John AYER

Other Events and Attributes:

• Will: Between 12 Mar and 06 Oct 1657
• Residence: 1647, Removed to Haverhill, Mass.

Notes:

Excerpt from "Early New England People": John settled in Salisbury, in 1640. He removed to Ipswich, and later to Haverhill, Mass., his name being on the list of those who held land in that place in 1645. In 1652, he received a share in the second division of "Plough-land". His name appears in the list of freemen in Haverhill, in 1646. This list has the valuation of each man's property; and John Ayer's is put down at oe 160, being the largest amount but one on the list. His will was made March 12, 1657, and probated the following October. John Ayer had a large number of descendants. We are told by George W. Chase, in his "History of Haverhill," that in 1700, one-third of the inhabitants of Haverhill were of the name of Ayer.

Family/Spouse: Hannah ?. Hannah died on 08 Oct 1688 in Haverhill, Mass.. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Obadiah married Hannah PIKE between 19 Mar 1660 and 1661 in Haverhill, Mass.. Hannah was born on 26 Apr 1643 in Newbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts; died on 31 May 1689. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Nathaniel married Tamesin TURLOAR on 10 May 1670 in Haverhill, Mass.. Tamesin died on 13 Dec 1700 in Haverhill, Mass.. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Birth: 21 Dec 1648

Hannah married Stephen WEBSTER between 24 Mar 1662 and 1663 in Haverhill, Mass.. Stephen (son of John WEBSTER and Mary SHATSWELL) was born between 1637 and 1639 in Ispwich, Essex, Mass; died on 10 Aug 1694 in Haverhill, Essex, Mass. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Thomas married Elizabeth HUTCHINS on 01 Apr 1656 in Haverhill, Mass.. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Freeman: May 1666

Notes:

Excerpt from "Early New England People": Peter, the sixth son, was made a freeman in 1666. He was a land owner in 1650, and received land in the fifth division of town lands. He lived in the northerly part of the town, in the West Parish. He was one of a committee of three to see about building the first school-house, and was also one of a committee for building a new meeting-house and settling the Rev. Benjamin Rolfe. He was one of three chosen to designate what houses should be garrisoned, and was on a committee for "examination of the rights that any have in common land." He was chosen a Selectman under the new charter, and was one of the first Assessors. In 1689, he was chosen to represent Haverhill at the convention called in Boston by the "Coundil of Safety," which was organized upon the imprisonment of Gov. Andros. In 1690, "Cornet Peter Ayer" was "particularly made choice of to present, perfer and prosecute" the petition made by Haverhill as a frontier town, to the Council or General Court for "40 men at least to be a constant daily scout," etc. He was chosen a Representative to the General Court, in 1683-5-9 and 90.

Peter married Hannah ALLEN on 01 Nov 1659 in Haverhill, Mass.. Hannah (daughter of William ALLEN and Ann GOODALE) was born on 17 Jun 1642 in Salisbury, Essex Co., Mass.; died on 22 Dec 1729 in Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Freeman: May 1666
• Freeman: Oct 1667

Notes:

Excerpt from "Early New England People": Robert received land in the second and fifth divisions of "plough-land." He was a Selectman in 1685, also under the new charter in 1692, where he is called Sergeant. He was one of a committee of three who were appointed to see about settling Rev. Benjamin Rolfe, the second minister in Haverhill.

Robert married Elizabeth PALMER on 27 Feb 1650 in Haverhill, Mass.. Elizabeth was born about 1633; died on 24 Apr 1705 in Haverhill, Mass.; was buried in Pentucket Cemetery, Haverhill, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Rebecca married John ASLET about 08 Oct 1648 in Newbury, Mass.. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Death: Aft 1700

Notes:

Excerpt from "Early New England People": John removed to Brookfield, Mass., being one of the first settlers, and received large grants of land, some two thousand acres in all. He kept the inn of that place. He was killed by the Indians when they destroyed the town, Aug. 3, 1675.

Name:
John Ayer came to America with his father in 1635 (on the Brig Mary Ann); was at Salisbury in 1642 and at Haverhill in 1645, where at that time he was one of 32 land-holders. He was grand juryman in 1648 and in 1650 his property was valued at L80.

About this time his brothers, Robert, Thomas and Peter settled in the northwest part of the town and thus Ayer's Village had its beginning. John himself had settled near Plug Pond, a short distance north of the village, better known as Ayer's Pond, so called because the Ayers settled near it and owned most of the adjoining land. Their descendants are ver numerous and are scattered throughout every State of the Union. In 1700 it is supposed that nearly one-third of the inhabitants of Haverhill were of that name. They were a fearless, athletic race of men, and were mostly cultivators of the soil. Their name was given to various localities in Haverhill and in Norwich, Conn.: Ayer Street, Ayer's pond, Ayer's Village, Ayer's Gap, Ayer's Mountain....

John Ayer's name appears repeatedly in Haverhill records in connection with land. He drew land in the 4th division, 14 Oct., 1659. In 1660 he built a new house. He was a farmer, hunter and trapper, and his skill and sagacity in woodcraft equaled that of the Indians with whom he was in constant rivalry and not infrequently it amounted to open warfare. He and his three sons, John, Nathaniel and Joseph, took the oath of allegiance in Haverhill 28 Nov, 1677. He was chosen Constable 28 Feb., 1687/8. He lived at Ipswich for some years after that (was there in 1693/4) and then removed to connecticut, where he settled in what is now knowns as Ayer's Gap, in the vicinity of West Farms (now Franklin). He may be called the first white settler of that town...

John married Sarah WILLIAMS on 05 May 1646 in Haverhill, Mass.. Sarah (daughter of John WILLIAMS and Unknown) was born about 1630 in England; died on 25 Jul 1662 in Haverhill, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John married Mary WOODAM on 26 Mar 1663 in Haverhill, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Military Service: Between Jul and Aug 1676; Served in King Philip's War
• Military Service: Jan 1675; Served in King Philip's War

Notes:

Name:
He was a husbandman; served in King Philip's War Jan. 1675-1676 and July and Aug., 1676; was assigned L1.10.00 wages for military service for Haverell-towne 24 Aug., 1676. He lived in Andover in 1680 and in Newbury in 1696; was on list of proprietors in Andover 1702.

Zechariah married Elizabeth CHASE on 27 Jun 1678 in Andover, Massachusetts. Elizabeth (daughter of Aquila CHASE and Anne WHEELER) was born on 13 Sep 1657 in Newbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts; died after 1696. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Nathaniel married Ann SWAN on 31 Aug 1683 in Haverhill, Massachusetts. Ann (daughter of Robert SWAN and Elizabeth ACIE) was born on 3 Mar 1658. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Name:
He took the oath of allegiance and fidelity in Haverhill 28 Nov. 1677, with his father and brothers. Lived there until he removed to Ipswich, and thence about 1703 to West Farms (Franklin), Conn. Miss Caulkins says that John and Joseph Ayer settled at Preston and North Stonington as farmers. Joseph's farm was within the bounds of "Norwich East Society" (part of Preston) where he was admitted an inhabitant in 1704.....

Joseph Ayer brought his two sons with him; no doubt the other children came soon after, for they married in this neighborhood. He bought a large tract of land from Uncas (a Mohecan chief) and built the Ayer homestead in a narrow gap at the foot of Ayer's mountain, known as Ayer's Gap, where his father had settled before him. His will, dated Norwich, 6 Sep., 1736, proved in 1747, mentions his four living children.

Joseph married Sarah CORLISS on 24 Nov 1686 in Haverhill, Essex Co., Massachusetts. Sarah (daughter of George CORLISS and Joanna DAVIS) was born on 23 Feb 1663 in Haverhill, Essex Co., Massachusetts; died on 11 May 1733 in Norwich, New London, Connecticut, USA; was buried in Plains Cemetery, Franklin, New London Co., Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: Daughter of Joseph Ayer and Sarah Corliss

Sarah married Thomas HAZEN on 30 Sep 1714. Thomas (son of Lieut. Thomas HAZEN and Mary HOWLETT) was born on 7 Feb 1690 in Boxford, Essex Co., Massachusetts; was christened on 4 May 1690 in Topsfield, Massachusetts; died in 1774 in Norwich, New London, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]