Capt James AVERY

Capt James AVERY

Male Abt 1620 - 1700  (80 years)

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  • Name James AVERY  [1, 2, 3
    • 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.

      [1]
    Prefix Capt 
    Birth Abt 1620  Devonshire Co., England Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 3
    Gender Male 
    Death 18 Apr 1700  New London, New London, Connecticut, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    Burial Avery-Morgan Burial Ground, Groton, New London Co., Connecticut Find all individuals with events at this location  [4
    Person ID I03037  Main Tree
    Last Modified 12 Feb 2022 

    Father Christopher AVERY,   b. England Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 12 Mar 1670, New London, New London Co., Conn. Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Relationship Birth 
    Mother Margery STEPHENS,   b. England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Relationship Birth 
    Marriage Abt 26 Aug 1616  Ipplepen, Devon, England Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Family ID F02766  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Joanna GREENSLADE,   b. Abt 1622, Devonshire Co., England Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 16 Apr 1693, Groton, New London Co., Connecticut Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 71 years) 
    Marriage 10 Nov 1643  Gloucester, Essex Co., Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 3
    Children 
     1. Hannah AVERY,   b. 12 Oct 1644, Gloucester, Essex Co., Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 22 Aug 1721, Stonington, New London, Connecticut, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 76 years)  [Birth]
     2. James AVERY, Jr.,   b. 15 Dec 1646, New London, New London, Connecticut, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 22 Aug 1728, Groton, New London Co., Connecticut Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 81 years)  [Birth]
     3. Marie AVERY,   b. 19 Feb 1647/48, Gloucester, Essex Co., Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 02 Feb 1697/98, Stonington, New London, Connecticut, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 49 years)  [Birth]
    +4. Thomas AVERY,   b. 06 May 1651, New London, New London, Connecticut, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 05 Jan 1735/36, Montville, New London, Connecticut, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 84 years)  [Birth]
    +5. John AVERY,   b. 10 Feb 1654, New London, New London, Connecticut, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Aft 17 Apr 1724 (Age 70 years)  [Birth]
    +6. Rebecca AVERY,   b. 06 Oct 1656, New London, New London, Connecticut, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [Birth]
     7. Jonathan AVERY,   b. 05 Jan 1657/58, New London, New London, Connecticut, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Aug 1681, New London, New London, Connecticut, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 23 years)  [Birth]
     8. Christopher AVERY,   b. 30 Apr 1661, New London, New London, Connecticut, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 08 Dec 1683, Stonington, New London, Connecticut, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 22 years)  [Birth]
    +9. Capt Samuel AVERY,   b. 14 Aug 1664, Groton, New London Co., Connecticut Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 01 May 1723, Ledyard, New London Co., Connecticut Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 58 years)  [Birth]
    Family ID F03500  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 3 Feb 2022 

    Family 2 Abigail INGRAHAM,   b. Rehoboth, Bristol Co., Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 12 Feb 1714, Groton, New London Co., Connecticut Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Marriage 04 Jul 1698  [2, 3
    Family ID F02934  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 12 Feb 2022 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - Abt 1620 - Devonshire Co., England Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - 10 Nov 1643 - Gloucester, Essex Co., Massachusetts Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Headstones
    Capt. James Avery Headstone
    Capt. James Avery Headstone
    James Avery is the son of Christopher Avery and Margaret Stevens of Ipplepen, Co., Devonshire, England. He is buried in the Avery-Morgan Burial Ground in Groton, New London Co., Connecticut.

    Created by: Cynthia Kaley
    Maintained by: Kevin Avery
    Photos Added by: Jerald Cotter

  • Sources 
    1. [S5684] Elroy McKendree Avery and Catharine Hitchcock (Tilden) Avery, "The Groton Avery Clan".

    2. [S02772] The New England Historical and Genealogical Register 1988, Vol 142.

    3. [S9214] Richard Anson Wheeler, History of the Town of Stonington, County of New London, Connecticut.

    4. [S02329] Find A Grave Website.