Capt. Thomas Avery, Sr.

THE GROTON AVERY CLAN, Vol. I, by Elroy McKendree Avery and Catherine Hitchcock (Tilden) Avery, Cleveland, 1912. p. 103

1. Birth: 06 MAY 1651 in Groton, New London Co., Connecticut
2. Death: 05 JAN 1736 in Montville, New London Co., Connecticut
3. Note: He was in King Philip's War and was a successful Indian interpreter. During the latter part of his life he removed to Montville, Conn. Thomas Avery may have for a short time at Stonington, but most of his life was spent at New London, first on the east side of the river in what is now Groton, and later in the North Parish, now called Montville. May 12, 1681, he was made a freeman of New London; May, 1693, he was commissioned captain of the train band on the east side of the river, New London; in 1694, he was deputy ot the general court. It is evident that James Avery and Thomas Minor had a clear understanding concerning the marriage portions to be given to their children. On the twenty-sixth of December, 1677, Captain James Avery and his wife, Joanna, executed a deed which was owned and subscribed before Thomas Minor as commissioner. The deed ran as follows: This prsnt writing witnesseth to all it doe or may concerne that I James Avery of the couonty of New London, in ye Collony6 of Connecticott for divers good reasons & considerations known to myself and with my wife Joane Avery's consent fully give to my sonn Thomas Avery and his wife Hannah Avery my whole right of my parcell of land that I borght of Amos Richardson of Stonington be it more or less wh formerly was laide out and bounded to Mr. Obadiah Bruen of New London and also thirtie acres of upland upon Poquanys Plaine as it was formerly bounded to me from the swamp to the river, moreover one halfe of one hundred acres of upland and meadow as it was carried out and bounded and recorded to me at Pachauge next to Mr. Thomas Stanton, sen., his land. Also a piece of land joyning to Mr. Nehemiah Smith his playne lying betwixt Nehemiah Smiths land & ye comon I say all and every of these tracts and parcels of land I I doe give grant pass over alyeanate & confirm all my whole right and title to my sonn Thomas Avery & his wife Hannah Avery with all the privilledges & appurtenances to them belonging to them their heirs, executors and assigns forever to have & to hold possess & enjoy to use & improve for their best advantage provided that if either he or she shall have occasion to sell any one or more of these particular tracts or parcells of land they shall first make tender of it to the said Thomas Avery's Brothers and if they accept of the profer to give a rational price for it to sell it to no other person I doe hereby bind my other sonnes to make him or her the like tender upon the same terms and to the ture performance of and to every particular hereof we set our hands & seals this 26th of December, 1677. Signed seaaled and delivered in the presence of James Avery William Mead Joane Avery Jonathan Avery (New London Deads.) Thomas Minor and Grace his wife had already deeded, Dec. 17, 1677, 150 acres of land to their daughter Hannah and her husband, Thomas Avery: To daughter Hannah Avery, during her natural life and to her husband Thomas Avery during his natural life although my said daughter should die before him and in case my daughter shall have any child or children at the time of her departure then living it shall be theirs forever to have and to hold possess and enjoy to use and improve with all the meadows joining to it, I say all the one hundred and fifty acres of upland and meadow as it was laid out to me with all the privileges & appurtenance belonging thereunto. And in case my daughter should die without any child then she shall have by deed full power to dispose of it to any one or two of my son Clement Minor, his sonnes as she shall see meet. Provided it shall not prevent her husband of it during his natural life if she die before her husband. I say my one hundred and fifty acres of upland and meadow lying at Anagomenacunuck as it was laid out to me and bounded and recorded at Hartford and in Stonington books of records. And hereinto we set our hands and seals this seventeenth day of December one thousand six hundred and seventy and seven. Witness James Noyes Thomas Minor Samuel Avery Grace Minor Acknowledged before James Avery Commissioner. (New London Deeds, 5:34) Thomas Avery probably built upon one of these plots of land, as the following would indicate: March, 1667-8. 'the 23. Thomas Averys house was raysed.' June, 1668. Tuesday 25, Hannah went to her owne house.' (Minor's Diary.) Thomas Avery received his share of his grandfather's estate by deed from his father, James Avery, April 1, 1685, and three weeks later sold it to his brother, Samuel. He also owned other land in New London. He was in the King Philip war of 1675, and, for his services, hat lot No. 10 of arable land and lot No. 154 of cedar swamp allotted to him in Voluntown. He was in the illfated Fitz-John Winthrop expedition of 1690 which was to advance from Albany by way of Lake Champlain to Montreal. In his diary, Winthrop gives an account of the difficulties that they encountered. Under the date of Aug. 4, 1690, is found the following: 'I consulted with the officers & twas concluded to march forwards, & then devided our provition, wch was about 35 cakes of bread for each souldr, besides pork, which was scarce eatable. At this post (Saratoga) I left Liut Tho. Avery with some souldrs tp gaurd our provition to us wch was coming up the river'. (The Winthrop Papers, Massachusetts Hist. Col., Fifth Series, 8:314). For an account of this expedition, see Avery's 'History of the United States and Its People,' vol. 3, pages 263, 264. The latter part of his life he lived near the Mohegan Indian reservation. On the 22d of June, 1720, Capt. Thomas Avery and his brother Capt. James Avery were appointed interpreters for the Mohegans in a suit then pending before the governor and council. In 1721, Caezer, the sachem of the Mohegans, conveyed to Thomas Avery 160 acres of land in consideration of the kindness shown them by Captain Avery and his family. Upon this land Thomas Avery lived; the house he built there is still standing. About ten years before his death, in consideration of love and good will and on account of the infirmities of age, he conveyed this land to his son, Abraham. The last entry of accessions to the church of New London during Mr. Bradstreet's ministry reads: 'Sept. 10, 1682, Thomas Avery and wife were added to the Church.' They were among the organizers of the church of the North Parish, afterward called Montville. Their names appear first on the list of original covenanters. Before the North Parish could enjoy religious services, a long-standing quarrel had to be settled. October, 1721, the parish petitioned the general court for liberty to form a separate church. The first name on the petition was that of Thomas Avery, the third was that of Abraham Avery. (Connecticut Ecclesiastical Archives, 2:251.) Finally, Jan. 17, 1721, it was agreed that the meeting-house should stand on Raymond Hill, land being given for the purpose. In his church record, Mr. James Hillhouse, the first minister, says: 'I was installed October the 3d day, 1722. Mr. Adams preached from Acts 16:9. There were seven that belonged to the Church at my installment - Capt. Avery, Capt. Denison, Mr. Nathl Otis, Mr. Allen, Mr. Vibber, Charles Cambell and one Deacon.' Thomas Avery died at Montville, Jan. 5, 1736. His widow died Jan. 28, 1742, at Norwich. It has been found very difficult to arrange the record of the children of Thomas Avery by his two wives. Thomas Minor died Oct. 23, 1690. The following items are taken from his diary: 1655, Oct. 'Satterday the 15 my wife was delivered of hana' 'Tho: Averie and Hanah Minor was maried the 22 of october 1677.' 1679, April. '20 day Hanah son was borne.' 1680, Nov. 'Monday the 15, hanahs second sonn was borne.' The second of October 1682 Tho: Averys daughter was borne.' 1684, Aug. 'Tuesday the 12, Thomas Avery his childe was buried.' Hanah Avery her children. Tho Avery Samuell Avery Ephriam Avery Hanah Avery.' This last item has no date but must have been written shortly before his death. The births of Thomas and Samuel are recorded on the New London town-books. The baptisms of Thomas, Samuel, Abraham, Joshua, and a 'child' (Oct. 25, 1704) are recorded on the books of the First Church of New London; the baptisms of Hannah and Ephraim are found on the books of the First Church of Stonington; those of Charles, isaac and Peter appear on the books of the First Church of Norwich. Mr. Baker, in his history of Montville, says that Jonathan was b. Dec. 9, 1691, but he was not able to give any satisfactory authority for that statement and it is hardly possible that Jonathan could have been born in December, 1691, and Abraham baptized March 6, 1692. Dec. 2, 1736, Samuel Avery, Abraham Avery and Hannah (Avery) Minor seem to be the only surviving children of Thomas and Hannah (Minor) Avery. At that time, in connection with Thomas Minor, the husband of Hannah (Avery) Minor, they sold the 150 acres of land that came to them from their honored grandfather and his wife, Grace. This land had been given by Thomas Minor and his wife, Grace, to his daughter, Hannah Monor Avery, and her husband Thomas Avery for their life. When both were dead, the land was to revert to Hannah Minor Avery's surviving children. (See deed). The children, Ephraim and Thomas, were dead. Samuel, Abraham and Hannah, as heirs-at-law, sold the land. Jonathan Avery was, at this time, very much alive, but he did not join in the sale. It seem improbable that he was the son of Hannah (Minor) Avery. (Preston Land Records, 5:7). Thomas Avery had a daughter Mary by his second wife Hannah Raymond. Mary (Smith) Raymond, widow of Samuel Raymond, and daughter of Nehemiah Smith, made a will May 8, 1705. This was probated at New London. She mentioned cousin Hannah Avery, Elizabeth Avery, daughter of cousin Martha Ransford deceased, and cousin Mary Avery. She was the aunt of Hannah Raymond Avery. Thomas and Hannah (Raymond) Avery probably had a daughter Elizabeth, as an Elizabeth Avery was married to Sylvester Baldwin, at Montville, May 9, 1724, by the Rev. Mr. Hillhouse.
4. Christening: First Church of New London
5. Event: Additional Info (1) Unknown 12 May 1681 Thomas was made a freeman of New London
6. Event: Additional Info (2) Unknown May 1693 Thomas was commissioned captain of the train band on the east side of the river, New London
7. Event: Additional Info (3) Unknown 1694 Thomas was deputy to the general court
8. Event: Additional Info (4) Unknown 17 Dec 1677 Thomas and Hannah received 150 acres of land from his parents Thomas & Grace Minor
9. Event: Additional Info (4) b Unknown 26 Dec 1677 Thomas and Hannah received at least 100 acres of land from her parents James and Joane Avery
10. Event: Additional Info (5) Unknown 1 Apr 1685 Thomas received his share of his grandfather's estate by deed from his father, James, and three weeks later sold it to his brother, Samuel
11. Event: Military Unknown 1675 King Philip's War and, for his services, had lot No. 10 of arable land and lot No. 154 of cedar swamp allotted to him in Voluntown
12. Event: Military (2) Unknown 1690 Thomas was in the illfated Champlain to Montreal
13. Event: Additional Info (6) Unknown 22 Jun 1720 Capt. Thomas Avery and his brother Capt. James Avery were appointed interpreters for the Mohegans in a suit then pending before the governor and council
14. Event: Additional Info (7) Unknown 1721 Caezer, the sachem of the Mohegans, conveyed to Thomas Avery 160 acres of land in consideration of the kindness shown them by Captain Avery and his family
15. Note:

   REFN: 9041

VITAL RECORDS OF NEW LONDON, NEW LONDON CO., CONN.
Thomas Avery sonn of Capt. James Avery was marryed unto Hannah daught
er of Thomas Miner of Stonington the 22nd of October 1677.
Thomas Avery and his sister Hannah Avery Miner's descendants married
Thomas Avery‘s granddaughter Anna Avery married his sister Hannah Avery Mi
ner‘s son Sylvanus Miner
Thomas Avery, ^ b. May 06, 1651 Hannah Avery, ^ b. M
ay 04, 1686
+Hannah Miner, ^ b. September 15, 1655 +Thomas Miner, ^ b. Septemb
er 20, 1683?
>Thomas Avery II, ^ b. April 20, 1679 >Sylvanus Min
er I, ^ b. March 03, 1708
+Ann Shapely, ^ b. August 31, 1685 + Anna Avery, ^ b. May 1
2, 1707
> Anna Avery, ^ May 12, 1707
+ Sylvanus Miner I, ^ b March 03, 1708
Sept. 19, 1717, Capt. Thomas Avery, Capt. James Avery, Capt. John Avery, a
nd Samuel Avery, "out of love," deeded land to their sister Rebecca Pott
s, and to her husband, William Potts (Groton Deeds, 1:830). Jan. 4, 172
7, William and Rebecca Potts deeded land to their loving son-in-law, Josh
ua Bill, husband of their daughter, Joanna, deceased and to their heirs. T
hey reserved the right to cut firewood on this land during their natural l
ives (Groton
The following information comes from the Groton Avery Clan vol 1; Elroy Mc
Kendree Avery and Catharine Avery 1912
Dec. 17, 1677 Thomas & Grace Minor a deeded 150 acres of land to their dau
ghter Hannah and her husband, Thomas Avery:
To daughter Hannah Avery, during her natural life and to her husband
Thomas Avery during his natural life although my said daughter
should die before him and in case my daughter shall have any child o
r
children at the time of her departure then living it shall be thei
rs forever
to have and to hold possess and enjoy to use and improve with all
the meadows joining to it, I say all the one hundred and fifty acr
es of
upland and meadow as it was laid out to me with all the privileges &
appurtenances belonging thereunto. And in case my daughter should
die without any child than she shall have by deed full power to disp
ose
of it to any one or two of my son Clement Minor, his sonnes as she
shall see meet Provided it shall not prevent her husband of it durin
g
his natural life if she die before her husband. I say my one hundred
and fifty acres of upland and meadow lying at Anagomenacunuck as it
was laid out to me and bounded and recorded at Hartford and in Stoni
ngton
books of records. And hereinto we set our hands and seals this
seventeenth day of December one thousand six hundred and seventy
and seven.
Witness
James Noyes Thomas Minor
Samuel Avery Grace Minor
Acknowledged before James Avery Commissioner.
(New London Deeds, 5:34)
On the December 26, 1677, Captain James and Joane Avery executed a deed wh
ich was owned and subscribed before Thomas Minor as commissioner. The de
ed ran as follows:
This prsnt writing witnesseth to all it doe or may concerne that I Jame
s
Avery of the county of New London, in ye Collony of Connecticott fo
r
divers good reasons & considerations known to myself and with my
wife Joane Avery's consent fully give to my sonn Thomas Avery
and his wife Hannah (Miner) Avery my whole right of my parcell of l
and that
I bought of Amos Richardson of Stonington be it more or less wh for
merly
was laide out and bounded to Mr. Obadiah Bruen of New London
and also thirtie acres of upland upon Poquanys Plaine as it was for
merly
bounded to me from the swamp to the river, moreover one halfe of on
e
hundred acres of upland and meadow as it was carried out and bounde
d
and recorded to me at Pachauge next to Mr. Thomas Stanton, sen.,
his land. Also a piece of land joyning to Mr. Nehemiah Smith his
playne lying betwixt Nehemiah Smiths land & ye comon I say all and
every of these tracts and parcels of Land I doe give grant pass over
alyeanate & confirm a
https://archive.org/stream/historytownston00wheegoog#page/n220/mode...

p 202

References

• http://nielsenhayden.com/genealogy-tng/getperson.php?personID=I1451...