Ichabod PACKER

Ichabod married Abigail ELDREDGE on 30 Oct 1729 in Groton, New London Co., Connecticut. Abigail (daughter of Capt Daniel ELDREDGE, Jr. and Abigail FISH) was born on 20 May 1712 in Stonington, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Eunice PACKER was born on 8 Oct 1740 in Groton, New London Co., Connecticut; died in 1827 in Ellisburgh, New York.
2. Desire PACKER was born on 2 Jan 1744/5 in Groton, New London Co., Connecticut; died on 7 Oct 1815 in Groton, New London Co., Connecticut.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: Son of Thomas Packer and Rebecca Wells

James married Abigail AVERY. Abigail (daughter of John AVERY and Abigail CHESEBROUGH) was born on 18 Jan 1679 in Groton, New London County, Connecticut; was christened on 30 Mar 1679 in First Church of New London, Connecticut; died on 10 Nov 1722 in Groton, New London Co., Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: 17 Apr 1724, Deeded land to son Nathaniel

Notes:

Name:
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......

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....

For his services in the Narragansett war, John Avery received lots in Voluntown, No. 9 for arable land and No. 76 for cedar swamp.

John married Abigail CHESEBROUGH on 29 Nov 1675 in Stonington, New London, Connecticut, USA. Abigail (daughter of Samuel CHESEBROUGH and Abigail INGRAHAM) was born on 30 Sep 1656 in Stonington, New London, Connecticut, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Name:
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]

Samuel married Abigail INGRAHAM on 30 Nov 1655 in Stonington, New London, Connecticut, USA. Abigail (daughter of Richard INGRAHAM and Elizabeth WIGNALL) was born in Rehoboth, Bristol Co., Massachusetts; died on 12 Feb 1714 in Groton, New London Co., Connecticut; was buried in Wequetequock Burial Ground, Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]