Joseph AYER

Notes:

Name:
He took the oath of allegiance and fidelity in Haverhill 28 Nov. 1677, with his father and brothers. Lived there until he removed to Ipswich, and thence about 1703 to West Farms (Franklin), Conn. Miss Caulkins says that John and Joseph Ayer settled at Preston and North Stonington as farmers. Joseph's farm was within the bounds of "Norwich East Society" (part of Preston) where he was admitted an inhabitant in 1704.....

Joseph Ayer brought his two sons with him; no doubt the other children came soon after, for they married in this neighborhood. He bought a large tract of land from Uncas (a Mohecan chief) and built the Ayer homestead in a narrow gap at the foot of Ayer's mountain, known as Ayer's Gap, where his father had settled before him. His will, dated Norwich, 6 Sep., 1736, proved in 1747, mentions his four living children.

Joseph married Sarah CORLISS on 24 Nov 1686 in Haverhill, Essex Co., Massachusetts. Sarah (daughter of George CORLISS and Joanna DAVIS) was born on 23 Feb 1663 in Haverhill, Essex Co., Massachusetts; died on 11 May 1733 in Norwich, New London, Connecticut, USA; was buried in Plains Cemetery, Franklin, New London Co., Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Sarah AYER was born on 15 Sep 1690 in Haverhill, Essex Co., Massachusetts; died on 16 Sep 1753 in Norwich, New London, Connecticut.

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]