Christopher Avery, of New London

Christopher Avery

• BIRTH 1590 Devon, England
• DEATH 12 Mar 1679 (aged 88–89) New London, New London County, Connecticut, USA
• BURIAL Non-Cemetery Burial, Specifically: Likely buried on or near the farm of his son James.
• MEMORIAL ID 42584572

from: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/42584572/christopher-avery

HE WAS BURIED ON: March 12,1679.

His parents are not known with any degree of certainty.

His first wife, married Aug 28,1616 at Abbotskerswell, Co.Devonshire, was Margery Abraham, the widow of Thomas Stephens of Ipplepen,Co.Devonshire, and daughter of Robert and Dorothy ____ Abraham.

Christopher Avery, along with his son James, migrated to Groton,CT about 1636. Christopher's wife (James' mother) Margery never came to New England. In fact, she died in August 1626, and Christopher Avery married Alice Berdon on July 25,1630 in Wolborough,Co.Devonshire,England. Christopher and James left Alice behind in England, never to return. Christopher Avery was fined many times for "living apart from his wife", which was an offense in Puritan New England."

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THE GROTON AVERY CLAN, Vol. I, by Elroy McKendree Avery and Catherine Hitchcock (Tilden) Avery, Cleveland, 1912. p. 27-42

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Notes for Christopher Avery II:

From "History of the Town of Stonington, County of New London, Connecticut, from its First Settlement in 1649 to 1900," by Richard Anson Wheeler, at page 199:

"Christopher Avery, the emigrant ancestor and progenitor of the Avery family, was born in England about 1590. He was a weaver by trade and came to this country and located in Gloucester, Mass., where he was selectman in 1646, 1652 and 1654. At a court in Salem he took the freeman's oath, June 29, 1652, and was chosen clerk of the band, constable and clerk of the market. His wife did not come to this country. In 1658, he sold his lands at Gloucester and removed to Boston, where on the 16th of March, 1658-59 he purchased land, a small lot, about twenty-six by fourty-six feet. It was located in what is now the centre of the post-office building, facing on Devonshire street. The famous old spring, which gave the name to Spring Lane and which is now preserved under the post-office, was near. The Avery plot was part of, or at least adjoined, the site of two notable resorts of later days --- the well known restaurant whence first came the famous 'Julien soup,' and the 'Stackpole House,' not much less famous. The Winthrop estate was not far away, and near by, in after years, Benjamin Franklin was born. Christopher Avery did not long retain this property, for March 22, 1663, he sold it to Andrew Dew, for forty pounds. There had evidently been no increase of value in the five years that he had held possession . . . . Christopher Avery now followed his son James to Connecticut, and August 8, 1665, purchased a house, orchard and lot of Robert Burrows in New London. Here he claimed exemption from watching and training, on account of age, in June, 1667, and was made freeman of the colony October, 1669. He died March 12, 1670, by Minor diary."

From "Its About Time, Chronological Historic and Genealogical Research Notes on Some of the Maternal Ancestors and Descendants of America (Spilman) Mears (1846-1935)," compiled by William L. DeCoursey:

"1616 - Christopher AVERY (1590-1679), son of Christopher AVERY of Newton Abbot, married (license dated 26 August 1616) at Ippleden, Devonshire, England to Margery STEPHENS, dau. of Edward and Margaret STEPHENS of Kingswear. (Edward STEPHENS was a mariner who died in 1626.) Christopher and Margery AVERY had an only son James AVERY (ca.1620-1700) who married first, 1643, Joanna GREENSLADE and married second, 1698, Abigail (INGRAHAM) HOLMES. LDS No. SG7532, 87138, 37; Avery, Elroy Mckendree, et.al., THE GROTON AVERY CLAN (1912); Wurts' MAGNA CHARTA, v.5, pp.1368. . . .

"1630 - Christopher AVERY, 'weaver,' and his only son, James AVERY, came in the 'Arabella', 12 June 1630, and is first found at Cape Ann, Massachusetts. Christopher AVERY's wife, Margery (STEVENS) AVERY, remained in England [Christopher's failure to be included in Vol. I of 'The Great Migration Begins' indicates this 1630 date of emmigration is erroneous]. . . .

"1642 - Christopher AVERY was sworn freeman at Gloucester, Mass., 29th day, 4 mo. 1642. Salem Quarterly Court Records. . . .

"1646 - In Volume I of the GLOUCESTER TOWN BOOK records: 'Upon the fourth day of the tenth month 1646, Thomas WAKELEY, Hugh CALKINS, Will VINSON, John COLLINS, and Christopher AVERY ere chosen by the Towne for ordering all Towne affairs.' - Roberts, Eloise M., SOME COLONIAL FAMILIES - AVERY, BREWSTER, MILLS, MORGAN, SMITH, STARR, STEWART, TRACY (1926), p.3. . . .

"1647 - Christopher AVERY was sworn constable of Gloucester, 28th day, 10th month, 1647. Essex County Court Records. . . .

"1650 - On 27 Nov. 1650, Mr. STEPHENS and Christopher AVERY were at a Gloucester Town meeting chosen by 'ye Towne to supply ye places which were voyd by ye death of Walter TYBOTT and departure of Mr. HOUGH.'. . .

"1651 - On 28 August 1651, Christopher AVERY was chosen to be a measurer to lay out Lottes granted by the townesmen of Gloucester, Mass. . . . .

"1652 - Christopher AVERY, William STEPHENS, Robert TUCKER, Robert ELWELL, and George INGERSOLL were chosen for 'ordering of the Towne affairs,' in 1652. Gloucester Town Records. . . .

"1653 - Christopher AVERY and John COLLINS 'measure the meeting house plane', 3 day, 2 mo., 1653 at Gloucester, Massachusetts. Gloucester Town Records. . . .

"1654 - Christopher AVERY, on 19 October 1654, was relieved of a fine imposed on him for living apart from his wife (who remained in England), he 'having used means to procure his wife hither.' Christopher AVERY was chosen with others to take care of the affairs of the town of Gloucester (Salem), Massachusetts. . . .

"1655 - Christopher AVERY left Gloucester for Boston, Mass. where, 30 May 1655, he was admitted as an inhabitant. . . .

"1657 - '1 mo. 5/6, 1657 Christopher AVERY sold to Elias PARKMAN' 4 poles of grund and '2 acres of land in fisherman's field and 2 acres of land lying at the head of the houselotts in the head of the harbour,' and to Nicholas MARSHALL be sold 'my house and land lying in Gloucester near Thomas SKELLIANS containing in marsh 11 or 12 more or less with the house and land belonging to it.' . . .

"1658 - Christopher AVERY purchased, for forty pounds, a home in Boston 18 March 1658/9. The lot was twenty-six by forty-six feet and was located at what was in 1926 the center of the Post-Office building that faced on Devonshire Street. About four years later he sold the lot for what he paid for it, and later joined his son, James AVERY at Pequot on the Thames (Connecticut). Roberts, Eloise M., SOME COLONIAL FAMILIES (1926), p.3-9. . .

"1665 - Christopher AVERY purchased a house, lot, and orchard at New London, Conn. on 8 August 1665. This land afterwards passed to his son, James AVERY, who deeded it to his four sons. . . .

"1669 - Christopher AVERY and his son James AVERY, of New London, Connecticut, were declared freemen there 14 October 1669. AMERICAN ANCESTRY, p.3; Roberts, Eloise M., SOME COLONIAL FAMILIES (1926), p.3-9."

More About Christopher Avery:

Occupation: Weaver

Public Service: He held numerous public positions, including selectman, in Glouchester

Religion: Congregational Church

Child of Christopher Avery and Margery Stephens is:

Capt. James Avery, born 1620 in Exeter, Devonshire, England; died April 18, 1700 in New London, New London County, Connecticut; married (1) Joanna Greenslade November 10, 1643 in Boston, Mass.; married (2) Abigail Ingraham July 04, 1698.

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Date of death is given as March 12, 1679 in "Our Ancestors" by Gardner

In History of New London County, Connecticut, p. 456 -

Over the chancel of the church edifice at Pequonnoc is a memorial window, on which are the following inscriptions: "Christopher Avery, born in England, d. 1681; James Avery, b. 1620, in England, d. 1694; James Avery, 2d, b. Dec. 16, 1646, d. Aug. 22, 1728; Ebenezer Avery, b. May 1, 1678, d. July 19, 1752; Elder Parke Avery, b. Dec. 9, 1710, d. March 14, 1797; Lieut. Parke Avery, b. March 22, 1741, d. Dec. 20, 1821; Youngs Avery, b. April 2, 1767, d. May 30, 1837.", Kerswell."

Some authorities think that Margery was the daughter of Edward and Margaret Stephens of Kingswear. Edward Stephens was a mariner who died in 1626.

. . . He left his wife in England, but brought his son James with him.

His son, Captain James Avery, was born about 1620 in England. Married first, Nov. 10, 1643 at Boston, Joanna Greenslade. Married 2d, July 4, 1698, Abigail, widow of Joshua Holmes.

James was the only child of his parents, as shown by the records of the County Court of New London, 1692.

Children of Captain James and Joanna (Greenslade) Avery:

I. Hannah, Oct. 11, 1644

II. James, Dec. 16, 1646 at Gloucester, Mass.

III. Mary, Feb. 29, 1647/8

IV. Thomas, May 6, 1651

V. John, Feb. 10, 1653/4

VI. Rebecca, Oct. 1, 1656

VII. Jonathan, Jan. 5, 1658 (unmarried)

VIII. Christopher, April 30, 1661 (unmarried)

IX. Samuel, Aug. 14, 166498. He died April 18, 1700. His widow was living at late as 1714." (quoted from History of Stonington, CT)

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Lived in various places in Massachusetts, especially Salem.

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Sailed 12 June 1630 from Devonshire England to America on the “Arabella” in 1630, settled in Gloucester, MA. Was said to have come to Cape Ann, MA in 1630 with his son and only child, James. Christopher was a kersey weaver from Iplepen England. Christopher was chosen by the town of Glocester for “ordering all towne affairs” and also was a surveyor, constable clerk of market of Clocuhest, clerk of ban of “Gloster” and was sworn a freeman. Christopher remained in Gloucester until 1655 when he moved to Boston. Note that his home in Boston later became the center of the Post Office Building facing Devonshire Street. I 1663 He moved to New London (Pequot on the Thames) purchased a home with a orchard it was situated on the “Great Neck” where he stayed close to his grandchildren and where he died and was buried on 12 Mar 1679.

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His first wife was Margery, the widow of Thomas Stephens. Her maiden name was Abraham. After her death in 1626 he married an Alice Berdon on July 25th,1630 in Wolborough ,Co,Devonshire, England. It was alice who did not come to Colonial America when he came with his son James.Came to US in 1632.The history of Christopher is denoted on page 199 in "History of the town of Stonington,County of New London,Connecticut,from its First Settlement in 1649 to 1900" by Richard Anson Wheeler. His wife did not come to the US and as a result was fined 20"pounds" at Ipswich Court,England.More details available on Google UK

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GEDCOM Note

Category: The Blinman Party

Biography

: Christening 1590 St. Andrew's Church, Devon, England : Occupation kersey weaver : Burial 12 MAR 1679 New London,

Note: from Larry Chesebro's Web page:: The Chesebrough source records that James Avery was the only son of Christopher. : "There are several traditions with regard to his immigration to the new world. One is that he came from Salisbury, Wilts County, England,in the 'Arbella,' with John Winthrop, and landed at Salem, Mass., June 12, 1630. Another tradition is that he came over with the younger Winthrop, in 1631,and that, on the voyage , the subsequent governor of Connecticut formed a strong and life-long attachment for Christopher Avery's young son, James. The shipping list of the 'Arbella' is not known to be in existence, although it may form a part of the voluminous, unpublished and unexamined archives of the British admiralty office relating to that period. If it is ever found it will probably determinethis doubt." : "The Winthrop Fleet of 1630", (Charles Edward Banks, Boston, 1930, reprinted Baltimore, 1961, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1983, 1989 and 1994)does not list any Avery individual in the "Arbella"(Admiral), the "Talbot (Vice Admiral), the "Ambrose" (Rear Admiral) and the "Jewell"(Captain) of the Winthrop Fleet of 11 ships carrying passengers and the "Mary and John" which did not have any defined connection to the Winthrop Fleet. The Lyon made 4 trips in 1630, 1631 and 1632 but is inthe same connection as the "Mary and John" and may have included an Avery in its 80 passengers. :kersey is a course lightweight woolen cloth usually ribbed with cotton warp
:Note: Parish Register "Christopher Avery of Iplepen of the one partie and Marjory Stephens, widow of this parish were married ye XXVIII day of August"

Marriage

:: 26 AUG 1616 Ipplepen-Devon, England

Death ==="Thomas Minor's Diary records that Christopher Avery was buried March 12, 1679."<ref name=GrotonAvery>Avery, Elroy McKendree and Avery, Catherine Hitchcock Tilden. The Groton Avery clan. Cleveland, Ohio : 1912. p. 42</ref>

Child

1. James Avery b. about 1620 in England.<ref name=GrotonAvery />

Sources

• http://nielsenhayden.com/genealogy-tng/getperson.php?personID=I4020...
• <i>The Avery Family: the ancestors and descendants of Christopher Avery</i>: Maureen A. Taylor, editor (Newbury Street Press, Boston, MA, 2004)* Sweet, Homer DeLois. <i>The Averys of Groton, Genealogical and Biographical</i> (Press of the Rice-Taylor Printing Co., Syracuse, New York, 1894)
• S-1939516510: Ancestry Family Trees -Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/26833486/person/19...
• Mead, Spencer Percival. <i>Space:Ye Historie of Ye Town of Greenwich|Ye Historie of Ye Town of Greenwich</i> (Knickerbocker Press, Greenwich, Conn., 1911) Page 491
• Find a Grave Memorial # 42584572 with (http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=42584572&ref=...) Male Descendants of Christopher Avery in a direct male line are in the Y-DNA Haplogroup I-M253 with a terminal SNP of L-338. See find a Grave
• Space:Genealogies of Connecticut Families|Genealogies of Connecticut Families (Genealogical Pub. Co., 1983) Vol.1, Page 65
• Wheeler, Richard Anson. History of the Town of Stonington. 1900. Press of the Day, New London Conn. Pg.199 Archive.Org
• https://www.familytreedna.com/public/Avery?iframe=yresults Y DNA: Subgroup A - "Groton Avery Clan"Common Ancestor: Christopher Avery, I-M253

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Please NOTE: I have access to ancestry .com at my library for FREE. Some of you may also be able to access ancestry .com as well for free at your local libraries. ~~Constance Holder(fellow tree member)

.from: https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/family-tree/person/tree/119333578/p...

"Christopher Avery:1590–1679
Birth : 26 AUG 1590 • Salisbury, Wiltshire, England
Death: 12 MAR 1679 • New London, New London, Connecticut, USA

LifeStory Facts Gallery
Facts:
Name: Christopher Avery
Gender: Male
Birth: 26 Aug 1590 • Salisbury, Wiltshire, England
Marriage: 26 Aug 1616 • Ipplepen, Devon, England to Margery Abraham(1592–1643) • Abbots Kerswell, Ipplepen, Devon, England
Birth of son Captain James Avery Sr(1620–1700)
22 Apr 1620 • Salisbury, Wiltshire, England [There is some confusion if Captain James Avery Sr. is the son of Margery Abraham Avery and Christopher Avery or if Captain James Avery Sr. had a different mother (same father.) I did not put Captain James Avery on the tree as yet.]
Death of wife: Margery Abraham(1592–1643)1643 • Devonshire, England
Death: 12 MAR 1679 • New London, New London, Connecticut, USA
Family:
Parents:
Christopher Avery 1561–?
Margery Stephens 1565–?
Spouse : Margery Abraham 1592–1643"