Mary AVERY

Notes:

Name:
James Avery and his wife were members of the church at Groton before the ordination, Nov. 22, 1727. He was brander of horses for Groton, 1705; constable, 1707-8; on list of freemen, 1708-11. He was selectman from 1731 to 1742 inclusive, and moderator most of that time. He was deputy to the general court for fifteen terms (1715-1731); justice for New London County, 1726-1735; guardian of the Pequot Indians after his father's death; commissioned ensign of the first company of the Groton train band, 1716; lieut., 1721; capt., 1728 (Conn. Col. Rec., 5:489, 548, 572 & 6:2, 42, 270, 439, 514 & &:2, 88, 124, 149, 152, 191, 250, 293, 311, 346) He was often called James Avery, 3d. In 1730, he was one of the committee to take care of the town guns. He was given lot No. 18, in the division of the common lands.....

James married Mary GRISWOLD in 1696 in New London, Connecticut. Mary (daughter of John GRISWOLD and Mary BEMIS) was born on 02 Feb 1673 in Killingworth, Middlesex, Connecticut, USA; died on 26 Nov 1750 in Groton, New London County, Connecticut; was buried in Avery-Morgan burying ground. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Birth: 01 Feb 1673, Killingworth, Middlesex, Connecticut, USA

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Name:
He received numerous tracts of land from his father, one (March 28 1679) being enough to make up a hundred acres "near the cart path that goes to John Morgans, near the county road." May 29, 1702, Capt. james and Capt John Avery, Ephraim and Joseph Myner sold thee hundred acres of land in Preston called Pachaug.

James Avery early disposed of his land on the General Neck, land that came to him from his father and grandfather, and lived on the east side of the river. Like his father, he took an important part in the affairs of the colony. He took the oath of freeman, Oct. 14, 1669. he was several times selectman of Groton, also justice of the peace; he was deputy from New London to the general court seven times (1690-1702), and from Groton nine times (1707-12); he was made sergeant of the train band, New London, June 5, 1683; he was commissioned lieutenant in May, 1690, and later became captain; he was counselor and advisor of the Pequot tribe and, in 1720, became their guardian; in 1723, he instituted suits to recover lands of which they had been deprived; he several times acted as interpreter to the council; he was often on committees to settle boundary disputes and the location of public lands, and often served on the grand jury. (See Conn Col. Rec.)

Captain James Avery took part in various expeditions against the Indians of Massachusetts and Connecticut....

James married Deborah STALLYON on 20 Feb 1669 in New London, Connecticut. Deborah (daughter of Edward STALLYON and Margaret ?) was born about 1649; died on 27 Mar 1729 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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• Baptism: 01 Aug 1652, Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut, USA

John married Mary BEMIS on 28 Nov 1672 in Killingworth, Middlesex, Connecticut, USA. Mary (daughter of James BEMIS and Sarah DIMOND) died on 27 Oct 1679. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Name: Mary Bevins

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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]

Edward married Margaret ? in 1653 in New London, New London Co., Connecticut. Margaret died after 1680. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Death: 30 Aug 1691, Killingworth, Connecticut

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Name:
Edward Griswold, who was born about 1607, lived for a time at least in Kenilworth, co. Warwick, England, whence he emigrated in 1639, as is disclosed by various depositions, namely, one by himself in 1684, another by his son George in 1700, and a third by two of his grandsons in 1737-8. Edward brought with him his wife, several children, and his younger brother Matthew. In his own deposition dated May 15, 1684, Edward stated that he was then aged about seventy-seven years and that 'about the year 1639 Mr. William Whiting, Decd, was Undertaker (financial sponsor) for a shipp in England, in which Shipp I came to New England.'

Edward married Margaret DIAMOND in 1630 in England. Margaret was born in 1616 in Kenilworth, Warwick, England; died on 30 Aug 1670 in Killingworth, Middlesex, Connecticut, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Death: 23 Aug 1670, Clinton, Connecticut

James married Sarah DIMOND. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: Daughter of John and Rebecca (Bemis) Dimond