Nathaniel AYER

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]

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]

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.

John married Hannah ?. Hannah died on 08 Oct 1688 in Haverhill, Mass.. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Name:
In 1642, John Williams was admitted freeman: that is, he was made an acknowledged citizen of the place, was a member of the church, had a full right to vote on any and all questions, and had taken the oath of fidelity and allegiance. In 1643, according to a town vote, the valuation of his property was put at eighty pounds, which compares favorable with that of the 31 other land owners. Every stockholder who emigrated at his own expense was to receive fifty acres for each member of his family; and every fifty pounds contributed to the company's stock entitled the stockholder to two hundred acres of land. In the 4th division of land, 14 oct., 1659, John Williams drew the 4th lot. In 1667 he again received a share in the distribution of some lands belonging to the town, which confirms the statement that he was one of the original proprietors, and to be such he must have been in possession of means brought from the old country. He also owned other property in Haverhill, some of which he gave to his sons during his lifetime.

John williams passed the residue of his days in Haverhill, dying there 10 Feb., 1674; his widow Jane surviving until 21 Nov., 1680. His will, dated 9 Dec., 1670, probated 18 mar., 1674, mentions his children, John, Joseph, Sarah, Mary and Lydia, and a grandchild, Sarah, daughter of Sarah who had married John Ayer. ...

John married Unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]