession. After being owned by two or three different person, it was bought by Mr. Stackpole about 1790. He now followed his son James to Connecticut, and August 8, 1665, purchased a house, orchard and lot of Robert Burrows in London. He was made freeman of the colony October, 1669.

Christopher married Margery STEPHENS about 26 Aug 1616 in Ipplepen, Devon, England. Margery was born in England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]