Deacon Peter AVERY

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Peter Avery was a missionary to the Indians in western New York. He was a deacon of the Baptist church of Groton for fifty years. He was surveyor of the town; selectman, 1778 to 1782, 1787, in which period the town passed many patriotic measures. He was one of the committee of six who were ordered, Dec. 22, 1775, to direct the work on Fort Griswold. In 1787, as one of the selectmen of Groton, he petitioned the legislature for the remission of a fine of L60, for being short four men on the town's quota of soldiers in 1781, for the reason that it was not possible, so many being absent in the service on the seas and in the sea-coast defense, and Sept. 6, 1781, "about 70 men were killed and many wounded and carried away prisoners." They were "allowed only such remission of the fine as would come out of the sufferers who have had taxes abated" (Conn. State Archives, and Allyn's Battle of Groton Heights, p. 14).

Peter and wife, mary, are buried in the Niles burying-ground at Groton Center.

Family/Spouse: Mary NILES. Mary (daughter of Nathan NILES and Mary NORTHUP) was born in abt. 1730; died on 10 Jun 1800. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Peter married Hannah WOODBRIDGE on 28 Aug 1800. 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]

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He was tythingman, 1730; constable, 1733; justice of the peace from 1736 to 1741; deputy to the general court, 1736, 1737; commissioned lieutenant of the first military company of Groton, Oct. 1738 (Conn. Col. Rec., 8:195). His commission, signed by Gov. Talcott, is in the possession of the family. He was a member of the school committee, 1745; deacon of the First Church of Groton, 1748. In his will, dated April 30, 1759, he mentioned wife, Elizabeth; sons, James, David, Peter, John and Aaron, to each of whom he gave a farm, and among whom he divided his swords and arms, giving to James his "Silvered Helted Swoard;" daus., Elizabeth Starr, Prudence Avery, and Hannah Avery (New London Wills, G:367).

James married Elizabeth SMITH on 13 Dec 1719 in Groton, New London Co., Connecticut. Elizabeth (daughter of Nehemiah SMITH and Dorothy WHEELER) was born on 17 Nov 1700 in Groton, New London Co., Connecticut; died on 17 Apr 1761 in Groton, New London Co., Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]