Sgt. John Averill

11. Sargt. John* Avery (William-, William'), b. Jan. 1, 1666, at Topsfield, Mass. (T. R.), was a planter and yeoman. His life was passed in his native town. Feb. 1, 1692, he and his brother Nathaniel Averell bought 200 acres of land in Topsfield from Gov. Simon Bradstreet [Essex Reg., B. 11, p. 255; rec. June 21, 1697].

We find recorded Dec. 21, 1700, a sale of land in Topsfield by him to his brother Ebenezer [/(/., B. 14, p. 98] ; and March 20, 1715, a sale of land to John Wildes [Id., B. 30, p. 72] ; and, as purchases by him, Mar. 5, 1715, land from Thomas Baker [Id., B. 30, p. 9] ; and Ap. 24, 1718, John Averell et al from Tho" Putnam et ux [B. 33, p. 174].

In 1694 he unites with his mother and brother Nathaniel as exrs. of his father's estate in the sale of some land in Ipswich (see pp. 88 and 89).

• Samuel Johnson Averill's MS. gives Joseph "Kneeland" as husband of Miraim Averill.

Topsfield Historical Collections [Vol. 3] records that "John Auerill is appointed fence viewer"; and 1691-2 "John Awerele is appointed Serveyer". He is also mentioned later in the records.

He appears in the Town Records Mar. 2, 1696-7 as John Averell Sargt, and probably held this office in the train band. He was not baptized until thirty-one years of age, when, on May 16, 1697, Rev. Joseph Capen bapt'zed him and his brothers and sisters [see p. 96].

It is probable that he lived with his mother, Mrs. Hannah (Jackson) Averell, in the old homestead all his life, as she was sole exr. of her husband's estate, and as he remained unmarried so far as we know until 44 years of age.

In the agreement as to the mutual division of his father's estate, which he signed Feb. 4, 1701-2 [see p. 95], his mother agrees to make her home with him during the balance of her life. For his share in this mutual division see pp. 90 and 91.

John Averell was m. by Rev. Mr. Capen, June 8, 1710, at Topsfield, to Anne Greensleet, "both of Topsfield" (T. R.). Her Christian name appears in records as Ann, Anne, Anna, and Hannah; her surname—if she was of the Salem stock of Greensleets,* appears in records as Greensled, Greenslid and Greenleaf. She may have been a granddaughter of Thomas Greensleet of Salem by one of his several sons whose names appear below. The Averells and Greensleets had a common interest in the Salem witchcraft accusations and executions, as Ann Greensleet, wife and widow of the above Thomas Greensleet (and later the wife and widow of Jacob Pudeator (Pointdexter) of Salem), was accused of witchcraft, and, as Ann Pudeator, was executed at Salem in 1692, as was also John Averell's aunt, Sarah (Averell) Wildes [see Upham's Salem Witcheraft; for Greensleets see Memoranda, p. 123].

John Averell died during the winter of 1719-20 [see Averill Gen., Essex Ant., Vol. 14, No. 9] ; and Apr. 13, 1724 (?), his widow Anna Averell was granted adm'n.

In Essex P. R., B. 316, p. 494, we find that Judge Appleton app'd Capt. John Howlett; Deacon Jacob Peabody; Nath' Averell; Benj Town & John Perkins all free holders in the Co. of Essex to divide the one full third of the real estate of John Averell late of Topsfield dec., unto his Widow Ann Averell as her right of dower, and to make a true & just apprisement of the other two thirds among the children of the dec'd in parts not exceeding seven and to report as to the division. [Id., B. 317, p. 127.] The same date Apr. 7, 1735 Judge Appleton appointed John Wilds of Topsfield guardian of the children of s" John Averell dec.; Emma; Katherine; Ebenezer, Abial.

[Id., B. 316, pp. 495-6.] The report was rendered and the com. above named made the distribution as follows:

John Avery 2 shares 132.17.6

Tho' Avery 1 share 66. 8.9

Emmi 1 do 66. 8.9

Kattern 1 Do. 66. 8.9

Eben' 1 Do. 66. 8.9

Abigail 1 Do. 66. 8.9

In the division of land the part called No. 1, is settled on John Avery and his heirs and valued at £245. 0.0

Part No. 2. is settled on Thomas Avery and his heirs and valued at 225. 0.0

This apportioning was approved by Judge Appleton of the Probate Ct., July 7, 1735.

We find that it was not until April 30, 1738, that "Widow Ann Averill was ad to the Cong. Ch. at Topsfield." Query: What had been her previous church associations? Her children were bap. in the Congregational Church at birth. Was she a Quaker?

The children of John and Anna (Greensleet) Averell, all b. at Topsfield, were:

48. i. John', b. Apr. 24, 1711; m. Mary Phippen.

49. ii. Thomas', b. Dec. 17, 1713; m. Sarah Kneeland.

50. iii. Emma', b. abt. 1715 (Ch. R.) ; m. Samuel Phippen.

51. iv. Katherine', b. abU 1716-7; m. Nathaniel Moulton.

52. v. Ebenezer', b. abt. 1717; m. Mary Towne.

53. vi. Ariel' (a dau.), b. Apr. (?), 1720; d. Aug. 1, 1736, at Tops

field. She was called in records Abial, "Abiel (dau.) of Widow Ann Averell" at her baptism Apr. (?) 1720; and Abigail in the distribution of her father's estate.

Source: book: The Averell-Averill-Avery family: A record of the descendants of William and ...(google book)

We find recorded Dec. 21, 1700, a sale of land in Topsfield by him to his brother Ebenezer [Id., B. 14, p. 98] ; and March 20, 1715, a sale of land to John Wildes [Id., B. 30, p. 72] ; and, as purchases by him, Mar. 5, 1715, land from Thomas Baker [Id., B. 30, p. 9] ; and Ap. 24, 1718, John Averell et al from Tho« Putnam et ux [B. 33, p. 174].

In 1694 he unites with his mother and brother Nathaniel as exrs. of his father's estate in the sale of some land in Ipswich (see pp. 88 and 89). Tops field Historical Collections [Vol. 3] records that "John Auerill is appointed fence viewer" ; and 1691-2 "John Awerele is appointed Serveyer". He is also mentioned later in the records.

He appears in the Town Records Mar. 2, 1696-7 as John Averell Sargt, and probably held this office in the train band. He was not baptized until thirty-one years of age, when, on May 16, 1697, Rev. Joseph Capen baptized him and his brothers and sisters [see p. 96] .

It is probable that he lived with his mother, Mrs. Hannah (Jackson) Averell, in the old homestead all his life, as she was sole exr. of her husband's estate, and as he remained unmarried so far as we know until 44 years of age.

In the agreement as to the mutual division of his father's estate, which he signed Feb. 4, 1701-2 [see p. 95], his mother agrees to make her home with him during the balance of her life. For his share in this mutual division see pp. 90 and 91.

John Averell was m. by Rev. Mr. Capen, June 8, 1710, at Topsfield, to Anne Greensleet, "both of Topsfield" (T. R.). Her Christian name appears in records as Ann, Anne, Anna, and. Hannah ; her surname — if she was of the Salem stock of Green- sleets,* appears in records as Greensled, Greenshd and Green- leaf. She may have been a granddaughter of Thomas Green- sleet of Salem by one of his several sons whose names appear below. The Averells and Greensleets had a common interest in the Salem witchcraft accusations and executions, as Ann Greensleet, wife and widow of the above Thomas Greensleet .(and later the wife and widow of Jacob Pudeator (Pointdexter) of Salem), was accused of witchcraft, and, as Ann Pudeator, was executed at Salem in 1692, as was also John Averell's aunt, Sarah (Averell) Wildes [see Upham's Salem Witchcraft; for Greensleets see Memoranda, p. 123].

John Averell died during the winter of 1719-20 [see Averill Gen., Essex Ant, Vol. 14, No. 9] ; and Apr. 13, 1724 (?), his widow Anna Averell was granted adm'n.

In Essex P. R., B. 316, p. 494, we find that Judge Appleton app'd Capt. John Hewlett; Deacon Jacob Peabody; Nath' Averell; Benj Town & John Perkins all free holders in the Co. of Essex to divide the one full third of the real estate of John Averell late of Topsfield dec, unto his Widow Ann Averell as her right of dower, and to make a true & just apprisement of the other two thirds among the children of the dec'd in parts not exceeding seven and to report as to the division. [Id., B. 317, p. 127.] The same date Apr. 7, 1735 Judge Appleton appointed John Wilds of Topsfield guardian of the children of s John Averell dec; Emma; Katherine; Ebenezer, Abial.

[Id., B. 316, pp. 495-6.] The report was rendered and the com. above named made the distribution as follows:

John Avery 2 shares 132.17.6

Tho' Avery 1 share 66. 8.9

Emmi 1 do 66. 8.9

Kattern 1 Do. 66. 8.9

Eben 1 Do. 66. 8.9

Abigail 1 Do. 66. 8.9

In the division of land the part called No. 1, is settled on John Avery and his heirs and valued at £245. 0.0

Part No. 2. is settled on Thomas Avery and his heirs and valued at 225. 0.0

This apportioning was approved by Judge Appleton of the Probate Ct., July 7, 1735.

We find that it was not untH April 30, 1738, that "Widow Ann Averill was ad to the Cong. Ch. at Topsfield." Query: What had been her previous church associations? Her children were bap. in the Congregational Church at birth. Was she a Quaker ?

The children of John and Anna (Greensleet) Averell, all b. at Topsfield, were :

John', b. Apr. 24, 1711; m. Mary Phippen. Thomas\ b. Dec. 17, 1713; m. Sarah Kneeland. Emma', b. abt. 1715 {Ch. R.) ; m. Samuel Phippen. Katherine', b. abt. 1716-7; m. Nathaniel Moulton. Ebenezer', b. abt. 1717; m. Mary Towne. Abiel' (a dau.), b. Apr. (?), 1720; d. Aug. 1, 1736, at Tops- field. She was called in records Abial, "Abiel (dau.) of Widow Ann Averell" at her baptism Apr. (?) 1720; and Abigail in the distribution of her father's estate.

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