Elder Park Avery was one of the most prominent citizens of Groton. In the beginning of the Revolutionary War he had written his four sons from Hartford, where he was a member of the Colonial Legislature, and one decidedly in favor of fighting, if necessary, for independence,

• >"Stand by your country, as I am too old to fight myself."

Elder Avery's boys had "stood by their country.", a reference to the wounding of his son and death of his grandson at the Battle of Fort Griswold.

The village's first church was established because of the Great Awakening when English evangelist George Whitfield preached to crowds at Stonington and Center Groton in 1763. This led to the gathering of a Separatist congregation headed by Elder Parke Avery which met in a great room in the famous "Hive of the Avery" but became inactive after their leader's death in 1797. From Judge Wm. H. Potter's manuscript:

• >"Elder Parke Avery of Groton was reputed to be an eminently pious man; not a profound preacher but of mild winning manners."

Not far from the site where the "Hive of the Averys" stood, lies a quiet field, far back from the village street — the old Avery burying- ground....In the center of the yard is a slate stone, bearing this inscription:

• >In Memory of Eld'r Park Avery who died March 24, 1797 aged 87 years r~"

His first wife, Mary Latham, and the mother of his children, lies one side of him, and the second wife, Grace Denison, on the other side.

Sources

1. DENISON GENEALOGY, by E. Glenn Denison, Josephine Middleton Peck, Donald L. Jacobus, The Pequot Press, Inc. Stonington, CT, 1963. Page 18.
2. THE HISTORY OF STONINGTON CT, by Richard A. Wheeler, page 203. 63. Park, b. Dec. 9, 1710, m. Mary Latham.
3. THE HISTORY OF STONINGTON CT, by Richard A. Wheeler, page 205. Elder Park Avery of Groton (No. 63) m. Mary Latham, about 1735. He d. Mar. 4, 1797; she d. June 11, 1773.
4. THE GROTON AVERY CLAN, Vol. I, by Elroy McKendree Avery and Catherine Hitchcock (Tilden) Avery, Cleveland, 1912. Found in the DAR Library, Washington DC. Page 168. July 3, 1776, "An account of Ebr Ledyard, Esq. and Mr. Park Avery, a committee who built the fort at Groton, laid in, examined and adjusted, and allowed therein the sum of 265 pounds 7s. 9d. in discharge thereof and voted that an order be drawn for that sum" (Conn. Col. Rec. 15:462)

• He was deputy to the general court in 1776, during the long and anxious session that began with the approval of the declaration of independence and enacted laws for the protection of our interests (Conn. State Rec., 1:2, 61, 90). He was moderator of the town of Groton, 1780, 1781. He was too old to take the field in defense of his country, but he sent his six sons, two of whom died in battle. In 1779, he and his son, Parke, were both on a committee "to attend to the business in inoculation." He was consable and surveyor for Groton, 1748.

1. DAR PATRIOT INDEX CENTENNIAL EDITION, PART I, A-F, National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution Centennial Administration, Mrs. Eldred Martin Yochim, President General, Washington: 1990, page 100. AVERY, Parke, Sr.: b. 12-9-1710 CT, d. 5-4-1797 CT, m. Mary Latham PS CT. The oldest son of Elder Park Avery lies near his father. In Memory of Lieut Park Avery, who died Dec. aoth, 1821 Aged So years He served his country in the revolutionary war and was severely wounded in Fort Griswold His son, Thomas, had been killed earlier in the day, fighting by his father's side, who, taking his dead son in his arms, carried him into the fort-room and tenderly laying him down, said: "I have nothing to say. He died in a good cause." That night the dead and wounded were carried back to the old house. Elder Park's sons "had stood by their country." Jasper, Elisha and his eldest grandson were dead, Lieutenant Park and Ebenezer severely wounded. Lieutenant Park left at home on that morning a six months' baby boy in his cradle, who had In Memory of Mrs. Hannah Avery wife of Mr. Park Avery who died Sopt. 26th, 1798 Aged 60 yrs. Lieutenant Park Avery, who was with Washington at White Plains, was at home on a furlough September 6, 1781, and awakened at four o'clock in the morning with the news that the British were entering the river, at once started for the fort, taking with him his eldest son, Thomas, who was seventeen years old. Late in the afternoon a breathless horseman came riding up to the old Avery house with the news that nine Averys had been killed in defense of the Fort and many more wounded. Among the latter was Lieutenant Park Avery, who had a bayonet thrust through his eye and was taken up for dead, when he surprised his bearers by saying, "Keep step, boys." been named Silas Deane. When his father was brought back, he asked that the child's name be changed to Thomas, for his dead boy, which was done. Near the grave of Lieutenant Park Avery lies his son Youngs, and his wife Eunice Latham, who was daughter of Captain William Latham, the commander of Fort Griswold. Colonel Ledyard being a superior officer and home on a. furlough, took command of the fort September 6, 1781. Captain Latham lived near the fort. The house is still standing in front of which a public fountain has recently been placed to his memory.

"Parke Avery Sen universally called Elder Parke the father of these soldiers was one of if not the most prominent citizen of Groton for many years from being a man of wealth and having taken the initiative in a very bitter fight against the established order in ecclesiastical matters He was a man of wonderful energy and activity in which qualities his sons were not deficient"

source: The Battle of Groton Heights: A Collection of Narratives, Official Reports ...

By William Wallace Harris, p 253