Capt William AVERY

Notes:

Name:
William Avery was town clerk and treasurer of Groton from Jan. 27, 1768, until his death in 1787. During the Revolution he served on many war committees.....

September 21, 1779, William Avery was chosen to represent the town at a general convention to be held at hartford. he was also on a committee that year to obtain soldiers for the town's quota. In 1780, he was one of the committee to raise a bounty for the soldiers. He was also on a committee to see if Groton possessed any public lands that could be sold for that purpose. In 1781, he and four others were appointed to assess the estates of the town and to raise 198 pounds, "solid money," for bounties for the soldiers.

On a stone in the Starr cemetery is the following:

"This monument, sacred to the memory of William Avery, Esq., who departed this life, May 4, A Dom., 1787, in the 63rd year of his age.

The wise, the just, the pious and the brave,
Live in their death and flourish in their grave,
Grain laid in earth repays the pleasant care,
And evening suns but set to rise more fair."

William married Mary DOLBEARE on 16 Sep 1761 in Groton, Connecticut. Mary (daughter of George DOLBEARE and Mary SHERWOOD) was born on 19 Aug 1740 in New London, New London Co., Connecticut; died on 4 Oct 1774 in Groton, New London County, Connecticut; was buried in Starr Cemetery, Groton, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Hannah AVERY was born on 20 Jul 1772 in Groton, New London Co., Connecticut; died on 5 Aug 1829 in Oxford, Chenango Co., New York.

William married Hannah WOODBRIDGE on 16 Mar 1775 in Groton, Connecticut. Hannah (daughter of Paul WOODBRIDGE and Sarah GOODRIDGE) was born on 19 Jan 1742/3 in Upper Mystic, Connecticut; died on 8 Apr 1831 in Ledyard, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Name:
Christopher Avery was an important man in the colony. He became town clerk after the death of his father and held the office over forty years, until his own death in 1768. April 27, 1736, he was one of a committee to prepare a memorial to the general assembly asking for a more commodious ferry. In October, 1736, he and his brother, Humphrey, with others, petitioned against the officers chosen for the northeast company of Groton. Among the reasons given for their objection were that some of the officers were young men; that some belonged to the church of England; that the church at Groton was having trouble about the church of England. The general assembly, however, confirmed the officer (Military Docs., 2:269). The general assembly commissioned him captain of the second company of the Groton train-band, 1735; lieutenant-colonel of the eight militia, 1739, and colonel of the sam regiment, 1746, (Conn. Col. Rec., 8:3, 280 & 9:256), succeeding Ebenezer Avery. In 1739, he was appointed on a committee to get ten good cannons, guns for a sloop, and gunpowder for new London, for coast defense; they were authorized to spend 1100 pounds for that purpose. In October, 1755, he was on a committee to get new carriages for the New London cannons; in march, 1756, he was one of the committee to receive and transport all warlike supplies to Lake George in the war against the French.....

He was equally prominent in other lines. He was deputy from Groton, 1736 to 1764 inclusive, and was speaker in 1751. He was justice of the peace from 1732 to 1768 and, during many of the terms, made one of the quorum. He was a member of the committee to audit the books of the colony in 1744 and 1746. he had some modern ideas concerning taxation for, in conjunction with his brother, Humphrey, and Christopher Avery of the North Parish, he petitioned the general assembly that the unimproved lands should be taxed. he was one of the first proprietors of the Susquehanna company, having become one in 1754.

The tombstones of Christopher Avery and his first wife are standing in the Starr cemetery, Groton.

Mary, wife of Christopher Avery died August 14, 1754, in the 56 year of her age.

Christopher Avery, Esq., Colonel of the 8th regiment of militia, departed this life, Jan'y 17, 1768, aged 71 years.

Christopher married Mary LATHAM on 25 Jun 1719 in Groton, New London, Connecticut. Mary (daughter of William LATHAM and Hannah MORGAN) was born on 18 Feb 1698/9 in Groton, New London County, Connecticut; died on 14 Aug 1754 in Groton, New London County, Connecticut; was buried in Starr Cemetery, Groton, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: Daughter of William Latham and Hannah Morgan