Ann DENISON

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: Drowned in a well in 17th year.
• Baptism: 02 Dec 1710

Ann married Capt John DENISON on 09 Nov 1720 in Stonington, New London, Connecticut, USA. John (son of Edward DENISON and Mercy ?) was born in 1701 in Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut; died on 28 Nov 1777 in Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

William married Mary AVERY in Mar 1697/8 in New London, Connecticut. Mary (daughter of John AVERY and Abigail CHESEBROUGH) was christened on 14 Nov 1680 in First Church of New London, Connecticut; died on 03 Feb 1762 in Stonington, New London, Connecticut, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Death: 05 Feb 1762, North Stonington, New London, Connecticut, USA

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 14 Jun 1646, Roxbury, Massachusetts
• Military Service: Aug 1673; Ens. for New London Co Troop
• Fact: Oct 1694, Dep for Stonington
• Fact: Oct 1695, Dep for Stonington
• Will: 26 Apr 1698
• Will Proved: 10 Jun 1698

John married Phebe LAY on 26 Nov 1667 in Saybrook, Middlesex, Connecticut. Phebe (daughter of Robert LAY and Sarah FENNER) was born on 05 Jan 1650/51 in Saybrook, Middlesex, Connecticut; died on 28 Feb 1699 in Stonington, New London, Connecticut; was buried in Elm Grove Cemetery, Mystic, New London, 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]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: 1643, Went to England and fought in the Parliamentary Army
• Fact: 02 Jul 1644, Wounded and captured - Battle of Marston
• Emigration: 1651
• Will Proved: Jun 1695

Notes:

"After his wife's death, Bridget, George went to England, served under Cromwell in the army of the Parliment, won distintion, was wounded at Naseby, was nursed at the house of John Borodell, by his daughter Ann- whom he married and returned to Roxbury, and finally settled at Stonington, Conn."

"George and Ann were both remarkable for magnificent personal appearance, and for force of mind and character. She was always called "Lady Ann." They held foremost place in Stonington. He has been described as "the Miles Standish of the settlement," but he was a greater and more brilliant soldier than Miles Standish. He had no equal in any of the colonies, for conducting a war against the Indians, excepting, perhaps, Captain John Mason."

Excerpt from "Rev. John Eliot's Record of Church Members, Roxbury, Mass.": This winter we had a gracious p'vidence of God befell two brothers Edward & George Dennison, who had been proude incendiarys of some trobls among us, and full of distemp', and disaffection. but the Lord left them to open and shamefull drundennesse at Boston: espec'.edward. We did so greatly humble them both yet though George (being a membr) was excomvnicated, yet in a short time was taken in againe. And Edward humbling himselfe so effectually yet he was also speedyly received in to the Church, this is the tryvmph of grace, to magnify grace by sinne.

Excerpt from "Direct Descendants of Capt. George Denison": George's bro, Gen Danl Denison wrote in 1672 "My two brothers, Edward and George had all the Estate of my father left between athem, being both marryed long before my father's death; my Brother George buried his first Wife in the year 1643, went into England was a souldier ther above a year, was at the Battle of York, or Marton Moore, where he did good service, was after ward taken Prisoner, but got free and having maried a second Wife he returned to New England the year before our Mother died, and not long after ward removed himelf to New Ldon near whereunto at Stonington he now liveth, having 3 sons John, William, and George, 4 or 5 daughters......3 daughters are married to Stanton, Palmer and Cheesebrook all living at present in the same town."
He served as Deputy to the Conn Gen Court from New London Sept 1653, May 1654 and Feb 1657, and from Stonington Oct 1671, Oct 1674, May 1678, Oct 1682, May and Oct 1683, May, July and Oct 1684, May and Oct 1685, May 1686, May 1687, Sept 1689, May Sept and Oct 1693, and May 1694. When 1st mentioned in "Conn Col Recds" he is called "Captain," based upon his service and commission in England. He served on the War Comm for New London in 1653 when war threatened with Dutch. Although 56 he served as capt in King Philip's War 1676 in command of New London County troops and second in command of the Conn Army under Maj Robert Treat. He was ap'pted Provost Marshal May 1677. He was Capt of volunteer troops against the enemy Sept 1689.

"George Denison of Rocksbury in New England gentleman and Bridge Denison his wife daughter of John thompson late of Preston in the County of Northampton and of M(ist)ris Alice Thompso now dwelling at Rocksbury" gave a power of attorney on 22 march 1640/1 to recover her share of her father's estate.

George married Ann BORRODELL in 1645 in Naseby, Northamton, England. Ann was born about 1615 in England; died on 26 Sep 1712 in Stonington, New London, Connecticut; was buried in Elm Grove Cemetery, Mystic, New London, Conn.. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Death: 06 Sep 1712

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: 1638, Lynn, Massachusetts
• Residence: 1649, Saybrook, Conn.

Robert married Sarah FENNER in Dec 1647 in Saybrook, Middlesex, Connecticut. Sarah (daughter of Arthur FENNER and Sarah BROWNE) was christened on 26 Nov 1615 in Horley, Surrey, England; died on 21 May 1676 in Old Saybrook, Middlesex, Connectoci; was buried in River View Cemetery, East Haddam, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Immigration: Between 1646 and 1647, Arrived in America with sibling William and Arthur
• Death: 25 May 1676, Saybrook, Middlesex, Connecticut

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]