Col. Christopher Avery

Born Feb. 10, 1697, at Groton, Conn. and baptized May 2, 1697, at First Church of New London, Conn. Christopher married June 25, 1719, at Groton, Mary Latham, daughter of William and Hannah (Morgan) Latham. She was born Feb. 18, 1698/9, at Groton. Conn.

Christopher Avery was an important man in the colony. He became town clerk after the death of his father and held the office over 40 years, until his own death in 1768. April 27, 1736, he was one of a committee to prepare a memorial to the general assembly asking for a more commodious ferry. In October 1736, he and his brother, Humphrey, with others, petitioned against the officers chosen for the northeast company of Groton. Among the reasons given for their objection were that some of the officers were young men; that some belonged to the church of England; that the church of Groton was having trouble about the church of England. The general assembly, however, confirmed the officers (Military Docs. 2:269). The general assembly commissioned him captain of the second company of the Groton train-band, 1735; lieutenant-colonel of the eighth militia, 1739, and colonel of the same regiment, 1746, (Conn. Col. Rec. 8:3, 280 & 9:256), succeeding Ebenezer Avery. In 1739, he was appointed on a committee to get ten good cannons, guns for a sloop, and gunpowder for New London, for coast defense; they were authorized to spend 1100 pounds for that purpose. In Oct, 1755, he was on a committee to get new carriages for the New London cannons; in March, 1756, he was on of the committee to receive and transport all war like supplies to Lake George in the war against the French. We find the following document relating to the campaign of 1757.

Dr. of the Colony of Connecticut in Nathan Leonard Capt. of ye company under his command in Col. Christopher Avery's Regiment for their sarvis at ye time of ye alarm for ye Reliefs of Fort William Henry and places adjisent &c -- August, 1767 (French and Indian War Rolls, 2:232).

He was equally prominent in other lines. He was deputy from Groton, 1736 to 1764 inclusive, and was speaker in 1751. He was justice of the peace from 1732 to 1768 and, during many of the terms, made one of the quorum. He was a member of the committee to audit the books of the colony in 1744 and 1746. He had some modern ideas concerning taxation for, in conjunction with his brother, Humphrey, and Christopher Avery of the North Parish, he petitioned the general assembly that the unimproved lands should be taxed.

He was on of the first proprietors of the Susquehanna company, having become one in 1754.

In his will, made Nov. 3, 1767, he mentioned wife, Margaret; son, William; daughter, Deborah, wife of Jasper Latham; daughter Margaret, wife of David Lester; daughter, Rebecca, wife of Nathan Lester; children of daughter, Susannah, deceased, wife of Oliver Woodbridge, viz. Mary, Ebenezer, Christopher, and Oliver Woodbridge; grandchildren, Lucy, Peter, and William Bulkley, children of daughter, Lucy, deceased (Stonington Wills, 1:34). From this will it appears that he had a second wife who outlived him, but her name has not been recovered.

The tombstones of Christopher Avery and his first wife are standing in the Starr cemetery, Groton, Conn.

THE GROTON AVERY CLAN, Vol. I, by Elroy McKendree Avery and Catherine Hitchcock (Tilden) Avery, Cleveland, 1912. Found in the DAR Library, Washington DC. Pages 154.

Mary, wife of Christopher Avery, died August 14, 1754, in the 56 year of her age.

Christopher Avery, Esq., Colonel of the 8th regiment of militia, departed this life, Jan'y 17, 1768, age 71 years.

The children of Christopher and Mary (Latham) Avery were born at Groton, New London Co., Conn. Avery, Col. Christopher, died Jan 17, 1768, age 80

Connecticut, Hale Collection of Cemetery Inscriptions and Newspaper Notices, 1629-1934, pg 79.

Born Feb. 10, 1697, at Groton, CT Baptized May 2, 1697, at First Church of New London, Conn. Married June 25, 1719, at Groton, Mary Latham, daughter of William and Hannah (Morgan) Latham. She was born Feb. 18, 1698/9, at Groton. Conn. 2nd wife - Margaret, maiden name unknown, death unknown

Occupations: town clerk held the office over 40 years, until his own death in 1768, deputy from Groton, 1736 to 1764, justice of the peace from 1732 to 1768, member of the committee to audit the books of the colony in 1744 and 1746

Military: Captain of the second company of the Groton train-band, 1735; Lieutenant-Colonel of the eighth militia, 1739, and Colonel of the same regiment, 1746 On of the committee to receive and transport all war like supplies to Lake George in the war against the French.

The children of Christopher and Mary (Latham) Avery were:

1. Lucy AVERY was born 12 Apr 1722 and died 21 Aug 1754.
2. William AVERY was born 25 Nov 1724.
3. Mary AVERY was born 6 Feb 1726, died 22 Aug 1727
4. Susannah AVERY was born 14 Oct 1728, died 4 Jan 1767/1768.
5. Deborah AVERY was born 5 Jun 1731 and died 3 Jul 1808.
6. Sarah AVERY was born 28 Feb 1722, died 2 Aug 1750
7. Hannah AVERY was born 19 Mar 1735, died 5 Mar 1761
8. Margaret AVERY was born 12 Mar 1738, died 19 Feb 1771.
9. Rebecca AVERY was born 24 Dec 1741, died 17 Mar 1771.
10. Mary AVERY was born 1 Nov 1744, died 10 Aug 1754

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Jan 1 2019, 3:41:10 UTC